On the grapevine

Showgoers will have an opportunity to sit and watch all the events in the main arena. Under close scrutiny from the judges will be some of the district’s finest equine compete in a variety of events including the Saddle Horse Championship. Also, local farmers and breeders will showcase their beautifully prepared beef and dairy cattle and sheep. There will be fleece judging and the popular dog high jump always creates considerable interest.

The Rural Ambassador and Junior Show Ambassador awards will also be announced.

Cobram is widely recognised for producing talented artists, crafters and photographers and the Arts and Crafts Pavilion at the showgrounds showcases some amazing talents.

This year a special category with a cash prize of $100 has been included and generously donated by Ros Vodusek of Rich Glen to reward an individual who presents three pieces from three different products of their own creation for a ‘Gift Basket Box/Basket for Someone Special’ from the following sections:

• Citrus fruit, vegetables and produce;

• Bottled fruit, jams and preserves;

• Culinary;

• Spinning and weaving;

• Knitting, crochet and craftwork; and

• Arts and hobbies.

This is open to anyone and is already creating a degree of excitement and interest. Cooks are looking up their best recipes and artists and crafters getting that special piece finished in time.

Recently Isabel French, 11, daughter of show secretary Heidi French entered the Junior Boiled Fruit Cake competition conducted at the Royal Melbourne Show by the Victorian Agricultural Society. Made to a set recipe, entries are open to young people under the age of 18 years on the first day of the show. It certainly appears there will be strong competition from the next generation in the cooking section at the Arts and Crafts Pavilion. At the time of writing the judges had not selected the winners of the competition.

For information or a copy of the show schedule please contact 0407 315 805 or email: cobramagshow@gmail.com

Creative women

The creative crafters at Cobram and District Spinners and Weavers Inc who meet weekly at the Yarraweyah Hall are currently preparing for the Cobram Agricultural Show with members looking to enter a range of work in various categories including an exciting new category sponsored by Rich Glens’ Ros Vodusek — a ‘Gift Basket/Box for Someone Special’.

The group began 45 years ago and today has up to 25 enthusiastic members who attend each week for opportunities to learn a range of new handcrafts or work on their current artistic piece while enjoying the friendship of fellow members.

Over the years, the group has conducted a spectacular display of amazing hand-crafted items at the show that would undoubtedly leave the non-crafter person in awe of the excellence of their work.

Eileen Overeem began the group with the late Helen Kay. The two women were interested in handcrafts and keen on spinning and weaving.

“The original members had spinning wheels and sheep and proudly wore their own homespun clothing,” Eileen said.

“We ran the group monthly, then fortnightly and today it is weekly and we have crafters coming from Tallygaroopna, Katamatite, Tocumwal, Cobram and Barooga. We have taken lots of bus trips and tutors would share their knowledge and we also share activities with other groups.'’

Judy Nankiville saw an advertisement in the Cobram Courier and liking what she saw soon joined the group. Breeding sheep, she dyed and spun her own wool and began to make whatever she could using natural fleece.

“I love natural fibres but sometimes I use synthetics today because of the range of colours,” she said.

Julie-Anne Rogers of Tocumwal is a new member and has already had great success with her craftwork. Exhibiting at the recent Finley Show, Julie-Anne entered two pieces in each category and was awarded a first and second prize in each one, while awarded best exhibit and best exhibitor in the show. For a lady who is new to the area and a member of the group for just six weeks, this is a fabulous introduction to her talents, particularly with stuffed animals of which her purple dragon won the most outstanding exhibit.

Joan Jordan and husband Norman purchased a dairy farm in the area and Joan had a need to meet new people and seeing an advertisement for the group went along and she too found it offered so much. Friendship plus the opportunity to learn a huge variety of handcrafts.

“I had a go at everything. I also had a lot to do with the hall’s committee of management and Norman who was a builder worked on improving facilities at the hall,” she said.

The diversity and abundance of talent within the group is exceptional and among the skills they have learnt are weaving and dying wool, broomstick crochet, knitting, jewellery making-sometimes with wool, quilting, stuffed felt animals and much more.

At the show the group will collectively showcase their talents with a large display and conduct a knitted woollen beanie competition.

If you would like further information please contact secretary Wendy Dupleix on 0458 732 009.

Correction

It is with a somewhat red face that I make this correction in regard to the recent men’s breakfast. “Did I have a senior moment? Perhaps.”

The non-denominational men’s breakfast is organised by the men of the Cobram Uniting Church in St Margaret’s Hall, where chief organiser Dennis Caughey and men from the church assisted by the Ladies Guild provided a spectacular breakfast recently for approximately 40 men from the Cobram district.

Guest speaker Sonia Strahan, a specialist cancer nurse from Shepparton, spoke on prostate cancer which the men found enlightening and informative, noting particularly the importance of early detection.

Proceeds raised from the event will go towards prostate cancer research.

The breakfast was a huge success and it is proposed to hold a similar event in the coming months.