The Combined Probus Club of Whittlesea ventured to the Wimmera region for their October short trip, with Halls Gap serving as their welcoming home base.
Trip and Tours Officer and Life Member Mary Wood organised the trip that had a full itinerary of different locations, including museums, parks, and many restaurants.
Day one kicked off with a leisurely coach ride, beginning with a visit to the Seppelt Winery where members explored the historic underground cellar. Afterward, they enjoyed a delicious lunch before heading to Brambuk National Park.
Day two saw the group embark on a fascinating journey to the Murtoa Museum Precinct.
The group toured the iconic Stick Shed, and the Railway Water Tower and Museum before making their way back home via Stawell, stopping to visit and view the highlights and have dinner at the local Chinese restaurant.
As they passed through Stawell, Teresa Carlin noted that her father had often participated in the Stawell Gift.
Halls Gap Zoo took up most of the third day.
Ms Wood and fellow Probian Marian Cordy-Howell had a moment of revelation when Ms Cordy-Howell shared that the nearby Cavendish area was her original stomping ground, and she had a wealth of stories to tell.
Cavendish, a historic town nestled on the other side of the Grampian Ranges, was settled in the early 1840s.
Among the pioneering families was Ms Cordy-Howell’s own.
Cordy’s Road, along with several family tombstones, stands as a testament to her ancestors and their contribution to the region’s early development. A commemorative plaque marking the Closer Settlement movement also proudly bears the Cordy name.
After soaking in so much history, the group settled back on the bus, reflecting on their experiences as they made their way to Mount Buninyong Winery for a pizza lunch. The journey home was smooth, and the group, as always, was warmly welcoming to all.
