Dear Westgaters,
Well last month’s meeting at Footscray Park Bowling Club went very well. It did begin with another very well sponsored club competition. Congratulations to Chris on achieving his first ever place in a club competition with his schwarzbier. As Fitzy said, the calibre of the entries were very high and it was unusual to have a situation where a beer that scored 38, didn’t place. So well done to everyone that did place as obviously your beer was pretty good!

ANHC is over for another two years. Whilst I was unable to make it to the actual conference, those that did go said they had a lot of fun and enjoyed all the presentations.I also believe that that beer and food matching dinner was very good. A massive thanks to all that put in the effort to dress up for club night. Thanks also to those that supplied a keg, even if they didn’t go and thanks to Neale who helped get the bar and to Clare, Paul and Darko who got the trailer on the Sunday morning and got all the stuff back to FPBC. All the beers we had on were pretty good, in my opinion, and whilst we didn’t win any awards for the beers we presented, we did show what our club can do. Further to this though, it became apparent on the night that we just don’t have enough club members with an RSA. If anyone is interested in getting an RSA, please come and speak to me and we can organise it and the club will pay for it.

The AABC has been run and done. The club was very well represented going into it and we were fortunate to have Matt Collinson get a first (German pils) Michael Bowron get a second and John Kingston get a third. We are a club that now has some very fine national winners amongst us. They have done themselves and the club proud. Not forgetting those that didn’t place but were lucky enough to place at Vicbrew and represent us nationally.

This Sundays meeting is another competition. Wheat and Rye ale. As i mentioned at last months meeting , its a style that can be polarising and I ask everyone to put their prejudices aside and try some of the beers that come off the judging table with an open mind.

Xmas is nearly upon us. The clubs Xmas party will be Saturday December 1^st at FPBC. The committee are meeting this Sunday before the usual club meeting to finalise the details. We are looking at meat on a spit and salads and a spud. Other details still to be confirmed but again we will need 7 good kegs to go on the bar. As has been the custom, we will pay $30 to anyone that supplies a keg of good quality drinkable beer.

Whilst we are on it, not that this effects anyone (well maybe me and occasionally Neale) but there has been a change of policy regarding smoking under the verandah. From now on , this will be a smoke free area.FPBC have also advised that we can start storing some stuff in the old men’s toilets. It means we can have access to our stuff without the inconvenience of having to get someone from the bowls club to get our stuff. It will require a clean up and perhaps some added security but Neale and I both thought  the idea sounded good.

Anyway , that’s about it from me. See you Sunday

Cheers

Ferg