Ladies’ Day Run 28/5/2025

Our annual Ladies Day Run, while certainly not exclusively for the fairer sex, is hopefully focused perhaps a little more in that direction than some of our activities. Therefore, some may have been a little surprised when I announced that we were going to an establishment that sells cars. That was not the full story of course, as you will see.

12 vehicles appreciated our departure from Sturt Reserve in quite mild weather, in stark contrast to the preceding couple of days. We followed the Old Princes Highway, marvelling in the realisation that not only was it once the main road to Adelaide, but the main Adelaide to Melbourne route. All the trucks and slow traffic winding through the hills! Certainly not in the numbers going to and from Melbourne that we have today, but significant all the same, especially considering the conditions of that time. Nevertheless, we were soon at our first destination, the Classic Motor Studio at Totness.

The intended welcome by Matt and Kerrie was delayed because they could not tear us away from drooling over the cars for sale. Eventually order was restored, with everyone ushered upstairs and a proper welcome by Matt who explained who they were and what the Classic Motor Studio was about. This upstairs function room overlooks most of the cars for sale and an impressive collection of enamel signs and garagenalia, including petrol bowsers and oil bottles. It is intended that this area will be available for “weddings, parties, anything” as soon as the rest of the furniture arrives, which is on its way. The coffee machine was soon fired up and we could then have a look at the cars, bikes and other interesting items at our leisure with coffee in hand. They buy and sell only high-quality vehicles of Australian, American or European origin, or genuine garagenalia, not reproduction. It was all hugely interesting marvelling at the beautiful cars, with a couple of our members becoming very, very interested indeed!

Next stop was the Lobethal bakery at Woodside for lunch, and I noted that diets did not seem to be adhered to all that well. Very pleasant and delicious. But eventually we tore ourselves away to proceed to our final destination for the day, the Karkoo Nursery at Oakbank.

The Karkoo nursery is housed in the historic old Johnston brewery that dates from 1843. We were welcomed by Jane and Peter, who gave us a run-down of the history of the brewery buildings as well as the nursery which they originally started as a wholesale nursery at Mount George over 20 years ago. This has evolved into the retail outlet now at Oakbank and Stirling, although they still grow much of their stock. But they do have much more for sale than plants. Home and giftware, clothing, pots and rustic garden art abound. After some time exploring the buildings, nursery and items for sale, it was nearly time to make our way home, but most opted for a coffee and or cake in the “garden kitchen”. They also had an interesting assortment of ice cream flavours and although the weather was still pleasantly cool, I decided I must have one. To my surprise, most of the others did too!

So that was it, time to head home. As the “Ladies Day Run” includes a quiz (thanks Brenda), I collected the completed forms, but you will not know the winner till the Presentation Lunch. Hope you all had an enjoyable day.