GomerInfo

GOMER information

See GomerGroup for members

Current arrangements

Main Group

• Meet around multiple tables in the air conditioned comfort of the fellowship area at the church at 10am on Mondays.
• Coffee orders are taken to Piatella around 10:10. "Keep cups" are encouraged.
• The church kitchen is available, and hot chocolate and other hot drinks are made.
• At the end, around 11, members take the rubbish bins out to the street.

• A sub group meet at the church beforehand at 9:15 to walk this loop, including Bogong Reserve. Modified for SRLA obstructions.

Jells Park Group

(For those preferring an active walk before coffee)

• We meet at the cafe at Jells Park at 9:15 for a walk of about 3 kms around Jells Park Lake. Most members walk regardless of the weather, and dress themselves appropriately.
• After the walk (about 10), we purchase coffee, tea or hot chocolates at the temporary mobile cafe van outside the old Madelines cafe. We anticipate that the Madelines site will be redeveloped, due for completion later this year.
• The hot beverages stimulate some scintillating conversations, and the groups are small enough that all members can join in the joint conversations.
• Although the nominated ending time is 11am, the conversations are so engaging we often go well after this!

1 May 2022

Meeting at the church with Piatella coffee is working well. They can deliver quickly, and the pod machine and home made hot chocolate are available in the church kitchen.

Mar 2022

Muddings are closing on March 30. Obvious options are to try Piatella, who delivered for the small group on Labour Day, or to move to the Ibis, where the 8am service go for coffee. This would mean that we would lose control of the ventilation, and would be subjected to the TV sports channel.

Feb 2022

Muddings prices.

Jan 2022

This Monday Jan 24 is the start date for the new arrangements. 10am at GWUC.
We will take the coffee orders down to Muddings at about 10:15, but late comers can be added by going down there.
We will use disposable containers to start with. There are two sizes. Small is $3.80 and large $4.30 for regular coffees; extra for non-dairy milks. I will have some change for those who have forgotten what cash is. We will run a cash jar. Yes it is cheaper than Madelines, but no loyalty cards.

I suggest that we do the walk from the church, as shown below, this week.
If we then judge it to be too inferior to the Jells Park lake walk, we can change in the future.
The cost of walking at Jells of course is the drive afterwards.
The church walk is a little shorter than the lake walk, so 9:15 should be good.

The Zoom session will still be working, but I plan to be at the church.
Jim Robinson plans to check the Zoom session when suitable.
Others who cannot or choose not to come to the church are welcome to use that.

Dec 2021

• The consensus seems to be that we should keep to Mondays, and try meeting at the church with coffee from Muddings.
• Muddings close for two weeks after New Year, making Monday 24 January the logical date to start.
• Until then, walk at Jells at 9:15, then either takeaways at Jells or Zoom, at 10am.

Oct 2021

• From 29 Oct we can walk together and have take away coffee. Madelines restaurant is still closed on Mondays. Zoom will continue for the time being, as not everyone is comfortable being in crowds.

• Possible change of day or venue is under discussion.

19 Jul 2021 Lockdown

• Walking only allowed with one other person or members of your own household, so Zoom it is.

Mar-Apr 2021 update

• Madelines have indicated that they intend to remain take away only on Mondays.
• So walk at 9:15, then at 10 there is the choice take away coffee at outside tables or Zoom session.

Feb 2021 update

• The resumption of school and school drop offs has made walking at 8:45 difficult.
• Some walkers are staying on for take away coffee at the outdoor tables, and a few non-walkers are joining them.
• From the 8th February, lets go with walking at 9:15, but keep the Zoom at 10am for those unable or uncomfortable going to the park.

Jan 2021 update

Madelines have confirmed that they will open for table service from Jan 14, but not on Mondays until after Labour Day in March. We are currently considering our options for after Jan 18, but will continue as below until then.

Dec 2020-Jan 2021 update

For November and December, those who can and want to walk meet at 8:45, giving us time to complete the walk, wait for a coffee, and be back home in time for GoZooMers at 10am.

Nov-Dec 2020 update

Madelines have a sign saying that they will not open for indoor seating until January, so coffee still needs to be on Zoom. They are doing take away, but the queue can be long.

With the current rules, it is possible for us to do the Jells Park walk on Monday, in groups of ten or less. No mixing between the groups permitted. We need to wear masks, and keep a record of who was in each group. I suggest a quick phone photo. What is legal may not be advisable, and that is a judgement that we all need to make individually. Absolutely no pressure.

Isolation Links

The links that were here have been migrated to CovidCommunications in order to share with the wider church congregation.

We have also started a GomerFun page. (If that is not an oxymoron?)

Normal Stuff

GOMER (Grumpy Old Men and Early Retirees (voluntary or otherwise)) is a group of men who meet for coffee at Madeline's at 10am on Monday mornings. Some of us meet at 9:10 for a gentle walk around the lake before coffee.

It began when two men became in-voluntary Early Retirees, due to injury, and a couple of Old Men took them out for coffee. It has grown to a regular attendance over 20, our own reserved table, and staff being well trained to look after us.

Contact DavidMorgan for further information, help with transport etc.

We were recently presented with this notice.

Tenth anniversary

8 Jul 2019. Scones this morning were "on the house" provided by Liana and the restaurant in honour of our tenth anniversary.

Below is the photo of the 30 of us singing "happy birthday to us".