SNOWY MOUNTAINS TRIP
It is not always "hands-on" with the tools at the Bundanoon Men's Shed. Members also participate in short self-drive holidays meeting each night at pre-booked destinations.
In March 2022, our 4-day tour encompassed the Snowy Mountains spending a night in Jindabyne and then 2 nights in Junee, the historic town in the agricultural heartland famous for wheat, canola, barley and sheep. The tour set aside time for those wishing to visit the aviation museum at Temora.
A Trip to Cowra
A contingent of Bundanoon Men’s Shed members and wives participated in a 4-day driving holiday to Canowindra and Cowra. The trip was planned to coincide with the 75th POW breakout at Cowra 05/8/1944. The group travelled independently in their own cars from Bundanoon. This method of touring seems to suit many members as it allows for commitments that may have clashed with the group leaving in a coach at an exact time
Accommodation for the 3 nights was at the Old Vic Inn Canowindra. This is a lovely old building which still retains that certain historic charm never found in a modern motel.
Highlights of the trip were:
A guided tour of The Age Of Fishes Museum Canowindra. It was here that a huge number of fishes were captured in mud and eventually became fossils during the Devonian prehistoric period.
We visited the Cowra Art Gallery where their manager gave the group a personal tour of the POW memorabilia collected for the 75th Breakout Anniversary.
Independently the group toured the Japanese Gardens and Cultural Centre found on the outskirts of Cowra. This proved to be one of the outstanding highlights of the trip.
The group's itinerary included a visit to the AMSU (amuse you) Theatre in Manildra. This is probably the oldest theatre in Australia still being used. The itinerary included morning tea with members of the Manildra Men’s Shed, what great lot of blokes who made all of us very welcome. Everyone enjoyed immensely the short historic movies shown for the group. The highlight was an excerpt from "The Sentimental Bloke”. From Manildra the group toured to Molong for lunch, returning to Canowindra for another great meal at the Old Vic and some chat time around the log fire.
During the entire 4 days, the weather was cold and sunny. It was heartening to hear from the locals that some rain had fallen recently to alleviate, ever so slightly, the ongoing drought.
Wal Glading Tour Leader.
