In last week's news apparently I wrote that Michael Spencer was in hospital when  I should have written Mark (Michael's Dad). Most people would realise who it was I meant but thankfully, Michael is quite OK. Mark is  now home after his lengthy stay and hopefully he is well on the way to recovery. Jan Elphick is also home but is not at all well. We again wish them well.

Sport

The weekend again proved to be very pleasant for sport with 30 golfers turning up for the two-person Ambrose on Sunday afternoon. This is the best number for a long time and those who came from other clubs in the area are thanked for making it a successful opening day.

The scratch winners were Michael Paterson and his up-and-coming son Jack. Michael  hits the ball so  far there is usually (on the odd occasions he plays) not a great lot for his partner to do- but Jack obviously was up to the task. I think that might have been his first 18 holes. Jack also received a trophy as the only junior to turn  up. 

The runners-up were Wayne Witt and Bill  Mackie from Yass. The handicap winners were also from Yass- Steve Curtis and Peter Brady, while the Boorowa players, Robert Styles and Andrew McGrath were the runners-up. Monica Field, making a return to golf after illness, was the nine-hole winner.

Shirley Dwyer, all the way from Rankin Springs to visit Ethel, won the ladies nearest the pin, while Peter Lennon claimed the men's trophy. He then proceeded to win the raffle.

The chicken run  will be on again next Sunday and there will be golf and bowls on if anyone turns up. On Friday the club will open at 2pm and golf and bowls are on at  5pm not 6 pm.  A seafood raffle will  follow the golf and bowls.

The men's pennant team played the Boorowa Ex Services team on the local green on Sunday and finished with a tied result, which gave them  one point each. Jason  Howard's team and Adam McGeachie's team were winners, while Tommy Glover's team went down to the visitors. This puts the Boorowa team one point behind in the competition and they  will play  the leading team, Quandialla, next week. Binalong  will play the last game against Harden in Harden next week. Harden still has a chance to win but Binalong  does not.

Tommy Glover and Brian Madden lost to their opponents in the semi-final of the S West pairs championship at the weekend.

School news

Staff at the school attended a Staff Development Day last Sunday, concentrating on the implementation of the Literacy and Reading Recovery programmes .

The kids should be happy with part of their science programme for the next few weeks, when they will wrecking several old bikes to rebuild the pieces into billy carts. They  will be  absorbing literacy and numeracy, and measuring during the process. They have already had a great time stripping the  old bikes.

On Thursday, they will have a fun out-of-uniform day while they will be creating Easter Hats among other activities. They are also going to enjoy a barbecue lunch, along with the pre-schoolers and any others who are interested in attending the millinery activities.

Next term the school will take part in the Sporting Schools, which will replace the After School Communities.

Don't forget to take your library books back kids.

Jack Paterson, Jamie Merton, Ella Saunders and Dane Howard were awarded stars last week.

Until next time.