Social Days for 2018

January Thursday 18

Visit to The Planetarium

Slug & Lettuce

Contact Raelene on 8278 5489 or raelenew@internode.on.net

ARPA 4wd Group. Planetarium visit. 18/01/18

On Thursday 18th January a group of twenty nine enthusiastic stargazers visited the Adelaide Planetarium on the Mawson Lakes campus of the University of South Australia. It was a fine summer day topping a scorching 40°C.

We met at the Slug and Lettuce British Pub at midday for an enjoyable lunch (including chocolate nut sundaes for the more discerning members) and then proceeded to the airconditioned Planetarium – a short fifteen minute drive. Our tutor (Jeff) presented an informative lecture on the solar system, Milky Way and other galaxies, with a comprehensive description of the night sky – a familiar view for all of us. The session lasted about an hour and now (hopefully) we can all recognise many of the stars and constellations in the night sky. (There will be a short test at the next camp).

Our visit concluded at 4pm.

28 members and 3 visitors participated in this day.
Report written by James.
Photo by Julia.

March Monday 19

Mystery Run.

Report on ARPA 4WDGroup Mystery Trip on March19th 2018

30 members met at the Victoria Hotel in the car park at 9.30am on a lovely but overcast day. We got away on time leaving no one behind. We wended our way through vineyards and wineries and had a quick look at the new Cube building at D'Arengerg winery and as usual had some controversial comments about questions at the entrance - but all in good humour. We pressed on to McLaren Vale Oval for morning tea. It was a nice venue and luckily had shelter from a brief shower of rain.

We proceeded out of the oval and up Thomas Hill which was a bit of a challenge in parts and on to Penny Hill Road where there were some outstanding views across the Vale to the coast, although it was a bit misty.

There were a few tricky questions along the way but all were taken in good faith - I think! We discovered a new breed of Giggle Gums along the way. The Guinea Fowl created some discussion but Google eventually solved the problem.

We drove on through Clarendon on the way back to our lunch destination at the Victoria Hotel. The meals were good and reasonably priced. First prize to Faye and Jim.

Val and George were able to join us for lunch which they hadn't missed almost since the beginning of our mystery trips.

A good time was had by all and no one got lost along the way.

Thanks to Nan and Bob for organising the trip, and writing this report.

Nan and Bob have been running mystery trips ever since I can remember, and all have been different and very interesting.

April Thursday 19

Visit to Desalination Plant.

ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT TOUR, LONSDALE April 19 [Barry]
Members met at the Kauwi Interpretive Centre, where they received a short presentation and learnt
about how and why the plant was built, how the process works and viewed video under-water
footage of the infrastructure in the Gulf St Vincent. After doing a taste test of desalinated water
straight from the plant, they were taken on a bus tour to look inside the main reverse osmosis
process building and visit the control room. Lunch was enjoyed at the Cove Tavern afterwards.

May Wednesday 9

Visit to Water Treatment Plant.

ARPA 4WD Group 10th May 2018 Social Day
Tour of SA Water Happy Valley Water Treatment Plant [organised by Barry Thomas] 25 participants of the Group arrived at the boom gates that were complete with retractable road spikes, to be booked in for the 1 hour tour. After donning high viz vests and safety goggles, our tour guide, Todd, walked us to the start of the system where 2 fixed speed and 1 variable speed vertical spindle intake pumps draw water from the reservoir to the flocculation tanks. In these tanks is added alum [aluminium sulphate] to cause coagulation of the colloidal and fine suspended particles in the water. The water with the floc then flows into a number of long sedimentation tanks where most of the floc is allowed to settle to the bottom. Slow moving bridges associated with suction pumps draw the settled floc from the bottom for disposal thus allowing the clarified water to continue to the filtration tanks. In the filtration tanks, the clarified water, which contains some unsettled floc, gravitates through a 2m sand bed to capture the remaining floc and sediments. An ingenious backwashing system that incorporates compressed air to break up the floc entrapped sand enables the sand bed to be cleaned and reused time and time again. The clear water is now chlorinated and fluoridated to Public Health standards before entering 2 very large ground level storage tanks that have a flexible cover to prevent atmospheric pollution. Water from these tanks gravitates to storage tanks at Darlington and various pumping stations for distribution to approximately 60% of Adelaide. At its 1993 commissioning, this water treatment plant was the largest in Australia. With the inlet into the storage tanks of water from the Lonsdale desalination plant, Adelaide is assured of a reliable source of first class water. Following the tour, 18 of us retired to the Victoria Hotel for a sumptuous meal with plenty of socialising.

Barry.

July Thursday 5

Mystery Run

ARPA 4WD Group Mystery Trip 5/7/18
On a morning that threatened rain 18 people in 9 vehicles met at Thorndon Park.

The trip was underway around 9.30 am and travelled through the North Eastern suburbs to the Adelaide Hills.
The trip followed a series of sealed and unsealed roads to Gumeracha for morning tea. There six more members joined us for the remainder of the trip.
The second part of the trip took us to the eastern side of the ranges and out of the overcast into bright, sunny weather.
Despite a couple of dodgy questions and obscure directions, all arrived safely at the Pretoria Hotel in Mannum for lunch.
Phil & Bazza and Chris and Barry took out the prizes.

Tony, Yvonne and Keith

September Tuesday 11

Mystery Run

MYSTERY TRIP TO HAHNDORF, September 11 [Rodney & Raelene]
After meeting at Mitcham Reserve for morning tea, 37 members set off along the back roads of the
Mt Lofty Ranges through Belair, Upper Sturt, Scott Creek and Longwood, passing various historic
locations and conservation parks. Finishing in Hahndorf, lunch was enjoyed in the popular buffet
room of the Hahndorf Old Mill.

October Wednesday 17

Jurliqui Farm Tour

ARPA 4WD Group JURLIQUE FARM TOUR 17/10/18 The rubber boots weren’t needed but it was a cold, drizzly day when 28 participants (24 members & 4 visitors) braved the conditions and met at the Biggs Flat Jurlique Farm at 10.00 am for a behind the scenes tour of this biodynamic farm to see and learn about the nature and science behind the Jurlique range of skin care products. As one of the world’s most recognised skin care brands, many of the herbs and flowers (including lavender, rose, sweet violets, daisy, marshmallow, liquorice and calendula) used in their production are grown on the property using the best organic and biodynamic ingredients. Following a brief history of the farm, everyone got out of the rain for a while in the undercover seed propagation area, learning much about the farm’s organic, biodynamic and sustainable farming practices as well as how seedlings and plants are propagated

Moving on then to the Display Garden, a miniature version of the farm where all varieties of plants are grown, including a rose variety specially developed for Jurlique, a full appreciation of the intricacies of production was gained, including the important role of bees which are kept on the property. A further short walk to the boundary of the growing area enabled a view of some planted areas as well as staff at work picking violas, demonstrating the labour intensive nature of the harvest process. The final stop was the drying shed with its many shelves lined with cases of flowers and herbs in the process of drying out. A visit to the Farm Shop then enabled the purchase of a selective range of products as well as an opportunity to sample their herbal teas.

The day’s outing concluded with a tasty lunch from the Senior’s menu at the Stirling Hotel.

Report written by Raelene.

Photos courtesy Phill.

November 18 - 24

Christmas Camp

2017 CHRISTMAS CAMP, ROBE November 19-25 [Tony & Social Committee]
Based at the Robe Discovery Caravan Park, 28 members and 1 visitor attended this camp, enjoying
a week of fun and driving. Day drives were organised to Robe surrounds/L drain/Cape Jaffa, to Little
Dip Conservation Park/Nora Creina/Beachport, to Lucindale/Bool Lagoon/Penola and to
Southend/Canunda National Park/Lake Bonney Wind Farm/Carpenter Rocks.

Daily sports and entertainment were organised, including the traditional golf match, with the Hilda Trophy being once again won by Barry.

Father Christmas (Phil) had everyone in stitches during his visit to the wind-up dinner at the Caledonian Hotel, and although he had doubts about the behaviour of a few, he had a present for everyone.