PROBUS CLUB OF WAHROONGA EAST (Inc.)

NEWSLETTER 28 November 2016 Editor Geoff Morris 9449 9872 Vol.25 No.11

http://www.probusclubwahroongaeast.org.au/

Our Club newsletter is published for the pleasure and information of our members only

FROM THE SECRETARY (Michael Dunn 9481 0042 michaeldunn7@bigpond.com )

NEXT MEETING: Monday 27 February 2017

Birthday Boys. For November, 2016 they are: John Chatterton, Peter Cowdroy, John Knight, Brian McIntyre,

Steve McGregor, Brian North, Kingsley Perry, Ken Russell, John Spurrett and Russell Turner.

Career Talk. There will be no career talk at the November meeting.

Tables and Chairs. For November, 2016 assistance is requested from: Hugh Anderson, Eric Atkinson, Andrew Bean, Ken

Broadhead and Jim Buys.

Lunch. Our lunch this month is sandwiches (4 points per head), a slice of cake and tea or coffee – at the usual cost. A survey

will be made to gauge the popularity of this alternative.

ADMINISTRATION (Graham Barclay 9449 5756 grahambarclay@bigpond.com )

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK Peter Brand 9144 3858 peterbrand@optusnet.com.au

It’s hard to believe that this year is rapidly drawing to a close but as one visits the large shopping centres we are

visually reminded that the festive season is upon us even if the true meaning of the season is lost in

commercialism.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our Christmas lunch on Monday 12 December at Pymble Golf Club.

This luncheon along with our midyear luncheon form important main Club functions for all members and their partners to

meet in pleasant surrounds. An enormous amount of work by the convenor Barry Pulsford and his offsider Kingsley Perry,

ably assisted by their wives goes into ensuring this function meets everyone’s expectations.

The Sydney Theatre Company “The Wharf Review” on Wednesday 14 December completes our activities for the year with no

meetings in December and January but come Friday 27 January our Picnic / BBQ at Bobbin Head is a great way for all of us to

get together in a very casual way to start the 2017 year for our club activities.

We welcome two new members to our Club this month – David Rigby and Sue along with John Simon and Gaye. With the

induction of David and John we look forward to them taking part in many of our activities, functions and meetings and

enjoying the wonderful friendship that our club offers.

As this is the last Newsletter for 2016, finally as we look to the festive season I would like to wish you and your families a

very happy and safe Christmas and holiday period and good health in 2017.

Probus Travel Insurance – Probus Travel Insurance is a key member benefit exclusively for Probus Club

members and their immediate families to consider when travelling domestically or overseas.

Based on feedback from Probus Club members, Probus has expanded the Probus Travel options by providing

an Annual Policy as a third option. The existing Probus Travel Insurance plans include Single Trip Plan A and Single Trip

Plan B that provide different levels of coverage. The new Annual Multi Trip Plan B policy provides the same level of cover as

the existing Single Trip Plan B. It is designed for frequent travellers for an unlimited number of trips over a 12-month period,

provided each trip is no longer than 45 days. For further information visit the Probus website at:

www.probussouthpacific.org or contact Probus South Pacific Limited office on 1300 630 488

Probus Active Retirees - As you are aware, the Active Retirees magazine is usually available at our Club meetings –

depending upon mail out times. For those “tech-savvy” members, you can also sign up for the Active Retirees E-Newsletter.

Simply log in to www.probussouthpacific.org and sign up via the link on top right of the home page.

Friday 27 January 2017 - Meet at the Pavillion, Bobbin Head, at 3:30pm for a bush walk prior

to our 4:30pm BBQ.

Normal walking group activities will resume in March 2017.

WALKING GROUP (Mike Pailthorpe (9417 4639 0407 437 062 mikeadel@bigpond.net.au )

(Ron Eisenhammer 9451 6733 0418 285 228 reisenhammer4@bigpond.com )

As of today we have just over 60 members “registered” to enjoy and keep up-to-date with club happenings via the website. We’ve seen several examples where postings have helped people get theatre tickets, info on our events etc.

But that still leaves a sizeable number of you who haven’t registered and there is very little you can see on our website without registering. Some of you may well be confirmed anti-computer folk and that’s fine. But maybe the process of getting started just has you a bit daunted – maybe you even made an initial try that somehow didn’t work? If so, I’m more than happy to walk you through it on the phone.

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WEBSITE ( Wes Dayton 9988 3898 wes@hrca.org.au )

EVENTS CALENDAR

Activity Day Date Time Event

Probus Meeting Mon 28-Nov 9 45 am November Probus meeting

Speakers Mon 28-Nov 11 00 am Victor Fenech;The Electric Vehicle Movement in Australia.

Special Events Mon 12-Dec 12 00 pm Christmas Lunch Pymble Golf Club.

Theatre Wed 14-Dec 1 00 pm The Sydney Theatre Company. “The Wharf Review” Pickup at Bannockburn 10

45 am

Theatre Willoughby 2017 Full subscription cost $135 pp. Individual cost per ticket for WTC “Wicked”

and “Chicago” is $60.80 and for “The Magic of Musicals” is $45.90. Payment

now due please.

Theatre Pymble Players 2017 Full subscription cost $85 pp. Payment now due please.

Special Events Fri 27-Jan 4 30 pm Picnic / BBQ The Pavillion at Bobbin Head

Outings Thu 16-Feb 1 45 pm Sydney Fish Markets and twilight seafood dinner. $78 pp.

Theatre Sat 25-Feb 8 00 pm Pymble Players "Visiting Mr. Green"

Probus meeting Mon 27-Feb 9 45 am February Probus meeting.

Guest Speakers Mon 27-Feb 11 00 am Andrew Tink. "Narrative of 20th Century Australia"

Tours Sun 05-Mar Brisbane and Sunshine Coast tour. 7 days. $1980 pp.

Probus meeting Mon 27-Mar 9 45 am March Probus meeting and Annual General Meeting

Guest Speakers Mon 27-Mar 11 00 am Graham Wilcox: “The Struggle for Unity before the Federation of Australia”.

Outings Thu 30-Mar 6 30 pm Progressive Dinner $40 pp, Hosts Needed

Probus meeting Mon 24-Apr 9 45 am April Probus meeting.

Guest Speakers Mon 24-Apr 11 00 am Austin Mack: “Your overseas Holiday with your Tablet Computer”

Theatre Sat 13-May 8 00 pm Pymble Players "Australia Day"

Probus meeting Mon 22-May 9 45 am May Probus meeting.

Guest Speakers Mon 22-May 11 00 am Jodie Barrington (RTA) “The New Tunnel under Pennant Hills Road”.

Theatre Sat 27-May 8 00 pm Willoughby Theatre Co. "Wicked"

Probus meeting Mon 26-Jun 9 45 am June Probus meeting.

Special Events Fri 21-Jul 11 45 am Mid Year Lunch Monash Country Club

Theatre Sat 22-Jul 7 30 pm Willoughby Theatre Co. "The Magic Of The Musicals"

Theatre Sat 29-Jul 8 00 pm Pymble Players "An Inspector Calls"

Special Events Fri 15-Sep 12 00 pm Prawn Lunch Wildflower Gardens

Theatre Sat 14-Oct 8 00 pm Pymble Players "Calendar Girls"

Theatre Sat 28-Oct 8 00 pm Willoughby Theatre Co. "Chicago" (optional date 21 October)

VICE PRESIDENT (Peter Smith 9449 9108 0409 284 245 reachfar53@bigpond.com

GOLF John Spurrett (94492318 john@spurett.com)

Warwick Finney (91441938 warwick.finney@bigpond.com)

Our last game for the year was held at Mona Vale Golf Club on Friday 18 November. We hit off

from 8.25am to avoid the hot part of the day and with the benefit of a sea breeze our outing could

not have been better. We were all complementary about the course which was indeed a pleasure to play.

We had over 20 potential starters but with some extraordinary misfortunes, numbers fell away to 14 with the last cancellation

coming when Pat Kelly fell off a ladder. We had a very good lunch after the game with the usual wide range of discussion

subjects but the prominent decision was that none of us should get up a ladder at our stage of life; however fit we might think

we are.

The standard of play was excellent with John Knight being our winner with 37 Stableford points and Peter Lovell second on

35 points. Rob Giacometti and John Spurrett were next on 32 points and the rest were very close.

It has been my pleasure to lead this activity for some time now and with such a wonderful group, it has been a great

experience.Warwick Finney, with Doug Ferdinands’ assistance, will take over in the new year, when I know he will be

announcing some very inviting golfing opportunities.

For the last meeting of the year Patricia Harrison, Stockbroker from Phillips Capital will give us

her views on the stock market. Pat is an old friend of Probus, her views are always well worth

listening to. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

INVESTMENTS (John Linstead 9449 9645 linstead@ozemail.com.au )

(Howard Vains 9953 1087 vains2@bigpond.com )

This month we complete the inductions of new members, which we have enjoyed over the last three months,

when President Peter will induct John Simon and David Rigby. I hope each of our new members thoroughly

enjoys being part of our club and will want to invite their friends to come along too.

Talking of new members, if anyone does want to introduce someone to the Club the procedure is as follows-

contact the Vice-President to discuss the prospective applicant.

if agreed by the VP the applicant should be invited by the Proposer to attend the next Club meeting where he will be

introduced to the meeting, by the Proposer as a Guest.

the President will welcome the Guest, have morning tea with him with the aim of having the Guest consider making an

application for membership.

Application Forms can be obtained from the VP and when returned will be sent by the VP to the Membership

Committee and the Management Committee for comment.

if no adverse comments are received after 7 days the VP will contact the Proposer to schedule a meeting with the

Applicant, Proposer and the Membership Committee.

the Membership Committee comprises the VP (Chairman), Secretary and the New Member Liaison Officer.

following the meeting the Applicant and Proposer are informed within 48 hours regarding the success of the application

if successful a letter of welcome will be sent by the President to the new member.

if successful, induction will be arranged by the VP at the next meeting.

There is one other important matter I would like to mention, that is our annual trip to Bowral.

This has always been successful and continues to be so. Following our most recent trip some members have posed the question

of whether perhaps a change of venue would be a good idea. I wanted to let you know that a sub-committee of our

Management Committee met to consider this question.

It has been concluded that:

we should go to Bowral again in 2017.

I am pleased to announce that David Barling has agreed to organise the Trip for us.

Andrew Marr, who has organised this trip so well for a number of years, has stepped back but has assisted the sub-

committee in its deliberations and will give David support and advice if needed on the way. I thank him strongly for the

great work he has done and continues to do.

importantly the decision to go to Bowral in 2017 was taken because there is insufficient time to fully investigate,

communicate with members and organise a new location and we know many members are very happy with Bowral, so

the risk of a hurried change is unnecessary.

in the meantime we are researching other options and, if we consider an attractive new location is viable, details will be

put to members next April or May, perhaps with a survey attached to give us an effective instruction, so we will be in

good time to set up the 2018 trip to either Bowral or elsewhere, as requested by members.

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Christmas Lunch at Pymble Golf Club Monday 12 December 12 noon $65 pp

Canapes on arrival followed by

Alternate main courses of

*Wild caught barramundi fillet with sweet potato mash and asparagus with beurre blanc or

*Slow roasted beef tenderloin fillet on fondant potato, sauté spinach, Swiss brown mushroom and red wine jus

Desserts are alternates of

*Traditional Christmas pudding with vanilla bean custard and ice-cream or

*Belgian chocolate tart with vanilla bean ice-cram and sour cherry compote

Drinks served will be red, white and sparkling white wines plus beer and soft drinks.

Prizes will be given for the best Christmas attired lady and gentleman. Payment is now due please

Picnic/BBQ at The Pavillion , Bobbin Head Friday 27 January 4.30 pm

The venue is the same as in 2016 and is just off the first turn to the right after crossing the bridge.

The Pavillion is between two pine trees between the road and the water. There are ample parking spaces nearby for which you

need to pay or have a National Parks Pass

In the Pavillion there are undercover tables , chairs and BBQs. All other picnic / BBQ requirements are BYO

TOURS ( Ian Maze 9440-1235 mazes@bigpond.com.au )

With the February visit to the Fish Markets so popular with so many, the Gillett's and

Lawrence's are now concentrating on a beauty for March next year. Lots of possibilities!!

FINE WINE and DINE ( Roy Lawrence 9489 5263 rmlaw@bigpond.net.au )

( Terry Gillett 9488 9338 terry@giltej.com )

Brisbane and Sunshine Coast Trip 5 days Sunday 8 to Saturday 11 March, 2017.

This is a fly in/fly out trip, and once again On Course will provide a home pickup and return service to and from

the airport. Staying 3 nights in Brisbane at Kangaroo Point and 3 nights in Caloundra. A detailed daily itinerary

is available on the TOURS section of our Probus website.

The trip cost is $1,980.00 per person twin share. Single supplement is $435.00 per person.

*There are 4 places still available on the trip. We are looking for relatives and friends to fill them. The booking deadline is

immediate, so please contact me as soon as possible for your booking.

August 2017 7 Day Trip to Monaro/Braidwood/Bombala Area

Itinerary and accommodation details are being finalised for a trip in the first week of August 2017. Please contact me and

register your interest in this trip. Cost details available next month.

Overseas Travel Survey 2017-2018

Indications show that September 2018 is the preferred date for the Douro River cruise in Portugal.

This is basically an 8 day river cruise from Porto and returning to Porto, with twin share costs (2016) of $4,000 to $5,000 per

person. Return airfare costs would be an additional cost and would need to be organised independently by each traveller to

suit his own travel arrangements.

*At our February meeting, we will be asking members who are interested in doing this cruise to make a firm registration of

interest, so that firm booking enquiries can proceed with the operator.

*At least 20 people are needed for the trip, to get the best group booking offers and cabin options.

SPECIAL EVENTS (Barry Pulsford 9144 4373 0415 714 869 barry.pulsford@bigpond.com ) ( Kingsley Perry ( 9489 5508 0422 169 860 kingperry@optusnet.com.au )

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BRIDGE Ian Davidson (9418 1962 gretian@tpg.com.au )

PROGRESSIVE DINNER.THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 AT 6.30 PM $40 PER

PERSON

The format for the 2017 Progressive dinner is the same as previous successful progressive dinners.

Guests arrive at the hosts’ home at 6.30 pm for entrée and main course followed by dessert, tea and coffee to be served at the

Turramurra Bowling Club from 9 pm. The cost per person is $40 and bookings are now open.

Currently we have 6 couples ( Atkinson, Bean , Brand, Cameron I, Dobbie and Smith) who have kindly agreed to host which

means we can accommodate 36 guests. But based on previous dinners we need more hosts to make the evening a success. So

please consider hosting 6 guests in your home. Each host couple receives a $110 contribution for food costs and three bottles

of wine and are not required to pay the $40 per person contribution.

OUTINGS ( David Harricks 9488 7407 or djharricks@bigpond.com assisted by

Ross Burns 9488 7784 or lynandrossburns@bigpond.com )

GUEST SPEAKERS (Chris Wood 9449 1663 chris@wood.id.au)

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THEATRE Peter Cowdroy (pcowdroy@bigpond.net.au 9144 6496 0407 435 377)

Dennis Hartland dennis@jetmaster.com.au 9983 0403 0418 761 668

We attended our fourth and final play at Pymble Players for the year (“Communicating Doors”)

and it again lived up to the high standard we have come to expect from this Theatre. I don’t know

how they are going to top it next year?

The two musicals which we attended since our last meeting, “Mary Poppins” (WTC) and “My Fair Lady” (STC) were both

superb – a lovely jaunt down memory lane for both and a fitting end to a great season of musicals this year.

Our last show for this year will be the “The Wharf Review” on Wednesday December 14. Again a bus pick up at 10.45.

Those attending will have received details about this Theatre visit.

We have received a good response to our call for subscribers to both Pymble Players and Willoughby Theatre Company for

2017. It looks like a ‘Bumper Crop’ for both. We are currently over-subscribed for Pymble Players and I am trying to get

more tickets, but we are OK for WTC.

If you have indicated your intention to subscribe for one or both of these programs for 2017 but have not paid, please have

your payments to me or the Club before this year’s Christmas Lunch (Monday 12 December). I shall be purchasing tickets

to both programs in the week following the Lunch, based on subscriptions paid by that date.

A reminder re costs – The full subscription cost for Pymble Players is $85 and for Willoughby Theatre $135. The individual

ticket cost for each of the WTC Musicals (Wicked and Chicago) is $60.80 and for The Magic of the Musicals is $45.90.

Please see the report on our excellent Bridge At The Beach day overleaf on page 6.

The 2016 St Thongs game played at Warrawee Bowling Club on Friday 21 October resulted in a win

for the St Thongs side captained by Bernie Cookson. Warrawee was led by Peter Lovell. This

brings the St Thongs wins to six with three victories to Warrawee and one draw.

We now enter our quiet period with the first inter Probus game for 2017 due in April.

BOWLS ( David Maclean 9440 8642 davidmaclean@bigpond.com )

(Bob Potter 9487 2176 bob.potter@iinet.net.au)

27 February: Andrew Tink: "Narrative of 20th Century Australia"

27 March: Graham Wilcox: “The Struggle for Unity before the Federation of Australia”.

24 April: Austin Mack: “Your overseas Holiday with your Tablet Computer”

22 May: Jodie Barrington (RTA) “The New Tunnel under Pennant Hills Road”.

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Last Month’s Guest Speaker

October speaker Graham Spindler “Federation: the movement, the issues, the people”

Graham brought history to life, with lesser known facts on the background to Australia’s

federation in 1901. At the conclusion we all wished our school history teachers were as

inspiring as Graham .

Did we realize that New Zealand was a possibility to join us in this federation?

Did we know that Edmund Barton was only the second selection as first PM?

Did we know of the giant melting wedding cake fiasco at the Centennial Park celebration of

Federation?

November’s speaker is Victor Fenech on the Electric Car movement in Australia.

Live on stage tyre smoking demonstrations from Chris Wood’s electric vehicle will enhance proceedings. Not to be missed!

BRIDGE GROUP GET TOGETHER AT AVOCA

The fundamental objective of the Bridge Group is to enable members to en-

joy other Probians’ company over a pleasant game of bridge.

Thus, through the courtesy of Ian & Lorraine Maze, we rounded out our

year’s activities with a very enjoyable day on Sunday 6 November at the

Maze Mansion in North Avoca. Fortunately, many of the group were able to

be there.

The day was sunny and warm. A welcoming cup of tea – and various other

liquids. A few hands of sociable bridge were followed by about 10 hands of

“Crazy Cards”. Some of the most outrageous conditions were imposed on the

players e.g. in one hand all cards were placed face down on the table. You,

literally, picked at random. Skill at bridge was a definite disadvantage in

hands such as these. But it was great fun!

A beautiful lunch, put together from a wide variety of very tasty morsels

contributed by all the ladies. Accompanying refreshing liquids. Games & lunch were interspersed with a lot of chatter - except for

the hand where you were penalised if even one word was said. Even Bill Locke was able to keep quiet - for a short time.

A quick drive home ended the day’s get together. Thank you, Lorraine & Ian. We had a great, sociable day out.

Inserts: Jim Buys and

Geoff Morris, missing from

main picture

Cochlear Implant Centre Tour & Italian Forum visit 7 November

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Golf Mona Vale 18 November

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