Earlier that day members of the Gunning Garden Club were treated to a promised viewing of the spectacular Judas tree at ‘Rutherford’, home of John and Suzi Shaw. This specimen of cercis siliquastrum was described as the biggest he had ever seen by gardening guru, Graham Ross, when he was in Gunning as the 2016 Australia Day Ambassador.

Like most flowering plants this spring, the Judas tree flowered nearly a month later than usual. There are forebears of this tree at a home on Hume Street, Goulburn opposite the Waminda nursing home.  

Incidentally John and Suzi have vastly differing gardening styles. Suzi is all for the TLC while John is a “dig a hole, plonk it in, stomp it down and walk away” type. Infuriatingly John is the more successful of the two!

Rising phoenix-like out of the ashes of the Gunning and District Chamber of Commerce is the recently formed Gunning District Association. The president is Peta Luck supported by vice-president Krystaal Hinds, secretary/treasurer Royce Daviss, and committee members Leslie Bush, Vanessa Mackay, Alison Colebrook, Brett Young and Patrick Smith.

At the inaugural AGM last week, ideas on what could and should be done in Gunning village and district flowed freely with a commitment to work with Council where possible to achieve goals. At the November 16 meeting of the council in Gunning, a presentation will be made to introduce the group to councillors.

President Peta Luck, local business woman and farmer, said that she is really looking forward to working with such a great group of enthusiastic people and encourages everyone to join – membership is free.

The next meeting is Wednesday, November 16, 7pm in the Tony Foley Centre or email gunningdistrictassociation@gmail.com.

Not the real Bob Hawke, former Prime Minister, but the chap who played him for 30 seconds in the two part ABC ‘Australian Story’ aired in late 2014! Young Bob Hawke had a serious accident off a Panther motorbike on his way to university. To make the program authentic, this chap (never got his name) rode an identical motorbike in Kings Park where an accident was staged.

Stopping in Gunning for a cuppa, the visitor had not one but two Panthers in a trailer and was on his way to meet with other Panther enthusiasts near Adelaide. Incidentally the preferred collective noun for panthers is a ‘leap’ although I prefer a ‘sprint’.

The Panther marquee was the best known of motorbikes manufactured by Phelon & Moore, Cleckheaton UK from 1904 to 1967 and were used by the Royal Flying Corps in WWI.