FARINA RESTORATION GROUP ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HELD AT THE FARINA OPERATION CENTRE
AT 3.00PM WEDNESDAY 25 APRIL 2018

APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from
Bob Moffatt, Michael Pinyon, Martin MacLennan, Rob Fairweather
Cathie Gregory and Fran and Trevor Cross.
33 members were present at the meeting.

MINUTES

Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting held at the
Operation Centre Sunday on 28th May 2017 were taken as read
and adopted as a true and correct record of that Meeting.

TREASURER’S REPORT

The Treasurer’s Report and Accounts for the financial year
ended 31 December 2017 were presented.
The Treasurer, Bob Brownlee presented the Audited Financial
Accounts for the year ended and talked to them.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Office Bearers hold office for a term of two years. Up for election
this year were-
Tom Harding Chairman
Peter Harris Secretary & Public Officer
Anne Dawes
Steve Harding
Martin MacLennan stood for election
Elections were held and the sitting committee members were returned.
Tom Harding, Peter Harris, Anne Dawes and Steve Harding were elected
for the coming two years.

The continuing Committee Members are-
Kevin Dawes Vice Chairman
Robert Brownlee Treasurer
Robert Fairweather Webmaster and Historian
Laurence Gray
Lex Silva

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Tom harding presented his report. Copy provided in the 2018 Restoring Farina page.

CLOSURE OF MEETING

Hello Farina Supporters

Below is a letter from Tom Harding. Also attached is a diagram of the medical room of which he speaks.
Regards
Cathie

Newsletter 69 Farina 2018

For the 2017 program, in addition to general works carried out on site, we were able to build Patterson House (Visitor Centre) to stage 1 lock up.

This was assisted by a 1:1 $63,000 South Australian Government grant. (We subscribed $63,000 from our own resources and donated funds).

This year, whilst a Federal grant application is being processed, no decision will happen before July. This means, grant or no grant, it will be too late to assist the 2018 program.

After careful budget study, and with advance material purchases on hand, we will be able to move the building forward to stage 2 lock up (complete building shell ) over the 2018 work program, with our own resources.

This gives us the advantage of a more considered stage 3 process, interior layout and equipping, all of which will happen in the 2019 program.

We sought a grant last year from the South Australian Regional Safety Grants to set up a medical room in the FRG Operations Centre. Unfortunately this was not granted.

Space has been set aside at the eastern bay of the structure adjoining the kitchen/meeting room and the Admin office.
To date, we have installed carpet tiles, 12v and 240v power and we have a handbasin in place. We “gained” a hospital bed with the close down of Leigh Creek Hospital.

In order to complete this room we need to:

Install a 1 meter wide door assembly, with outer stainless steel mesh and solid timber door. Cost $1300

Obtain and install a 600mm x 1000mm highlight window for light and ventilation
Cost $1200

Obtain and install a Bosch Hydropower hot water system, including a security cage outside.
Cost $1600

These prices exclude labour which will be done by volunteer tradesmen.

We have a grant to purchase a defibrillator. Its location is yet to be determined during the main tourist season. Its home “off” season is most likely to be in the medical room.

We would like this facility operational at the earliest possible time. As you can calculate we need $4000-plus to make it operational.

Can you help?

This is a facility where you can see precisely what you have contributed to, and it is permanent.

It will serve tourists and travelling public also, during those weeks that volunteers are present.

Donations can be tax deductible if forwarded by a cheque made out to Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, Farina Restoration Account to our Treasurer:
R Brownlee,
PO Box 2029,
Ivanhoe East 3079

Alternatively a donation could be made directly into our bank account:
Commonwealth Bank
BSB 065 115
Account: 1040 8713
Please mark Medical Room.

We are gratetful for your support.

Regards Tom Harding

Hello Farina Supporters,

Following is a newsletter from our convenor, Tom Harding, with information about the ANZAC programme for 2018.

Here are other important dates for this years volunteer period:

* Saturday June 16th 2pm Annual cricket match
* Friday 22nd June Jesse Budels (composer) Concert of the Outback.Composition inspired by Farina. 5pm
* Sunday June 25th 11 Bell Squadron 10 Commemoration

Regards, Cathie

Newsletter 68 Farina Restoration Group 25 March 2018

This has been a very active, non programme, period with an enthusiastic volunteer nomination flow.

We have been able to offer placements to 140 nominations (numbering 250 persons) across our eight construction and trading weeks plus set up and pack-up teams.

Whilst we have full teams listed at present, historically we know that unknown personal circumstances will mean that there will be withdrawals, leaving the opportunity for late placements.

If you wish to be on the standby list, please forward a registration to Cathie (farinagroup@hotmail.com) or http://www.farinarestoration.com/page-17/index.html to register online) and we will call you to advise how this will be managed.

We would expect that across the eight week period there will be approximately 20 cancellations.

As per the attached flyer, our ANZAC programme is in place. The Farina War Memorial is a unique setting and each programme, which is held every third year, is becoming more significant.

This year we are honoured to have the Director of Veterans Affairs, SA, Mr Rob Manton, as our keynote speaker and the Right Reverend John Stead, Bishop of Willochra as chaplain, leading the service.

The Farina campground offers accommodation close enough to walk to the service and the gunfire breakfast. No bookings are needed but please allow adequate setup time on Tuesday 24th April.

The last time an ANZAC service was held at Farina (2015) approximately 200 attended so your early arrival would assist both you and us.

Persons travelling by vehicle on Wednesday 25th April morning will be directed into the campground carpark up until 5.45 am only. After that time there will be a longer walk to the War Memorial from an alternative car park.

Handicapped persons will have access by 4WD vehicle to the war memorial site by prior arrangement before 5.45am. Please request by email if this is needed (tfharding@bigpond.com).

Farina is currently in DROUGHT conditions. Showers are operating but with slightly saline water. BRING YOUR OWN DRINKING WATER. The usual means are 10 litre supermarket containers.

Regards, Tom Harding

Newsletter No. 67 Farina Restoration Group. 17 January 2018

Hello Farina Supporters,

Registrations have continued to come in at an exceptional rate. We are at the stage where, while we welcome your registrations, all dates may no longer be available. Tom will contact all who register to discuss this.

Our head baker is still looking for bakers, mainly for weeks 7 (July 7th- 14th) and 8 (July 14th – 21st) though there are other weeks which would benefit with extra help from a baker. Please contact me if you can help. Thank you.

ANZAC DAY

Farina commemorates ANZAC day with a special dawn service triennially – 2018 will be the next occasion.

Our War Memorial site is unique for this special event. Its situation on an elevated rocky outcrop looking towards the sun rising behind the Flinders Ranges in the far south east and its natural isolation above a river redgum creek line all contribute to this very special place.

We are honored to have Robert Manton, Director of Veterans, South Australia, present with us and participating in formalities.

The Dawn Service will commence at 6 15am on Wednesday 25th April to be followed by a ”gunfire“ breakfast and address from 7.30 am.

A special dedication ceremony (not ANZAC related) will be conducted at the Farina Cemetery at 10.30 am.

Site Tours for visitors will be available after lunchtime.

Further detail of campground access and parking will be circulated about 21 days prior.

Disabled access will be available by arrangement.

Please advise our ANZAC Day organiser: Lindsay Gould lgou8208@bigpond.net.au if you need this assistance.

Marree – Innamincka Community Field Day

Attached is a flyer for the Marree Innamincka Field day which is to be held at Marree on June 8th which you may be interested in attending should you be in the area.

Regards… Cathie

Newsletter 66 Farina Restoration Group. 17 January 2018

Hello Farina Supporters,

Attached is a letter from Tom Harding contemplating the past ten years at Farina.

Volunteers registrations are at a new level this year. As I write this we have had 110 registrations for 2018 comprising nearly 200 people!

There are still some places but not all weeks are available. It is a top priority to the committee that ALL our volunteers have a meaningful Farina experience. This cannot be achieved in overcrowded conditions.

Recently, there was a 2 minute segment about Farina on the ABC programme “Back Roads”. It is available through iview until January 29th. Here is the link to the segment:

http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/back-roads-digital/FR1627V003S00#

I hope you enjoy Tom’s contemplation of what has been achieved at Farina since 2008. It could not have happened without the support of our Farina friends and volunteers.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year

Regards… Cathie

Contemplating Our First 10 Years

It is ten years since a “tag-along-tour” group of Harding’s Caravan Services (Vic.) customers arrived for an overnight stop at Farina and saw the prospects of the townships revival. It was sufficiently clear to inspire them to do a whip around and present the proceeds ($850) as a challenge to me, Tom Harding, to do something about it.

Fortunately, there was a Project Officer (Leith Yelland) at Outback Communities Authorities in Port Augusta who thought similarly and had been agitating his boss (Mark Sutton) accordingly for some time.

It required a $15,000 private guarantee to gain a matching grant (total $30,000) for each of two years to gain approval in addition to the original $850 stimulus money!!.

The rest is history – 897 volunteers have since contributed 62,541 direct labour hours to the site, with vast uncalculated administration hours per year off site.

Maps have previously bracketed Farina as (ruins) or (ghost town). This may have been appropriate in the year 2000, but not to the 9300 plus visitors who checked us out during the 2017 May – June – July work program.

We are achieving our aim of representing Farina as an Historic Inland Township of the 1850 to 1960 period.

Farina was an abandoned township. However, in its revitalised state it now represents many more such townships across the inland, which were also abandoned and are now just heaps of rubble.

Feel proud, all of you who have participated in any way. From the original Tag Along Group, to the bloke who dug the sullage holes for Kevin, or the “never been there before” folks who trusted us sufficiently to invest cash in the project and the Adelaide builder who transferred his business (four employees) from Adelaide to Farina for one week to do the special parts of Patterson’s house. PLUS>>PLUS>>PLUS>> so many others!

It is a special feeling for all to look around and say “I have been part of this”.

One visiting sponsor was overheard to say “It is great to see something I have contributed to actually happening !!!”

Farina is firmly embedded to continue into the future.

Our most recent outcomes to ensure this are:

The 2015/2016 establishment of our Operations centre.

This houses an admin centre, kitchen, medical centre , dry and frozen goods storage for the bakery, mechanical workshop, joinery shop , electrical and mechanics work cribs, a 12KVA power installation, underground water distribution from a 45,000 litre storage, planned storage for a vast amount of tools and equipment accumulated over 10 years to assist volunteer efficiency.

As well it provides an indoor meeting place to supplement our nightly campfire happy hour activity.

The Patterson House rebuild

Now at stage one lock-up level Patterson’s House clearly points the way to its future use as our Visitor Centre and Education Facility, for school trips, tourists and specialist trade training on heritage bakeries and masonry structures. Along with this, we will be demonstrating life in Inland Australian Townships of the 19th and 20th centuries, and their part in our history.

My function in all this to date has been very clear cut. As each task has been completed by a growing team of enthusiastic and competent volunteers, the next activity has become obvious to me and in turn progressed and developed – enabling the Farina rebirth you witness.

Today, my role is lessening, with key persons now leading each of several still growing and other quite new functions. But I am not quite redundant yet!

Your role as supporters and volunteers is still vital to us if we are to become self funding after the year 2020.

I am confident we have the people and skills on hand and in training to achieve this.

That will ensure Farina’s future is secure.

Thanks to you all for your support over this special decade of activity

Tom Harding

Newsletter 65 October 2, 2017

Hello Farina Supporters

Following is an overview of this year’s volunteer programme.

Attached is a general overview of the 2017 volunteer works at Farina.

This is late to reach you this year. Our apologies but this year personal issues have had to take precedence.

Thank you to the members who have advised me that there was a programme on SBS recently about the building of an outdoor wood fired oven.

It is still available on SBS on demand, “The Gourmet Farmer”, Season 4, Episode 6 features Denis Benson who is one of our members.

The whole programme is quite interesting but if you are only interested in the segment which features Denis and his wife, June, it starts about 8 ½ minutes into the programme.

Rob has been doing a great job with our website, frequently adding information, photos etc. I hope our members visit it often! He has just set up a page where you can have your say, make comments – whether good or bad! This can be found in the main menu under the drop down menu “Where is Farina” then “What people are saying”.

This will be my last year as your “newsletter person” – I would like to stand aside after the completion of the volunteer period next year. If anyone is interested in taking over from me then please let me know. I will be available for ongoing support as long as it is needed.

Regards… Cathie

The 2017 Farina programme overview.

No single year in our decade of volunteer activity at Farina should be seen as more significant than any previous programme, as each has been a building block on which successive programmes have been built. However, the 2017 program is a most visible “standout” for reasons described below.

With each year we have had approximately a 25% growth in volunteer registrations. We expect about a 10% drop out rate due to a long pre-booking time. Some of that is offset by spontaneous volunteering on-site from campers. This year we received 123 registrations numbering 220 volunteers.

Whilst the programme is normally planned as an 8 week event (the visitor serviced period), it was extended this year with set-up crews prior to the programme commencing and with the Patterson’s house final lock up requirements completed following the programme.

In addition the high visibility vests this year for all volunteers made a stunning impression on visitors, identifying the extent of our team and encouraging visitor/volunteer interaction.

The 2017 program has “raised the bar” several notches across the whole Farina spectrum with outcomes such as: –

Patterson’s House was created from foundations to Stage One lock–up in 9 weeks!

Stonework and Streetscape:

The Transcontinental Hotel: received urgent foundation structure attention to enable its survival.

Exchange Hotel: Structural safety issues resolved plus further development of room layout.

Discovery of an above ground bakery near the Exchange Hotel site.

Angels Rest: Original pug and pine structure. Preliminary site clearing work prior to rebuild, unearthed a cellar complete with “treasure”.

Old Police Station: Further excavation and room layout definition carried out.

Cemetery and War Memorial: Extensive grounds maintenance at the cemetery and a re-work of the War Memorial approach path from the campground.

Wells number 1 and 2: A total “facelift,” plus maintenance of all walking trails, including cleaning up around most of the buildings.

Railway Bridge: Walking planks were re-fixed and made safe.

Operations Centre:

The roof cover was extended over the external cyclone yard enclosure and equipment stored securely.

There was further internal workshop and storage development.

A servery was installed between kitchen and Bay 2.

The underground bakery received a new ceiling extraction fan and upgraded lighting.

Bakery, Café and Merchandise Facility:

Servicing volunteers, campers and tourists, the teams manning these facilities provided, as always, a “cream on the cake” experience to the site activities happening elsewhere and, of course, this is our primary fundraiser.

This location provided even more interest with the Patterson House activity happening alongside as well as the work on the old Police Station and the Angels Rest.

Maintenance and Gofer teams: These again daily serviced all work sites, fixed all that “broke” and prevented others from breaking! Also worked on new innovations and installations.

Our Workforce:

It is hard to find words to thank and compliment the individuals who, often for continuing programmes, have contributed their existing skills and lent a hand where needed. You are the reasons that the Farina Project has progressed to where we are today.

Each programme new faces appear, sometimes at the point of crisis, and say “Can I do that for you?”

This years special people are:

Pre-program: Ian Ritchie, technical support to Steve. Peter Davis, also pre-program through AutoCAD technical design, and later 4 weeks technical direction on site management, with special attention the electrical installations.

Tim, Leanne and Simon Paine, complete with Bobcat, Excavator and tip truck. Tim spent almost 6 weeks on site assisting and leading in various roles on Patterson’s house and other site works.

Ivan Schmocke, an Adelaide registered builder, ceased business in Adelaide for one week and transferred his 4 man team to Farina for week 5. This was a very generous contribution. They put in place the walls, ceiling and roof structure for the new building.

First timers. Steve Bennett and his Yarra Valley 4WD club “chippie” mates dedicated themselves in week 8 to constructing the East and Northerly verandahs to Patterson’s house very successfully.

Johnno Johnson and his Dimboola clubmates did a repeat performance on a range of stone, brick, and other trade activities during week 5.

Fun Weekend 17-18 June:

The fun weekend included the cricket match, the John Bell service and the Anglican Church Service. The cricket match was very well patronised with “Farina” beating “The Rest of the World” (helped by a late rule change! )

The bakery teams and Anne provided an excellent supper. On the Sunday the John Bell service was conducted at the War Memorial.
The Anglican Church Service with the Rev. Trevor Briggs was held in the afternoon. Both functions were well attended and are an important contribution to the programme.

Finances:

In the later weeks of the programme a substantial cash donation for a storm water rain tank was provided by a volunteer family. This was gratefully received and this has now been delivered and installed to catch rainwater over the coming year.

The $126,000 grant for the Patterson’s House received from the SA State Government required a contribution from the FRG of $63,000.

Early advice to our supporters in March advised we needed to raise $40,000 to cover our contribution. An instant response (thanks to all those donors, large and small) reduced the deficit by $10,000 pre-programme.

A combination of tight cost control, a small carry over of funds from 2016, an increased tourist flow and other donations from numerous sources, enabled us to maintain a positive cash flow.

Visitors during the eight week programme strongly supported the “buy a bag of cement “ fund raising and were very generous with direct cash contributions. The bakery/café/merchandise programme, was successful again this year managing a 35% increase in turnover. Thanks to Laurie and his team of volunteers bakers..

Having Committee approval to proceed with the programme, we were aware at an early stage that a very tight cash flow situation would exist as the Government component of the grant ($63,00) is paid retrospectively. This required stringent management, as building suppliers require pre-payment before delivery.

Your executive monitored this very closely. Both Patterson’s building and the concurrent 2017 trading programme were managed without any restriction to either activity. The last grant reimbursement of $22,000 is due in October/November.

Conclusions:

This report highlights people who have made special contributions to the 2017 program, but it is the regular volunteers who are the mainstay of our works. These volunteers turn their efforts to anything asked of them, be it weeding, wood collecting, maintenance, baking, cleaning the campsite, stonework, moving rocks, selling merchandise or servicing all of the equipment that we own.

Your Committee congratulates and thanks all involved in the 2017 program.

We had a great and productive year.

Newsletter 64, June 26 2017

Weeks 5 and 6 approaching at Farina. Weather has been kind. Nights have been cold. Campfires have been friendly. Patterson’s House rebuild as our reception centre has proceeded to plan and, in fact, is ahead of schedule.

Bakery/Café activity has been brisk with sales ahead of last year’s similar period results

The Operations centre is continually being refined and is becoming more and more user friendly.

There has been the addition of a servery from kitchen to bay 2 and, beyond bay 5, the cyclone fence enclosure now is covered by a skillion roof.

The workshop compressed air system is in place with a liberal arrangement of connection points.

An added partition and refined rack storage add to the efficiency

Our stonework teams are having exciting “discovery “times with a continuing array of items being unearthed and the ground layout of previously not obvious early Farina structures – now obvious!

Last weekend was OPEN HOUSE with the “Rest of the World Cricket” 2017 series on Saturday, with the Volunteers successful. Well done to the organisers and the caterers.

On Sunday was The FL Lt John Bell Memorial service, coinciding with the parallel service at Ploudenal, France. This is becoming a very special event.

Outback Communities Authority conducted a book launch after the ceremonies. The book celebrates the war service of citizens from far north South Australia, of which Farina is a central part.

Rev Trevor Briggs performed the Chaplain’s role at the Bell service and in the afternoon led an ecumenical church service at the Anglican church site.

The weekend relived several activities of early HISTORIC FARINA.– a most important role for FRG to be doing.

Keep up the great work,

Thanks Tom

Newsletter for 2017 Volunteers

Welcome to all 200 volunteers for 2017, both past and new participants.

All weeks are at our optimal level of staffing. We are accepting waiting list nominees who may be available to cover withdrawals.

Please give us your earliest indication if your circumstances change, preventing your attendance.

Martin McLennan is unavailable to be leader of weeks 3 and 4 as earlier advised and leaders have been regrouped as follows:

Advance party and week 1 Tom Harding.
Weeks 2, 3 and 4. Bob Brownlee
Weeks 5 and 6 Steve Harding
Weeks 7 and 8 Tom Harding

Volunteers rostered for week one are welcome to arrive early (Thursday onwards). There will be the opportunity to assist in setting up the campsite and programme as well as settling in.

We are fully staffed enabling a full range of work activity across all weeks.

Vigorous grass growth in recent times means there will need to be considerable “streetscape” clearing across the whole site. If your loading space allows, add a light spade or hoe to your kit as this will be an “everybody” task. A whipper snipper could help. You provide the cord we provide the fuel.

Last year we invited our volunteers to bring a bin to start our vast storage system. It gave us a great start. Could you help further this year to fine tune the gaps, as follows, from Bunnings stock:

Weeks 1 & 2 1 x ALL SET 27 litre storage tub with lid

Weeks 3 & 4 2 x EZY SOLUTIONS 5 litre storage tub with lid

Weeks 5 & 6 1 x STORAGE TOTE HANDY size 30

Weeks 7 & 8 1 x STORAGE TOTE HANDY size 20

A small parcel of workshop cleaning rags (old tee shirt material not nylon) would be well received also.

To assist in event of a medical emergency would you please place, in a named sealed envelope, details of the doctor and/or medical clinic who hold your medical history. This will be attached to your file in our Admin/ First Aid centre.

Farina is 26 kms beyond Lyndhurst. The old township site is approximately 1.5 km from the track and is visible from the road entry. At the site turn left into 2nd street just past the bakery and proceed to “Tom’s Shed” and the Admin Centre (about 800 metres) to “check in”. You will be issued with your name tag, a high visibility Farina vest and given relevant information.

We will have a 4.00pm get together and a cuppa at the shed. Bring your “Information for Volunteers” notes with you, please.

Expect that daytime weather will be mild. Nights can be cold. A parka at the campfire will help keep your back warm.

Sudden downpours can cause short term road closure at Lyndhurst. The Lyndhurst Hotel camping ground can provide short term respite in those circumstances. If necessary, you can contact Farina Station homestead (phone 08 8675 7790) either by mobile phone or via the hotel.

We look forward to having you with us,

Kind regards… Tom Harding

Note: please read “Information for 2017 volunteers”

Newsletter 62 February 8th 2017

Hello Farina Supporters

Tom Harding has asked me to send those of you who are intending to volunteer at Farina this year the following information.

We are overwhelmed by the enthusiastic volunteer response this year. We have placed 150 persons to this stage leaving limited placements to fill.

Weeks 1 and 2 ARE FULL

When you send in your registration form please indicate which weeks you are unable to attend (as well as your preferred week/s) as the rest of the programme is filling rapidly.

Numbers need to be managed to ensure all volunteers have a meaningful Farina experience, both in project participation and in terms of personal comfort during your stay.

Since you can only indicate on the web site form layout when you would prefer to be on site, please use the free-form text entry area at the bottom of that form to tell us when you absolutely can’t be available!

Please note that you should always receive a response from me, sent from farinagroup@hotmail.com followed soon after by a contact from Tom.

Regards

Cathie