Members of the Shenley Women's Institute got off to a good start at their first meeting of the year on Thursday last week.

Their new president, Gill Snow, had arranged a slideshow presentation about her recent trip to Australia which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

Mrs Snow's trip took her seven weeks to complete travelling in a four-wheel drive vehicle from Darwin in the north-west through wide ranging variations of landscapes to Melbourne in the south-east. On her way she encountered various wild animals including crocodiles, pythons and kangaroos -- all from a safe distance of course.

Next month's speaker will be Bert Huckett who will talk to members about English porcelain and china from 1760 to 1850. Later this month the Institute will be celebrating its 80th birthday. A party is being organised on Thursday January 28 at Shenley Village Hall.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.