There was a small invasion of young volunteers last week from the University of Technology, Sydney, part of The Big Lift, founded on the philosophy of “Paying it Forward”. It is a student run organisation taking students on a week long bus trip through regional NSW towns to complete volunteer projects. 

Gunning quickly accepted the offer to be included in their 2016 itinerary. Not only did the Lions Club of Gunning benefit but so did Gunning Early Learning Centre, Gunning District Landcare, Gunning Uniting Church, Gunning Community Care, Gunning & District Historical Society and Gunning PA&I Society.

FIRST TIME OUTSIDE SYDNEY

These young people vacuumed, dusted, cleaned windows, weeded, pruned, shifted equipment and supplies, hefted rocks and became experts in cleaning stables and yards. For some this was their first taste of life outside Sydney, seeing how small rural communities run.

Many thanks to everyone in the UTS “Big Lift 2016” team - you were a real pleasure to work with. See you back in Gunning soon!

GUNNING SHOW SET UP

Final preparations are underway for the 114th Gunning Show on Sunday February 21 with the trots on the Saturday afternoon before. Helpers are still sought for a couple of hours of early morning shifts on the gates plus simple clerical help in running the shearing competition. Working bees are on Wednesday February 17 to set up the hall and on Friday February 19 and Saturday 20 for general set up around the grounds including for the horse events from about 3pm on the Saturday.

Please contact Jen Medway 4845 1123/ 0417 490 329, Kelly Dowling 4845 6220 or secretary@gunningshow.com.au. The phone number at the show office next week is 4845 1083.

THANKS KAZI

Check out the display window at the Gunning Pharmacy for the ten great prizes in the Gunning Show Raffle, thanks to our Gunning pharmacist, Kazi Habibur Rahman.

Kazi qualified in Bangladesh with a Masters in Pharmacy, later qualifying to practice in Australia through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Kazi, who is now an Australian citizen, did an internship in Broken Hill and later practiced in Adelaide before coming to Gunning.

Returning for a visit to Bangladesh about five months ago, Kazi married Nishita Akhter  – congratulations!  Nishita is now making the necessary application to join Kazi in Australia.

EDWARD PURSEHOUSE

A recent visitor to Gunning, Leanne Johnston of Leeton, was keen to get a copy of a photograph of Gunning’s oldest residents published in the paper in 1921, 100 years after Gunning was settled. A copy of this photo was held in Pye Cottage museum. Leanne is a descendent of the Pursehouse family. Edward Pursehouse, then aged 80 years old, was featured in the published photograph. The family owned two village lots in Gunning one of which still stands and is mention in “Glimpses of Gunning”.

WHICH ONE?

There is only one problem – which person in the photograph is Edward Pursehouse!  All twenty-six are recorded but do not match the genders in the photo. 

Surnames of those photographed were Barber, Brown, Caldwell, Carnell, Cartwright, Case, Clancy, Clarke, Crundwell, Dawe, Filand, Granger, Hinds, Johnson, Lawliss, Meehan, Morgan, Muller, Murray, Newman and Turner – many names still current in the district. Do you have photos of people from that era as these could help eliminate some from the photo?

COMING UP

Sun 14/2 Garden Club @ Rhonda Ogilvie’s home 2pm, info 4845 1021

Thurs 25/2 Historical Soc meet, Council chambers 7.30pm 0414714562

Sun 28/2 Landcare ‘Bring a basket’ lunch Ladevale 12- 4pm 4845 8217

Mon 29/2 Meet re proposed Community Assoc 7.30pm Foley Centre 4845 1809