Social News
with Val Brooke

THE historic little Anglican Church at Woombye will soon be celebrating a very big occasion. St. Margarets will turn 100 years old in March.

A century ago, the little church at Woombye was the only Anglican church between Beerwah and Gympie. In those early years of its existence, the roof was thatched and had to be re-thatched regularly by the local parishioners.

The church bell disappeared for a long period but was eventually found under the building and restored to its position to once more ring in the services. '

The centenary of St. Margaret's Anglican Church Woombye, will be celebrated on Saturday March 28, commencing with a church service at 10 am. This will be followed by a light luncheon and entertainment in the Woombye Hall. For catering purposes, could those wishing to attend phone June on 54421689 or Joan on 5442 1675 by February 21.

WHAT an emotionally mixed period the Greene family of Winston Road has had to contend with over this past month. Sandy Greene was unexpectedly admitted to Nambour General Hospital to undergo major surgery. Eldest daughter Tiffany unexpectedly returned home for a month from a teaching appointment in Japan and the youngest of their three children, son Saxon, as expected, returned home from a 12 month youth exchange program to Guatemala. Sandy, out of hospital and recuperating at home is recovering very well, especially with her family about her. According to husband Neville, the medical prognosis is very good. It was great to see most members of the Greene family at Kolora Park on Australia Day.

CONGRATULATIONS to Peter Henssler. It was announced on Australia Day that Peter, of Chevallum Road, had been awarded the Order of Australia for his dedication and voluntary work with the Vietnam Veterans Association and especially for the past 12 years that he has been involved with the Veterans Counselling Services.

CONGRATULATIONS also to the Palmwoodsians who were honoured with our own Palmwoods Citizenship Awards which were presented at our Australia Day festivities at Kolora Park. These awards are not given lightly and were well deserved by all the recipients. To those who chose to become naturalised citizens of our lovely land of Australia, we welcome you all with our friendship and thank you for allowing us to share your moment with you.

MRS Jim Hughes has not long returned from a wonderful holiday to Oman. Ellen was the guest of her son and daughter-in-law who for 18 months have been on the teaching staff of a school at Muscat on the Gulf of Oman. Peter and Kerry-Anne Hughes were teachers at Palmwoods Primary School prior to taking up a two year teaching contract with the Sultanate of Oman.

Their teaching contract will end in June, so Ellen took the opportunity to travel to Oman to visit the family and observe for herself their surroundings before they return. Ellen was feted and fascinated by the community where Peter and Kerry-Anne are living and working. The pupils enrolled at the school are from 48 different nations and teaching staff are from 15 different countries.

Ellen’ s two grandsons Riley and Lachlan, are fluent in both the Omani and French languages. Ellen was enthralled with the beautification of the huge roundabouts on the roads around Muscat. She wished she could have photographed all these roundabouts as they were all beautiful in their diversity.

MRS Myrtle Briggs who with husband Alex resides at the Palmwoods Retirement Village, celebrated another birthday on February 3. Myrtle is one of those women who belie the fact that they turned 80 a year or so ago. She has refused to look or act any older than she was 10 years ago. Myrtle, together with Joan Lilley ,also a resident of the Village, is working towards getting a small library facility up and running at the Village. She is still involved with the Woombye Bowls Club and for many years was a capable volunteer at the Woombye Community Library. All your friends hope you had a wonderful birthday Myrtle.

RALPH and Brenda Hoskin of Palmwoods are eagerly awaiting news from Muscat in Oman. Their daughter and son-in-law live in the capital of Oman and are expecting twins. The Hoskin family tree is sending out new branches. Ralph and Brenda plant to travel to Oman soon to see the family.

Walter and Betty Bond of Nicklin Road recall that when they moved to Nambour back in 1966, someone in the then PMG must have had a waggish sense of humour. The phone number they were allocated was 412 007. When their daughter met her future husband at the Palmwoods Dance in 1968 and gave him her phone number, he at first thought she was pulling his leg. Betty says a lot of people just didn’t believe them when they said Bond, 007.

FOR those who missed their burgers and chips for a few days last month, Peter and Judy Nelson of Palmwoods Takeaway were having a well earned break living it up at the Coolum Hyatt. After working around the clock for the previous six months and with only a few days off, it’s quality not quantity that counts at holiday time.

"New" Australians, from left, Louise Emenheiser of Woombye,
Philipa Pirie of Montville, Diana Fisher of Nambour and
Brian Streeter of Palmwoods take the oath from mayor Don Culley
at the Palmwoods citizenship ceremony on Australia Day.