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This year the end-of-year tramp and BBQ focussed on the Hibiscus Coast. Our tramp began at the north
end of Orewa and finished at Wenderholm, and we went to Nelson’s home at Red Beach afterwards.
We
left The Bracken at 10am instead of the normal 8am, and met up with the rest of the group at the north
end of Orewa Beach. A total of 36 people came along, including Grant and Victor who were taking movies
and still shots respectively for a promotional DVD for the Club.
It was11:15 when we set out to
climb over Orewa Hill, going up the main highway and down a walkway to Hatfields Beach. From there we
followed the rocky coastline around to Waiwera, mostly straightforward with the low tide beginning to
come in.
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We arrived at Waiwera soon after 1pm, and sat down for lunch on a grass reserve beside the beach.
Some seagulls and ducks joined us for lunch.
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Shortly before 2pm we were away again, crossing the main highway bridge before getting onto the Perimeter
Track at Wenderholm Regional Park. This went through native bush to a riverside spot before the big grunt
up to the clifftop lookout, where we posed for our camera team.
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We carried on through the bush to another lookout where we had a good view of Wenderholm beach and
the Hauraki Gulf for another short break.
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On our way down the hill, we came to the old dam that once provided the water supply for the original
Wenderholm farmhouse, now known as Couldrey House.
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We came out to the homestead about 3:25pm, and one or two ventured inside the historic homestead
to view the displays. Although we were pushed for time, it was worth paying the $3 admission charge to
whiz through all the rooms with the digital camera. The original owners must have been mad on music -
as well as the piano in the lounge there were three organs throughout the house. We couldn’t view the
wash-house, but I’m sure there were washboards as well. Collecting would have been another family hobby
- there were shells, stuffed birds and dolls on display.
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It was time to leave Wenderholm and head to Nelson’s home in Red Beach for the BBQ. Many of our group
had to go home for other commitments; there were a number of people who could not make the tramp but
showed up for the BBQ. A total of 30 people attended the barbie.
We enjoyed a yummy pot-luck smorgasbord
of dinner and dessert, taking time to catch up with one another. The timing of the weather was fortunate,
the promised rain came soon after we arrived.
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Club president Barbara introduced the formal part of the evening at 7:30pm before Helena led us through
some games. We numbered ourselves off into four teams, and our first game was a Christmas trivia quiz.
For the next game each team was given a word from a Christmas carol, and they had to stand up and sing
two lines from that carol. This was followed by a smelling game where two from each team were blindfolded,
then given various spices and condiments to sniff and say what they were.
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Barbara gave a short devotions, focussing on the Christmas Star and the things it represents. Hope
- for all eternity, what a gift, our salvation through Jesus. Joy - the shepherds rejoiced with great
joy, Jesus is the source of our joy. Guidance - the star led the wise men, who returned a different way
representing the new life in Christ. If someone asks what you got for Christmas, you can say Hope that
gets brighter each day, Joy that is greater than any threat or circumstance, and Guidance for every step
of our journey. If the wise men came to your town this coming Christmastide, what would they find?. Too
much tinsel and Santa, or the real meaning of Christmas.
Ali got on the piano and Barbara brought
out her guitar for a singalong of favourite carols including Joy To The World, Silent Night, Mary’s
Boy Child, Come All Ye Faithful and We Three Kings, and finishing with We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
The formal time concluded just before 9pm.
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