Tuesday was a pretty rude reminder that summer’s knocking on our door wasn't it?! As are the trucks on the road, the annoyingly early sunrises, the delightfully late sunsets and the bloomin’ insects and spiders. But also, Summer means Christmas and Christmas means pretty decorations, and cooking and family time and a few days off work—all of which I’m very much looking forward to.
 
A few things to tick off between now and that Christmas morning glass (bottle) of bubbles though!
 
Reinmakers Christmas Party on Friday 4th December (a free, fun and festive community Chrissy party for all!), the Rainmakers crew have secured heaps of local business support (and are crossing fingers for some last minute Lotterywest support!) and have a ripper evening lined up. Get down from 4:30pm to join in!
 
A slightly different offering (but not really that different) for end of year Seniors events from us and the Shire of Quairading—we’re hosting an afternoon of Drag Bingo on Tuesday 7th December! I’m absolutely tickled pink that we were able to secure one of THE BEST drag performers in Perth at the moment, Dean Misdale (plus an offsider) to host bingo, sing some songs and be fabulously entertaining. Drag is a true artform and a professional performance. If you know and love Priscilla and RuPaul, or even Dame Edna and Mrs Brown—or none of the above, it’s set to be a fun (and potentially eye opening) afternoon out. Get in touch with as at the CRC to book your spot. All ages of adults are welcome!
 
From there we’ll be coasting on through to the end of year and getting ready to abandon our desks for a short while (we’ll be closed on Christmas Eve through until Tuesday 5th Jan, and just here Tuesday—Thursday 9am—4:30pm through January). If you’ve got Christmas canvases to order, cards for us to design, newsletters for us to print or anything in between—pretty please hop to it.
 
Passion Sheet’s will continue through December and January (in weeks we’re open) and so long as the aircon keeps up, I’ll write to you again right here, in late January for the February 2021 edition of the Banksia Bulletin—the best rag in town.
 
Happy merry.
 
Jill Hayes
Editor | Banksia Bulletin
Coordinator | Quairading CRC

My cup is full and my energy is a tad low—looking back on the last month it’s absolutely no wonder. It’s been a cracker! Between Food Sensations sessions wrapping up, art workshops, live music events, kids discos and so much more, it’s been the best sort of exhausting.
 
The wonderful community vibes we’ve been feeling at the Quairading CRC of late feel a little bitter sweet on the recent passing of incredible local legend, selfless community advocate and huge inspiration of ours—Rowlie Mellor. I was lucky enough to be a student at QDHS for much of Mr Mellor’s tenure as Principal and even more lucky to work with and learn from him through various community groups in more recent years including Quairading Curtain Raisers and the Quairading CRC. With one of the strongest moral compasses I’ve known and a passion for doing things right and well, Rowlie was always available to bounce ideas around and help out wherever needed. One of the most local blow-ins to maybe ever grace our town, I’m quite certain his legacy will live on for decades to come.
 
Rowlie was a huge ally of our Noongar community, never missed a NAIDOC celebration or RAP meeting and contributed greatly to building reconciliation. With NAIDOC week on the horizon, I hope many of you take the opportunity to engage with, learn from and appreciate our local Noongar culture and people—just as Rowlie would have.
 
Please enjoy the second last edition of the Banksia Bulletin for 2020, stay safe in paddocks and on the roads as harvest cranks up and don’t forget to shop local first if you’re ready to start Christmas shopping!
 
Oh, and new phone books *should* be available from the CRC by the time you’re ready this!
 
Teary-eyed-Jill signing off.
 
Jill Hayes
Editor | Banksia Bulletin
Coordinator | Quairading CRC

Hasn’t town just been a wonderful buzz of activity these last few weeks?! If you’ve been lucky enough to spend some time downtown you will have seen caravans and campers galore, both staying overnight in the Caravan Park and lined up down the main drag at smoko. People walking the main street, admiring the gardens and snapping photos of El Toro standing proud outside the Town Hall. The hunt for coffee and food always seems to be on, so we hope our hospitality business have taken advantage and made a killing!
 
We contributed to the visitor servicing efforts by helping out at the Old Railway Station on weekend mornings over the last few weeks. It’s always nice to have the chance to chat to visitors to our town and it’s been a great opportunity to understand what travellers are keen to get out and see!
 
The October calendar is looking mildly chockers—it’s definitely a good month to rip that last page off the back of your Banksia Bulletin and whack it on the fridge! We’ve got three very exciting, first time events this month:
 
¨ Wild Woman Workshop with Kristy Barr (yes, the hailing from Quairading Kristy Barr!) from Sacred Strength on Thursday 8th October—check that out on page 15.
¨ Farm Safety Arvo at the Community Building on Thursday 15th October. Tickets essential, and you can buy them online! Visit farm-safety-arvo.eventbrite.com.au—we really hope all farming enterprises will take advantage of this opportunity to brush up on your skills and knowledge. Safety first!
¨ AND, Evening on the Green on Saturday 17th October down at the oval. We have a wildly simple aim with this event: to bring the community together and just chill right on out. Pack an esky and a camp chair, and come enjoy some live music!
 
Which event are you most looking forward to?
 
Jill Hayes
Editor | Banksia Bulletin
Coordinator | Quairading CRC

Remember when all the things got cancelled, and you could work from home and basically just stay home? Yeah that’s over. But thank goodness—because really, that could become quite a lonely life I’m sure.
 
With spring well and truly in the air, you better get some in your step and get ready for what looks like a ripper September.
 
First and foremost—if you’re not planning at least one stroll in the Quairading Nature Reserve (or in your own patch of bush) to at least have a brief look at the wildflowers already sprouted, and the everlastings due to burst in the coming days and weeks—I’m sorry, but you’re doing it wrong. Go on, get the out there!
 
Tickets for the upcoming Fervor dinners are moving quickly which is very exciting. This event is once again attracting HEAPS of first time visitors to Quairading. If fine-dining in unique locations is your jam, we’d love to have you come along and help us welcome all of these visitors to our community. Or, if you happen to have a spare bedroom or two (preferably in a house in town) and might be interested in playing Bed & Breakfast host to some out-of-town visitors—pretty please get in contact with myself and I’ll put you in touch with a few keen visitors we have knocking on the door!
 
I hope you’ll take the time to read through all the other events going on this month and next, jot down the ones that take your fancy and RSVP where appropriate (which is appropriate everywhere right now, because #COVID). One of the funnest (I know, not a word) and most family friendliest of events next month is the ASTRONOMY NIGHT(!) on Thursday 17th September. Burgers, space talk and looking through big telescopes—I’m excited. Let us know if you and your tribe are planning on coming along so we can be sure to prep enough burgers for dinner (which will be available for $5 each at the event!).
 
Happy spring! But also, please rain properly soon.
 
Jill Hayes
Editor | Banksia Bulletin
Coordinator | Quairading CRC

Find your reading glasses, grab a bevragino and take a seat; there is some seriously good reading material in this August edition of the Banksia Bulletin.
 
Heartfelt community messages of thanks? Check. A refresh on how epic last year’s Fevvor X Rainmakers dinners were? Check. A new Centenarian? Check. Trivia Night report? Check. A tractor over 100 years old? Check. Tales of the Dangin Cricket Club from the teller of the nest tales, Bullit Hadlow? Huge check.
 
All of these submissions of content are wildly exciting! We thoroughly enjoy receiving, reading and publishing all of your writings—and we even provide a pretty decent (and very patient) editing service. So if you have a story to share or a yarn to weave, please do!
 
The series of upcoming event flyers is also heading towards is normal full capacity. Next Thursday here at the Quairading CRC we’re hosting a watercolour workshop with The Sketch Society—this workshop was sold out but a couple of spots have just opened up, move quick if you want to snag one (page 15)! The following week we’re also hosting a new event (at the Community Building) that we’re calling Conversation with a Councillor (page 19). There is literally nothing better and more productive than a good old chin wag, so come on down and be a part of it. We’ll be providing some light dinner and refreshments too! Win—win.
 
Looking through to September (and pages 23—25 in this Bankisa Bulletin) we’re egg flippin’ excited to be promoting Fervor’s return to Quairading (thank to Quairading Rainmakers Inc) with two special dinners on Friday 11th & Saturday 12th September. Inside scoop: tickets are moving fast so if you want to beat FOMO, hop to it. Tickets and more info online: www.trybooking.com/643185
 
Bevragino time!
 
Jill Hayes
Editor | Banksia Bulletin
Coordinator | Quairading CRC