With temperatures remaining fairly mild and frosts only light so far, there is hope of getting some decent growth before the winter chill sets in. Most have reported in excess of 30 millimetres spread around the district with some areas getting 50 millimetres.

Meadow Creek is flowing after strong falls in the catchment area closer to Canberra.

On the paddock

LAST Saturday, the recently formed Gunning Roos and Rooettes lost their home games against Harden. The best is yet to come.

There will be further home action this coming Saturday, May 14 with three MBK junior soccer matches in the morning followed by Gunning Rooettes kicking off at 1pm and Gunning Roos match at 2pm.

There will be a canteen starting from 8.30am. There was a noisy enthusiastic crowd at the last matches, so come along and give your support to all the local teams.

Gunning a haven for artists

IT IS easy to think that villages consist of a random collection of local workers, commuters and business owners.

A little glimpse beneath the surface reveals a group who have made a perhaps more focused and selective choice.

They perhaps felt the inviting and calming aspect to our village and inspiration from its historic and picturesque streetscapes, which echo the seasons.

Icons such as Max Cullen and Margarita Georgiadis and their Picture House Gallery and Bookshop is both inspirational and welcoming, and sets the scene.

There are others in the town, often more hidden happily focusing on art and letting the world do its thing. These are no lesser treasurers.

I just marvel that such a small village has so many and am intrigued to find out more.

Cycling weekend

THE annual two-day Peter McLennan Memorial cycle race organised by the ACT Veterans Cycle Club was held in Gunning last weekend.

The Saturday saw 75 riders racing in perfect weather but, oh! what a difference a day made, with the numbers well down on a Sunday, due to the weather.

The Gunning PA&I Society was on hand to cater for a lunch marked by quality, quantity and variety that was greatly appreciated by the cyclists.

My sincere thanks go to those who donated food and/or helped on the day: Anne Walmsley, Louise Duncan, Kerry Gribbin, Penny Leah, Karilyn Brown, Liz Read, Kelly Dowling, Trish Hallam, Lucy Knight, Doug Darbyshire, Jenny Medway, Vanessa Mackay, Emma Martin, Alison Colebrook, Margaret Hindley and Elysia Mackay. The monies raised will go towards children's events at the 2017 Gunning Show.

Again, a great demonstration of how our little community comes together from the old and new families when called upon and the outcomes flow back to our kids and events.

It does also remind us that having been on the Old Hume Highway and still having access to the road surface through the Cullerin Range brings new and diverse opportunities for visitors and community.

A tunneler and other treats

THE last Saturday in April saw the first meeting of the Gunning and District Historical Society in full flight after the success of the Gribbin's open house.

The Gunning and District Historical Society has incorporated and moved from the shadow of the Pye Cottage 355.

This is part of a wider aim to bring to life the diverse history of the area in a more welcoming and open format.

The meeting was well attended by members old and new. In a move to focus on new initiatives, presentations came first followed by refreshments and then the formalities.

To keeping the Anzac Spirit alive, Jerrawa resident Edith Buckley was invited to give a presentation on her father Ralph Haynes Lewis, who served in the Australian Mining Corps in the great war.

Edith has a great deal of material and her teaching background helps to shed an endearing and engaging light on what was life well lived and celebrated that extends past his service.

This was closely followed by a presentation by new Gunning resident Michael de Percy on how he would like to show us the value of Trove and the wealth of information that it holds. Michael is proposing to give courses on Trove's use in mid-June in the Gunning Library so you might want to book your place early. We welcome Michael and his family. More information on Michael's background can be found here.

Rosemary Spiller gave presentation on digital photographic collection management based on her visit to the Berrima Historical Society and discussions with their archivist that was very timely.

Refreshments followed and most members lingered to find out more. General meetings will now be held every last Saturday of the month at 2.30pm with all welcome.

Gunning holds cross-country

WE have hosted two cross-countries over the past two weeks.

On April 29, the Burrinjuck Learning Community (Bowning, Dalton, Gunning and Wee Jasper public schools) held their cross-country at Gunning. This involved using residential streets and the showground for their run. The top eight of each age group (boys and girls) went in the Yass District Cross Country. The outright winners of the BLC Cross Country were Gunning Public School with Wee Jasper and Dalton being the joint winners of the Handicap Trophy.

The Yass District Cross Country was held on May 5 at the Showground. This involved Yass Public School, Berinba Public School and the BLC. The outright winner was Berrinba Public School with the Burrinjuck Learning Community winning of the Handicap Trophy.

Breea Waters and Rubin Lees from Gunning made it to the Regional Cross Country at Nowra on June 3. Congratulations to all who participated. I would like to thank parents and community members for assisting with both cross-countries and consideration of the residents of the streets through which the course ran.

Tennis, anyone?

THE tennis competition has finished with the springtime night competition to resume in October. There were nine teams in the 1st Division with the winning team being Ben Burden (Yass) and Jenny Saul (Bellmount Forest). In the 2nd Division seven teams competed with the eventual winners being Carolyn Hannan and Rubin Lees.

This carries on a long-held tradition of tennis competitions in the district.

Any interested person can book the courts for social tennis by calling Beth Baines on 0422 431 470.

Coming up

Sat 14/5: Showground MBK Soccer (morning), Rooettes 1pm, Roos 2pm

Thu 19/5: Biggest Morning Tea, Dalton 10am-noon, tickets from PO

Sun 29/5: Lions Markets 8am-2pm, stalls and info 4845 1271 or 0405 539 482

Sat 4/6: Cancer fundraiser dinner, Old Coach Stables, 6pm, 0448 274 366 or 0419 970 930