Recent Tour Reports

TOFS TRIP 919

Friday 23rd October 2026

Forster Fire & Rescue Station

(Organised by TOFS MC)

TOFS (14): Alan J (416), Paul K (461), Malc S (359), Dave T (351), Allan E (311), Peter B (399), Phil J (277), Bill L (367), Gary S (322), Bob W (465), Peter W (326), Ian C (376), Tom H (393), Norm MS (307).                          

Fourteen (14), TOFS members headed for Forster FIRE and RESCUE on Friday the 23rd of October. The visit was arranged by Bill L (367) from Halliday Shores as his son, Simon has been a part-time fire fighter at this station for 13 years and agreed to be our guide.

There are 20 fire fighters attached to the Station including one apprentice and one woman.  New members undergo a fitness test followed by an intensive 3-month training which includes travelling with the more experienced fighters to incidents. The station deals with approximately 470 calls a year.

Following the brief introduction by Simon, the group moved to the two large fire and rescue trucks for a description and discussion of the large amount of equipment both carried. One truck is called a Rescue Pumper, and the other a Fire Tanker. Both weigh roughly eight and a half tonnes. The amount and quality of equipment from breathing apparatus to “jaws of life” were very impressive, clearly designed for every type of emergency. When Simon raised the issue of dealing with lithium battery fires, he emphasised that the first danger were the toxic gases that escape when a fire starts. So, breathing apparatus is essential in these circumstances.

Following a brief view of Simon donning various fire and rescue clothing, we were taken to a severely crashed car for an explanation of rescue procedures.

Thanks to Bill and Simon for organising an interesting and informative morning.

The trip then concluded with a very pleasant lunch at Club Forster.

Paul K (461)

TOFS TRIP 918

Wednesday 21 October 2026

Kincumber Broadwater Walk

(Organised by TOFS WW Sub-group)

TOFS [16]:  JP (27), Daryl H (65), Rex M (179), Graham L (185), Greg O’H (200), Richard McD (219), Ron O’H (231), Peter O (348), Paul E (380), Lyle W (386), David W (434), Bobby Tang (448), David C (467), Les H (469), Peter L (479). John L (477) was a welcome attendee for lunch.

Often the bus trip to reach a “starting point” for a TOFS outing covers so much territory on back roads that you begin to wonder if you will ever reach your destination.

The Route 64 bus to begin our walk at Kincumber was no exception as it wound its way through Green Point, after paying a drive-in/drive-out visit to Erina Fair shopping centre. Well might you ask ‘Who cares?’  But keep reading.     

The stands of cedar, forest oak, blue gum and other hardwoods around the Kincumber Broadwater became the target of woodcutters soon after the establishment of the colony in Sydney in 1788.

This in turn led to the local waterfront growing into a thriving boat building district. Many hundreds of vessels came out of the temporary boat-building yards that sprang up around the foreshore after the 1820’s.

About 500 named boats can be traced back to this locality, and there are likely to be many, many more that left these builders without first being christened.  

Now. As you exit from Erina Fair onto Karalta Road, there is a congested grove of extremely tall, extremely straight, smooth-barked trees. Possibly a Eucalyptus variety?  If these trees are typical of what those early timbercutters found, then there is a compelling reason for boat-building to have become a major industry in the district. What marvellous ships masts these trees would have made.

But that’s enough of the hypothetical.

A walk along the pedestrian/cycleway to Davistown is about as gentle as an hour’s exercise can be. A chance to admire the expanse of the Broadwater to the left (remarkably almost devoid of watercraft), and the generally well-maintained string of residences that enjoy this prime location.

The one thing that was missing was the well-publicised chorus of bellbirds and whipbirds that accompanied TOFS on their original visit back in 2020. What has happened to them?

With some options available for our journey home, our party split up soon after lunch at The Davo as some made their way to the early ferry back to Woy Woy.

Thanks to all for taking part in this trip.

The WW Sub-group will be returning to the Central Coast on 24 February to explore a bit of The Entrance that you probably haven’t visited before. Please make that date the first entry in your 2027 diary.

Rex M (179)

Tour Leader

TOFS Trip 917

Thursday 15 October 2026

TAMBOURINE CREEK TRACK

(Organised by TOFS SS)

TOFS (27): Graham L (185), Paul E (380), Les H (469), Lyle W (386), Frank W (475), David W (434), Ron O (231), JP (27), Robert E (431), Peter L (479), Ron C (470), Peter O (348), Bruce K (68), Allan S (349), Jason F (464), Rex M (179), Alastair T (396), Daryl H (65), Gregg B (365), Johnny V (483), Bobby T (448), Phill K (122), Phil K (123), Chas H (203), Ken C (474), David C (467), John O (357).

We met at Blue Street North Sydney for a bus through Northwood and Longueville. Alighting in Arabella Street Longueville we could see from under our umbrellas, the water's edge of a peaceful idyllic part of the Lane Cove River.

After Longueville Wharf we had a brief respite from the drizzle.

LANE COVE RIVER

The 15-kilometre Lane Cove River starts near Thornleigh, winds through a forested valley, and meets the harbor between Greenwich and Woolwich. A weir near Fullers Bridge splits the river - upstream is fresh water, while downstream is a tidal estuary framed by mangroves. Much of the middle valley is protected inside the Lane Cove National Park which offers picnic spots, walking tracks, and camping.

You should not eat fish caught from the Lane Cove River because it is located west of Sydney Harbour Bridge and is therefore subject to historical industrial pollution.

How did the Lane Cove River get its name? Nobody knows. Three theories:

·       Lieutenant Michael Lane was a cartographer working with James Cook.

·       John Lane was a London merchant and friend of Arthur Phillip.

·       The mouth of the Lane Cove River is narrow and may resemble a lane (remember these were the days before Specsavers).

In 1796, the Lane Cove area had 55 acres cleared, 42 pigs and 15 dozen chickens. The population were described as some industrious and a few indifferent.

THE CREEK TRACK

Amazingly the rain halted temporarily, and we set out on the track. The creek was flowing, cascading over small waterfalls and bubbling through between rocks. The path was a little slippery, so we took it slowly.

The track meanders through angophora forest and salt marsh along a tidal creek.

The powerful owl and grey-headed flying fox inhabit the Reserve. Small native finches, wrens and whipbirds may be seen among the acacias, ferns and wildflowers. In summer, the beautiful pink crowea or pink hyacinth orchids flower. The reserve’s ecological communities include Coastal escarpment littoral rainforest and Sydney turpentine ironbark forest edge.

Tambourine Bay got its name from a notorious local woman known as ‘Tambourine Sal’, who used the area’s thick bushland as a hideout from the police in the 19th century. The woman gained her nickname because she frequently played the tambourine in the streets of Sydney. To evade the military and police she fled to the rugged, largely inaccessible shores of the Lane Cove River, living in a cave or small hut on the foreshore.

Local historians later suggested her identity may have been Sarah Leadbeater, who eventually married the early explorer and surveyor William Lawson in 1812. Perhaps this is unlikely, Lawson being a gentrified squatter with a prestigious anchor tattoo upon his chest. But fact is sometimes stranger than fiction and maybe their outdoor interests led to them humping their matildas together.

The densely wooded peninsula was a known refuge for ‘dangerous characters’ dodging the law. While surrounding areas were eventually cleared for manufacturing and premium housing, the name stuck.

THE DIDDY

How wonderful is The Diddy! This great value venue takes full advantage of its indoor-outdoor ambience to serve meals and drinks to a relaxed clientele. The Diddy was established in 1938. Over 80 years later, the former Bowling club is now an established venue with its lively greens still thriving.

In the early days of the club founded in 1938, devoted members played bowls with near-religious attendance. When a regular player was missing, others would look around and jokingly ask, "Where is Fred? Did he die, did he?" Over time, that cheeky question shortened and evolved into the affectionate moniker "The Diddy," which stuck permanently.

As we sat at lunch the heavens finally opened, we were glad to be secure under cover.

MUSIC

"Green Tambourine" by the Lemon Pipers (1967)  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5Vz-z4PEkk

Graham L (185)

TOFS TRIP 916

TUESDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2026

ADCOCK PARK WALK

(Organised by CC-TOFS)

TOFS (9): Peter B (32), Les H (469), Anthony T (420), Rob E (431), JP (27), Rob B (440), Peter W (101), Andrew M (16), John L (477).

Unfortunately, for the second month in a row the original bookings were down with only local Central Coast TOFS in attendance.

Due to the weather forecast we had several cancellations with 6 of us meeting at the RSL at 11am to commence the walk. As the showers persisted, we retired inside for a coffee and waited for the other 3 to arrive for lunch. 

This took our total to 9 which is about the lowest attendance for a trip I can remember in the 14 years that I have been organising trips.

Despite the above we had a very enjoyable lunch and left about 2.30pm for the trip home after another good TOFS day out.

Peter B JP (32)

13 October 2026.

TOFS TRIP 915

Thursday 8th October 2026

               ARMS OF AUSTRALIA MUSEUM, EMU PLAINS

Organised by TOFS NM Group

TOFS (19): JP (27), Ken H (48), Phil K (123), Phil G (145), Terry O (147) Dennis W (177), Graham L (185), Chas H (203), Jim McD (209), Ron O (231), David M (271), Paul E (380), Lyle W (386), Graeme L (392), Bobby T (448) Jason F (464), Ron C (470), Frank W (475), Peter L (479).

On a beautiful Spring morning, 19 TOFS met up at Emu Plains Station for the short walk to the Arms of Australia Museum where we were met by our guides, Phil, Harry and Tony.  They were supported by Trish and her team of ladies who served a lovely morning tea.

Phil, our guide provided a short history of the Museum.

As a basic inn, the foundations were laid in 1834, and the buildings were completed in 1836.

The land had earlier in 1810 been used as a prison farm housing around 5,000 convicts.

Today the building is heritage listed, and one of the oldest buildings in the Penrith area.  It has an interesting shingle roof.

As an inn it was used by travellers going west, and in the 1850’s        GOLD RUSH BOOM !!,

Cobb and Co coaches stopped there.  The BOOM time for inns on this road ended in 1867 with the introduction of the Railway.

In 1865 the inn was sold and became a private home until 1970 when it was bought by the Nepean District Historical Society, backed by Penrith Council.

Renovations were completed in 1976 and at that time many artifacts and interesting items were recovered from under the floor.

The Museum comprises several rooms; filled with all sorts of historical pieces, as well and hundreds of photographs from early pioneer days.  There is a school room set up, which jogged a few memories.  We enjoyed looking at old pianos, record players, radios, telephones, kitchen items, and furniture from a bygone era.

In the barn are many tools and old farm machinery, some of which needed an explanation of what they actually were.

Officially opened in 1976, the Museum celebrates its 50th year Anniversary this month with an OPEN DAY.

Charles took the Group photograph before we thanked our hosts for a worthwhile day, and proceeded to O’Donoghue’s Irish Pub, just along the road for lunch.

Another interesting TOF’s adventure, we learn something new on every outing.

David M (271)

NEXT NM MEETING:   EBENEZER on the HAWKESBURY

THURSDAY 19TH NOVEMBER 2026

TOFS Trip 914

Thursday 1 October 2026

POWDER HULK BAY WALK

(Organised by TOFS KO)

TOFS (31): Graham L (185), Paul E (380), Les H (469), Ron O (231), Ted B (451), Phil B (345), Denis P (430), Frank W (475), JP (27), Ken H (48), Michael F (108), Bobby T (448), Steve B (435), David W (434), Lyle W (386), Ron C (470), Gregg B (365), Peter O (348), Johnny V (483), Robert E (431), Jim M (209), Daryl H (65), Peter L (479), Ken C (474), Phil G (154), Gary H (366), Stuart P (264), David C (467), Jeffrey H (373), Wayne E (476), John O (357).

Visitors (3): Kevin S, Kevin H, Paul T.

We met at Circular Quay, which was buzzing with school holiday crowds, plus a cruise ship was in town. After a classic ride on an authentic Manly Ferry, we transferred to a very crowded 144 bus to the shops at Seaforth to commence our 4.56km walk.

THE POWDER HULKS

Powder Hulk Bay in Middle Harbour, Seaforth, was a late 19th-century mooring site for disused warships. A hulk is a vessel that is no longer capable of going to sea because its rigging or engines have been removed.

During the 1860s, the gold rush greatly increased the demand for blasting explosives, resulting in the Goat Island Magazine becoming severely over-crowded. Custodians of the dynamite were in potential peril (and not able to rely totally on the strength imparted by the anchor tattoos upon their chests).

In late 1882 the disused Quebec-built warship Behring was moved to what is now called Powder Hulk Bay in Middle Harbour, where it was joined by the hulks Pride of England, also a powder hulk, and the Alacrity, which was used as a guard ship and accommodation. These hulks were used for storage of mercantile (commercial) explosives until replaced by the Bantry Bay magazine about 1913.

MIDDLE HARBOUR 16ft SKIFF CLUB

At the Spit right on the water's edge with spectacular views across Middle Harbour, this venue is one of the best lunch places for weary and thirsty TOFS to replenish. The harbour shore is lined with a beach; there is bird life and the passing traffic of leisure vessels. 

MUSIC

Hulk up and get ship shape with 'Quay Hotel' by Sailor (1976). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOQObUwQxBs

Graham L (185)

TOFS TRIP 913

Wednesday 23rd September 2026

Taree and District Model Railway Club Inc.

(Organised by TOFS MC)

TOFS (12): Paul K (461), Malc S (359), Dave T (351), Doug F (333), Kit C (415), Dennis R (422), Phil J (277), Alan M (228), Lee M (423), Peter W (354), Peter B (399), Allan E (311).                       

On a warm Spring morning, 12 TOFS members headed for the Model Railway Club in Manning St. Taree. Housed in the old Freight Centre behind the Railway Station, the sight which greeted us was something to behold. The model railway lay out covered a huge area, with 7 members controlling train movements by means of phones and tech boards. The Club’s location has had a checkered history in its initial years, beginning at Coolongolook Scout Hall, moving to the Taree Police Citizens Youth Club and finally to its current location where it has resided for 23 years.

The Club has 35 members (33 men and 2 women) and we were lucky enough to be taken around by President Noel and Secretary Gordon. In case you are thinking that this is a hobby away from home for these two, I would point out that Noel has 80 model locomotives at home and Gordon has about 150. The Club is responsible for maintenance of the building and managed to receive a grant from the NSW government to put solar panels on the roof.

For something different, the Club organises a SCENARIO each month that attending members must perform e.g. a load of cement has to be delivered from one end of the rail system to the other. The locomotive breaks down; how do they complete the task?

It was a very enjoyable experience for us and thanks to Noel and Gordon for accommodating us on a Wednesday. Model railways have come a long way since my time with a set from Hornby when I was a child.

Following this visit we then enjoyed a very pleasant lunch at the Railway Bowling Club situated a few meters further on in High Street.

Paul K (461)

TOFS TRIP 912

Thursday 24 September 2026

Auburn Botanic Gardens – Partners & Friends Day

(Organised by TOFS WW)

TOFS [15 + partners]: JP (27), Phil G (154) + Marie, Rex M (179) + Pat, Ron O’H (231) + Maureen, Keith R (283) + Wendee, Richard B (296) + Carolyn, Peter O (348), Lyle W (386) + Vicki, Rob E (431) + Chris, Bobby T (448), Jason F (464), David C (467), Les H (469), Frank W (475), Ron C (470).

A foggy morning greeted Sydney on the day we were to visit Auburn Botanic Gardens, the usual harbinger of a fine day ahead. And so, it evolved -  a great Spring offering ideal for ambling through the various themed areas that make up the gardens.

But first! Let me reiterate the very warm welcome that was extended to our seven ladies who joined us for this outing.

Thanks Marie, Pat, Maureen, Wendee, Carolyn, Vicki and Chris for your company. You really added to the day. We should do it again.

Auburn Botanic Gardens presents many faces when you wander around its compact 9.2 hectares on well-maintained pathways, and members of our party were allowed to simply ”choose their own poison” – to take in the overall appeal of the gardens, or to linger around features in which they had a particular interest.

The only real imposition on anyone was to try to be at our lunch venue by noon, to allow sufficient time for victuals before the rather limited bus timetable came into effect.    

All obliged in that regard, and indeed most of the bus travellers stayed around until the second of the two buses on offer was due.

I think that indicates that the interaction and mixed company were being enjoyed.

Once again, thanks to all for making this a good day out.

Rex M (179)

Tour Organiser                 

TOFS TRIP 909

Tuesday 8TH September 2026

Lunch Club Wyong

(Organised by TOFS CC)

TOFS (13):  Peter B 32, Paul E 380, Les H 469, Frank W 475, Phil G 154, Anthony T 420, John P 27, Jeff J 153, Rob E 431, Graham G 172, Andrew M 16, Col C 411, Laurie G 457.

After picking up a couple of members at Wyong Station we went to the Club to catch up with the rest.

We were offered Club Membership as the Club is part of the larger Mounties Group.

Phil G and I were lucky as it was our Birthday Month we swiped our cards and got a $15.00 credit which paid for lunch.

After the meet and greet we got a drink and ordered our meals, unfortunately a couple of boys a bit unlucky, John P ordered the roast special to be told it had run out and Andrew M was eying off the apple crumble dessert special and when he went to order it had run out. We also emptied the last of the 3.5 keg.

Putting that all aside we settled in for the afternoon with the usual discussions and opinions along with a few jokes and a few guys picking on poor Paul E.

As always time flew and before we knew it was time to pull up stakes and head home after another enjoyable TOFS day.

As a Tour Organiser I have learnt over the years that you don’t have to always arrange a tour to have a good time with TOFS.  The lunch after is probably the most important part of the TOFS objectives to promote wellbeing and mental health.

Peter B JP 32

14 Sept 2026.