Friends of Venilale e-Newsletter October 2023

Again Venilale was able to welcome visitors from Mansfield this year. David and Anne Foster were greeted enthusiastically by everyone and it was really special to reconnect with old friends. This was tinged by sadness at the passing of Senor Manual Castro, chairperson of Friends of Mansfield and Mestri Alcino dos Santos, the Principal of Luga Oli since 2002. A meeting was arranged with the Sub District Administrator, Senor Miguel Mendes Manso Guterres who happily signed the new Memorandum of Understanding which had been accepted and signed by the Mansfield Mayor, Mr James Tehan. Fundraising activities had to be cancelled due to the incessant rain but our committee was not idle. They continued to support seasonal workers, run bush market stalls and organise a Mega Garage Sale. The highlight was the enormous effort involved in staging the Mad Hatters Tea Party in the beautiful gardens of Helen and Andrew Crockett. Following on from a conversation between Ann Eldred and Tom Tully, the Marsh Foundation have agreed to fund Health Scholarships to the value of A$5000 next year. …