CHRISTMAS PICNIC.

The 2010 picnic will be held on Sunday December 19th.

The 2009 picnic was held on Sunday 20 December 2009.

Every year in December the Association has its Xmas Picnic.

It is held at the Diamond Valley Miniature Railway Lower Eltham Park (Melway map 21 ref. H 10). 

Year after year the numbers attending this most popular activity increase.

It is a great day out for the family, the kids get to ride the trains and see Santa.

We have our own platform and train for two half hour rides (usually 11am and 2pm)
and if demand is there the Association provides tickets for those who still have not had
enough fun.

Rod and Sharon organise the event including lollies and drinks and in recent
times a very welcome sausage sizzle operation.

Come along, you won't be disappointed! 

See you again in 2010!

REPORT OF 2009.

The weather was very kind to us again this year and the facilities
were much improved on the years where we endured concrete blocks
for tables and no shade.

This year there was a beautiful rotunda especially
for us at Meadmore Station. There was also a series
of nice new timber picnic type tables & benches.
We believe by next year the final stages will be complete with
better garden surfaces etc.

Thanks to Rod Westgarth we had use of a hired portaloo,
we just need to teach visitors that red means 'engaged!':)

We had a bumper crop of kiddies this year, many having what looked like their
first picnic with us at Eltham.

As per usual we had two 30 min train rides exclusive to us and many tickets
purchased by the association for those who may have missed out on a ride
to go jump on one of the many Loco's heading out of the main station.

Santa arrived by train and was his usual popular self, he also appeared to be
a little slimmer this year and was sporting a new Santa suit.

Each kid, both big & small jumped up when their name was called and sat on
Santa's knee to receive a present. This year we had a couple of really big kids
test the strength of Santa's knee, he came through with flying colours.

Rod & Sharon provided a BBQ yet again with a steady sale of snags and burgers
in bread. I was Rod's part time assistant turning sausages and making sure a raffle
ticket was given out with each snag/burger sold.

The raffle prizes included many great items supplied by members and the association
and included polo shirts, baseball caps and much more.

Tommy called out the winning numbers but I think his version of the English language
had some wondering if they had won or not. Good job Tommy!

Plenty of soft drink was supplied by the Association for the kiddies as were bags of
lollies by Santa to go along with the presents.

Santa had his usual two helpers, Lauren Westgarth and our President Darryl Pinner.
Thanks to both of you for your assistance to Santa. Santa was a hit not only with the
kids but also gave us adults a laugh with some of his funny comments.

All in all it was a great day and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year.

Dave White. (committee member)

PHOTOS OF 2009; KIDS WITH SANTA.
(Photos have been cropped, I tried to get a picture of each child & if you would like an uncropped version just e-mail the association)

Photo's D. White.