Most of Rushworth will be aware that Rushworth Community House’s man for all seasons – Harry Ashton – is multiskilled, with talents ranging from management of Rushworth’s Men’s Shed through welding, powder coating, volunteer driving and a love of Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Members  of  the  Rushworth  and Colbinabbin Senior Citizens Club also know Harry as the Chef de Jour (he prefers “cook”) at the Club’s Wednesday luncheons, where he oversees the preparation and service of meals for forty or more members and guests.

So when RCH recently decided to run a  short  series  of  soup-making  classes  at the House, Harry was our logical choice to conduct the sessions.

Photographed with Harry Ashton at last week’s first Soup for Starters session were three of the participating students, (L-R) Ann Rend, Colleen Wright and Lyn Rumble.

The  huge  pot  of  steaming  Pumpkin Soup that emerged at the end of the class was awesome, and its contents can only be described  as  sensational,  especially  when served with crusty continental bread.

A couple of places are available for the final two Soup for Starters sessions on 4 August and 11 August, starting at 10.30am, so if you enjoy preparing simple, wholesome  food, call Rushworth Community House on 5856 1295 and book a place.

Each class costs just $3.00 per person.

Harry’s hearty pumpkin soup

Following the successful output from the House’s first Soup for Starters class, instructor Harry Ashton generously agreed for the recipe for his pumpkin potage to be published in the Waranga News – so here it is…

Ingredients (serves four):
• 2 kg pumpkin
• 1 medium to large sweet potato
• 1 large onion
• 2 sticks of celery
• 2 litres of water
• 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

• Dice onion and chop celery quite finely.

• Heat oil in pan and add celery and onion. Cook until onion is clear, but be careful not to burn the mixture.

• Peel and cut the pumpkin and sweet potato into two centimetre cubes, before adding both to the pan and browning them slightly.

• Add  the  water,  heat  and  simmer  until cooked – approximately 30 minutes.

• Season with salt and pepper to taste.

• Stir in the salt, pepper and nutmeg, then simmer for a further 15 minutes.

• Sieve or puree the soup mixture until it reaches a lump-free, creamy consistency.

• Serve  in  warmed  bowls  with  a  dollop of sour cream and a sprig of parsley to complete the presentation.

• Alternately,  sprinkle  a  mixture  of  hot toasted  croutons  and  crispy-fried  diced bacon over the soup servings, with a dollop of sour cream for good measure if desired

• Enjoy!

Reminder – Ten years of our Community Garden

In the last edition of the Waranga News,  we announced our forthcoming celebrations  of the Rushworth Community Garden’s tenth birthday on Wednesday, 3 August.

On that date, we will be holding a tenth birthday party for the Garden, and will feature our ever-popular Wood-fired Pizzas prepared using ingredients picked fresh that day, plus lots of other gourmet goodies. Visitors are asked to bring their own drinks.

The informal event starts at 11am and will continue until about 2pm.

A gold coin donation  to  the  Community  Garden  is requested, and – once again – we ask that people book in advance to assist us with catering.

For some photos of the early days of creating the Rushworth Community House Community Garden, see this link at rushcomhouse.wordpress.com.

Book ahead for RCH events

If you’re planning to participate in any of the Community House’s many activities – including those that are either low-cost or free -  please ring and let us know that you will be attending.

Many free activities require arrangements for transport or catering (or both), while others involve us providing numbers of visitors to other organisations.

So please help us to help you – whether or not an event is free, make sure that you contact the House on 5856 1295 and register your planned participation.

Hobby groups offer guidance for all

Joining in some of the hobby-based activities at Rushworth Community House is a great way to overcome any feelings of boredom or isolation, while giving people useful new skills and greater self-confidence.

Participating in House activities also imparts a rich feeling of “belonging” – a powerful asset in the modern world – by giving people an opportunity to impart their knowledge, skills and wisdom to others who may benefit from that practical guidance.

In our Community House, it is true to say everyone can learn something from everyone else. The breadth of our staff and volunteers experience is staggering, and – best of all – most have joined us because they enjoy sharing their capabilities with others.

The same is often true for others in our activity groups, who enjoy encouraging and guiding fellow hobbyists.So whether you’re a budding welder, enjoy working with glass, love fabrics, crave painting or think you might enjoy any of the House’s myriad  other  hobby-based  activities,  come along and try us out for yourself.

Keep up to date:

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www.facebook.com/rushworth.communityhouse

http://twitter.com/rushcomhouse

Next weeks commencement of Term Three at the Community House heralds the arrival
of a number of innovative activities that will occur over the next coming weeks, together
the return of a few favourites. To the delight of local gourmets, food – in many guises –
figures prominently on our third term program guide.

Running over four weeks starting on 21 July, our new Soup for Starters course is just the thing for the cold winter months, guiding students through preparation and presentation of some sensational soup recipes that they then get to try at the end of each class. Yum!

The Soup for Starters course will teach you how to make old-style Pea and Ham, Potato and Leek, Vegetable and Pumpkin soups, and at only $12 for four weeks is fantastic  value  for  money. To  assist  with ingredient planning, early registration for the course would be appreciated.

While on the subject of great food, we’re delighted to announce that the Rushworth Community Garden has reached its ten year milestone, having officially opened in 2001.

To celebrate a decade of fabulous fresh food  cultivation  -  especially  during  the difficult drought years – we are holding a tenth  birthday  party  for  the  Community Garden, and will feature our ever-popular Wood-fired Pizzas prepared using ingredients picked fresh that day.

The  informal  event  starts  at  11am  on Wednesday,  3  August,  and  will  continue until about 2pm. A gold coin donation to the Community Garden is requested, and – once again – we ask that people book in advance to assist us with catering.

Meetings of the Whroo Film Society will continue  through  November,  providing  a monthly opportunity to watch a classic movie accompanied by a delicious meal and fine dining company.

Rushworth Community House’s high quality video system and multi-channel audio facilities guarantee quality reproduction of these classic titles, some  of  which  have  been  digitally  re-mastered to restore their original appearance and sound tracks.

Complementing the enjoyment of food is the art and science of food preparation,
and we will be running our popular Food Handlers course on Tuesday, 6 September in response to on-going requests.

To  be  conducted  in  conjunction  with the Kyabram Community Learning Centre, this locally-run, fully accredited course is designed to train people how to work safely and reliably with food and its preparation.

Along with accreditation in Responsible  Serving of Alcohol, possession of a Food Handlers Certificate is a basic prerequisite for entry into many jobs in the hospitality industry, so represents very good value at just $105 per head.

Birthday  Cakes  are  one  of  western society’s  most  popular  foods,  and  when webDotWiz is the birthday boy, there are generally smiles all round. This year was no different, as the photo below suggests.

Bernie  (webDotWiz)  Halpin  is conducting our new Term Three Be Social – Go LIVE classes each Thursday morning starting on 21 July.

These sessions will teach people how to get the most out of their Facebook, Twitter and  LIVE  accounts,  which  have  become important social exchange vehicles for people of all ages throughout the world. The sessions will also teach people the new Office Web Apps and free resources such as SkyDrive.

House memberships promise great rewards

Rushworth Community House has a long tradition of delivering quality activities and services to local businesses and residents, meeting local demands in a unique, cost-effective manner.

These House activities are underpinned by our members, who are effectively the backbone   of our organisation.

Although  membership  dues  represent  a tiny fraction of our annual budget, the loyalty, support  and  guiding  wisdom  given  by  our members is as much a key to our future success as it has been in the past – if not more so!

The  House  Committee  will  soon  agree new ways of acknowledging and encouraging our membership, and has already expanded our  involvement  criteria  to  allow  active participation in House activities by both Group and Business membership categories.

It  is  expected  that  Group  and  Business members  will  be  granted  very  significant discounts  on  House  services,  including printing,  photocopying  and  meeting-room hire.

The details are yet to be finalised, but will  definitely  benefit  Group  and  Business members, sometimes returning their $25 annual membership fee many times over throughout the course of a year.

As  with  Single  Memberships,  Group  or Business Memberships also give members a voice in the House’s decision-making processes, ensuring that the we continue to meet as many of the needs of the local community as possible.

We  therefore  invite  individuals,  groups and businesses to become members of the Rushworth Community House.

www.rushcomhouse.org

Rushworth Community House is also online at

http://rchnews.wordpress.com

www.facebook.com/rushworth.communityhouse

http://twitter.com/rushcomhouse

Rushworth Community House is responsible for the local organisation of the town’s annual Australia Day festivities, and with little more than six months to go until our next national day, planning is already underway to ensure that it is even more enjoyable than the last.

Top of the bill for Australia Day 2012 will once again be the Australia Day Awards, which are awarded by the Shire of Campaspe in the following categories:
•  Citizen of the Year
•  Young Citizen of the Year
•  Sportsperson of the Year
•  Junior Sportsperson of the Year
•  Arts Person or Group of the Year
•  Community Group or Event of the Year.

The Shire is committed to recognising the contributions that both individuals and groups make  to  the  community,  and  encourages everyone to consider identifying and nominating people and/or groups whom they believe merit that recognition and acknowledgement.

Nominations are now open for the Shire of Campaspe  2012 Australia  Day Awards,  and this year, the Rushworth Community House would like to see multiple nominations in each of the categories.

Don’t wait for someone else to nominate a person or group whom you think deserves an award.

Do yourself, the nominee and Australia Day a huge favour, and lodge a nomination personally.

Nominations can be quick and simple to complete, and will give you a real sense of participation in our national day.

Rushworth’s 2011 Australia Day Events at the Shire Hall proved to be hugely popular, with audience numbers exceeding even the highly innovative 2010 evening.

This year, more than three hundred people enjoyed the air-conditioned comfort of the old Shire Hall as they celebrated our national day with an eclectic mixture of locals and visitors.

The lead-in Concert featuring local talent, the  Lions  Sausage  Sizzle  and  the  Awards Ceremony itself are all likely starters for 2012, and the Australia Day Committee will work with the Shire of Campaspe to fine-tune the program details, and ensure that “it’ll be right on the night!”

Once again we hope to feature a wide range of talent from towns throughout the Region during the Concert and the Presentation Ceremony, as the awards presented in Rushworth are for the Shire’s Waranga Ward as a whole, not for individual communities.

So if you would like to take part in the Australia Day entertainment bill, please contact Cass  Alexander  at  the  Rushworth Community  House.

People of all ages are welcome, but youngsters attending rehearsals must be accompanied by a responsible family members.

Anyone who would like to help out with Rushworth’s Australia Day organisation is asked to call Lyn Rumble at the Rushworth Community House.

Rushworth Community House getting ready for Term Three

This year, Term Three starts at the Community House on Monday, 18 July and runs for
ten weeks until Friday, 23 September.

The new Term Three Courses and Events Guide  is included as a supplement to this week’s Waranga News and is also online at http://docs.com/D0ZP, and features classes and activities that will appeal to a very wide range of people.

Many  of  popular  classes are  back,  including  our movement and strength training sessions,  our  webDotMasters and  webDotWizards  Internet sessions, and our various Arts and Crafts sessions.

Term  Three  features  two rounds of accredited courses that reward students with nationally recognised competencies.

First  Aid  is  back,  with both full accreditation and re-accreditation,  plus  response training  for  both Anaphylaxis (including use of an Epi-pen) and Asthma.

In early September, we will also conduct a Food Handlers Course,  which  is  an  essential prerequisite for any employment in the hospitality industry.

There  are  also  several Office-related training activities, including  both  software  and practical skills.

Extra copies of the Term 3 Guide are available at the House and online at http://docs.com/D0ZP.

Rushworth Community House closed for four days of spit and polish

Recent visitors to the House have been confronted  by  bare  floorboards  in  our reception room area, leaving a less-than-ideal visual reminder about our long-term battle with termites.

With our pesky invaders now dispatched to that great termite nest in the sky, the time has come to complete the re-flooring effort.

We have therefore decided to close the House between Friday 8 July and Monday 11 July inclusive,  to  allow  the  work  to  proceed unimpeded, and to avoid any risk of injury to members of the public.

Once  again  we  apologise  for  any inconvenience that this closure may have on House visitors, including Centrelink clients.

We will advertise the long-weekend closure as widely as possible, and suggest in advance that any urgent faxing be  arranged  through the  Post  Office  or Shire Service Centre.

By  the  time  that Term three starts, all of the planned works should  have  been completed,  and  the House  reception  area should  be  back  to normal.

Reduced RCH hours during school holidays

From Monday 4 July until Friday 15 July inclusive, Rushworth Community House will
open each day between 9am and 1pm.

Normal hours will resume on Monday 18 July.

Centrelink activities such as forms lodgement by fax and document verification will only
be available between 9am and 1pm, as will public access to the computer terminals in our
computer training room.

Anyone requiring a Passport or ID photo during this period is asked to contact the House on 5856 1295 to arrange an appointment.

Urgent passport / ID photos completed outside the reduced opening hours will attract a small surcharge.

Rushworth Community House blog http://wordpress.rushcomhouse.com

Rushworth Community House is on Facebook www.facebook.com/rushworth.communityhouse

Since our recent story about Rushworth Community House’s plans to establish a Teleconference Centre for community use appeared in the last edition of the Waranga News, a number of clubs and other organisations have expressed interest in the proposal, and have asked us for some more details, including how they can participate in this innovative venture.

As we indicated in the last edition, Rushworth Community House is planning the establishment of a modern  teleconferencing  facility  that  will enable  community  organisations  to  avail themselves of the power of the Internet to share their interests with others either locally, regionally or internationally.

The facility will have a wide range of capabilities, enabling diverse user groups to gain considerable value at very little cost.

For example, important sessions at the annual national convention of an Australia-wide organisation can be telecast live to its members in Rushworth.

A sporting event in a remote location can be broadcast back to the House for display on the big screen in “real time”.

Family  gatherings  can  be  shared  with those unable to travel to remote locations, and a bidirectional video feed will enable people at both locations to see what the other group members are up to.

Special interest groups can subscribe to special Internet-based programs, such as that screened at last year’s Women’s Health Night in Rushworth to popular acclaim.

The potential uses of the new Rushworth Teleconference Facility will be governed by the breadth of imagination of its end users, especially as the NBN is rolled out across Australia.

We therefore invite potential users to discuss their specific needs and goals with House Internet and Media specialists Bernie Halpin and Cass Alexander.

Centrelink services at the House

Rushworth Community House is the town’s Centrelink hub, with a dedicated room seaside and equipment on-line to meet many of the needs of local Centrelink clients.

For several years, Rushworth Community House hosted a basic Centrelink “Access Point”, in which forms could be lodged for faxing, and identification documents could be copied, certified and lodged for a variety of Centrelink purposes.

Following an increase in the use of the Access Point facilities, Centrelink installed a computer system for use by its local clients, and this is also proving to be popular.

The computer is primarily set up to allow Centrelink clients to use the service’s main website, as well as the Job Seeker network.

Centrelink forms can be downloaded and printed  out  on  the  accompanying printer/fax machine, as can employment prospect contact details.

Other software on the machine allows access  to  both  Hotmail  and Yahoo  Mail, enabling  clients  to  correspond  with prospective employers without cost.

Microsoft  Word  and  Excel  are  also installed  for  client  use,  while  another dedicated package even helps job-seekers to create and edit their own resumes.

These services are available free of charge to anyone wishing to use them.

Membership review underway at House

House  memberships  expire  on  30  June each year, and once again we invite both individuals  and  community  groups  to renew their annual subscriptions.

We  also  extend  a  warm  invitation  for people who are not currently Rushworth Community House members to join us, and become an integral part of one of Rushworth’s most dynamic community groups. Membership costs just $10 per year.

This  invitation  also  extends  to  other community  groups,  for  whom  House membership offers several important benefits, including  discounted access to our many facilities and comprehensive services.

For example, our high-speed color copying equipment delivers quality reproductions on both A4 and A3 paper, and can print double sided  copies  with  great-reliability.

For community group newsletters, this flexible printing service is very valuable indeed.

Use of our fully equipped multi-purpose room is also a boon for local clubs who may otherwise have to meet at a members home.

The room includes video equipment, and includes access to a kitchen and toilet facilities, and hire costs are remarkably low for affiliated clubs or other organisations.

Best of all, taking out a Rushworth Community House membership gives YOU a say in how YOUR Community House can optimise its service to the people of Rushworth and District, and thus to the town.

Wanted – Tutors and Helpers for Computer Courses

Rushworth Community Housewould like to hear from peoplewho could help us to deliver computing subjects ranging from “Nervous Beginners” to Microsoft Office Applications.
• Remuneration negotiable.
• Class times by agreement.

Contact: Lyn Rumble
67 High Street, Rushworth
Phone (03) 5856 1295
admin[AT]rushcomhouse[DOT]org

The Shed story held over

Our promised Men’s Shed feature has been held over until the edition of 30 June.

In the meantime, we remind you that the Community House’s Shed program is a great way to meet – and share your technical skills with – people from many walks of life.

Men’s  Shed  sessions  are  held  each Monday  during  School  Terms  (public holidays excluded), and run between 10am and 3pm.

Rushworth Community House www.rushcomhouse.org

Rushworth Community House is on Facebook www.facebook.com/rushworth.communityhouse

Rushworth Community House blog http://rushcomhouse.wordpress.com

Rushworth Community House is a lot more identifiable these days, with a new sign
over the main High Street entrance completing a series of activities aimed at raising the
House’s profile while maintaining its historic appearance at the southern end of town.

Rushworth Community House  President  Carolyn  Ashton  and Manager Lyn Rumble (above) were among the sign’s first admirers, and are especially delighted that the design and color scheme won enthusiastic support from Shire of Campaspe Heritage Officer Justin Francis.

Meanwhile, work on the House reception area and small meeting room is continuing, with the floor sanding and sealing due for completion by the end of June.

While there is some minor inconvenience and  things  look  a  little  untidy,  staff  and volunteers  are  keen  to  reassure  everyone that  the  House  is  well-and-truly  open  for business, and its legendary hospitality and relaxed informality are undiminished while the renovations are being undertaken.

Planning underway for Terms 3 and 4

Rushworth Community House manager Lyn Rumble is in the throes of planning Rushworth Community House courses and activities for terms three and four, and has invited members of the local community to submit any ideas for new initiatives or revitalised blasts from the past!

First Aid will make its annual Term 3 return, with both initial Certificate 2 training and  reaccreditation  being  offered  for  both individuals and community organisations.

If there is sufficient interest, we will also run both Asthma and Anaphylaxis sessions, as these have proven to be very popular in the past. The Anaphylaxis course includes training in the use of life-saving Epi-Pen devices.

Lyn  has  included  several  interesting workshops in provisional programs for the second half of 2011.

Term three will include a Fashion Jewellery Making session, and a workshop devoted to Working with Clay.

Following last year’s successful Card Creation sessions, Rushworth Community House will also run a term three session that will teach you how to create delightful Personalised Christmas Cards.

Mosaic Making is among the topics already planned for term four, and other topics are also being considered.

If you’d like to learn a new creative skill, or would like to teach an unusual subject at the House, please phone Lyn on 5856 1295.

You can also book now for any of these term three or four activities by calling the House.

Teleconferencing facility planned

The  House  has  completed preliminary planning for the establishment of an up-to-date teleconferencing facility in our main multi-purpose room.

For several years, the room has been a popular meeting place for  community  organisations, and has served as a venue for the delivery of occasional video-based  programs  and  sessions, including  last  year’s  highly  successful Women’s Health Night.

RCH has applied for funding to assist with the acquisition of new large format, high definition video projection equipment for the expanded centre, and has already increased the speed of its broadband facilities to provide real-time  high  quality  video-conferencing capabilities for use by the House itself and other community organisations.

New switchable cameras will be installed in the centre, and a remote broadcast pack will be assembled to enable coverage of events that are being held away from Rushworth to be video-captured and relayed via the Internet back to the Community House for group viewing in real time and at low cost.

Glass beading course

Only two vacancies remain for the House’s Glass Bead Making session, so ring now and make a booking if you’d like to participate.

The session will be held between 9.30am and 12.30pm on Friday, 10 June, and costs just $25.00 per person.

The Shed next edition

Rushworth’s Men’s Shed will feature on Page 8 in the next edition of the Waranga News as well as on RCH News (http://rchnews.wordpress.com).

We will update earlier Men’s Shed stories, and show you how you too can become part of  the  hugely-popular,  world-wide  Men’s Shed movement. The Shed is a great way to meet people and share your technical skills with people from all walks of life.

WANTED!

Tutors and Helpers for Computer Courses

Rushworth Community House would like to hear from people who could help us to deliver computing subjects ranging from “Nervous Beginners” to Microsoft Office Applications.

• Remuneration negotiable.
• Class times by agreement.

Contact: Lyn Rumble
67 High Street, Rushworth
  Phone (03) 5856 1295
admin AT rushcomhouse DOT org

When National Volunteers Week coincides with Victoria’s Neighbourhood House Week, then it’s party time!

At Rushworth Community House, it was an opportunity for some of our local volunteers and supporters to get together for a delicious pizzafest prepared by our Community Garden crew and cooked in our tried and tested wood-fired pizza oven.

Volunteers from several organisations and a group of residents from the Waranga Aged Care Hostel thoroughly enjoyed both the freshly made pizzas and the camaraderie.

Radio station update

The official opening of Rushworth’s new radio station – PowerCountry 88FM Rushworth – will be held at the Community House next Monday, 23 May, starting at 12.15 pm.

The station is part of a network of country music stations located in northern Victoria, with sub-nets in Campaspe and Gunnawarra Shires, and in the Swan Hill region.

It commenced local broadcasts on 88 MHz from facilities at the Community House in April, and its signal can be heard throughout most of the town’s populated areas.

The opening will be followed by light refreshment, and visitors will have an opportunity to inspect the station equipment and interface to the House’s computer network.

The types of programming provided by PowerCountry 88FM Rushworth include tourist information services, ethnic broadcasting, community information services, niche musical shows and religious programming.

Rushworth Community House accommodates the local transmission equipment, but is not involved in deciding program contents.

All programming decisions are made by volunteers from the PowerCountry FM organisation.

Businesses or organisations that would like to submit advertisement or community announcements for broadcast on the Rushworth station can do so by calling the Community House on 5856 1295.

Stained-glass guru’s new opus

For many years, Ken “Pop” Doyle has gained an enviable reputation for fine craftsmanship, especially when working with stained glass.

In August 2006, he created a small work (shown at right) to grace the old northern entrance to the Community House.

To coincide with the rework of our current eastern entrance, Ken has now produced a stunning new stained-glass feature (above) that will soon adorn the window over the House’s main doorway. The workmanship is of the highest order, clearly illustrating why Ken is our stained glass course instructor.

After the official launch, by the Mayor of Campaspe, Cr Neil Pankhurst, we would like you to join us in some light refreshment in our multi-purpose room.

The day will start off around 10am, with the outside broadcast van positioned at the front of the Rushworth Community House at 67 High Street, and will be broadcasting live on the airwaves – on 88FM frequency.

Please join us in the celebration of another milestone of Rushworth’s development, and we really look forward to seeing you next Monday 23^rd May.

Please support RCH to promote helping our community grow!

To assist with catering, we would appreciate a quick call or email to advise that you will be attending.

Kind regards,

Lyn Rumble

Manager

Rushworth Community House Inc

67 High Street, Rushworth, Vic 3612

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Cross-posted from http://rushcomhouse.wordpress.com

The recent discovery of termite damage to a critical section of the House’s wooden flooring caused problems with our opening times over the past few weeks, especially during the term break.

Though confined to the large room at the front of the House, the damage required replacement of ravaged boards and saturation spraying of the flooring materials with a modern termicide to prevent future damage underfoot.

We were advised that if sprayed immediately after lunch, the room would be usable by 9am the following morning.

Accordingly, with the House operating on reduced hours over the school break, we arranged for the room to be sprayed early one afternoon, expecting to open next morning.

The following day revealed that the fumes from the spray were still intense, and certainly exceeded allowable limits under Occupational Health and Safety legislation.

To protect our staff and volunteers, we therefore decided – reluctantly – to close the House for the day, allowing time for the fumes to dissipate. A sign was placed on the front door announcing the closure, which was at variance with our published opening times over the school holidays.

We apologise for any inconvenience that may have been caused by the House closure.

Above: Handyman Harry Ashton examines a termite-damaged section of the flooring in the front room of the House.

Busy Easter Saturday at the House

Above: Youngsters line up for the Easter Egg Hunt in the Community Garden.

Easter Saturday at the House was definitely the busiest day of the year to date, with dozens of children and parents queuing for the Easter Egg Hunt, and keen interest in the activities of the House’s Genealogy Club.

Easter Egg Hunt supervisors Bernie Halpin and Marcie Martin had their hands full hiding dozens of chocolate eggs between successive waves of youngsters, and policing both the age limit and egg quotas for participants.

A steady stream of visitors took advantage of a free family member tracing being offered by the Genealogy Club, and several indicated their desire to join the Club in Term Two.

Easter raffle results

The sale of Easter Raffle tickets for the Community House raised several hundred dollars over the past few weeks.

On Easter Saturday, the raffle was drawn by popular performer Callum Gleeson, who delighted audiences at both Rushworth and Moora over the holiday weekend.

First prize was a spectacular quilt (depicted above) that had been crafted by the members of the Rushworth Community House’s Patchwork Group using material donated by the late Mrs. Iris Baptie. Measuring 1.8m by 1.5m, the quilt attracted great interest and was won by Ms. Karen Osborne of Cranbourne.

The second prize of a painting by artist Irene Ritli was won by Harry Ashton.

House Manager Lyn Rumble was delighted with the success of the Easter Raffle, and extended her thanks to everyone who purchased tickets.

Victoria’s latest radio station has hit the airways using equipment based at Rushworth Community House.

The new station – PowerCountry 88FM Rushworth – was activated recently, and can be heard around Rushworth on 88.0 MHz, at the bottom of the FM Band.

Power Country FM is a network of country music stations located in northern Victoria, with sub-nets in Campaspe and Gunnawarra Shires, and in the Swan Hill region.

All of the Power Country FM stations use low power transmitters broadcasting on 87.6 or 88.0 MHz.

Station stereo broadcast signals can usually be received within 10 kilometres of the transmitter site, and are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Power Country programming is primarily Country Music in style, plus some classic Country Rock.

Power Country FM Network aims to bring people together from its various rural broadcasting areas, and for these communities to be able to promote their individual town’s tourism and businesses via the local stations.

All the stations in the Power Country Network are operated by dedicated, unpaid volunteers who give their services freely for the benefit of their community.

The money which is generated from advertising from local sponsors helps keep the stations on the air by defraying maintenance and equipment costs, and paying license and Australian Performing Rights Association fees.

Programs are mainly sourced from studios in Tongala and Leitchville, together with some programming that originates in NSW.

Power Country FM’s studio in Leitchville services the Gannawarra area whilst its Tongala studio services the Campaspe district.

Although content is often syndicated throughout both districts, some local interest programs are delivered solely to their target areas.

Community event announcements are broadcast free of charge on Power Country stations, and are a great way to get your message out to a wide audience.

Local businesses can advertise on the new Rushworth radio station by calling Power Country FM on 5859 0023, or by sending an email to powercountry@bigpond.com.

Rushworth Community House is providing logistics support to the new station, including access to power, broadband internet connection and an antenna mounting point with coverage over the town and its surrounds.

First Aid for Babies among Term 2 activities

This edition of the Waranga News includes the House’s 2011 Term 2 Guide, our list of classes and activities that will be conducted during May and June. The online version of Rushworth Community House’s Term 2 guide can be viewed at http://docs.com/BORO.

One of our most valuable courses ever will be held at the House on Wednesday, 4 May starting at at 6.30pm.

Called First Aid for Bubs, this two hour long session is perfect for parents who have a new baby, or a toddler who is just old enough to be getting into potentially dangerous situations. The course is also ideal for grandparents or others who may be asked to care for your youngsters from time to time.

A qualified instructor will teach students how to respond to emergency situations, and how to administer child-specific first aid that may just save your youngster’s life. At just $40.00 per person, this session may well be the best family investment you ever made, but make sure you book early.

Our Friday afternoon Genealogy Club sessions are growing in popularity, and Club members have become highly skilled at navigating the highways and by-ways of ancestral research. The House’s broadband facilities and registered access to major databases worldwide allow members to troll cyberspace in the quest for the most obscure or cryptic forebears. Call the House for details.

Beginners Welding is back by popular request, with four weekly sessions each lasting two hours to be held at our Horne Street Shed starting at 1pm on Saturday 7 May.

New this Term is our three-hour long session on Glass Bead Making, which is scheduled for 10 June staring at 9.30am. Places are limited to eight, so early booking is essential.

Our Health and Wellbeing activities continue in Term 2, with a variety of exercise classes being held at Rushworth and Colbinabbin. Styles vary from Move-To-The-Beat, Pilates and Belly Dancing to T’ai Chi and Strength Training, all under the direction of trained, experienced instructors.

Easter Festival activities

Rushworth Community House will be busy on Easter Saturday, with our annual Easter Egg Hunt in the Community Garden, and members of our Genealogy Club available to help you start tracing your ancestry.

The House will open at 9am for our Genealogy Club Exhibition, which will remain accessible until about midday.

Visitors are asked to bring along the name of an ancestor from the late 1800s to the early twentieth century, together with any other details that they may have about the person.

Club Members will then use their extensive on-line resources to trace that person, opening up pathways for searches that can extend back for centuries.

Our annual Easter Egg hunt for youngsters will also be conducted in the Community Garden, starting at 11.30am.

To ensure orderly egg collections, the western entrance to the Garden will be closed.

Egg hunters, friends and family are asked to enter the Community Garden from High Street, via the laneway that runs beside the Community House.

The House will also have a stall at the High Street market, and will have tickets for our exciting Easter raffle available to purchase. This year’s prize is a superb handmade quilt, lovingly crafted by members of our Monday patchwork group. The quilt would enhance any household, so make sure you buy a ticket.

Rushworth Community House held its 2011 Annual General Meeting last week, and the occasion once again depicted a vibrant organisation that had undergone numerous positive changes over the preceding twelve months.

Acting Principal of the Rushworth P12, John Blair, had been invited to address the meeting on a topic of his choice, and spoke about the beneficial changes that have been implemented at the school over the past few months.

In addition to the quest for academic excellence, Mr. Blair spoke of his passion for expanded contact between the school and the wider community, and the benefits that would accrue both to students and the general regional population.

He congratulated Rushworth Community House for its strong involvement with the College, and was keen to see that contact maintained and expanded in future years.

Following Mr. Blair’s address, the meeting returned to its normal order, with key office-holders and staff members presenting a series of activity reports for the preceding twelve months.

RCH President Carolyn Ashton’s report focused on the impact of “change”, with respect to both the administration of Neighbourhood and Community Houses, and the boost that our House receives whenever new volunteers join our team, bringing with them new skills and capabilities that can be employed for the benefit of the community.

In her Manager’s Report, Lyn Rumble noted several areas in which House endeavours had been especially successful over the past twelve months. Among these were special events such as our Staff and Volunteers Night, our Annual Brown Nose Award evening, and monthly Wood-fired Pizza Luncheons in the Community Garden.

Innovative courses such as Belly Dancing and our Genealogy Club have been real winners, while overall course participation rose by six per cent, and almost sixteen hundred students have attended our classes.

The House has established a strong, active partnership with the Waranga Campus of Goulburn Valley Health, jointly hosting successful Womens and Mens Health Nights during 2010, and participating in several joint community health initiatives.

Lyn’s report also noted that – in common with with many community organisations – the House continues to have difficulties attracting and retaining volunteers to carry out the many roles and activities that are our lifeblood.

Our biggest problem appears to be that Community House training is seen as an eminent qualification for paid employment, and several of our “recruits” have secured permanent employment outside RCH.

RTC Supervisor Cass Alexander presented the report of the House’s Rural Transaction Centre, which performs many service functions for the House itself, other Community groups and organisations, and a wide range of local residents whose needs can be as diverse as acquiring a Passport or ID Photo, watching a classic film with friends, using a fax, printer or PC, or spending an evening at the Rushworth Observatory.

Reports from bookkeeper Brian Wright, Community Garden guru Sandy Ashton, Mens Shed and OHS chief Harry Ashton, and maintenance whiz Ken Doyle indicate clearly that the House is in great shape, and is well prepared to meet the challenges that it will inevitably confront during 2011/12.

New House Committee

Nominations for the Community House’s Office Bearers, Committee of Management and Special Office holders were open throughout March, closing shortly before the 2011 Annual General Meeting.

As the nominations received were equal to the number of vacancies to be filled, the nominated persons were all elected.

These are as follows:

· President Carolyn Ashton

· Vice President Cass Alexander

· Secretary Bernie Halpin

· Treasurer Rae Johnston

Committee Members:

· Yvonne Aburrow

· Harry Ashton

· Helen Craig

· Ken Doyle

· Michele Hanson

· Elvie Moody

· Marion Riley

· Wendy Robinson

· Heather Wellington

• Public Officer Yvonne Aburrow

• OHS/Risk Manager Harry Ashton

The new Committee expressed its sincere appreciation to Bev Fielden and Carolyn Toohey – members of the out-going Committee – who contributed so much to the House during 2010

Reduced RCH hours during school holidays

From Monday 11 April until Thursday 21 April inclusive, Rushworth Community House will open each day between 9am and 1pm.

Normal hours will resume on 27 April.

Centrelink activities such as forms lodgement by fax and document verification will only be available between 9am and 1pm, as will public access to the computer terminals in our computer training room.

Anyone requiring a Passport or ID photo during this period is asked to contact the House on 5856 1295 to arrange an appointment. Urgent passport / ID photos completed outside the reduced opening hours will attract a small surcharge.

Also, Rushworth Community House is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rushworth.communityhouse

Follow RCH on Twitter @rushcomhouse