Official Newsletter of

The Combined Probus Club of Murray District (Inc.)

Western Australia

Murray

Magpie May 2012

President: Fran Snabel 9537 7461

Vice-President: Brian Sydney-Smith 9537 8847

Immediate Past President: Doug Timperley 9535 5291

Secretaries: Judy Bardon 9537 7954 Ann Bevis 9537 7419

Treasurer: Geoff MacDonald 9531 1965

Membership & Welfare: Elizabeth Ford 95377 6979 Margaret Glass 9531 1284

Programs: Christine Norman 9537 6543

Activities: Roger Boyd 9537 7066

Interclub Liaisons: Joan Timperley 9535 5291

Publicity: Raylee Dickson 9537 6030

Behind the scenes VIPs

Club Historian: Tom Hoffman

Assets Manager: Ken Murray

Book Club: Lloyd Bevis

Newsletter Editor: Sandy Bartle

The May General Meeting was held at the Ravenswood Hotel on Tuesday 8th

May 2012.

President Fran Snabel opened the meeting welcoming 54 members and one visitor, Pam

O’Neil who attended as the guest of Gwen Undy. There were 9 apologies.

Minutes of this meeting have been circulated by email to most members and copies printed

for those not on the internet.

The next General meeting will be held on Tuesday 12th

June at the Ravenswood Hotel.

Remember, it is now a 9.30.a.m. start so please be early.

FRAN’S THOUGHTS by Fran Snabel

I have had reason to think quite deeply about life, or more to the point, how we feel about our

life. Do we have regrets? What would we do differently if we could see into the future?

Are we happy about the choices we have made? Not the unavoidable situations but ones

where we did have a choice.

In general I am very happy with my life. I have a great family, have done and seen many

things, but, naturally, if I could turn back the clock, I would have done things in other ways.

One of my real regrets is not talking more to my father in his later years of life. I never

really knew a lot about his time in the war, or when he was trying to build a wheat and sheep

farm from scratch whilst trying to bring up a family. What were the hardships that made him

and my mother decide to walk away and move to the city so he could give his three daughters

a better way of life.

Since his passing, I have spent many hours, some happy and some sad, with my mother

learning about her “pre-me” life. Her time in the land army, how she had to work long hours

to keep us housed and fed, and how she looked after my father when he became a double

amputee and needed constant care. Dad stayed at home with my mother, his only carer for

about five years after his first amputation.

Do you tell your family how you really feel, family secrets, what you would like people to

remember about you?

If we are unable to say something, could we not write down how we do feel and what we do

want people to know about us, even if it is “for your eyes only”?

That may be a start for you to tell the world.

I HAVE BEEN ALIVE

I HAVE LIVED THE BEST LIFE I COULD

I HAVE NO REGRETS.

Speakers

The Guest speaker at the General meeting was Claire Smythe from the Perth Bone & Tissue

Bank.

This is a not-for-profit organisation and one of the premier tissue banks in Australia. The

Bank is responsible for the collection, screen, storage and distribution of donated human bone

and tissue graft materials for surgical procedures. Bone grafts are often used in conjunction

with prosthetic implants such as metal hip implants, plates and screws. Although the graft

itself does not grow, it can stimulate the patient’s own tissues to grow into the graft and repair

areas of lost bone and tissue.

There is a strict donor selection criteria and controls related to the screening and testing of

donors and donated materials.

There are two type of bone and tissue donation;

Living donor program: where patients having hip replacement surgery can donate the ball

part of the hip joint which is routinely removed during the replacement procedure.

Cadaveric donor program: where the deceased donors have previously indicated their wish to

donate organs and tissues after their death or, in the case of sudden death, the consent of the

next of kin will be sort for the donation.

Although this sounds quite gruesome, it was an extremely interesting subject.

More information can be found online at http://www.perthbonebank.com or write to Medicare

Australia GPO Box 9822 in your capital city.

- - - - - - - - - -

During the meeting at the new segment; Members Talk, Gwen Undy gave us an insight into

one of her favourite books “Flynn of the Inland” about the founder of the Royal Flying

Doctor Service.

Her talk has been covered very well in the minutes of the meeting, but we must acknowledge

that she will be a very hard act to follow. Thank you Gwen.

It’s the cold and flu

season, and all that

stands between you and

these viruses is your

immune system. There

are some defences you

can’t improve such as

your age, gender, your

genes or a previous

exposure, so what can

you do?

Firstly let’s get rid of the myths:

Downing all those immune booster supplements has no scientific basis and is wasted money.

Multiple high dose vitamins especially Vit C also have no effect unless you happen to be deficient,

and a good supply of fruit and vegetables can correct that. However sunlight and Vit D may help.

So what about a stiff whisky and an aspirin to bring down the temperature? Alcohol is a No-No,

and although the aspirin may help the headache and muscle aches, the temperature is nature’s way

of destroying the virus. Now for the positives: Stay calm, close your eyes, relax, soft quiet music,

send the grand kids home, because stress is the worst thing possible for your immune system.

Added to that, go to bed and sleep. You must get up to 8 hours of undisturbed sleep (non noisy) a

night. Less than 7 hours increases the chance of catching influenza by three times.

There are a few additional points: Zinc supplements appear to prevent infection and shorten the

duration if commenced early, by stopping the virus replicating or gaining entry to the respiratory

bronchial lining. In high risk cases, anti viral drugs (e.g. Tamiflu) may be prescribed, and antibiotics

prophylactically. You will have to survive in isolation so you don’t spread the disease, and all this

could have been avoided if you had attended to the GP for your annual flu vaccination.

Don’t forget next year !!!

- - - - - - - - -

SOCIALLY SPEAKING

Tuesday 29th

May: Our next Probus outing is a tour of the Main Road Traffic Control

Centre situated at the corner of Lord and Newcastle Streets. This tour is free but bookings

essential. Travel arrangements for this event are your own concern. If you do intend to

drive up, contact Roger Boyd if you have extra seating available in your vehicle. The tour

starts at 11.00.a.m. so please make sure you are there in plenty of time. The tour takes about

45 mins so you can then choose to do whatever you wish – visit the Museum, WA Art

Gallery, WACA Museum, shopping or even the movies.

Thursday 31st May: Probus Race Day at Pinjarra Racecourse..

June; Proposed visit to Abingdon Village and the Chocolate Factory in Barragup,

possible followed by a meal at a local restaurant. Details advised late.

Copper Wire

After digging to a depth of 10 feet last year, British scientists found traces of copper wire dating back

200 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than

150 years ago.

No to be outdone by the Brits, in the weeks that followed, an American archaeologist dug to a

depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, a story was published in the New York Times: “American

archaeologists, finding traces of 250-year-old copper wire, have concluded that their

ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network 50 years earlier than

the British”.

One week later, the Dept of Minerals and Energy in Western Australia reported that after

digging as deep as 30 feet in the Pilbara region, Jack Lucknow, a self-taught archaeologist,

reported that he had found absolutely stuff all. Jack has therefore concluded that 250 years

ago, Australia had already gone wireless. Something else to make us proud to be Aussies!!!

- - - - - - - - -

Some old-fashioned gardening tips:

If scale is affecting your plants, wash it off the leaves with soapy water.

Add used teabags to the watering can to make nitrogen-rich food for foliage plants.

Bees & Butterflies are the gardener’s best friends. Attract pollinating insects by growing plants,

shrubs and trees rich in nectar.

Digging breaks up and aerates the soil but can interfere with micro-organisms breaking down

organic matter. Thorough digging once a year is all that is needed.

Kill weeds with darkness. A simple and effective way to block out their light is to cover them with a

piece of old carpet, cardboard, newspaper or weed mat.

HOW TO MAKE GINGER BEER

You will need 1 cup sugar, juice 2 lemons, 1 tablespoon ginger, 5 cups water.

Mix together, then leave covered for 3 days. Pour off almost all liquid then feed plant each day for 7

days with 2 heaped teaspoons sugar and 1 level teaspoon ginger. Leave for 4 days before using to

make ginger beer.

To make the ginger beer: 5 cups sugar, 1 cup lemon juice, 2 tspn ginger, 5 cups boiling water, 2 cups

from ginger beer plant, 11.3 litres cold water.

Mix first 4 ingredients, stir well, add last 2, stir and cover. Stir after 2 hours, then leave covered for

24 hours. STRAIN, saving the sediment. Bottle the liquid, cork and leave 3 days before drinking.

Put sediment into covered jar, feed daily with 1 tspn each of sugar and ginger and you have a new

ginger beer plant.

JUST A MUM?

A woman, renewing her driver's license, was asked by the woman at Registry to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. 'What I mean is, ' explained the woman at Registry,

'do you have a job or are you just a .....?' 'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mum.'

'We don't list 'Mum' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,' said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself In the same situation.

The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,

'Official Interrogator' or 'City Registrar.' 'What is your occupation?' she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out.

"I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my

pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. 'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,

'just what you do in your field?' Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply,

'I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) In the laboratory and in the field,

(normally I would have said indoors and out) I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family)

And already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,

(any mother care to disagree?) And I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than

most run-of-the-mill careers And the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally

ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab

assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child

development program , testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! and I had gone on the

official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mum.'

Motherhood!

What a glorious career!

Especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers

'Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations'

And great grandmothers

'Executive Senior Research Associates?'

I think so!!!

I also think it makes Aunts '

Associate Research Assistants.'

May your troubles be less,

Your blessing be more,

And nothing but happiness come through your door!

Old Butch

John was in the fertilized egg business.

He had several hundred young layers (hens), called pullets, and ten roosters to fertilize the

eggs. He kept records and any rooster not performing went into the soup pot and was

replaced. This took a lot of time, so he bought some tiny bells and attached them to his

roosters. Each bell had a different tone, so he could tell from a distance which rooster was

performing. Now he could sit on the porch and fill out an efficiency report just by listening

to the bells. John’s favourite rooster, old Butch, was a very fine specimen, but this morning

he noticed old Butch’s bell hadn’t rung at all. When he went to investigate, he saw the

other roosters were busy chasing pullets, bells-a-ringing, but the pullets, hearing the roosters

coming, would run for cover. To John’s amazement, old Butch had his bell in his beak so

that it could not ring. He would sneak up on a pullet, do his job and walk on to the next one.

John was so proud of old Butch, he entered him in the County Fair and he became an

overnight sensation among the judges.

The result was the judges not only awarded old Butch the “No Bell Piece Prize”, but the also

awarded him the “Pulletsurprise” as well. Clearly old Butch was a politician in the making.

Who else but a politician could figure out how to win two of the most coveted awards on our

planet by being the best at sneaking up on the unsuspecting populace and screwing them

when they were not paying attention.

Vote very carefully in our next election, the bells are not always audible.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Jillian Brown

Vicki Green

Marie Paterson

Diana Smeeton

GET WELL WISHES TO ANN BEVIS WHO IS HAVING A TOUGH TIME

WITH HER HIP REPLACEMENT. BACK IN HOSPITAL AGAIN.

At the end of the month there is only 208 days to go

POETRY PAGE

GRANDAD DOES

Do you have an aging Grandad Whose older than his brother

Can he really be the father Of your gorgeous looking mother

Does your Grandad have an odour When you roll him on the ground

When you jump upon his tummy Does his bottom make a sound

Do his glasses crack and shatter When you whack him on the head

And if you chase him with the hose pipe Does his face go very red

When its early in the morning And you wake up bright as bright

And creep into his bedroom And find his bedside light

If you shout out wake up Grandad And pull off all his rugs

Does Granny say he’s grumpy And give you lots of hugs

Does your Granny send you searching Each time he takes a shower

Cos she says he’s used the water For nearly half an hour

Do you laugh to see his wrinkles His tummy and his willy

Does he hold the towel around him Grandads are sometimes silly

Do you marvel at his workshop With chisel drill and switch

Does he shout and shout quite loudly When you use his saw on Mitch

And vegies in his garden How radishes do grow

But do they die and wither When you weed them with his hoe

Does your Grandad grumble loudly When driving you around

Do you drip your ice cream quietly With hardly any sound

When he’s travelling with his camper Will he stop to let you out

When the call of nature beckons He won’t – unless you shout

Can he put up all his canvas Even though the rain is pouring

Does he stand about dejected As the flood has wet his flooring

If you go out with him fishing And he says they’re really biting

Do you think he means mosquitoes Cos he never catches whiting

At Christmas does your Grandad Dress up in red and white

With long and tangled whiskers My goodness what a sight

Does he make believe he’s Santa And think that you don’t know

Does Granny say to humour him And laugh at his Ho Ho

You’ve written in his birthday card And his candles number seven

Did you think that when you’re that old You’ll soon be up in heaven

Even though your funny Grandad Smells just a tiny bit

And has a shiny bald patch And ears that don’t quite fit

You know that Granny loves him So you think that’s good enough

Blow out your candles Grandad Before you’re out of puff

Roger Palmer

Can you do better than this? Send your

poems to the Editor at eltrabs@westnet.com.au or

post to 11 Bremer Way, South Yunderup.

VALE

As there was no newsletter for April, we take this belated

opportunity to mourn the loss of one of our members,

Pam Whyte who recently passed away.

Our sympathy goes out to all her family and friends.

We also wish to extend our sympathy to a previous member

Beth Walker on the death of her husband.

We know he had been in ill health for some time.

We are thinking about you Beth.