On Saturday 13th September, four generations of family and friends from afar (including Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, the Central Coast, Grenfell, Young, Yackandandah, Deniliquin, Bombala) and near, gathered at Cockington Green to celebrate Pop’s ninetieth birthday – a real landmark! We enjoyed a nice meal in lovely surroundings, good speeches and a yummy cake on a beautiful sunny day, followed by a tour of the gardens for some. Here’s a selection of photos – if you have some more good photos to contribute, please let us know!

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Well, we started off on our long-awaited trip to Western Australia, our departure delayed by some hours due to having to have a new aerial fitted for our radio (it had snapped off just 2 days before we left!). We were on the road between Narrandera and Hay. At 6pm the sun had set and the moon was shining brightly, when a big kangaroo hopped straight at us and we hit him as we braked. The damage to the car was considerable, and sadly, also to the kangaroo.

We were able to drive on to Hay, but decided the next day to return to Canberra (via Echuca and northern Victoria for a change of scenery) as we weren’t confident we could drive the car for another 15000km or get it fixed quickly enough to get to where we wanted to in WA. Now we’ll be flying to WA and hiring a car there. Will report on Part 2 of our trip when we return!

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It’s been over 20 years now that Pete has been Horticultural Manager at Cockington Green. There have been lots of changes and new projects in that time, including a whole new international area with models from many other countries. Here are some photos from various seasons, over the past two years. There are even a couple taken at night at one of the arranged night time viewings.

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Sadly we had to drive to Deniliquin in early January to farewell one of Peter’s aunts, June, who had been in ill health. We got a real insight into what she had achieved and what she meant to her close-knit family. We also had the chance to catch up with some of the far-flung Ellerman clan, some of whom we actually hadn’t met before.

Here are a few of the photos we took afterwards.

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Fourteen of us gathered at “The Carrington” in Katoomba for a weekend of good company, catching up with each other’s news, wining, dining, pampering, sightseeing, golfing and other outdoor pursuits. It was a great success.

We assembled on Friday evening for a meal and after-dinner drinks and billiards. On Saturday morning most of the group decided on a hike at Wentworth Falls. It was very foggy, but fortunately views were not essential to the enjoyment of the outing! The group split in two, one half to descend deeper and deeper to the valley floor (and therefore, to have to climb all the way back up afterwards!) while the other group took a less vertical but nonetheless challenging and enjoyable nature walk through swathes of rain-soaked bush, past creeks and cliffs and gullies back to Point A. A few members of the party guarded the fort or began their pampering regime the while.

A quiet afternoon was had after this strenuous effort (Pete and Kath went and checked out the spectacular Rhododendron garden at Blackheath) and little was seen of anyone before we gathered for pre-dinner drinks, in one of the luxurious sitting rooms downstairs. Out into the foggy cold night to be transported by taxi to “Silks” Brasserie at Leura. A beautiful meal followed, accompanied by wines, animated conversation and a thunderstorm of major proportions outside. Taxis back to the Carrington, where some of the group played billiards and others sensibly went to bed.

Breakfast the next morning was followed by golf for a few, a walk to Echo Point and back for a few more, some more serious pampering for the pamperees and a visit to the Rhododendron garden for the rest of the group. We reunited at “The Hattery” for coffee and goodbyes (and the buying of an inordinate number of hats, between us!) and headed off in our various directions, via interesting detours. Geoff and Jen enjoyed the Norman Lindsay Gallery and gardens at Faulconbridge, and chanced upon Fred and Judith there for lunch.

Pete and Kath stayed an extra day, visiting some gardens at Mt. Wilson in the afternoon before coming down a notch or five in the accommodation and food stakes that evening. Alas, Monday’s weather was appalling, so we headed home quite early to a wet Canberra and a half-full rainwater tank !

Many thanks go the organisers, Simon, Lenore, Andrew and Joanie for a memorable weekend.

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On 18th – 20th May 2007, our band of friends gathered for a “weekend away” in the grand tradition. Most of the group arrived on Friday, dining at night at the Tuileries Restaurant.Four more came on Saturday to join the merry gang for a guided afternoon wine-tasting tour of four vineyards, followed by a magnificent meal at Beaumont’s Cafe.

Photos are from this wonderful repast, and afterwards at the Poacher’s Paradise Pub, from whence we meandered to our beds rather late.

Golf the next day for four keen sportsmen; others headed home (Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne) at various times after fond farewells.

A great time was had by all – we must do this more often!

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“Let’s go camping!” was the cry, so a camping weekend was planned (thanks, Geoff!) For various reasons, numbers of those attending fluctuated wildly until the appointed Friday evening, when the hardy Brown and Ellerman families (with most children attached) and Andrew (Dixon) finally descended upon the appointed site, Bristol Point (what a great spot!)

After an evening of revelry and sleep, alas on Saturday the weather turned arctic (cold and windy but not wet, thankfully). We were not deterred and donned all our layers to frolic on the beach, hike through the bush and visit the headland. Dinner was a highlight as we all got to stand around the fire and warm ourselves up and then to eat yummy food. More revelry before we decided to snuggle into our warm sleeping bags at last.

On Sunday morning after a leisurely breakfast, the group broke camp, split in two, and headed home at different times. The weather had improved markedly (typical!). Some of us went to Cave Beach, walked around Booderee Botanic Gardens and then spent some time on the beach at Greenpatch, where we built a magnificent dam to hold back the surging waters (see photos).

A great time was had by all. We must do it again some time!!

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On 14 January 2006 Mooie and Lloydie celebrated 60 years of marriage at a lunch at the Country Comfort Motel, Greenway.There to help them were friends and relatives representing the many stages of their busy and productive lives, from school friends they have known since the 1920s to their neighbours now in Monash. Family members and friends came from such far-flung places as Adelaide, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Young, Grenfell, Bombala and the Central Coast and made it a very special occasion.

Muriel and Lloyd organised the whole show just about all by themselves (had no choice — we were in NZ and Michael was in the US!) and it was a memorable party, with messages received from the local MP, Prime Minister, Governor-General and the Queen.

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