how time flies where did 2013 go? lets start again time flies where did 2013 go? lets start again...
TRANSCRIPT
Volume 4 Number 1 Mar 2014
How time flies
Where did 2013 go?
Lets start again
TASMANIAN RURAL YOUTH PAST MEMBERS ASSOC.
2014 Contacts
State Convenor Elizabeth Skirving
0419 538 271 and home 63348 560
Secretary Carol Axton-Thompson
0409 099 790
Rural Youth State President Simone Hayers [email protected]
Words from the State Convenor – Hi everyone, Don't fall off your chair—we are back!!
Tasmanian Rural Youth Past members Association Committee took an
impromptu break in 2013. time and our personal lives caught up with us
all and we got to Christmas and realised we had only managed our
Southern Muster and AGM (not so well attended) and our Agfest Muster
(very well attended).
So lets have another crack at it for 2014 and pretend we haven't lost 12
months...On that basis we will be waiving membership fees for anyone
that signed up last year so they can utilised that membership this year.
We will kick off festivities with our annual Agfest Muster
(see the enclosed vouchers for your free ticket to Agfest for a day).
Hopefully we will also be able to bring you details of some regional
musters in the coming months but for those wanting an excuse to head to
WA, we also have the next Australian Rural Exchangees Reunion.
If anyone is interested in taking on a committee position, has ideas or
wants to host a function for past RY/JF members, please get in touch .
Hope to see you all on the deck on Agfest Thursday
Yours in rural oldies, Elizabeth
Membership Objectives of Association:
a) provide an opportunity for members to network and maintain contact
b) provide assistance to current Rural Youth Organisation of Tasmania and
Agfest, upon request.
Membership of Association:
Past members of Rural Youth Organisation, Junior Farmers & Calf Clubs,
Tasmania.
Past members of Agfest Committee.
Past members of State Advisory Committee
Current & past staff of Rural Youth Organisation of Tasmania
Rural Youth Service Members
Rural Youth Life Members
Rural Youth Patrons
Interstate & overseas past members of sister organisations
Interstate & overseas past exchangees
Partners, of above.
Membership Fees: (calendar year)
2014 Annual Fee: $25 per member, 12mths (or $35 couple)
2014 5 year Fee: $100 per member (or $150 couple)
Value for Fees:
Quarterly newsletter (posted or emailed), contribute articles
Invitations to functions
Circulation of information, particularly on current day Rural Youth
Participation on committees and at meetings
Agfest - site drop-in centre, 1 Agfest day ticket per member available
Discounts on admission to most TRYPMA events
Facebook site communication:
Facebook.com/TasmanianRuralYouthPastMembersAssn
Volunteer for mentoring or assisting Rural Youth and Agfest
Insurance cover at events
Meet up with past members or make new friends at events
Most of all, have fun.
Your membership subscription will assist in the running of the association.
If your membership is due for renewal or you wish to join, please do so asap.
Forms are available from the secretary or download from the RY website.
Due to the inactivity of the Association in 2013, anyone who paid membership
fee for 2013 will be credited with 2014 membership without cost.
MEMBERS 2014
Welcome to new members:
Catroina Jones (nee Heazlewood) ex Hagley Rural Youth Club 1980's. Now living at Scamander and working as a veggie farmer at White Sands Estate, Four Mile Creek. Catroina and her husband have travelled Australia working at different jobs believing in "hard work goes a long way". Rewards and achievements from being in Rural Youth: Participating in competitions, attending Balls, meeting many friends and attending other club's functions. Welcome Catroina - hope to see you and your family at our functions. Phil Pyke ex Kingborough/Huon Club 1980's. Now living in Canberra, ACT., but hopes to catch up with us when he comes back to Tassie. Phil has travelled the world working in communications in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Timor and Solomon Islands. Currently a Director of Public Affairs in Canberra. Rewards and achievements from being in Rural Youth: Making lifetime friends; learning the basics of being a Publicity Officer; gaining an appreciation of the rural lifestyle which although I had grown up on a farm hadn't fully appreciated; I now run a small property in southern Tasmania. "In later life, I regretted not having put more time into Rural Youth". So glad you have reconnected with us Phil. Members can get in touch via his email: [email protected] Malcolm Boys ex Western Tiers Club 1990's. Malcolm lives at Rocky Cape in the north west. Malcolm is happy to assist the TRYPMA committee and also Rural Youth as a volunteer. Great Malcolm, good that you are onboard. Our big get-together state wide is at Agfest on the Thursday, so hope you can assist us there. Welcome to anyone else who has recently joined up. Please let us know if your profile details have been missed out. Keeping up with members: Our best wishes to Meg Hazell who is in ill health. If on Facebook, have a look at Tulendeena Farmgate - yes, the address gave it away - Michael & Gail Rockliff (Michael ex Scottsdale Club and Gail ex Burnie Club) & Carol Axton-Thompson at Hotshots Espresso - coffee shop and mobile coffee (ex North Motton Club and State Life & Service Member). Let us know who else has an enterprising business venture.
Rural Youth report:
Rural Youth has been very busy in Tasmania over the last 12 months. Our AGM was held this past weekend at “Fonthill” near Oatlands with myself (Simone Hayers) returned as State President for a second term. Senior Vice President for Rural Youth in 2014 is Prue Dennis (Westmorland) and the 2014 Junior Vice President is Tiffany Morely (Sisters Creek). Activities from 2013 included State Ball, which was held in Hobart in July where we awarded six study tours to Canada, The UK, America, The Young Endeavour, Rotary Youth Leadership Camp and a self nominated tour. The Young Farmer of the Year competition was run in September 2013 with Kingborough Huon Rural Youth member Victoria Percival taking out the top place and taking home more than $10 000 in prizes. Clubs vary in strength with Rural Youth Council actively supporting those needing to strengthen membership numbers . This will be a greater focus for the remainder of 2014 particularly in the North West. The organisation embarked on some administrative changes with the appointment of Executive Officer, Shona Beswick in September 2013. Shona’s role is to provide strategic support to the Rural Youth and Agfest Executives and their committees. A suite of activities were identified to commence this strategic “reset” which included a Brand Discovery Workshop, a Volunteer management review (conducted by Volunteering Tasmania), Team Building Workshops, Future Vision Brainstorming sessions/Organisational Structure review. Further details on any of these programs can be requested from Shona (by phoning 03 6331 6154 or emailing [email protected]). Our properties, Quercus Park and York Street, are well utilised with Quercus Park hosting many small functions but larger ones such as Truck Shows and Bull Rides. Equine activities such as Polocrosse and Northern Tasmania Equestrian Club meets are regular events and the Remote Control Car Club is based at the Uniquely Taste building. Further discussion regarding Quercus Accommodation Project and long term uses for the site began in 2013 and will continue into the future as we look to upgrade our facilities for use by our members and members of the public. We extend a warm welcome to anyone who may like to help out with working bees on the site, particularly in the lead up to Agfest (see advert below). Alternatively Shona would love to hear from you if you have time to lend her a hand on some of the many projects currently in the wind. Agfest is less than 50 days away and preparations are well advanced with a full site and some exciting attractions. We look forward to catching up with past members if you are visiting over the three days. Cheers Simone
Working bees at Quercus Park every weekend til Agfest
Working bees have been scheduled for 22 March and 12/13 April
Members will be on site each weekend if you wish to help out with some of the many
items on the task list. Jobs include fencing, brush-cutting, gardening, painting,
spraying, linemarking, pressure cleaning, clean up vegetation, chainsaw work, stock-
take of items etc.
If you can help out please let us know. Phone Amanda on 0439985166 or the Rural
Youth office on 63316154 to register your interest.
PS we would love you if you can BYO brush-cutter or chainsaw (and PPE) if you have
one.
Biennial Reunion!
2, 3 & 4 May 2014
Margaret River WA
Venue: Quality Inn, 78 Wallcliffe Road,
Margaret River, Western Australia.
Program Highlights:
* Plenty of time to catch up with old friends…
entire venue is ours! Bring your swimsuit to
enjoy the pool or hot tub! Quality Inn is a short
15-min walk from the central business area of Margaret River.
* Come earlier or stay later…plenty to see and do in the Margaret River Region!
* Saturday’s tour will feature former Rural Youth or Local farm families or People of the land
who have done something a little different…each venue has been specifically selected because
they meet one of those criteria and are prepared to give us a brief presentation on how or why they
are doing what they are doing. Tour price is separate.
* Accommodation and meals are a package deal…rooms available are queen, twin and single…
be sure to note your preference on the registration form. All bookings must be made by April 11.
Prices and availability are not guaranteed after that date.
How to Get There:
* Margaret River is accessible by private car, 2 coachlines, or a combination of rail/coach. For the
wealthier…you can arrange a charter plane to the airstrip!
* If we know your bus and arrival time, we will endeavour to meet you and transport you to the
venue.
* Fly to Perth, then…. take Southwest Coachlines directly from the domestic terminal to Margaret
River; cost is about $60 one-way; make your booking online in advance and get the ‘netsaver’ or
senior fare
https://secure.jbs.com.au/southwestcoachlines/bookingsexpress.aspx
…OR…
take a taxi to TransWA terminal in East Perth in order to catch the bus to Margaret River
…OR…
…take a taxi to the Wellington Street Station to take the Australind train to Bunbury and coach
from Bunbury-Margaret River <http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=94>
…OR
…rent a car at the airport, take a left to Tonkin Hwy, another left/right to Roe Hwy and meld with
the Kwinana Freeway (signposted to Rockingham/Mandurah/Bunbury and 3 hrs later you are in
beautiful downtown Margaret River!
Questions: * email to conference organiser Barbara Maidment [email protected]
phone 08 9755 5265 mobile 0437 800 489 .
Phone 08 9757 2633 Fax 08 9757 9001 [email protected]
Facebook page:www.facebook.com/AustralianRuralYouthReunionOfExchangeesPastMembers
will keep you up to date - go to the link and give the page a 'Like'.
$117.50 pp for accommodation and meals ($235 full weekend)
$50.00 pp for day tour and lunch
Registration form available. Email Barbara direct.
Official Program Friday:
Afternoon Arrive and settle into accommodation Quality Inn
6:30pm Welcome BBQ & Catching up (cash bar) The Deck, Quality Inn
Saturday:
7:00am Breakfast Margaret’s Restaurant,
8:45am sharp! Load tour bus Quality Inn
9:00am - 5:30pm On Tour - Cowaramup & Willyabrup Valley
7:00pm Pre-dinner Drinks (cash bar) Cocktail Bar,
7:30pm Reunion Dinner Shiraz Room, Quality Inn
Sunday:
9:00am Buffet Brunch and Association AGM Shiraz Room, Quality Inn
By 11:30am Check-out if leaving today
Afternoon See Candy Cow, Margaret Riviera, Margaret River Chocolate Company,
Margaret River Cheese Company, or Margaret River Regional Wine Centre on your own.
All in or near Cowaramup
Later Safe journey home! See you in 2016!
At this stage no one from Tasmania has registered. If people wish to travel together or in
tandem, please let Secretary Carol know and she can link you up.
AGFEST
Kick Back on the Deck
Agfest Field Days at Quercus Park, Oaks, Carrick
is the perfect place for our annual state-wide get together.
Thursday 1st May 2014
3.00 pm
The Deck, Function Centre,
Hosted by Tasmanian Rural Youth Past Members Association,
An Association with the aim of facilitating connecting
fellow past members and having some more fun times.
If you are a current Financial Member of Tasmanian Rural Youth Past Members
Association you may apply for a free ticket into Agfest. See separate flyer to
apply and also to give details if you are able to volunteer.
(The Kick-back is a free event open to everyone
who has been associated with Rural Youth, Junior Farmers and Calf
Clubs over its past 60 years)
Members of our Association are invited to come and assist with setting up, a little earlier,
pouring drinks, passing around platters, meet and greet. Please come and join in.