Regional Professional Engineers Country Weekend 2022

June 29, 2022
Activities, Articles

The 2022 annual Regional Professional Engineers Country Weekend was held in Nagambie, Victoria from 27th to 29th May. The organizing committee from across Victoria was made up of David Eltringham (Horsham), Martin Duke, Mary-Anne Duke, Vicky Shelton (Geelong), Ian Newnham (Gipplsland EHV), Craig Watkins (Bendigo), Miles Pierce (EHV), David LeLievre (Geelong EHV) and Chris Stoltz (Bendigo). The Weekend was held for interested Professional Engineers in all branches of engineering from all over Victoria, their colleagues, families and friends. The flyer comprehensively advertising the event is given just below the Weekend Outcomes Report by David Eltringham.

Regional Professional Engineers Country Weekend 2022
– Outcomes Report.

Ing. David Eltringham, OAM, FIEAust, CPEng, convenor of the Weekend organising committee, reports that we (only 16 attendees this time) all agreed that the Weekend was well worth the Two year wait due to the recent Covid 19 lockdowns. And for those who did come –

  • They enjoyed the fellowship with Engineering Heritage (Goulburn Weir, Deakin Uni, Monash Uni, etc) and great culinary experiences!!
  • Nagambie is a beautiful Township in regional Victoria.
  • David was NOT aware of the 7 Prisoner of War camps in the area in World War 2 and the German War Cemetery (the only one in Australia)!!
  • A further highlight was Pat McNamara, former Deputy Premier of Victoria, former Minister for Water and current Deputy Chair of Goulburn Murray Water. He had an enjoyable Dinner with us and spoke on “Rowing and Water Infrastructure in Victoria”.

Now looking to the future:

  • We have agreed that with or without Engineers Australia’s support we will continue to facilitate our engineering society activities in the regions of Victoria.
  • “Engineers Country Weekend” is the preferred title for future Weekends dropping the word “Regional” so as to be more inclusive of Professional Engineers from across Victoria including those who are interested from the metro Melbourne area. Providing a chance to get away from the big smoke for a well organised and enjoyable weekend in the regions with fellow Professional Engineers.
  • We have agreed on the next Weekend Event to be held in Swan Hill during October 2023. The tentative dates are Fri 20th to Sun 22nd October 2023. Any minor changes to these dates will be publicised closer to the time.
  • It would be great if interested Professional Engineers could put this next year’s Weekend event in their diaries to facilitate them being able to come along with their colleagues, families and friends.
  • The support of the IngAust Society membership at large for the next event will also be much appreciated.

Support:

The IPWEA Vic (Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia, Victoria), through David Hallett, was an enthusiastic supporter of the Professional Engineers Country Weekend 2022 and this is much appreciated by the organising committee as well as those who attended the activities.

 

The historic Goulburn Weir near Nagambie in regional Victoria. Built between 1887 and early 1891, it was the first major diversion structure built for irrigation development in Australia.

 

Regional Professional Engineers Country Weekend 2022
– Promotional Flyer that Invited Participants.