Winter Christmas at St Clements

Posing at the Railway Station
Early in the morning Covered up The cemetery at Galong St Clements, Galong

10 September 2019 / Giulia Schiemer

Saturday 24 August

The beautiful St Clements Retreat and Conference Centre, once a Redemptorist Monastery, provided the perfect place for our Winter Christmas this year. [Otherwise known as Christmas in July in August.]

For those of you who haven’t been to this beautiful place, it is a spectacular building set on 800 acres of gardens with lots of paths for the more active and rest spots for those who want to sit, read a book, or just relax; well worth the visit.

On Saturday morning most of the cars left from the Hall Layby and headed to Harden-Murrumburrah for morning tea where half the people had their cuppas and treats at the Terracotta Café and the rest went to the Bakery. Following morning tea everyone headed to the Railway for a photo opportunity before making the 15 minute trip to St Clements.

By lunchtime everyone had arrived and the staff welcomed 54 people and 28 cars from our Chapter, and put on a wonderful Christmas spread. We were treated to a very yummy roast followed by plum pudding and custard for dessert. A big thank-you must go to all the ladies who looked after us over lunch. 

Following lunch we all headed downstairs to “The Castle” to draw the lucky door prizes, and lots of people went home happy with wine and chocolate!

For those of us who had checked in to spend the night, the afternoon was taken up by lots of walking around the beautiful grounds of St Clements and a visit to the old cemetery. Later in the evening we all gathered over nibbles and drinks…plenty of drinks! Next morning, breakfast was a lovely continental spread which was more than sufficient considering we were already planning our stops for morning tea!

Final good-byes were said and the “never want to go home group” of eight cars made their way to the Rollonin Café in Bowning. After filling up on coffee, tea, cakes and scones we said more goodbyes and headed home.

Thank you to Jane and Wal Hick for organising.  

See the photos by Ron Tollenar, Rod Nicholas and Norm Barker here.

PS Christmas in July at St Clements has already been booked for next year, so make sure you save the date, 25 July 2020.  You don’t want to miss out on this one!