New Arrivals

16 new arrivals in the form of baby guinea fowl 2 days ago. Proud mother is a little black hen who is none the wiser she is actually clucking and looking after guinea fowl. We discovered hens, particlarly bantam hens are much better mothers than the guinea fowl parents. They tend to lay their eggs up the paddock so we have no control for them to have a safe hatching. Eggs are collected and slipped under clucky chook usually coming on dark. We have used our incubator as well to hatch eggs but the hatching rate is a lot lower.

Pictures are the young we have at the moment in the various stages, our new babies, 6 week old chicks with red hen as mother and almost grown guinea fowl who have been looking after themselves for a while

Whats happening in Dungog 2009

When planning your stay you may like to consider what is happening in the Dungog Shire at. I have included the calender of events for the shire for your reference.

FEBRUARY
6th & 7th Tales of Tocal, Tocal College Paterson Ph: 4939 8901
6th 7th 13th 20th & 27th Anglican Church Op-Shop Chapman St Ph: 49921 839
7th Dungog Community Markets, Dowling St Dungog 8am-2pm Ph: 4992 1806
15th Gresford Markets, 2034 Gresford Rd East Gresford Ph: 4938 9488
28th Clarence Town Community Markets, Prince St Clarence Town 8am-2pm Ph: 4996 3222

MARCH
6th 7th 13th 20th 27th Anglican Church Op-Shop Chapman St Ph: 49921 839
7th Dungog Community Markets, Dowling St Dungog 8am-2pm Ph: 4992 1806
13th & 14th Gresford Agricultural Show, Gresford Showground Ph: 4931 5459
15th Gresford Community Markets, 2034 Gresford Rd East Gresford Ph: 4938 9488
21st Anglican Church Market Day, Cnr Dowling & Chapman Sts Dungog Ph: 4992 1839
22nd Vacy Village Country Carnival, Vacy Oval Ph: 4938 8227
28th Clarence Town Community Markets, Prince St Clarence Town 8am-2pm Ph: 4996 3222
28th & 29th Dungog / Gresford Hoof & Hook, Dungog Sale Yards Ph: 4938 9353

APRIL
3rd 4th 9th 17th & 24th Anglican Church Op-Shop Chapman St Ph: 49921 839
4th Dungog Community Markets, Dowling St Dungog 8am-2pm Ph: 4992 1806
4th & 5th Relay for Life, Bennett Park Dungog Ph: 4995 7000
18th Williams River Garden Club, Open Gardens 9am – 4pm Ph: 4996 4577
17th & 18th Stroud Annual Show, Showground Ph: 4994 5341
19th Gresford Community Markets, 2034 Gresford Rd East Gresford Ph: 4938 9488
22nd Loosley Woven Concert, Dungog Public School Ph : 4992 3349
24th & 25th Dungog Rodeo, Dungog Showground Chapman Street Ph: 4995 3234
25th Clarence Town Markets, Prince St Clarence Town 8am-2pm Ph: 4996 3222

MAY
1st 2nd & 3rd Tocal Field Days, Tocal Agricultural Centre Paterson Ph:4939 8888
1st 2nd 8th 15th 22nd 29th Anglican Church Op-Shop Chapman St Ph: 49921 839
2nd Dungog Community Markets, Dowling St Dungog 8am-2pm Ph: 4992 1806
14th Sunwrae Ensemble, Dungog Cinema workshop Dungog High School Ph: 4995 9265
16th Thunderbolt Rally, Dungog Showground Ph: 0438 432 394
17th Gresford Community Markets, 2034 Gresford Rd East Gresford Ph: 4938 9488
28th 29th 30th 31st Dungog Film Festival, Dungog Ph: 4992 2420
30th Clarence Town Community Markets, Prince St Clarence Town 8am-2pm Ph:4996 3222

JUNE
5th 6th 12th 19th 26th Anglican Church Op-Shop Chapman St Ph: 49921 839
6th Dungog Community Markets, Dowling St Dungog 8am-2pm Ph: 4992 1806
7th Back to Back Wool Challenge, Tocal College Tocal 9am – 4pm Ph: 4939 8901
21st Gresford Community Markets, 2034 Gresford Rd East Gresford Ph: 4938 9488
27th Clarence Town Community Markets, Prince St Clarence Town 8am-2pm Ph: 4996 3222




JULY
3rd & 4th 10th 17th 24th 31st Anglican Church Op-Shop Chapman St Ph: 49921 839
4th Dungog Community Markets, Dowling St Dungog 8am-2pm Ph: 4992 1806
TBA Something Old & Something New, Tocal Homestead Paterson, Ph: 4939 8901
18th Stroud Brick & Rolling Pin Throwing, Stroud Showground Ph: 4994 9198
19th Gresford Community Markets, 2034 Gresford Rd East Gresford Ph: 4938 9488
25th Clarence Town Community Markets, Prince St Clarence Town 8am-2pm Ph: 4996 3222
26th Peek in the Past, Tocal College Paterson 10am – 3pm Ph: 4939 8901

AUGUST
1st Dungog Community Markets, Dowling St Dungog 8am-2pm Ph: 4992 1806
1st 7th 14th 21st 28th Anglican Church Op-Shop Chapman St Ph: 49921 839
16th Gresford Community Markets, 2034 Gresford Rd East Gresford Ph: 4938 9488
TBA Gresford Rodeo & Camp Draft, Park St Gresford Ph: 4938 9462
29th Clarence Town Markets, Prince St Clarence Town 8am-2pm Ph: 4996 3222

SEPTEMBER
4th 5th 11th 18th 25th Anglican Church Op-Shop Chapman St Ph: 49921 839
5th Dungog Community Markets, Dowling St Dungog 8am-2pm Ph: 4992 1806
TBA Country Music Shinding Lostock Dam Caravan Park 3.30pm til late Ph: 4931 7118
11th 12th & 13th Dungog Pedalfest, Dungog Ph: 4995 9265
12th & 13th Dungog CWA Quiltarama, Dungog RSL Club Sat 10am - 5pm Sun 10am – 4pm
TBA Chichester Dam Picnic Day, Chichester Dam Dungog
TBA Clarence Town Horse Ride, Bridge Reserve Ph: 4996 4358
20th Gresford Community Markets, 2034 Gresford Rd East Gresford Ph: 4938 9488
26th Clarence Town Markets Prince St Clarence Town 8am-2pm Ph: 4996 3222

OCTOBER
2nd 3rd 9th 16th 23rd 30th Anglican Church Op-Shop Chapman St Ph: 49921 839
3rd Dungog Community Markets, Dowling St Dungog 8am-2pm Ph: 4992 1806
18th Gresford Community Markets, 2034 Gresford Rd East Gresford Ph: 4938 9488
31st Clarence Town Markets Prince St Clarence Town 8am-2pm Ph: 4996 3222

NOVEMBER
6th 7th 13th 20th 27th Anglican Church Op-Shop Chapman St Ph: 49921 839
7th Dungog Community Markets, Dowling St Dungog 8am-2pm Ph: 4992 1806
13th & 14th Dungog Agricultural Show, Dungog Showground Chapman St Dungog Ph: 4996 5570
TBA Bluey’s Barn Dance & BBQ, Main Creek Rd Main Creek Ph: 4992 1313
15th Gresford Christmas Fair, 2034 Gresford Rd East Gresford Ph: 4938 9488
28th Clarence Town Markets, Prince St Clarence Town 8am-2pm Ph: 4996 3222

DECEMBER
4th 5th 11th 18th Anglican Church Op-Shop Chapman St Ph: 49921 839
5th Dungog Community Markets, Dowling St Dungog 8am-2pm Ph: 4992 1806

News and Updates from Bower Retreat Main Creek and Dungog

Welcome to my blog, my first attempt at blogging. This is to provide past guests and future guests happenings on the property here, in our valley and events in our shire.

Animal Residents

For past guests who may not know we have lost our two old favourites last year, Marley the dog and Gloria the cow. Marley lived a good life to 141/2 years and Gloria's was cut short by a big fall into the creek. She was feeding two calves but they have grown and are ready for a handout same as Gloria . We have another very friendly dog called Jet (well taught by Marley) who loves herding the guinea fowl.

Craft Retreats


I have had couple of ladies contact me who are interested in doing a spinning and or weaving retreat. Are there any spinners or weavers who would like to join them for a weekend where you are accommodated, catered for and who would like to learn how to spin and or weave and have a great time?

Until next time.