Issue No. 341 March 2019

Next Meeting: 10 am Tuesday March 19 Beaumaris Sports Club

Keynote Speaker: Ian Armstrong - President, Victorian Antique Dealers Guild

Topic: Australia’s Greatest Antique Collection

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Ian Armstrong (left) is a highly respected valuer of Museum Collections and other collectibles. In Australia’s Bicentenary year in 1988, Ian was recognised as Victorian of the Year. In 1990, he received the Medal of The Order of Australia for his significant contribution to Australian culture and heritage. Ian is the owner of The Armstrong Collection, believed to be the second largest in the world including a huge number of treasures such as the Charlotte Medal, created by a convict in 1788 outside Botany Bay as well as many thousands of remarkable artefacts. Ian will be bringing a selection of antiques and interesting curios to our March meeting. More p3.

Beaumaris Probus in Sri Lanka

Right: Our happy Probus group Left: An elephant runs amok beside the pool Upper left: Tea pickers pose for photos Top: The obligatory boat trip — all aboard

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

This being my last report before I hand over to the new President at the AGM, I want to say how I have thoroughly enjoyed serving our great club for the past year. I have been thrilled with the support of a strong Committee who have all played their part in making it a most successful year. We have had great activities throughout the year including new initiatives such as the Pub Lunches, Simon Appel’s Travel Group and Grant Sabin’s establishment of a second wine group. The activities of our club provide plenty of variety for members and I thank the leaders for their leadership and service. Also, congratulations to Peter McGregor on being awarded Life Membership acknowledging his great contribution to our club. There were many highlights this year with great speakers - including our own 10-minute speakers - and excellent monthly meetings, now bedded down at The Beaumaris Sports Club. For me, two highlights stood out -The Candlelight Dinner at The Sandringham Yacht Club, which included the wonderful celebration of Ralph Butcher’s 100th Birthday, and The President’s Christmas Lunch at Kingston Heath Golf Club, which were both exceptionally well attended. I have very much appreciated the support of our members and it is also pleasing to record we inducted 10 new members over the past 12 months. Our most recent social function, Summer Tastes at the Brighton Yacht Club on a delightful Tuesday evening, was a resounding success and our partners as well as our members had a memorable dinner. The buzz around the 72 in attendance was terrific. So much so that Geoff Bransbury has indicated it may become an annual event on our social calendar - which I am sure would meet the approval of all those in attendance. On the social side, it was a highlight and a culmination of my year as your President.

Roger Wilson

PROBUS CLUB OF BEAUMARIS Inc.

❉ Office Bearers 2018 * Committee Members * President: Roger Wilson 0418395946 * Vice-President: Keith Ross 9589 3580

* Past President: Ken Beadle 9589 6120 * Secretary: John Smyth 0438619189

* Treasurer: Geoff Carlson 9589 4884 Auditor: Don Lobb 9598 5546

* Functions: Ken Beadle 9589 6120 Asst Functions/Theatre: John Green 9580 6820 * Meetings: Geoff Wade 9588 2593 Assistant Meetings: Simon Appel 9585 6956

* Webmaster: Geoff Bransbury 9589 1507 Assistant Meetings: Graeme Keys 9585 7297

* Newsletter: Peter McGregor 9533 4760 * Membership: Peter Flude 9585 5550

* Welfare Officer: Alan Stevens 0418 336 354 President’s Table: John Green 9580 6820

Sommelier: Bill Green 9596 1548 Recorder: Alan Stevens 0418 336 354

Audio Visual: Paul Crompton 9583 1310 Projectionist: Philip Stewart 9589 3309

Archive: John Howe 598 2429 Photographer: Ian Maskiell 9592 3380

❉ Interest Groups Bike Riding: Duncan Gibson 9585 3547 Bowls: Ted Montfort 9589 5949 Ken Beadle 9589 6120 Digital Technology: Geoff Wade 9588 2593 Discussion: Barry Amond 9589 1143 Music/Opera: Barry Amond 9589 1143

PRISMS: Bill Davis 9592 5982 Tastes: Geoff Bransbury 9589 1507

Wine Appreciation: Roger Wilson 0418395946 Bridge: Alan Farmer 9598 2791

Golf: John Pound 9521 8252 Wine Discovery: Grant Sabin 9598 4768

Below: President Roger Wilson presents Peter McGregor with his Life Membership award

Below: Richard Cadman is welcomed to the club by his Proposer, Geoff Bransbury Right: President Roger welcomes Geoff Stockdale to the club (Proposer Barry Donaldson watches on)

Right: Definitely not new members, Lloyd Jenkins, Bill Cruthers and David Seedsman

Right: John Brimage, Bill Green and Alan Nash at morning tea

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Wine Appreciation Roger Wilson

Next: Friday May 3 @ 12 noon Where: Steak Bank, Ormond Wine Discovery Grant Sabin The Group is having its second discovery session on Tuesday March 12 at Alan Stevens’ place.

Bridge Club The men’s Bridge Group has an activity - held every few months - when we invite wives or friends to share a Pleasant Sunday Afternoon of Bridge in mixed pairs. The day begins with lunch, then play, followed by an after-game post-mortem and drinks. Bruce Tomkins, one of the founders of the group, is to act as Director at the next event on March 24 at Victoria Golf Club. Alan Farmer Bike Group Those intending to ride on March 22 are asked to meet at Sandringham Rail Station at 9 am. With the guidance of our ‘pathfinder’, John Pound, we will tackle the Blackburn Lake ride of about 34 km with a refreshment break at a local watering hole. Please advise Duncan or Ken of your intention to ride and don’t forget sunscreen, your cashed up Myki card and appropriate hydration. Duncan Gibson

Next Pub Lunch Where: Hotel Brighton, North Brighton Where: Wednesday April 17 12 noon Choice of main meals: $20 pp Drinks at bar prices To register CLICK HERE Golf News John Pound Arrangements are in place for our major golf event for the year. The Rich River Resort at Echuca/ Moama will be host to 15 couples for three days for two games of golf, a putting competition, a welcome BBQ and a special dinner. It promises to be a great event. Planning is already in place for next year with the intention that it will be held a month later to take advantage of cooler weather. It will be at a different venue but still on the Murray. Details out soon.

May Tastes (see also next page) Geoff Bransbury Where: Elichi*, 6—8 Bluff Road, Black Rock A very special gourmet evening awaits us. This is a unique restaurant with a 90+ positive rating on Trip Adviser. It serves modern Indian cuisine with flair. The food is delicate, surprisingly light with wonderful flavours. NOTE: Don’t expect heavy or hot curries here — expect some delightful surprises. Sanjay, our host, will describe the dishes and make the evening memorable for everyone. To register CLICK HERE. Cost: $45 pp. Selected wines: $15/bottle When: Tuesday May 28 @ 6.30 pm [*means cardamom in Punjabi]

Diary Dates Bookings have now been made for our two major annual social events: The Candlelight Dinner will be held on Wednesday June 26 and the President’s Christmas Lunch on Friday December 6. Please lock these dates in your (and your partner’s) diaries. Ken Beadle

Music Group Barry Amond

Good news: a new venue! The meeting room at the Beaumaris Library has been booked for Wednesday April 17 at 7 pm. Look for more details in the April newsletter - but after 38 of us fondly farewelled 25 Third Street Black

Rock in October, this may be an opportunity for a record number at a possible permanent new venue. Discussion Groups Barry Amond At the March meetings, the provocative topic is How to fix Australia – or is it too late? The next meetings will be on May 10 and 14. NOTE: No meetings in April.

Mississauga South CONTACT For those interested in reading the newsletter of our sister Probus Club in Toronto, CLICK HERE

NOTICEBOARD

Birthday Boys — March Alan Nash 6/3 John Pound 6/3 Graeme Keys 8/3 Tony Avery 10/3 Brian Simpson 10/3 Mev Connell 11/3 John Howe 13/3 Bruce Tomkins 16/3 Bill Cruthers 17/3 John Bushby 20/3 Ted Montfort 24/3 Alan Farmer 27/3 Ian Maskiell 27/3 Ken White 29/3

March Keynote Speaker: Ian Armstrong OAM President of the Victorian Antique Dealers Guild Inc. Ian has held the E.W. Cole Award as 'Australia's Greatest Collector'. His collection - believed to be 'the second largest in the world' - includes penny farthings, Georgian shoe buckles, candle snuffers, shoe horns, Toby jugs and old portraits. For more, CLICK HERE.

Profiles New profiles added to the website include Garry Sebo (CLICK HERE) and Richard Cadman (CLICK HERE). For new President, Keith Ross, CLICK HERE.

VALE: Noel Williams It is with sadness that we record the passing of Noel Williams, a Probus member since 2014, and a member of Victoria Golf Club.

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FUNCTIONS & ACTIVITIES Ken Beadle

March 2019

March Annual Croquet Competition/Spit Roast Sandringham Croquet Club Friday March 15

Our annual croquet competition and BBQ at the Sandringham Croquet Club (on the foreshore) will take place from 4-8pm on Friday, March 15. As usual, Jennie and Tony Bowles and other SCC members will show us how to play - no special skills required. We look forward to spit roast beef — a feast not to be missed. There is a maximum of 40 players — so register and pay by March 8 to ensure your place. CLICK HERE. Cost: $40 per head (includes croquet and all food); $25 dinner only. BYO drinks.

April Visit to Steamrail Victoria Newport Workshops Tuesday April 30.

Bob Wigg will give us a tour of the workshops at Newport. We will see rolling stock restoration in progress as well as the fleet of operating locomotives and trains, most of which were built at Newport during the 20th century. We will make our own way to the workshops in Shea Street (Melways map 55 J6) at 11 am for morning tea or coffee. Bob will brief us on safety and the Steamrail story before guiding us around the workshops. The tour will take about 45 minutes, after which those who wish to have lunch together (at own cost) will drive to nearby Williamstown to the Carter, Smith and Devlin & Co cafe at Nelson Place. Cost: $10 pp (includes the tour and tea/coffee; lunch not included). Register and pay before April 23. CLICK HERE. Note: Car pooling will be arranged for those who need it. Detailed instructions for driving to the workshops will be advised to all participants nearer to the visit date.

Gourmet Tastes When: Tuesday May 28 @ 6.30 pm Where: Elichi, 6—8 Bluff Road, Black Rock A taste sensation NOT TO BE MISSED! Roasted Jerusalem artichoke chaat, Kashmiri lamb with cucumber and saltbush anyone?

Summer Tastes At Royal Brighton Yacht Club

Right: Helen McGregor eyes the range of entrees at Royal Brighton Yacht Club while everyone else seems intent on talking

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It Started with a Crisis

Our February Speaker, Manfred Lobert - qualified in both Architecture and Aircraft Engineering - has a keen interest in all things regarding the bicycle. In discussing its history, we were astonished to learn that the first attempts were made as far back as the 1800s. The eruption of Indonesia’s Mt Tambora in 1815 resulted in no European summer in 1816 and, consequently, no food for horses; hence a two- wheel method of motion was invented and patented in Germany in 1818. Various designs of velocipedes were made in the 1860s, most notably Starley & Hillman’s ‘Penny Farthing’ in England. It wasn’t until 1888 that Starley’s nephew invented the Safety Bike with its diamond-shaped frame but, unfortunately, he didn’t patent it and by the 1900s there was a multitude of bicycle makers. “..a two-wheel method of motion was invented and patented in Germany in 1818.” The diamond frame still remains but with many technology changes - tubular frames, gears, roller bearings and, nowadays, e-Bikes. Manfred placed emphasis on the health benefits of cycling both physically and mentally and that regular rides in a group could add up to 15 years to our life. He also sees the bike as part of the solution for our growing cities but believes this requires separate pathways from vehicular traffic. However, his view is that the movement of people is best in trains and so he is designing a fold-up bicycle able to be taken on trains and fit under the seat. We await news of its release some time in the near future. Alan Stevens

Reminder: April Newsletter

All contributions to Geoff Wade in the absence of Peter McGregor. Ed.

Should We Trust The Jury System? After taking a survey of members’ experiences of jury duty - not all of which emerged as a happy one — former judge, Jim Duggan, reminded us of the long tradition of juries’ involvement in the judicial system in countries with a British heritage. People from some countries with a different legal heritage find the system bizarre, even insane, he said. Jim said he had extensive experience as a barrister and a judge and he thought that, overwhelmingly, that experience gave him great confidence in the integrity with which juries carry out their task. As a junior barrister in Alice Springs acting for aboriginal clients, for example, he found that non–aboriginal jurors carefully delivered verdicts that represented a compassionate view of the evidence despite that town having the reputation of not being sympathetic to aboriginal people at that time. “..juries acted conscientiously, fully understood the issues in their cases, accepted the critical importance of their role and were determined to maintain their judicial independence..” A judge in over four hundred criminal jury trials, Jim found that, almost invariably, most juries acted conscientiously, fully understood the issues in their cases, accepted the critical importance of their role and were determined to maintain their judicial independence. He maintains that the jury system is good for society as a whole, contrasting our system to totalitarian societies where the government may assert criminal behaviour by those it dislikes and direct the laying of a charge the validity of which is determined by a compliant judiciary. Jim insisted that the jury system was a human system which doesn’t always get it right but has a lot going for it and is better than any other option on offer.

At the time of European settlement in Australia, average life expectancy in Britain - and most other developed economies (eg France) - was 45. Much less everywhere else. World average: 31 Today: 71 Australia 82.2 (15th in the world) (Rosling: Factfulness)

Below: February meeting of the Wine Appreciation Group From left: Norm Griffiths, Robert Lander, Paul Stephens, Garry Sebo, Howard Hoskins, John Brimage, Gus Bravo, host Roger Wilson, Geoff Bransbury, Barry Amond and Dick Kirby - all look satisfied with their deliberations

The Velocipede: Its iron and wood construction and lack of springs earned it the nickname ‘boneshaker’

L—R Geoff Carlson, Louise Pound, Richard Cadman, Duncan Gibson and Ken Beadle Seated: Geoff Bransbury, Yolanta Cadman, John Pound and Robert Kerr

A Bunch of February Bikers

Members at morning tea L to R: Jeff Sturrock, Paul Stephens and Ken White

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Probus Club of Beaumaris

Events Calendar

Friday March 22 Bike Ride

Tuesday March 12 9.30 am Bridge Victoria Golf Club

Tuesday April 16 10 am GENERAL MEETING Beaumaris Sports Club

Friday May 3 12 noon Wine Appreciation Steak Bank, Ormond

Tuesday March 19 10 am ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Beaumaris Sports Club

Wednesday April 17 7 pm Music Group Beaumaris Library

Tuesday March 26– 29 Annual Golf Trip Rich River, Echuca

Friday March 8 9.30 am Discussion Group 1 John Street Beaumaris Tuesday March 12 2 pm Discussion Group 1 John Street Beaumaris

Wednesday May 29 8 pm Brighton Theatre Group Hate Hamlet

Friday March 15 4—8 pm Croquet & Spit Roast Sandringham Croquet Club

Friday May 10 9.30 am Discussion Group 1 John Street Beaumaris Tuesday May 14 2 pm Discussion Group 1 John Street Beaumaris

Tuesday April 2 2 pm PRISMS Bill Davis’ Place

Below: Guest Speaker for February, Manfred Lobert, with President Roger Wilson at lunch

Right and below: A record number of members stayed for the new lunch menu at the February meeting

Left: Jim Duggan, Richard Cadman and visitor, Boyd Fox

Tuesday March 26 9.30 am Bridge Victoria Golf Club

Tuesday March 12 Wine Discovery Group Alan Stevens ’ Place

Sunday March 24 12 noon Mixed Bridge Victoria Golf Club

Tuesday May 28 6.30 pm Tastes Elichi, Black Rock

Tuesday May 21 10 am GENERAL MEETING Beaumaris Sports Club

Wednesday April 17 12 noon Pub Lunch Brighton Hotel

Tuesday May 28 2 pm Digital Technology Group 1 John Street Beaumaris

Tuesday April 30 11 am Steamrail Victoria Newport Workshops