This month’s outing for will be held on the afternoon of Sunday 16th June 2019 in St Kilda.

This outing will be a walk that includes a number of sites in the local area. As St Kilda market will be open on the day, and hopefully a sunset at the end of the day around 5pm, there will be many and varied opportunities for our intrepid WCC photographers to demonstrate their skills!

This outing gives you opportunities to extend your outing experience by visiting the market beforehand, staying for the sunset shoot or planning your own leisurely meals at either end of the outing.

There will be no cost for this outing unless you choose to travel by public transport, dine, purchase goods at the market or opt for paid parking.

Please let Helen know if you are interested in carpooling. Carpooling is now quite popular, so if interested or you are happy to offer your car, please let Helen know when you register.

Hope to see you there!

14 participants attended the outing to the Alfred Nicholas Gardens on the morning of 19th May. It was lovely to welcome a new member and guests who joined us on the day!

The autumnal colours did not disappoint and the weather was perfect for rambling through the vast hillside gardens. Whist agreeable, the perfect weather brought with it a challenging light environment in the shaded forest areas which kept us all on our toes!

After a hour or so, we wended out way back up the hill before wending our way to Olinda to enjoy lunch together in the Olinda Café. Thanks to all for such a great day!

More photos from participating members can be found in the outing gallery.

If you missed this outing I hope that you can join us on our next outing. Keep you eyes open for emails and on the website for details of the June outing.

Historically the WCC annual trip away has been over the March Labour Day weekend. This year having ANZAC day on a Thursday provided an opportunity for many of our members to have a four day break using one day of leave! The other good thing about changing the time of year – we didn’t have to get out of bed so early for the dawn shoot!

Our programme was rather diverse and for me the highlight was the opportunity to take photos of the veterans at the local RSL after the 2 Anzac day marches. On the first morning of the trip we turned up at the RSL with a frame and backdrop and spent the next few hours rounding up clientele from the bar. They grew a little more relaxed as the day went on. Some great people, interesting faces, family portraits, we had the lot. And a special mention to Jan Mallett for holding the reflector!

Our original schedule underwent a few changes! Due to the weather we didn’t go to far afield for the dawn shoots. Luckily we discovered the race horses training on the beach at the breakwater- just near a very nice café. We did venture to Port Fairy to shoot the lighthouse at dawn and the weather was kind to us- which is not to say a couple of our more enthusiastic members didn’t get their feet wet when some large waves came by! On the way back from Port Fairy we stopped off at the Tower Hill wildlife reserve – friendly emus and a lot of bird life.

Other places we went to capture some nice images- Proudfoots on the river at dawn, Stingray Bay, Point Ritchie and Thunder point (which lived up to its name with thundering waves and sea spray)! We also visited the Maritime museum, where the high point for me was the blacksmith generating lots of sparks. Some of our members also visited Childers Cove and the Bay of Isles area, but the weather wasn’t kind enough to make these a dawn or dusk option.

The Shipwreck coast lived up to its name and we heard of an uninsured yacht breaking free from its moorings and ending up against a cliff face to the east of Warrnambool. Sadly I think the yacht is still there.

A range of photos from the trip are now online in a gallery. Do have a look. We are also welcoming suggestions for an inland venue for the trip away next year. Please send through any ideas you may have.

Our Monthly Outing for May will be to the Alfred Nicholas Gardens, 1A Sherbrooke Road, Sherbrooke on Sunday 19th May 2019. Due to the Warrnambool Weekend Away and Mother’s Day, the Outing is a little later in the month than usual.

Entry to the Gardens is FREE.

This will be an opportunity to capture Autumn in the Dandenongs. We can meet at 10AM to miss the crowds and may encounter some mountain mist to include in your images.

Casual lunch together at Olinda, (2.4km from the Gardens), at your expense. Details to be confirmed.