Nevin’s sister Enid made a magnificent fruit cake which was iced as a cricket pitch complete with batsmen (but alas no bowlers with sandpaper) by Enid’s daughter Di.

The family also celebrated Nevin’s granddaughter Tegan’s 30th which was eight days earlier.   Congratulations Nevin.

70th BIRTHDAY

CELEBRATIONS: Grenfell resident Jack Holland received a wonderful surprise last Saturday when he attended the Happy Inn Restaurant with his wife for a birthday lunch.

Little did Jack know that his wife Pauline had organised a big surprise party inviting over 35 family and friends to join in the celebrations.

Guests travelled from as far as Melbourne and Sydney to help Jack celebrate his 70th birthday. Jack had a fantastic day with his guests who all enjoyed a beautiful cake made and decorated by Sharyn Bradtke.

EASTER VISITORS: Kathryn Williams and Chris Moran welcomed family from Adelaide and Penrith over the Easter break.

Kathryn’s daughters Tess (Adelaide) and Pauline, her husband Rick and family Charlise and Emma Jackson (Penrith) enjoyed their stay in the country and were treated to a special night out at the Railway Hotel on Saturday evening.

RSL SUB BRANCH: RSL members met in their new rooms at the Grenfell Railway Station on Tuesday evening to finalise plans for  the two services in town on Anzac Day and their ‘Dining In’ night at the Grenfell Country Club on Saturday evening April 28.

The ‘dining in’ night this year is in the tradition of the Army and is in place of the usual luncheon following the parade on Anzac Day - the reason being that many of the RSL members are involved in other activities and services in surrounding towns and villages.

Tickets for the ‘Dining In’ night are available at Grenfell Shoes and the Country Club - please RSVP by April 20. Further information contact RSL Hon Secretary Margaret Knight on 63432120 or via email - mknight@bigpond.com

As well as chairs for both services on Anzac Day, the Lions Club will be serving tea, coffee and Anzac Biscuits at the Dawn Service.

GARDEN CLUB

POPPY PROJECT:

The Poppy Project for the 100th celebration of Armistice Day in November is well underway – JUST A REMINDER - Poppy seeds are now available from Paige at the Tin Cupboard for all those who put their names down to plant poppies in their gardens, or for anyone else who may wish to be part of the Garden Club Poppy Project to plant poppies for Armistice Day.

Call in next time you're in town. Growing instructions are in each packet. We just need a bit of rain! 

For further information or if you are unable to collect them, phone Chris on 63431313

The seeds are not to be planted till mid April/May, so that they flower at the end of October/November

Thank you to those who responded to Chris’s social media and Grenfell Record announcements.

Note: Flanders Fields was a major battle theatre in the First World War.

A million soldiers from more than 50 different countries were wounded, missing or killed in action here. Entire cities and villages were destroyed, their population on the run.

Ypres and Passchendaele became worldwide symbols for the senselessness of war. Today, the peaceful region still bears witness to this history in monuments, museums, cemeteries and the countless individual stories that link it with the world.

This is the story of how the red field poppy came to be known as an internationally recognized symbol of Remembrance.

From its association with poppies flowering in the spring of 1915 on the battlefields of Belgium, France and Gallipoli this vivid red flower has become synonymous with great loss of life in war. Yet the scope of the poppy and its connection with the memory of those who have died in war has been expanded to help the living too.

It was the inspiration and dedication of two women who promoted this same “Memorial Flower” as the means by which funds could be raised to support those in need of help, most especially servicemen and civilians suffering from physical and mental hardship as a result of war.

CONGRATULATIONS:  What a wonderful morning it was at the Grenfell Voices Against Violence Clothes Swap on Wednesday. Congratulations to all involved.

Ngaire will have a full report later in the Grenfell Record.