We’re back!!!
2026 is roaring along at a great pace. We did not have our first official meeting for 2026 until February, however January Wednesdays were generally well patronised. We only missed one day – January 28th – due to the extreme heat forecast.
Fortunately days are getting cooler and shorter already as I think everyone is over the heat and the dry.
We’ve had a number of new learner spinners and in some cases their wheels turn up on our workdays. Many members have brought along holiday spoils and completed works to inspire us – and some of these will be included in Show & Tell.
Some of our members have unfortunately had health issues, and we wish speedy recoveries to all.
On another sad note the Holbrook Show will not go ahead in 2026. The announcement on their FaceBook page:
Holbrook Show Cancellation – 2026
It is with great disappointment that we advise the Holbrook Show will not be held this year due to increasingly adverse seasonal conditions, the unavailability of helpers, and ongoing health challenges within our organising committee.
We know this will be disappointing news for our community, competitors and supporters, and we truly appreciate your understanding.
The Holbrook Show will return in 2027 and we look forward to coming back bigger and better.
On top of the absence of a Craft Section in the 2026 Wodonga Show, this leaves us with no local opportunities to compete this year. However we have had a presence and demonstrated at Craft Alive at the Wodonga Showgrounds, and hope to be able to promote our Guild in further events during the year.
Cheers all,
KathyW, Editor.
March - April Program
| March 4th | Casual Workday | |
| March 11th | Business meeting | |
| March 18th | Casual Workday | |
| March 25th | Dyeing Day | |
| April 1st | Casual Workday | |
| April 8th | Business Meeting | |
| April 15th | Casual Workday | |
| April 18th | Wangaratta Wool Day, 9am-3pm Milawa Community Hall. | |
| April 19th | B & C Sheep Ass. Woolfest 2026 Mittagong RSL. 10 am to 4pm | |
| April 22nd | Casual Workday | |
| April 29th | Casual Workday |
Committee 2025 – 2026
President:
Deb Carpenter
Vice President:
Darlene Anderson
Secretary (communications/events):
Amanda Eaton
Minute Officer:
Amanda Eaton
Treasurer:
Rhonda Delahoy
Assistant Treasurer:
Julie Hofer
Social Media Officer:
Kathy Wheeler
Library/Equipment Officer:
Heather Mulqueeney and Rhonda Delahoy
Newsletter Editor:
Kathy Wheeler
Public Officer:
Julie Hofer
KeyHolders Roster
Wednesday Work Days and Meetings
1st Wed of month – Secretary
2nd Wed of month – President
3rd Wed of month – Treasurer
4th Wed of month – Julie or Louise
5th Wed of month *IF* there is one – tba
The Showground Trust also has keys.
| Morning Tea Roster 2026 – Business Meeting | |
|---|---|
| 11th February | TBA |
| 11th March | |
| 8th April | Ella & Jill |
| 6th May | |
| 10th June | Jane & Julie |
| 8th July | Rhonda & Heather? |
| 12th August | Louise & Kathy |
| 9th September | |
| 7th October | |
| 11th November | |
| 9th December | Everyone bring a plate!!! |
Morning Tea Duties: Arrive a little early. Bring morning tea and milk. Set up morning tea cups, plates etc, boil kettle/urn.
Show & Tell - 11th February 2026
Amanda
Jane
Darlene
Deb
Valerie
Julie
Kathy W.
Fleecy Follies
Might as well face it she’s addicted to sticks!
We have a few humorous tales to share this issue, starting with one of the Munchkin twins (not sure if it’s Minnie or May – her tag # has worn off). For some time now she’s been observed chewing on sticks. Specifically either mulberry or tagasaste (tree lucerne) sticks, both good fodder sources. We often prune the tagasaste and occasionally the mulberry and all the sheep love the prunings, devouring the leaves and often chewing the bark off larger branches.
This Munchkin cleverly nibbles smaller sticks back and forth from one end to the other. She can even chew her stick and eat hay at the same time. Their water trough has a growing collection of sticks she’s dropped in it. Initially we just thought it was a curiosity, but it now seems to be a habit for her and she is rarely without a stick in her mouth.
A funny thing happened during shearing
Alpaca shearing was completed between Christmas and New Year. No real dramas apart from re-scheduling the boys by a few hours to let Joe take a dog to the vet.
As usual, although most of the alpacas behaved like 2 year olds having their first hair cut (ie badly), once off the table everything was forgotten. Many would come back in and annoy the next patient. One girl however – Hail – became besotted with Paul, or perhaps his beard?
Rain, glorious rain!
While many local areas received hundreds of mm of rain the last few weeks, our property experienced a more manageable 79mm over two extended rain events. It has helped top up water tanks and dams although much more follow-up rain is needed.
The trees, particularly the flame trees that were suffering, have produced a healthy showing of new green leaves.
The difference it is making to the paddocks is evident already, with a flush of green pick the sheep and alpacas are both enjoying.
2026 Program - a work in progress
| January 7th | Rhonda and Heather will attend to clean out the rooms after the insect bombs. | |
| January 14th | Amanda will open up. | |
| January 21st | Julie will open up. | |
| January 28th | Cancelled due to extreme heat forecast | |
| February 4th | Casual Workday | |
| February 11th | First Business Meeting for 2026 | |
| February 18th | Casual Workday | |
| February 25th | Casual Workday | |
| March 4th | Casual Workday | |
| March 11th | Business meeting | |
| March 18th | Casual Workday | |
| March 25th | Dyeing Day | |
| April 1st | Casual Workday | |
| April 8th | Business Meeting | |
| April 15th | Casual Workday | |
| April 18th | Wangaratta Wool Day, 9am-3pm Milawa Community Hall. | |
| April 19th | B & C Sheep Ass. Woolfest 2026 Mittagong RSL. 10 am to 4pm | |
| April 22nd | Casual Workday | |
| April 29th | Casual Workday | |
| May 6th | Casual Workday | |
| May 13th | Business Meeting | |
| May 16th & 17th | Canberra Wool Expo, 9:30 - 2:30 Old Bus depot Markets Canberra | |
| May 20th | Casual Workday | |
| May 27th | Casual Workday | |
| June 3rd | Casual Workday | |
| June 6th | Shepparton Wool & Fibre Fair 10:00am - 3:00pm, St Augustines Parish Church Hall, Orr Street, Shepparton. | |
| June 10th | Business Meeting | |
| June 17th | Casual Workday | |
| June 24th | Casual Workday | |
| July 1st | Casual Workday | |
| July 8th | Business Meeting | |
| July 15th | Casual Workday | |
| July 17th – 19th | Australian Sheep & Wool Show (Bendigo) from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Friday & Saturday, from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm Sunday. At the Bendigo Showgrounds. | |
| July 22nd | Casual Workday | |
| July 29th | Casual Workday | |
| August 1st - 2nd | South Coast Fibre Muster - from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm Saturday & Sunday. At the Berry School of Arts. | |
| August 5th | Casual Workday | |
| August 12th | AGM, Business Meeting & Guild’s Birthday | |
| August 19th | Casual Workday | |
| August 26th | Casual Workday | |
| September 2nd | Casual Workday | |
| September 9th | Business Meeting | |
| September 16th | Casual Workday | |
| September 23rd | Casual Workday | |
| September 30th | Casual Workday | |
| October 7th | Casual Workday | |
| October 14th | Business Meeting | |
| October 21th | Casual Workday | |
| October 28th | Rooms closed for Albury Show | |
| November 4th | Rooms closed for Albury Show ??? | |
| November 11th | Business Meeting | |
| November 18th | Casual Workday | |
| November 25th | ||
| December 2nd | Casual Workday | |
| December 9th | Business Meeting, Christmas Lunch | |
| December 16th | TBA |
Last words ...
A few housekeeping items:
1 – Some members have been getting spam type emails saying they are coming from Guild members. If anyone gets a suspicious looking message, do not open it or any links within it.
2 – Please do not park in front of the Guild’s side double doors or the undercover area. Park on the grassy areas only.
3 – The drain area outside the Guild door that fills up with water when it rains is becoming DANGEROUS with one of our members slipping in the mud and algae growing there. PLEASE KEEP WELL CLEAR OF THE DRAIN AND MUD even when it appears dry!
Newsletter contributions are always welcome. So, if anyone has anything they want to contribute, or requests for articles, email me!
Cheers for now,
KathyW, Ed.
