Gallery

News and pictures of events we've had:

Cheynes Beach

 A group of 25 members enjoyed a whale watching excursion to Cheynes Beach, which is right in the path of the southern migration.

On a chilly Albany day, everyone arrived rugged up in their warmest winter gear and ready for an enjoyable morning by the coast. From our excellent vantage point high on the rocks, we settled in with binoculars in hand and spent several hours scanning the horizon for signs of passing whales.

We managed to see a number of distant spouts appearing across the bay, giving us glimpses of whale activity. We were fortunate to spot one humpback whale breaking the surface. While there were no close-up encounters, it was still a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the coastal scenery and good company and the fun of watching for whales as they make their way along the coast.

We enjoyed a casual lunch of fish and chips or hamburgers, followed by Carmel’s delicious brownies at the nearby caravan park takeaway before our drive home.


Poacher's Ridge

 Poacher’s Ridge, the smallest 5 Star vineyard in WA. Although having only 20 acres under vine, the winery produces exceptional cool climate wines and has won many awards.

Our host Alex Taylor was welcoming, informative and passionate about both the vineyard and its wines. He and his wife Janet purchased the former cattle grazing property in 1999 and transformed it into the boutique vineyard it is today, growing varieties including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling and Malbec. Two varieties that sparked our curiosity were Marsanne and Viognier, as very little of either is grown in WA.

Members enjoyed hearing about the vineyard’s small batch approach being hand picked and tasting unique wines such as the Ashari white blend, named after their grandchildren Ash and Ari.

The setting high on the ridge was beautiful, with stunning countryside views and a warm, relaxed atmosphere enjoyed by all.


Games in the Park

 Our picnic and games afternoon in the park was all about good company and enjoying our picnic in the fresh air with just enough competitive spirit to keep things lively.

We set up four games stations across a level grassy area, giving everyone plenty of space to test our skills in the Swedish game Klop, cricket, boules, quoits, Cornhole and Giant Snakes & Ladders with dice to match – the last two kindly offered to us by Christine of the Denmark Chocolate Company.

We kept it light and fun until the finale - the Great Klop Championship, with two loud and enthusiastic teams vying for the win. Steve claimed the winning points for his team in the first challenge and Rosemary closed the deal for her team in the second game, bringing us to a perfectly balanced draw.


Lighting the Sound

 Our recent outing to Albany was a wonderful evening of good company. It was great to see crowds strolling along the foreshore and enjoying the city’s bicentenary celebrations, which include the Lighting the Sound installation created by Finnish light artist Karin Kola.

Our group travelled by bus to Due South, where we had front row seats overlooking the harbour, all thanks to Mal’s careful planning.

As darkness fell, the harbour lit up with green and red floodlights casting a glow across the water. Disappointingly, much like the Aurora, the full effect was only seen in our photos. The installation was designed to evoke the natural light displays seen in the night sky, atmospheric and quietly beautiful rather than spectacular.

Most of all, it was a pleasure to share the experience together. With good food and conversation, it was a happy night out for our club. Many thanks again to Mal for organising such a memorable outing and ensuring everything ran so smoothly.


Exploring Agatha Christie

 Andrew Green, The Twin Passions of Agatha Christie: Mystery and Music

Members of both our club and Denmark Probus Club enjoyed a presentation at the Men’s Shed, when Andrew Green, accompanied by his wife Diana on their return visit from Hertfordshire, explored the twin passions of Agatha Christie, mystery and music. While we know her as the brilliant creator of detectives such as Poirot and Miss Marple, Andrew revealed her passion for classical music that threads its way through her novels.


Picnic

 Our combined walk and morning tea with Denmark Probus Club was a great success. A gentle stroll through Kwoorabup Park along the river gave members from both clubs the chance to mingle and chat - a perfect icebreaker before settling in under the shade of the old oak tree.

Chairs were gathered in a circle, morning tea was shared, and there was no shortage of compliments for the lemon cake and peach and raspberry slice - one from each club - enjoyed by all.