The groups quickly jelled and there was lots of friendly banter and jokes. After stopping at Holbrook for a short tea break and viewing the submarine, we proceeded to the hotel at Wangaratta where we stayed for five nights.

The itinerary was varied, and the six days set aside for the trip were easily filled with interesting and enjoyable trips in the surrounding area with each day rounded off by an excellent evening meal. On Wednesday we all enjoyed singing along with Lazy Harry some favourite Aussie folk songs.

The northeast of Victoria is well known for its scenery and agriculture, so it’s no surprise that several townships visited featured gourmet activities including wine and cider tasting, specialist pickles and mustard, olives and of course, cheese!

Those familiar with Yarrawonga will know of Lake Mulwala which was created by building a dam across the Murray River back in 1939. We had an enjoyable trip around the lake in a pleasure craft, navigating between the old trees with their resident cockatoos and admiring some of the upmarket waterfront homes.

The name Hamilton Hume is already well known to us, but his brother John Kennedy Hume is perhaps less familiar. However, we learnt that he was killed at Gunning by the infamous Whitten gang, leaving a widow called Elizabeth and nine young children.

Her brother- in- law decided to build her a new home called Byramine Homestead. The central room is known as the fortress, and was octagonal, so it could be easily defended against bushrangers. The homestead has been preserved and is a National Trust property. There is a brewery on site together with cider and wine for sale. Later that afternoon we travelled to Glenrowan to the scene of the notorious bushranger Ned Kelly’s last stand and the town where he was captured in 1880.

The town of Bright is an attractive place and we had a most informative guided tour before spending time wandering around the town’s sights and shops. 

The penultimate day centred on the town of Beechworth, once the busy centre of the Victorian Goldfields. It was at Beechworth that the trial of Ned Kelly took place and some of us participated in a re-enactment in the courthouse.

The last day saw our departure from Wangaratta heading north to the border and stopping for morning tea at Holbrook. When we arrived at Yass we had lunch at the RSL before being dropped off in Goulburn and saying our goodbyes to our new Sydney friends.

We are now looking forward to our Club BBQ later this month and a trip up river from Bateman’s Bay at the end of November. For membership details please call Barbara Taylor on 4822 8793.

Did you know The Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.