We had a very informative evening with Mike Keller as Guest Speaker. Mike was appointed as Emeritus Professor in January 2018. He retired as Dean of Waite, Head of the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, and Director of the Waite Research Institute in December 2017. He is an entomologist who joined the University of Adelaide in 1987. His research largely focuses on insect natural enemies their role in biological control of insect pests.
Mike has a passion for cycling and has cycled all over the world including Europe, the United States, Himalayan mountains, China, Japan and his adopted home, Australia.
Pictured Left: Mike Keller and Allan Mayfield, Chairman
Pictured Right: Mike Keller and Tony Siebert, Treasurer
Pictured are Allan Mayfield, Sue Wurst, John Letts 2 x cup winning jockety, Peter Wood, Penny Pratt MP, Di Hood and Sue Mayfield.
Sunday 22 Sept 2024 … Bev Bertelsmeir
What a thrill to be involved with the Lexus Melbourne Cup tour held on a beautifully sunny day in Clare today. Our local radio Stations 5CS/5AU and Magic 105.9 have been long time supporters of the racing club for near 30 years. Melbourne Cup winning jockey John Letts also keeps us in the loop on air, with Tipping with Lettsy every Friday afternoon.
Clare Valley Racing Club was selected as one of 39 destinations world wide to welcome the iconic trophy for 2024.
The tour also means Clare is included in the National Sweep, a charity initiative which sees 24 Rural and Regional towns allocated a “barrier” for the actual race in November.
Representatives from each destination will be flown to Melbourne to watch the Race that stops a Nation. The town which draws the barrier of the winning horse will be presented with a cash prize of $50,000 to go to their charity of choice.
Today the Cup started at the picturesque Clare Valley race course, moved on to our local nursing home “Carinya”, ( John did mention a few marriage proposals being offered to him) then to the Riesling Trail, a stop in at the Clare Valley Visitors Centre and finishing off the days events at Greg Cooley Wines.
With the Jim Barry Clare Valley Cup, Sunday 1st Dec, The new Twilight meeting Friday 14th Feb (Valentines Day) and the spectacular Easter Saturday Meeting. The Clare Valley Racing Club have a lot to look forward to…..and do yourself a favour. Please join the locals at the Clare Valley Race Course at any events.
When walking your dog on the Riesling Trail in the next few months please make sure you have them on a leash so they don’t go wandering and come across a snake. Most snake bites will, unfortunately, kill a dog. Cats can survive a snake bite if taken to the Vets straight away.
We would consider that all of the Riesling Trail is suitable for an electric wheelchair, except perhaps for a short steeper section just south of the York Road crossing in Clare. Otherwise, the maximum slope is 1.5% (see attached map).
The surface is a fine quarry sand which has a crown (for water run-off) which would be suitable for a wheel chair. There are many access points, most with a car park, at Auburn, Mulkiri Road, Watervale Station (northern end), College Road (Sevenhill) – entrance to car park is under the archway on the northern side of College Road just before the trail crossing – and in Clare at the southern end of Station Road, the northern end of Station Road (the Riesling Trail Lennon Street Park) and at the sheep sculpture 500m further north at the York Road crossing. You can also access the trail at the northern end (at Barinia) and midway from Clare to Barina at the Hubbe Road crossing.
The Clare Railway Station was built on this site as part of the Riverton to Spalding Railway line. It was opened on July 4, 1918 and cost 629 pounds.
In 1923 , both station and platform were relocated to the western side of the railway lines.
The closure of the Railway Line began in 1973 and operations ceased in 1985. The station buildings were demolished in 1989.
Thank you to Liam at Clare Signs for the wonderful job of creating the Sign and thank you to our Riesling Trail volunteers, Allan, Tony, Larn, Di for erecting it.
Opened on 23 August following U3A Coffee and Chat morning tea in the CWA Clubrooms at Auburn.
Shelter donated by Stephanie Toole, Mount Horrocks Wines and seat by U3A Coffee & Chat group.
Shelter designed by Mace Engineering, made by Clare Metal Fabrications and site preparation by JC Gill. Installed by Steve Hadley (CMF), the team from JC Gill as well as Trevor Mace, Doug May and Allan Mayfield.
PHOTOS:
Stephanie Toole (left) and Allan Mayfield (4th from left) with members of the U3A Lower North Coffee & Chat group.
Stephanie Toole
Allan Mayfield (Chairman, Riesling Trail Committee, Stephanie Toole (Mt Horrocks Wines & Doreen Hill (Leader, U3A Coffee & Chat group)
Allan Mayfield (left), Doreen Hill, Stephanie Toole & Sue Mayfield with members of the U3A Coffee & Chat group
Local artist Paul Leditschke was commissioned to create a sculpture depicting international author and Clare girl, Monica McInerney, as her 10 year old self lost in a ‘cauldron of words’ on the roof of her childhood home, the Station Master’s House. Monica flew ‘home’ especially for this auspicious occasion. She now resides in Ireland.
