A great morning held at the Tidy Towns/Lions Club Park, with glorious sunny weather, and thankfully no flies or mozzies. Many enjoyed a aussie breaky with traditional damper.
We would like to thank Cheryl Ryan for providing a write up of the Awards Recipients.
Congratulations to all who won awards at Gulargambone Australia Day Awards Ceremony on Australia Day
Citizen of the year was Alan (Rev) Walker
Young Citizen was Kiara Reid
Achievement in sport was Marshall Ryan
Community Event went to the ANZAC Centenary Exhibition
Community Group of the year went to the Gulargambone Rural Transaction Centre.
Congratulations to Colin Ryan on your well deserved Order of Australia Medal this Australia Day. 
Colin has been a volunteer and driving force for two eight two eight, and many other community groups in Gulargambone. Colin can always be counted on for a great community spirit, good ol’ conversation and to lend a helping hand. We love the work you do Col, and the next coffee is on us!!

A great morning was had by all who attended, and A Big Thank You to Coonamble Shire for putting on the breakfast, to all our helpers and to our Ambassador, Ben Steel.

Thank you to Jenet Stewart for sharing her photos from Australia Day with us.

Notes from the Book Club Gulargambone

Each month's meeting is held at two eight two eight, sharing our thoughts and views on the current book. 

We always enjoy a lovely meal with tea and coffee (and sometimes a nice bottle of wine!)

This month's read was:-
Susan Abulhawa – “The Blue between Sky & Water”
Beautifully Written
Amazing insight into the Israeli/Palestinian conflict from a view point rarely heard. 
A moving read that rated well.

Our next read will be:-  
Isabell Allende – “The Japanese Lover”

Other Suggestions 
Claire Wright – “The Rebel of Eureka”
Alyssa Palombo – “Violinist of Venice”
Hanya Yanagihara – “A Little Life”

Firstly, we would like to congratulate James Knight and Brooke Chatfield in completing their school years and wish them both the very best with their exams. We hope that they achieve everything they wish for their future. They will always have the support of the town.

Our guests of honour were welcomed to two eight two eight by the wonderful teachers and staff of Gulargambone Central School, who decorated the hall in green, blue and silver balloons; candles; glitter and table menus. 

It was a wonderful night for the students and their families, who enjoyed a meal of roast chicken or beef, baked vegetables, and greens served with a bread roll. 

Wow! What a busy month at two eight two eight. Aside from all our lovely regular visitors and our friends from the Caravan Park, we had three bus groups come for lunch.

The Mendooran District Landcare Group came to lunch on the 4th June led by Michael Yeo. What a wonderful group of twenty or so people they were and they enjoyed Burgers, Pumpkin Soup with Homemade Bread, Thai Green Chicken Curry, Creamy Chicken Mushroom and Leek Fettucine, and Fish and Chips.I would like to thank Michael Yeo and the Mendooran Landcare Group for choosing two eight two eight and also for being such terrific customers.

Here is a photo of the group outside two eight two eight, provided to me from Michael Yeo.

 

Carewest Community Group also enjoyed a leisurely lunch of sandwiches, scones and cakes with tea and coffees on the 11th June. This is the third time the group has come to two eight two eight, and what a lovely group of people. Next time, and I’m told there will be next time, they are going to order meals from the café menu.

Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre Inc group came for a leisurely lunch of Shepherd’s Pie, Cheesecake and Chocolate Pudding with tea and coffee on the 26th June.  This was a lively and friendly group of 23 people and what a great time was had by all. They watched the two eight two eight movie, bought up big from the craft shop and talked and laughed for a couple of hours. They truly made it a very special day at two eight two eight, for all of us.

In a write up in their community paper it says, “Thumbs Up to Café 2828 at Gulargambone for serving a welcome two-course lunch for 23 people on the Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre trip from Dubbo, to a standard which would give Dubbo outlets a run for their money. Great coffee too! Plus a range of craft-shop items to tempt the purse! Hats off to the Gular community for the hard work it’s thrown into the 2828 enterprise.”

Here is a picture of the group outside two eight two eight, provided to me from Zillah Iwikau.

 

Thank you to all our visitors this month. We couldn’t keep going without your support and encouragement.

Functions Galore @ two eight two eight

March has been a busy month for the staff and volunteers @ two eight two eight this month. We have had both the AMPS Meeting, Seminar and Dinner, and the GRAS Meeting, Seminar and Dinner.
We have also had Coonamble Shire Counsellors over for lunch, and we held a "Special Lunch" for our student helpers for Dinner under the Stars.

The AMPS Meeting and Seminar included presentations from  Scott Ceeney (Agronomist and Manager of AMPS, Armatree), Jules Dixon (AMPS Research), Matt Gardner (AMPS Research), and a speaker from Zimbabwe, Martin currently working for Sara and Chris Roche, who previously came from a large farming property, discussing the similarities with our region in regards to soils, weather and problems, but with some very helpful advise and solutions.

GRAS Meeting and Dinner also saw some very interesting speakers and drew quite a crowd because of them. They included Angus Gidley-Baird discussing China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and what it means to farmers; Harvey Gaynor discussing Corporate agriculture, where is it headed in Australia; Kane Younghusband sharing insights on Northern agriculture; and Mark Congreve a Senior Consultant with ICAN discussing the grains, pulse, oilseeds, and cotton and horticulture markets.

The guests all enjoyed afternoon tea with Coffee and Scones, followed by a scrumptious meal. A welcome finish to a day of intense learning.

Coonamble Shire Councillors held their meeting in the Memorial Hall where they were provided morning tea by the Lions Club and Memorial Hall Committee, and then sauntered over to enjoy meals from the two eight two eight Cafe Menu with their coffees and cold drinks.

Two days later we had bookings for the Book Club, a group of eleven ladies, and the "Special Thank You Lunch" for the children from Gulargambone Central School who helped out and worked tirelessly for Dinner under the Stars. The kids were escorted by Katie Rowe, who organised the the group of young workers, and Leah Hammond. Katie also helped with making the milkshakes and getting out the dessert. The kids truly enjoyed themselves and thought it was great to be served and called "madam and sir".

A very busy day for our staff though, but they handled themselves with grace and decorum and did a terrific job. Well done ladies.

If you like to see some pictures from these events, then simply open our "Gallery" page. Enjoy! 

Saturday night 14th March 2015 saw over 40 guests enjoy the first movie screening for two eight two eight’s Film Society 2015 season  - “The Hundred –Foot Journey”.  This title was requested by Bookclub enthusiasts who loved the novel, and by all accounts it didn’t disappoint.

A delicious meal of butter chicken with raita, mango chutney and pappadums was enjoyed and savoured, prepared by our wonderful chef Cath Peart, prior to the evening as she was unable to attend on the night – thankyou very much Cath for coming to our rescue yet again when no other volunteer was available to cook for us.  Dessert was a yummy berry meringue ice-cream prepared and served by our talented Alison Tancred – thankyou Al!  Sally Beveridge and Bettina Spora were kept busy processing everyone’s membership for the year, while Hugh and Michael (aka their capable other halves) followed Cath’s instructions to the letter to get the meal to our guests.  

Our next movie screening will be a School Holiday Special on Saturday 11th April – watch this space for more information.  Membership for 2015 is $20 Single or $40 Family (Couples with or without children) which allows movie admission for all screenings this year.

 

 

 

The 19th December saw two eight two eight hold it’s annual Christmas Lunch. Our guests from all walks of life were both young and mature of years. It was a lovely afternoon with much laughter and frivolity.
Paul Fisher came in as our guest chef to do the Roast Pork and Roast Chicken, along with the baked vegetable trio of potato, pumpkin and sweet potato, with fresh baby beans as our seasonal greens. Pauline Hammond and Michelle Rewiri were Paul’s right hands (always good to have three!) and did a marvelous job of supporting Paul in the kitchen.
Michelle and Pauline prepared the mini pavlovas with the berry coulis and whilst they were at it, learnt a few tricks of the trade from Paul who has catered many functions.
We were also very lucky to have our two prospective trainees come in to assist with the serving and clean up. Grant Milgate and Kiara Reid. What great workers they are and what wonderful attitudes they have. I think they secretly enjoyed themselves.

They all worked very well together and did a wonderful job. A BIG THANK YOU to them all.

Our guests for the day included the Haling family, the Wykes family, the O’Brien’s and the Anderson's. Maria and David (our long term guests at the caravan park), sat with Deidre Walker, Valda Glen, Nicole Morris and her daughters, Lee Hamilton, Paul Ower (who also chipped in and helped), and Diane Rusk. All up we had twenty five guests, with four take away Christmas meals also prepared.

Thank you to all our guests and staff. You all made it very special!

 

 

The doors opened at six and the crowd came rushing in. The excitement rose not only for the movie but also because there was a six year old birthday party being held at the movies. Lilla Oehm hit the big six and her party was a hit!
Popcorn was flowing, hot dogs were devoured and kids were laughing and having a fantastic time.
The movie hit the big screen just as the rain drops fell softly on the tin roof, so parents at the party were also happy due to the long awaited rain.
We stopped the movie half way through so everyone could refill from the candy bar and Lilla was able to blow out the candles of her cake. Let me tell you a kid’s party at two eight two eight will be high on many children’s wish list for 2015 as this party was screaming FUN!!! Why head to Dubbo when you can do it all at Gular -­- and cheaper too!
The night started on a high and ended on an even bigger high. All the kids loved the movie and it looked like quite a few adults who were enjoying their BYO beers were having a laugh too.

Our first adult trainee, Pauline Hammond, has graduated and achieved her Certificate III in Hospitality. Congratulations Pauline. This has been a three year course and we are very proud that Pauline has successfully completed her traineeship and chosen to do so at two eight two eight.

Pauline has not only grown in her abilities but also in confidence. She always has a smile on her face and is always happy to help. Not only has Pauline learnt so much during the past three years, but has taught those around her and not just at two eight two eight.

In the first photo below, we have Pauline accepting her certificate and flowers, and in the second, she is photographed with Angela O'Brien, who tutored Pauline with her written work. Pauline says, "I could not have got through my course without Angela's help".

Once again, Congratulations Pauline.

 

 

2015 Dinner under the Stars

Saturday 28 February

6.30pm till late

Black Tie

Early Bird ticket price $90pp (if booked before 6 February)

Bus to and from Dubbo

Tickets go on sale from 1 December, 2014

Want to be a table host? email twoeight28@me.com to find out how!

Dinner under the Stars is an annual fundraising event for two eight two eight, a volunteer-run

organisation at Gulargambone

You are invited to join us for an evening of fine food, music and entertainment!

Please check out our Our Story presentation and our video for new sponsorship options under our Dinner Under the Stars page on our website. You will be very much enlightened and hopefully excited!