Semaphore’s first-ever Winter Solstice Feast in the Masonic Hall was widely applauded by 100 paying guests, great entertainers, chefs and other volunteers as an event that’s here to stay — we’re making it an annual fixture.

Guests paid $50 a head with a substantial part of the proceeds going to the future operation of the all volunteer Semaphore Information/Eco Centre.

Judy and David with their delicious osso bucco

Chefs Judy from Phore Seasons and David from Semaphore Pantry, Sarah’s Sister’s Sustainable Cafe cook Stuart and Abby from The Corner Store delicatessen gave their services free to prepare a sumptuous menu.

Wines from Adelaide Cellar Door and Coopers beer quenched the thirst of all the guests who were not driving on the night, while others settled for water and soft drinks.

Entertainment included local band The Dudleys and one of Australia’s great singer/songwriters, Steve Foster, who performed a 12th century English folk song. 

Druid serving wenches in black robes and cloaks later paraded recycled winter fashions from Sumadi on Semaphore Road.

In keeping with the Centre’s mission, it was an all-candlelit dinner to conserve energy

Speakers on the night’s topic, A Taste of the Future, included Education Minister Jay Weatherill, Dr Mike Bossley from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Centre, Dr Paul Downton on Christie Walk, Bob Catchlove on Plains to Plate and guests also got to talk with representatives of Transition Adelaide West and Conservation Council SA. 

Lots of feedback from guests included requests for more entertainment, including pagan rites and a touch of debauchery, together with universal praise for the food and wine and all the hard-working volunteers.

All will be considered when planning starts for our 2011 Winter Solstice Feast.

Here’s a great film night for environmentalists staged by Transition Adelaide West who are doing sterling work in the fight to save our planet.

Come and see what the Transition fuss is all about. See how communities around the world are responding to peak oil and climate change with creativity, imagination and humour, and how they are setting about rebuilding their local economies and communities.

Local soup and organic bread will be available after the film for $4.

Sunday 20th June: doors open 5:00pm, screening starts 5:30pm.

Masonic Hall, 66 Semaphore Road, Semaphore.

Sponsored by Sarah’s Sister’s Sustainable Café.

Donations collected at the door will help to cover costs and raise funds for Transition Adelaide West Initiative.

Email Transition Adelaide West here for more information or to register your attendance.

For a unique Port experience don’t miss our unique Winter Solstice Feast at the Masonic Hall on Semaphore Road with a sumptuous menu, biodynamic wines and guest speakers Josie Agius, Dr Mike Bossley, Dr Paul Downton, Education Minister Jay Weatherill, Joel Catchlove, Kalyna Micenko, Bob Daly, Stuart Gifford and me — John Williams.

Auntie Josie Agius with Judith Nicholson

Whale and dolphin expert Dr Mike Bossley (left) and Dr Paul Downton

Get a reminder of our past with Josie Agius and a taste of our future with our other guest speakers and you, ranging across many topics including:

• The Christie Walk Eco Project and the big sustainability questions
• The health and wellbeing of whales, dolphins and the Port River
• Friends of the Earth and the remarkable Plains to Plate event
• Why Harts Mill should be given back to our community
• Garden cities, green walls and green roofs
• Leadership from the all-volunteer Semaphore Information Centre

All who can afford a $50 note, and enough for a drink or two, and attend this thought-provoking barometer of local feelings about our place can join in the conversation with their views as you enjoy:

Osso bucco from Lauren’s Kitchen and lemon pudding from Bay Area Bites

• Roast vegetable and baby spinach tart with Woodside goats’ curd and honey mustard dressing
• Osso bucco with roasted garlic mash, salad and vegetables (vegetarian option by arrangement)
• The best local cheeses from Woodside
• Backyard lemon pudding with Kangaroo Island honey, preserved lemons, Pirramimma sticky sauce and Haigh’s couverture shavings
• Biodynamic wines by Adelaide Cellar Door for tasting and purchase
• Cooper’s beer, including vintage ale for purchase

Kris Lloyd, manager and head cheesemaker of Woodside Cheese Wrights

Funds raised will go to the Semaphore Information Centre to cover rental and operating costs of our initial five-year tenancy.

One lucky person will win a mystery door prize and leave with an instant profit on their investment while everyone else will benefit from the continuing presence of our Information Centre which not only promotes Port Adelaide, Semaphore and Largs, but is doing an excellent job of helping to save our planet for all of you.

Please confirm your booking early with me by email and mailing of cheque for $50 per head made out to our not for profit Semaphore Information Centre or by direct payment to Semaphore Information Centre at Bendigo Bank Port Adelaide BSB 633-000 Account number 1388 50359.  Semaphore Information Centre ABN 27 140 858 519.

Postal address Semaphore Information Centre, Shop 64a, Semaphore Road, Semaphore, SA 5019. Tickets can be purchased directly Monday to Sunday early morning—early afternoon at Sandy’s Sea Change Café (Rick or Sandy) corner Jagoe Street and Semaphore Road. 

Tickets and receipts will be given or mailed to you promptly. Be early because we can only cater for 100 people.

The first Winter Solstice Feast was held at Stonehenge 4500 years ago and continues today, so Druid attire would be fun, or whatever your fashion sense dictates.

There is no truth in the rumour that I am old enough to remember, so don’t ask me for advice

Hope to to see you at 6 pm for 6.30 pm on Tuesday June 22 at the Masonic Hall at 66 Semaphore Road.

By the way, druidic holy sites included border places — the shore between land and water (seas, lakes, and rivers) Sound familiar?

Meet four of our hard-working volunteers: from left, Annette Mezzino, Maxine Williams, Natalia Zhdanovich and Ros Stevens getting ready for the draw.

As voters arrived at the Masonic Hall polling booth to vote in the South Australian state elections last week, our volunteers ran a raffle next door which raised over $700 for the Semaphore Information Centre.

The five generous baskets of prizes were donated by local traders, so all the money went to the Centre to help its community-building work..

Fundraiser Debbie Gracie

Debbie began fundraising in 2006 by staging the first annual Ovarian Cancer Challenge Walkathon along Semaphore Beach to North Haven and back.

The walkathon was to be run in November last year but, but 43º heat forced its cancellation and it will now be run on Sunday April 18. 

It will leave Semaphore Jetty at 10 am, travelling past the Largs Bay Sailing Club toward North Haven and return along the boardwalk/footpath.

Ace Motorcycles will be offering 15-minute Harley rides for $25 with $5 from each ride going to the OC Challenge and all profits from the event will go to the Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Fund/Hanson Institute.

Ovarian cancer is deadly, and ranks as the leading cause of death from gynaecological cancers amongst women. This is because, unlike breast or skin cancer, it is impossible for a woman to check her ovaries for early signs of cancer and there is no early detection test; about two-thirds of women with ovarian cancer are not diagnosed until their cancer is advanced.

Take part in the OC Challenge Walkathon.

Seaside Semaphore Bed and Breakfast, a delightful four-bedroom, two-bathroom 1920s bungalow in the heart of historic Semaphore, has exclusive use per booking, sleeps up to eight people and has wheelchair access throughout, including the shower.

A donor and one of the many fundraisers for the new Semaphore Information Centre and Adelaide Eco Info Exchange, Adelaide Cellar Door sells wines from 40 small South Australian boutique wineries, so like the Centre, they are supporting small businesses.

Because of the wine glut at the moment many wines are especially well priced – these small producers have to be very competitive with their pricing, as they are not well known companies, although many of the wines have won awards.
 
The Centre will run wine fundraisers with Adelaide Cellar Door and part of the profit margin will go to the Centre. 

All the businesses who have made $200 donations to the Centre can buy their wine through the Centre to promote themselves while resident supporters can just enjoy the wines. 

There are wines and prices to suit all tastes and pockets, starting from under $10 a bottle.

Click here to download the initial offerings.