Tocumwal Lions Club recently held a small annual change over.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
While the executive remains the same, this did not sop them celebrating the occasion with a meal.
District Governor Carol Kennedy was on hand to perform the reinstallation of Sandra Williams to president, Gail Bourke to secretary and Sun Lui as treasurer.
Len Soule was presented with a 45 year milestone chevron.
Len is one of the two remaining charter members of the Club.
●●●
The second shift of the police and army border guards have completed their stint and returned to the Sydney area.
They have been replaced by the third wave of protection.
Strangely, despite so much publicity, they are still finding people trying to get over the border to travel north.
And we thought they had all gone in the 48 hours before the NSW border closed to Victorians.
The town is showing an amazing amount of hospitality to these officers and army personnel away from their homes, providing freshly home baked goodies and plenty to do on their time off.
There has to be some benefits to standing out in the cold on a freezing winter night, stopping traffic.
●●●
Did you miss the grand reopening of the Community Op Shop yesterday?
This community run op shop will be open on limited days, and on restricted hours, for the moment.
Hopefully, if all goes well, they will be open Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm and then again on Saturday mornings.
Of course COVID-19 restrictions apply in the shop for your protection, the health of the volunteer staff and others visiting the shop.
The op shop is also open for donations of clean clothing and saleable goods.
Remember if you would not give it to your friend, then don’t donate.
●●●
An update on the border asses.
They must be renewed every 14 days and every person in the car must have a pass to make sure there are no stowaways on board.
To cross the river by boat or to go fishing, you must also carry a border pass.
One local lady surprised the border team last week when she took a stroll over the rail bridge and returned over the new bridge, which is her version of "doing the block".
The very surprised crew on that day did not know there was another bridge and were very happy that she had pointed out another way in to NSW for those in the know.
●●●
Remember all the small businesses you asked for donations for your schools and clubs over the years?
Well, they are doing it tough right now and are calling in the favour.
Patronise them now so they can make it through this crisis, and they will help you again in the future.
Shop for your Christmas presents now, have a coffee with friends and buy your groceries locally.
●●●
Another community function has fallen foul of COVID-19 in our town - the Very Snuggly Quilt Project.
Every year, quilters in this district pour their hearts and souls into making little quilts for the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne
A group project by Tocumwal Sew ‘n’ Sews and the Tocumwal Girls’ Shed, the Very Snuggly Quilt Project makes hundreds of quilts for the sickest of kids in the Royal Children’s’ Hospital.
Due to the virus, the Royal Children’s’ has put a stop to all but parents and guardians entering the hospital, so protect the very vulnerable children at risk.
This means the volunteers, who usually distribute the quilts, are prevented from doing their lovely work.
The storage unit at the Very Snuggly depot is overflowing with beautiful quilts and Marie Lee, the co-ordinator, has called a halt to the quilt-in days.
This includes the one in Tocumwal, usually in September.
But that doesn’t mean that quilters can rest on their laurels, it just means there is no room at the depot at the moment.
Please keep stitching and making gorgeous little quilts, because when restrictions are lifted the volunteers will once again be needing quilts.
Make the quilts and them keep at home.
The criteria for getting a quilt is quite tight, as they are meant for those with life threatening conditions or those with long and arduous rehabilitation periods where a quilt will lift their spirits.
Tocumwal Girls’ Shed members are in the process of making little quilts and already have a few in the storeroom.
This follows on from the big effort of taking 59 quilts of all sizes to the people of Corryong after the fires.
There is a lot of love in this community.
●●●
Tocumwal Martial Arts had a return to training session on Sunday.
It was held at the Tocumwal netball courts and training was open to everyone, so they had a good turnout.
The group followed all protocols for COVID safety reasons of course, and everyone was advised to bring along their own drink bottles, a personal towel if they needed it, a yoga style mat, and their own gloves.
Any queries about what is to follow for the club, call or text Steven on 0418 176 679.