beaumont hills probus club inc....and camping expedition to the hunter valley. suffice to say there...
TRANSCRIPT
BEAUMONT HILLS
PROBUS CLUB INC. Date of Incorporation 23rd August 2013
Incorporation No. Inc 1301049
P O Box 6169 ROUSE HILL NSW 2155
Website Address: www.beaumonthillsprobus.org.au
NEWSLETTER
December 2014
®
Editor:
Lesley Dudgeon
‘Phone 9836 0243 0438 254 559
E-Mail: [email protected]
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Well, this report is as big a surprise to me as it is
to you, however when “The Minister for Home
Affairs” (also the Editor of the Newsletter)
declares there is going to be a December Edition,
then who am I to disagree??
The Secretary and I met with Sana Issa (owner
of Amcal Chemist Rouse Hill) a couple of weeks’
ago to discuss the possibility of her sponsoring
our Newsletter for 2015-2016. I am pleased to
report she has agreed to contribute $250 to
offset the cost of publication. The arrangement
will cover the period March 1st, 2015 – February
29th, 2016. Sana will also address our next
meeting (February) to alert our membership on
what she can offer at “special/discount rates”.
I received an email from a source (who will
remain anonymous) concerning certain behaviour
of the “drinking variety” at the recent Caravan
and Camping expedition to the Hunter Valley.
Suffice to say there were a few members who
thought they may as well be “as wet on the
inside” as the weather on the outside! Seemed
like a good idea to me, however as I was not an
attendee I will stick with the motto “what
happened in the Hunter Valley stays in the
Hunter Valley”.
In conclusion, I would just like to wish each and
every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a
healthy, safe and prosperous New Year.
Cheers
Norrie
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
Happy Birthday to everyone who
will enjoy their birthday during the
month of January.
Paula Green 3rd
Bob Birchall 3rd
Barb Lloyd 5th
Lesley Dudgeon 9th
Dianne Fraser 16th
Judy Collits 25th
Don Langdon 30th
These members will celebrate
another birthday and I am sure you
will all join with me in wishing them
a very happy day on this special
occasion.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3
Paula Green
Bob Birchall
Birthdays
4 5
Barb Lloyd
Birthday
6 7 8 9
Les Dudgeon
Birthday
10
11 12 13 14 15 16
Dianne Fraser
Birthday
17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25
Judy Collits
Birthday
26 27 28
Movie
Morning
29 30
Don Langdon
Birthday
31
January 2015
DECADENT DAY TRIPPERS
A REVIEW OF 2014
Warning: The following article may contain traces of statistics!
The aim of the group is to find interesting and less well known destinations around Sydney, whilst attempting to squeeze the best value possible from our $2.50 Pensioner Excursion Tickets (PETs). We had our first outing in August 2013 and by the end of 2014 we have undertaken 14 trips with a total attendance of 275 trippers. That’s nearly 20 per outing.
Whilst not coming close to pushing the boundaries imposed by our PETs, we have still travelled widely. In the North we have travelled as far as Gosford East, Wentworth Falls to the West (although we did continue on to Katoomba); Cabramatta to the South West and Thirroul to the
South. Our Eastern border will always be the Tasman Sea (aka the Pacific Ocean) but, in terms of lines of Longitude (due to the shape of the NSW coastline) the furthest East we have been is Gosford East.
Within these boundaries, we have had two visits each to the Northern Beaches, South West Sydney and Sydney CBD with one visit each to the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, the Eastern Suburbs, the Illawarra, the Inner West, North Sydney, Port Hacking and the Southern Beaches.
Our most popular destination was the Sydney Town Hall (38) with Cabramatta (35) a close second. Conversely, the supposed tourist Mecca of Manly was the least popular in attracting only 5 starters.
How have we travelled to these destinations? By any means we could, including:
Trains – suburban, Interurban and Intercity Buses – Government, Private, Metro bus (M-series) and Bendy (L-Series) Ferries – Manly and Private Light Rail – except our plans were derailed!
but always with an element of Shanks’s Pony (walking)!
During our travels we have dined extensively. Our most common eating and drinking hole is a club with 5 visits (RSL(2), Sailing(2) and Sporting(1)) followed by hotels (3), Modern Australian
Bistros (2) and one each of the following specialized cuisines: Chinese, Italian, Seafood and Vietnamese.
But it is not just about the travel and tucker! There is always an element of adventure – either physical or more cerebral! Our most common activity was the Suburban Walkabout. In Norton St Leichhardt we were whisked away to Italy and in John St Cabramatta we found ourselves in a Saigon street market! These are just two examples that highlight the cultural diversity that is Sydney!
But Wait, there’s more! We have: appreciated art, been bush walking, chuckled at caricatures, found some fish, gone into gardens, reconnoitred a reservoir, toured a temple and a town hall, walked along waterways and sometimes it was enough to sit and soak up the scenery and shiraz! But always it has been about the fellowship and the fun.
For 2015 there are already plans to expand our current boundaries and start to fill the “hole in the doughnut” – the Parramatta/Hills area that have been overlooked both due to poor public transport as well as poor PET value.
Join in on one of our journeys. You will learn a bit about Sydney and hopefully have a great day out.
Allan Collins – FL, DDT
OUR CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON
On Friday, November 28th, 95 of our members attended “The Christmas Lunch” at
Allegros Function Centre, Kenthurst.
Considering our total membership is 120, this was a tremendous response and must
have made our hard working “Outings Convenor” (Anthea) and her “Silent Achiever
Offsider” (Paula) very pleased.
Function was due to commence at 12 noon, and as “El Presidente”, I thought I should
be there a little earlier “just in case”. Arrived at 11.30am to find the car park half full
and a line of “desperates” at the front door waiting to stampede the Bar for their free
drink.
I thought the meal was first class, the environment excellent and overall it was
tremendous value for money. As usual, our members mixed and mingled freely and
feedback received was “let’s go there again next year”.
Many thanks to all who attended.
Cheers
Norrie
CARAVAN AND CAMPING TRIP
The inaugural Caravan and Camping trip was held recently in December and, despite some issues with the weather, a great time was had by all. Check-in time on the first day was at 2:00pm but somewhat miraculously, our group were already ensconced around the pool deck before 2:15 for what became the pre Happy Hour drinks and catch up.
Happy Hour was held in a great Cabana type area and then it was on to the local Thai Restaurant for dinner (we filled the whole joint except for one couple at a remote table!).
Everyone was up and at it the next day, on the Wednesday, for a visit to Drayton’s Winery for Coffee and Scones (of course) and then wine tasting and free time for the day. Dinner that night was a sausage sizzle plus more nibblies and of course, more drinks in the Cabana.
The weather had been a bit patchy until that stage of our visit but unfortunately, on that evening, it really settled in with heavy rain and a good dose of thunder and lightning. This meant that, right at the last minute, our trip to the Hunter Valley Lights was cancelled (too dangerous). After an initial swallow of disappointment, a large part of the group set off in the coach for a couple of hours at the local club (but see later) and the rest of us retired to the Cabana for yet another session of you know what.
As it turned out, the Coach Driver agreed to take the Club Group around the area to view the various Christmas lights on private houses. so the coach arrived back a bit earlier than expected and the happy travellers then linked in with the Cabana mob to see out the evening.
The whole trip was then finished off on the Thursday morning with a Pancake Breakfast provided by the Van Park. Overall we all had a terrific time and one of our club’s ‘old timers’ commented that this event was the most attended first activity in our short history.
Many people commented that the whole trip was very well organised and our thanks for this must go to Barry and Bev Potter along with John and Lyn Armstrong and their band of on-site helpers. Barry tells us that he is already making plans for the next event which will be mid-year and most likely down around Batemans Bay and if it’s anything like the Hunter Valley trip it will be a great outing for all who attend.
CARAVAN AND CAMPING TRIP (continued)
Editor’s Note: My thanks for this article goes to RenZo Doughty who kindly agreed to write a report on events.
CHEESE & WINE EVENTS
THE NEXT CHEESE & WINE EVENING
Our next Cheese & Wine Evening will be held at the home of Kerrie Sims, 12 Yarrandale
Street, Stanhope Gardens and her ‘phone number is 0403 792 528.
Please note that this event is not on a Thursday evening (as has been the case in the
past) but on FRIDAY evening 30th January at 5 p.m..
This evening will provide a wonderful opportunity to “kick off the New Year” and meet
up with our Probus friends once again after the break.
These gatherings are always a lot of fun in an informal setting and should you not have
attended in the past come along to “test the waters” as a start to the New Year.
Please Note: You do not have to partake of wine or other alcoholic beverages to enjoy
these evenings and we are always very well behaved.
EARLY ADVICE OF A “SPECIAL” CHEESE & WINE IN FEBRUARY 2015
PLEASE NOTE: The word “EVENING” has been omitted.
On Sunday 22nd February 2015 Yvonne Webb will be our hostess at her property at
Kurrajong, and she has already placed an order for a beautiful day for this event. SO,
please put this date in your diary and in view of the Christmas and January break the
“sign on sheet” will be available at the December meeting.
As Yvonne can cater for as many people as are able to attend, please also diarise to
bring your picnic chair/s and a wine glass. Further reminders will be given between now
and then.
Lesley Dudgeon
HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2015
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13TH ROUSE HILL HOUSE AND FARM
$10.00 per person for Morning Tea and a tour of our local history (please pay at the 6 February Meeting). Meet at the farm at 10.30am for a tea tour which starts at 11.00am. There is a little walking so wear sensible shoes.
Lunch at the Australian Brewery at own cost opposite the Rouse Hill Farm.
FRIDAY MARCH 27TH NAN TIEN TEMPLE DAPTO
A coach trip down to the NAN TIEN TEMPLE at Dapto when the cost will be $38.00 per person entry into the Temple with a guided tour and Morning Tea.
Lunch at own cost in Wollongong Harbour Café. Payment in full needs to be made at the 6 February Meeting.
FRIDAY APRIL 24TH HAWKESBURY RIVER PADDLEWHEELER
Enjoy a peaceful cruise on the Hawkesbury River on the Paddlewheeler with Seafood, Chicken and Salad lunch for $40/person - 11am - 2pm.
Please pay a deposit of $20 at the 6 February Meeting with final payment on 6 March Meeting.
WEDNESDAY MAY 13TH HERITAGE RAIL TOUR - COCKATOO TRAIN TRIP
Sit back and enjoy train travel on the Heritage Rail Tour on the Cockatoo Train Trip at a cost of $60/person with lunch at your own expense at Robertson.
Please pay a deposit of $30 in March with full payment in April.
OCTOBER 26TH TO 30TH 5 DAY TRIP TO EDEN AND THE SAPPHIRE COAST
$800/person - $210 for single supplement. All meals included except lunch on the way down and back.
Sightseeing in Eden, Twofold Bay, Batemans Bay, Boydtown, Bega Cheese Factory and lots more. Maybe even some whales migrating.
Deposit of $400 on 3 April, final payment 7 August and payments may be made any time in instalments if prepared.
Editor’s Note: Anthea has also insisted that I add her thanks to “me” for covering her activities in our Newsletter. While this is absolutely not necessary, as it is my pleasure to undertake this task, I am terrified of Anthea’s wrath, so this has been recorded.
Anthea Osborne
A COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE DECEMBER MEETING
Our hardworking Membership
Officer
What are Theo and Miep planning on doing
with that knife I ask?
Dianne and Bob
Fraser
Marilyn Forsythe and Ron Miller
Our Barrel Girl Elva Evans and her
chauffeur Lyn Westbury Margaret Bannermann, Yolanda Seach, Elva Evans and our
Secretary, Phil Reid
Phil Reid (again) and Theo Pronk
(our Webmaster)
CLUB ROSTER
SETTING UP AND PACKING UP HALL
What to do:
Set up all chairs for members.
Set up tables for Morning Tea (2 tables), set up tables for Committee, Social Events and other groups that require them. After the meeting the tables and chairs are to be packed away.
Friday 6 February 2015
Kerry Fink John Feeney David Bannermann Stephen Thomas
Friday 6 March 2015
Alan Davy Norrie Dudgeon Bob Fraser Wallace Waters
MORNING TEA ROSTER
What to do:
Help “Refreshments Coordinator” with filling of urns, set up coffee – tea – cups on tables provided. During the break help monitor the tables, etc to ensure smooth running. After the meeting has finished help pack up. All supplies (tea/coffee/biscuits, etc) will be provided – no need to bring anything.
Friday 6 February 2015
Kris Pannah Denise Byrnes Rose-Anne Mangano
Friday 6 March 2015
Ruth Davy Diana Sharpe Dani Woods
TIMING: On your rostered day, please try to arrive by 9.15 am
SWAPPING: If you are unable to make it on your rostered day, please arrange for someone else to take your place and inform Theo Pronk on 0408 629 214
MOVIE NEWS
We will be having a Movie Morning in January, someone pointed out to me that school resumes after the Australia Day long weekend.
Our next Movie Morning will be Wednesday January 28.
I'm sure we will all be looking forward to seeing a movie after our break and I will email you the details on movie, time, etc as soon as they are available.
I hope you all have a great Christmas and have a happy and safe New Year.
Veronica
MIXED TENNIS GROUP
There will be no tennis group activity until the
children (or should I say grandchildren) return to
school after the holidays.
However, please watch this space for news of future
events.
LUCKY DOOR PRIZE WINNERS
THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND TWO CUPS OF COFFEE
Editor’s Note: When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the two cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things — your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions — and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else — the small stuff.
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first — the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and enquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled: "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
AN INTERESTING “SNIPPET”
Editor’s Note:
This article purports to be an actual letter sent to a bank in the USA. The bank thought it
amusing enough to publish in the New York Times:
Dear Sir,
I am writing to thank you for bouncing the cheque with which I attempted to pay my plumber last month.
By my calculations some three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the cheque and the
arrival in my account of the funds need to honour it. I refer, of course to the automatic monthly deposit of
my entire salary, an arrangement which, I admit, has only been in place for seven or eight years. You are
to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account with $50
by way of inconvenience I caused to your bank.
My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant
financial ways. You have set me on the path of fiscal righteousness. No more will our relationship be
blighted by these unpleasant incidents, for I am restructuring my affairs in 2009 taking as my model for the
procedures, attitudes and conduct of your very bank. I can think of no greater compliment, and I know you
will be excited and proud to hear it.
To this end please be advised of the following changes:
First, I have noticed that whereas I personally attend to your telephone calls and letters, when I try to
contact you I am confronted by the impersonal, ever-changing, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your
bank has become. From now on I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh and blood person. My
mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter, no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your
bank by cheque, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee of your branch whom you must
nominate.
You will be aware that it is an offence under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope.
Please find attached an Application Contact Status which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am
sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about
me, there is no alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned
by a Justice of the Peace, and that the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts,
assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documentary proof.
In due course, I will issue your employee with a PIN (Personal Identity Number) which he/she must quote
in all dealings with me. I regret it cannot be shorter than 28 digits, but again I have modeled it on the
number of button presses required to access my account balance on your telephone banking service.
On a more serious note we come to the matter of cost. As your bank has often pointed out, the ongoing
drive for greater efficiency comes at a cost – a cost which you have always been quick to pass on to me.
Let me repay your kindness by passing some costs back.
First, there is the matter of advertising material you send me. This I will read for a fee of $20 per page.
Inquiries from your nominated contact will be billed at $5 per minute of my time spent in response. Any
debits to my account as, for example, in the matter of the penalty for the dishonoured cheque, will be
passed back to you. My new ‘phone service runs at 75 cents per minute (doesn’t come for free), so you
would be well advised to keep your inquiries brief and to the point.
Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up
of this new arrangement.
May I wish you a happy, if ever-so-slightly less prosperous, New Year
Your humble client.
BEAUMONT HILLS PROBUS CLUB INCORPORATED
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
President Norrie Dudgeon 9836 0243 0409 462 733
Senior Vice President Marion Longstaff 8883 4771 0428 458 845
Secretary Phil Reid 9629 2548 0418 426 439
Treasurer Val Berry 9624 1407 0415 489 872
Membership Officer Joy Fink 9871 8062 0459 056 147
Speakers Convenor John Armstrong 8847 0027 0411 304 105
Outings & Events Officer Anthea Osborne 8840 8516 0402 247 054
Asst Outings & Events Officer Paula Green 9626 2079
Newsletter Editor Lesley Dudgeon 9836 0243 0438 254 559
Welfare Officer Lyn Armstrong 8847 0027 0458 304 105
Liaison/Public Officer Renzo Doughty 9629 7602 0415 284 848
Ex Officio Kerry Fink 9871 8062 0410 618 062
KEY CONTACTS
Refreshments Miep Pronk 9629 2142
Webmaster Theo Pronk 9629 2142
Club Photographer Barry Seach 9627 3354
GROUP LEADERS
Art Yolanda Seach 9627 3354
Book Exchange Margaret Collins 9624 4462 or 0418 474 127
Caravan & Cabin Group Barry Potter 0401 176 078
Cheese & Wine Lesley Dudgeon 9836 0243 0438 254 559
Cinema Veronica Filtness 9837 0021
Decadent Day Trippers (1) Allan Collins 9624 4462
Decadent Day Trippers (2) Stephen Thomas 8824 8384
Dining Outers Joy Fink 9871 8062 0459 056 147
Tennis Bev Potter 0429 200 560
Walking Group Stephen & Lee Thomas 0400-361-633