Report of Visit to Gwenrose Farm

Sunday 21st August 2005

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V.M.M.A. visit to Gwenrose Farm. 

 

The V.M.M.A. earlier in the year started to look at expanding their charitable work into providing assistance to some group that already provided camp type facilities to those less fortunate than ourselves.

 

A number of suggestions came forth, but on review it was found that the location and logistics of being able to provide on going assistance to those suggested was not feasible.

 

It was thought that Central Victoria was logistically the place to look for such a facility, for it was central for both Melbourne and Country V.M.M.A. members and that we could provide ongoing assistance to this area of Victoria.

 

We had heard of a Camp in Central Victoria that provided "FOR SPECIAL KIDS" and that a number of Freemasons Lodges in Victoria had already provided assistance and donations of items to this camp.

Some of the amusement rides at Gwenrose Farm. 

On further enquiries it was found that W. Bro. Ray Jessup, W.M. of Mullum Valley Lodge and Gwen Jessup were the persons to talk to regarding "Gwenrose Farm FOR SPECIAL KIDS".

 

A onsite visit was organised for Sunday 21st August 2005 at "Gwenrose Farm" which is located 10 klm's pass Clunes Town Hall on the road to Talbot.

 

The following V.M.M.A. members attended the visit Matt, Jane, Pedro, Bron, The Baron, Dean, Terri, Sharyn and Chris who was some what sore and sorry ( who took his training wheels off his dirt bike?).

 

Ray & Gwen made us most welcome and provided coffee and nibbles in the Cafe at the Farm, Ray explained how Gwenrose Farm evolved and that the bushfires in 1986 had destroyed the facilities most of which have been rebuilt.

 

The Farm provides for any child and their family with a get away, time out from the pressures of every day life, it has many fun activities which make it unique which include many of the rides from Luna Park, Gwenrose Farm presently can accommodate around 30 people.

Inside the cinema at Gwenrose Farm. 

After an extensive walk around the camp it became evident that the two Merry-go-rounds purchased from Luna Park required immediate attention to protect them from the weather.

 

The material required to cover the two Merry-go-rounds is onsite, but needs to be dragged out and a plan made up for their erection.

 

The V.M.M.A. has offered to Ray & Gwen our assistance to carry out the task dragging out the material, making the plan and then finally erecting covers over the two Merry-go-rounds.

 

Ray & Gwen have offered to accommodate the V.M.M.A. volunteers on site, for we believe it will most likely take two weekends to complete the erection of the covers.

 

At present the plan is for a group of 4 to 6 trades people to volunteer and attend at Gwenrose Farm for a day, maybe a Saturday or Sunday to drag the material out and make a plan.

 

Once this has been completed a weekend be planned for a group of around 10 volunteers and their partners (making around 20 people) to arrive on a Saturday and stay overnight (have a social Saturday night) and continue with erection of the covers on the Sunday, then evaluate the status to complete the task.

 

We are looking for trades persons with welding, cutting, mechanical knowledge to volunteer themselves for a day to drag out the material and make a plan.

 

Please contact either Matt or Chris to register your interest in assisting with this charitable task:

Matt Turner    Mobile: 0412 324 748    Home: 03 9808 7193

Chris Wells    Mobile: 0429 943 093    Home: 03 9727 2338

Reported by CW