St Arnaud-Donald Weekend
St Arnaud-Donald Weekend © Joseph Meilak
Thirty three members of the Williamstown Camera Club (WCC) were in Donald on Saturday 7th April, 2018 with the aims of taking photographs of Donald Historical Society venues, the town and areas around Donald, and astrophotography using the clear starry night skies to be seen in the area.
Our group met at the Bullock’s Head around lunchtime and was welcomed by the President of the Donald Historical Society, Anne Dunstan and other members including Brian Brasier. Deputy Mayor of Buloke Shire, Daryl Warren, also welcomed the group.
A joint visit by some members of Williamstown Camera Club and Hobsons Bay Men’s Shed to Donald about four years ago prompted the Williamstown Camera Committee Club to organise a weekend away that included Donald.
Our photographers enjoyed tours of Donald’s heritage sites - the Court House Museum, Police Camp, and the Donald Lions Club Heritage Train Park - where members of the Historical Society explained historical facts and gave anecdotes about the area, as well as information about the particular sites. Neil Anderson (WCC) had liaised with Brian Brasier for the visit, and had asked if a model in period costume (circa 1960’s to 1970’s) was available for the Taggerty dining carriage. Portraits of the ‘models’ in costume in the Taggerty dining carriage in the Train Park were a highlight. Leo Tellefson and Anne Walsh, made the perfect retro couple and were very obliging and photogenic; excellent models.
Later, the club visited David Falla’s farm and found many interesting farming artefacts and flora to photograph, then called into an abandoned farmhouse for more photography, before enjoying dinner at the Donald Hotel accompanied by Daryl Warren, Leo Tellefson and Dorothy from Donald Historical Society.
After dinner, most members of the Camera Club group proceeded to Lake Wooroonook to photograph the starry night, while a couple went back to the Train Park and took night-time photos from there.
Overall, we ‘had a ball’ and appreciated the time and effort made by the Donald Historical Society members to make our visit to Donald happen and make it such a success.
