Newsletter No. 59  - December 2021 & January 2022

THE NEXT GENERAL MEETING  WILL BE HELD  AT THE CHERRYBROOK COMMUNITY CENTRE AT 10.30AM ON WEDNESDAY 23rd FEBRUARY - Please remember that we can only have a maximum of 68 people at the meeting under current Covid 19 restrictions

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President's Report

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President’s Report - January 22

It looks like we will limp into 2022 in much the same way that we finished 2021. Covid remains with us, and we will have to continue to exercise great care this year in the same manner as we did last year. As a club we will continue to ask members to only attend activities if they are vaccinated and boosted. By doing so you will show respect for the health and well-being of your friends and fellow members.

We hope to resume many of our activities in February. We will not have a general meeting until February and once again we will have to restrict numbers to a maximum of 64. However, I know that many of the Activity Leaders are gearing up for a “normal” 2022, so let’s all get involved and support the various planned events. It was great to all get together in December at the Christmas Party. We have all developed new friendships in the club and the level of attendance and interaction demonstrated that fact very clearly. Thank you to Enio Dona for organising it.

It’s coming around to that time of year again…..The Annual General Meeting. This will be held in March, and as always we are looking for new blood on the Committee. New Committee means new ideas, so it is healthy to have a turnover of Committee members. If you are interested in contributing please contact either Beverly Dona or myself.

I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year and I look forward to catching up with everyone.

​Regards

Bob Carritt President

Secretarial

​Correspondence In

​None​

Correspondence Out

None

Bev Dona

Details of the Probus Member Benefit Scheme are at: www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/members_offers_member_benefits_scheme
(click on link)

Treasurer's Report

Ian Roberts
Treasurer     24th January 2022​​

Membership

Just a reminder of our Club policies for attendance at meetings and activities.
  • Members are expected to attend a minimum of 10 functions (meetings and/or activities) per Probus year (April to March).
  • Visitors may only attend a maximum of 3 functions (meetings and/or activities) per Probus year. 

Our membership is currently full, at the agreed maximum of 110.

Jeff Swan – Membership Officer

Welfare

Welfare Report December 2021/January 2022
Welcome back to 2022, hope you all had a good New Year.
Those I have spoken to or caught up with either had a very quiet holiday break keeping a low profile or managed to get away for a while locally or regionally.
We haven’t really started back with our activities giving us the opportunity to get together, but hopefully we might start in February.
Keep in contact with each other and give your support where you can if needed.
Let Terry or myself know if our support is needed.
Hopefully see you at the next General meeting in February.
​
Cathy Turner
Terry Ridge (assistant)

Cathy Turner & Terry Ridge – Welfare Officers

February Meeting Speaker - Nicholas Cowdery QC ​

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​Nicholas Cowdery QC has practised criminal law for over 30 years. Since 1994 he has been the Director of Public Prosecutions for NSW. He oversees the prosecution of serious crime in the State. He is President of the International Association of Prosecutors.

More in the next newsletter.

​A speaker for February meeting not to be missed.

Photos From November Meeting 








​                                                    Just fiddling......

Probus Xmas Lunch 2021

The Probus Christmas lunch was held on Wednesday 15th December 2021 at the Madison Function Centre.



Birthday  Celebrations

Happy Birthday
 To all our members
Celebrating a birthday in December & January

December
Helen Beutler
Sue Calabrese
Joan Cram
Bob Davison
Chris Heaton
Lynne Henderson
Glenys Hendry
Kaija Lam
Robin Palmer
Barbara Tyas
Alan Ward

January
Wendy Carritt
Rosemary Clarke
Tony Coote
Sue Cordukes
Helen Donnelly
Flora Kortlepel
Kathy Lewis
Margaret McGowan
Cawas Sahukar
John Sanders
Manja Sheiles
Peter Stanton
Lorraine Sutton
Barry Wailes



Activities & Leaders

As a result of the sign-up sheets at the Foundation Meeting and expressions of interest on application forms we have set up numerous activities and interest groups.

Club Covid 19 Policy

We have set down a Covid 19 policy for the club. Essentially we will abide by the NSW health guidelines. We ask all members to respect the health and wellbeing of their fellow members, and therefore do not attend activities unless they are fully vaccinated. We have no desire to get into a situation where we need to physically check every attendee to determine their vaccination status. We are relying on the integrity of our members and the fact that they are endangering their friends if they do not abide by this policy.
Newsletter Copy Deadline

Please provide your contributions for the February Newsletter by Friday 18th February 2022.

Please email to Enio Dona or Bev Davison for activities or direct to Andrew Little for other articles.

Alternatively place directly into Dropbox under WPHD Probus Activities / Activity Newsletter Contributions / Contributions – 2022 02

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To go to the Activities Calendar - click HERE!

Click on activity to go straight there!
Activity Group    Leaders
Book Challenge Sue Calabrese
Book Club Bev Davison
Bridge Looking For Leader
Cards David Turner 
Cycling Bruce Bartle
Day Trips (Bus/Train/Ferry) Helen Games
Dining Out Looking For Leader
Domestic Travel Max Henderson
Gardening Sue Small, Lorenza Powyer
Golf Terry Ridge
Investment Group David Antonjuk
Mens Club Rene Beutler
Mixed Social Group Kim Nicholls
Movies Sue Small and Lorenza Powyer
Overseas Travel Looking For Leader
Photography Rob Clarke
Ten Pin Bowling Douglas Matthews
Tennis Bob Davison
Theatre and Musicals Bruce Bartle
Walking Group Enio Dona
Wine & Cheese Julie Shenstone, Susan Antonjuk
 
For an activity group to start, a member needs to step forward to lead the group
                              
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COVID SHMOVID – WE’VE GOT BOOKS!
55 Books done and dusted! Some very good reads this month too.
The COVID SHMOVID challenge has just February to go.
Since mid November:
Apples never fall by Liane Moriarty: after the disappointment of ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ this redeemed the readers faith in the story telling skills of the author. She kept the reader’s interest right to the end with surprises around every corner. A ✮✮✮✮✮ read.

Once Burn, Twice Shy by Karly Lane: Samantha, a divorced mother of two, returns to look after the family cattle property while her parents go overseas. She reconnects with Jack, a love from the past. He is also now divorced. Together they encounter the devastating bush fires and a close call for Jack as he fights ti save this small country community. An enjoyable story of second chances, loss, and the rebuilding of lives.

It wasn’t meant to be like this by Lisa Wilkinson: another strong woman tackling bullying at school, taking on Kerry Packer in her days at Cleo, battling Nine Network bosses over pay disparity, and generally championing women who have been too long silenced in a world where there are still many inequalities between men and women. A good read.

No-one Loves a Policeman by Guillermo Orsi:  and it appears the reader didn’t love the book either. A story about corruption in Argentina, and the crimes committed by the corrupt. BUT – Zero ✮s. Poorly written, the process of solving murders got lost in the poor writing and really only wandered around the corruption themes. Skipping pages a must if you persevere.

Echoes of War by Tania Blanchard: This Australian author has both German and Italian heritage and her novels have always told stories from the German perspective of WW2. Her lates book however is set in Calabria, Southern Italy. Guilia, the youngest daughter of a remote farming family wants more to life that living up to their plans. She becomes a healer, disobeys her father, and is sent away to a monastery. Then War is declared and the story tells of Mussolini’s role in that war, and how the south of Italy is neglected. It follows the joys, sorrows and hardships of the family, the shows the strength of the women in these difficult times. Very good read.

Cold Blood by Lynda La Plante: the third book in the trilogy. Old style police/detective story, set in LA and New Orleans at Mardi Gras time. A missing person – a murder. A good read.

The Unknown by Heather Graham: and according to the reader, should remain unknown.   

Caught in the Act by Shane Jenek AKA Courtney Act: An interesting biography about the author’s journey of self-discovery of gender, sexuality and identity, told with trademark candour, wit and VERY revealing (be warned) style for which he/she is known. The story shows the pain and of growing up in the Brisbane suburbs and eventually to becoming an iconic Aussie Diva both here in the UK and US, known for compassion and kindness to others. An interesting read.

Under Pressure by Robert Pobi: the second book in the ‘Lucas Page series. A Great plot, memorable characters, set in New York. A great thriller full of twists and turns, keeping you guessing. The story begins with the mother of all explosions at the Guggenheim museum in New York – no survivors – over 700 killed and burnt beyond recognition – the building itself though sustains barely any damage.    

The Twentieth Man by Tony Jones: Well written, quite gripping, not light entertainment, but definitely worth the read. Tony Jones, the political journalist, (not the National Coordinator of a network of innovative missional Christians as the Borrowbox link to his background stated) uses his inside knowledge to write a story mixed with both fictional and real characters of the Whitlam Government – Lionel Murphy, Tom Moriarty, George Negus and so on. Bombs go off in Sydney, the Yugoslav terrorist group is the prime suspect, and journalist Anna Rosen is both professionally and personally drawn into this world of total nut-head murderous thugs. A plot to kill the Yugoslav Prime Minister when he visits Australia must be stopped. Technology at that time was breathtakingly absent compared to now. Need to get papers urgently to Melbourne, then send a man with a suitcase on the next flight!
​
Sue Calabrese
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Book Club - January 2022 Report

I’d like to wish a Happy New Year to everyone.  I hope that we are able to get together more this year than was possible for us last year, although it hasn’t started off well with our first couple of activities either cancelled or scheduled via Zoom again.
 
Our current book is The Twentieth Man by Tony Jones.  It is a fictional book based around the political scene in Australia at the time.  Our first book club meeting for this year will be on Thursday 3rd February and looks like it might also be a Zoom meeting.  If things change, I will advise the group via email.

Happy reading
​
Bev Davison 

Leader - Bev Davison
​The Twentieth Man opens with a historical bombing in the heart of Sydney in 1972. The bombs are planted by an anonymous Croatian terrorist seeking to destroy targets associated with the Yugoslavian government. Jones uses this opening to introduce a range of characters and it is a while before the narrative settles down around a few key players, particularly Anna Rosen, junior ABC journalist and daughter of a known Communist, Al Sharp, with the Federal Police, and rogue ASIO agent Tom Moriarty. Later in the book the action moves to Yugoslavia where a group of twenty Croatians have infiltrated the country with the aim of creating a popular uprising against the Communist Government. The Twentieth Man of the title is the survivor of this mission
Back To Activities List
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Bridge Group










Leaders - Looking For Leader(s)
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Cards 500 Report January 2022

Happy New Year to everyone.
​
Will notify by email when we will commence again.
Hopefully February, just waiting on some details from Dural Country Club.
Keep up the practice!

David Turner

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​Leader - David Turner
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Cycling Group: January 2022

To be updated tomorrow (Sat).



Bruce

Leaders - Bruce Bartle & Tony Coote
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I have been enquiring at a variety of places for tours and visits for probus members in 2022 but most places haven't restarted their tours. I am thinking it would be good to have a river cruise in February.  I have booked a visit to The Westmead Institute For Medical Research WIMR on Wednesday 13 July 10.00am to 12 Noon. 

If anyone has any suggestions for tours in 2022, please let me know.

​Helen Games


Leader - Helen Games
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Dining Out – February

Looking for leader.

Leader - 
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Kiama Trips

Sun 20 - Wed 23 and Sun 27 - Wed 30 MARCH 2022

As previously advised we transferred our October bookings to March this year, which resulted in some changes, the amended lists (as previously advised) are:  
Accommodation:
We have booked the “Park Ridge Retreat” Gerringong, just south of Kiama, providing circa 4 star accommodation) and is adjacent to the local shops.                https://www.parkridgeretreat.com.au
Except for single and triple rooms (refer table) our room only “group booking” tariff is $465.00/room for three nights ($155.00/night). Room allocation is mainly on the ground and middle floors.
Motel Meals:
  • Hot Breakfast (Bacon & eggs and other choices) at $15.00 per person, tea, coffee, and juice.
  • One Course Dinner at $25 per person, or 2 courses $35 choices of meals to be confirmed.
Motel payments
Advisedly everyone has now paid their $100 deposit, whilst the majority is refundable, there is a $300.00 non-refundable group booking charge. We  require your accommodation balance of $365.00 (single $320 and triple $557) by the end of February, preferably ealier. We have recently confirmed our booking.
All payments should be paid into the Activities Account and identified with your Surname & Kiama.

Evening Meals
We have booked the following:
  • Sunday; Gerringong Bowling Club, Pacific Ave, Werri Beach (7.00pm).
        https://gerringongbowlo.com.au/
        Large modern club, and our own first floor room.
  • Monday; Cronin’s Hotel, 29 Belinda Street, Gerringong (6.30pm)
        Lynne and I dined here in 2019, very good bistro

  • Tuesday; Olive & Vine, 87 Manning Street, Kiama (7.30pm)
        Highly recommended by one of our members

Note; links are to existing menus and are not necessarily what will be available in March.
Also due to our numbers we have a 7.30 booking and a set menu for Olive & Vine, currently two courses $40 or three courses $50. Send me an email if you require a copy of the menu.

We have made reservations assuming full attendance by our respective groups. Therefore can you please let me know by the end of February if you will not be attending any of these venues and we will adjust our reservations.

Activities
Whilst the numbers on these two trips grossly exceed previous trips (12 to 20) making it extremely difficult to organise as our numbers exceed what most tourist operators can cater for without making reservations.
I have provided two day trips suggestions, departing say 8.00am to allow for group travel, car-pooling etc.

  • Monday - Scenic Drive; Jamberoo, Minnamurra Falls, Macquarie Pass and Kiama
  • Tuesday - Scenic Drive; Berry, Kangaroo Valley, Shoalhaven Heads, Seven Mile Beach and Gerroa
        An alternative to a scenic drive is (or Wednesday morning before returning home):
  • The Kiama Walk

Refer below as to details for these three activities, plus there and return trip suggestions.
There are numerous other alternatives and recommend you do some homework (at least check out some web sites etc.) to ascertain any preferences.

Regardless, we should all come together as one group for the evening meals.
The hotel webpage includes a number of links to various local attractions.

https://www.parkridgeretreat.com.au/attractions.html
 
Costs
Except for the stated accommodation costs, it is best if all other costs, e.g. breakfasts, lunches, dinners and all activities are paid for separately, by the participants.
COVID 19 Guidelines
"As a minimum, our Club at all times will abide by the COVID 19 guidelines set down by NSW Health.
This means only club members who are fully vaccinated can attend activities and events organised by the club.
We expect members to respect the health and wellbeing of their fellow members and not attend club organised activities unless they are fully vaccinated."

Other
  • Any suggestions or questions please give me a call.
  • I would also welcome any thoughts for future trips.
Attachments

Below are four detailed activities which include photos and maps just to add to your interest. 
Please click on eache to see the PDF of each one.
Max Henderson
Activity Leader
Broken Hill Wanderer Rail Package - Sunday 22 – Tuesday 31 May 2022
​As previously advised we have transferred this trip from August to May this year and gained four additional travellers, increasing our number to twenty eight.
For those catching the train from Central we will spend Sunday night at “The Great Southern Hotel” at Central. This will provide us with a relatively short walk to Central on Monday morning.
On Monday we have fifteen departing from Central at 6.18am and thirteen from Parramatta at 6.40am to arrive in Broken Hill at about 7.10pm (CST):
Then Tuesday week 31 May, we will be transferred to Broken Hill Railway Station to depart at 7.45am (CST) on the Outback Explorer.

Activities
“2022 Broken Hill Wanderer Rail Package”, refer link:
​
https://railholidaysaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Broken-Hill-Wanderer-Brochure-2022.pdf
 
Costs
Except for the stated package costs, it’s best if all other costs are paid for separately, by the participants.
Updated costs were emailed to participants on 30 September 2021 reflecting return first class train travel (previously return only) plus an annual increase.
The balances paid for the August trip have been refunded to our Probus account and our agent is only holding a deposit of $200 per person.
 
Covid 19 Guideliness
"As a minimum, our Club at all times will abide by the Covid 19 guidelines set down by NSW Health.

We would expect members to respect the health and wellbeing of their fellow members and not attend club organised activities unless they are fully vaccinated."
 
Other
Any suggestions or questions please give me a call.
Always looking for future trip suggestions.
Max Henderson
Activity Leader 
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GARDENING GROUP - December & January
​On Thursday 9th December, several of our members met for a look around the Bunnings Gardening section and had a chance to chat to Suzette (who used to organise the Bunnings Gardening days). As advised in previous newsletters the Bunnings Gardening Group will not be returning, Fortunately, however we’ve been able to discuss other options with Suzette.  More details will be provided as we start organizing next years Gardening activities.
 
After the stroll around the gardening section, we reconvened at Beanmeister Café for a relaxing brunch.
 
As many of our regular Garden Group members have commented about going away during January, our next Gardening Group activity will be in February.  This will give all our gardeners and extra day to help their gardens cope with the usual January heat.
 
Our next Gardening Group activity will be 10 February 2022 – details will be emailed closer to the day. 
 
Please let Sue Small know if you’d like to have your name added to the Gardening Group email list.
​As we’re still supposed to be staying at home to minimize the current spread of Corona Virus, here’s a few suggestions to keep us occupied in our gardens during the month:
 • Dig garden beds and fertilise in preparation for planting bulbs. Hyacinths, ranunculi, babianas, anemones and daffodils can be planted in autumn when the soil cools down (daffodils like sun and good drainage).
• Give a gift of a perfumed plant on Valentine’s Day. Roses work for many – or perhaps a sweet-smelling lavender, frangipani or lemon-scented myrtle (Backhousia citriodora).    
•  Keep summer colours coming from petunias and impatiens with regular doses of liquid fertilizer to assist with flower and fruit formulation. Later this month, pansies appear in nurseries and can keep the show humming through autumn into winter.
​
•  Keep the water up to tomatoes in dry areas to push growth along and protect against blossom-end rot.
​• Check for Lacebug infestation on azaleas. If present, leaves will have a silvery look on top and a rusty brown appearance underneath. Spray with an insecticide such as MaxGuard.
• NSW Christmas bush can be trimmed to encourage growth and flowering next year.

• Lightly prune and fertilise repeat-flowering roses to encourage autumn blooms.
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​• Control sucking pests in the vegie patch with a safe insect spray that won’t affect the produce. Products such as Yates Nature’s Way Vegie & Herb Spray don’t have a withholding period, so crops can be eaten after washing.
​•  For a continuing show of camellia blooms, feed plants with a potash-rich fertiliser.
​Prune geraniums (zonal pelargoniums) by about half to encourage new growth.
• Cut back hydrangeas that have finished blooming, unless you like to keep them flowers through autumn. A good rule is to make the cut above two buds on the stem.     
​(Garden projects sources from various sites)
Leaders -  Sue Small, Lorenza Powyer
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Golf Report January2022.

Same as last month & month before that - nothing much to report....


Leader - Terry Ridge
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Investment Group - January
 
We will recommence in February. 


David Antonjuk




 
Leader - David Antonjuk
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MEN'S CLUB - January

​Activities will commence when Covid conditions allow.

The Woolloomooloo Walk has been rescheduled to March 2022. 


Renee


Leader - Rene Beutler
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Mixed Social group will resume TBA.




 

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Leaders- Kim Nicholls & Sue Cordukes
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​MOVIE GROUP - December & January

December - Our movie goers were very pleased to finally be able to catch up over brunch at Cosmo Café before seeing the latest James Bond movie ‘No Time To Die’.  There were lots of comments at the end of the movie - to avoid giving a spoiler alert they won’t shared in the newsletter!!!
 
​Our next Movie Group day will be on 1 February. Details of the movies and lunch will be emailed closer to the day (when we know what movies will be screening and the movie times)

January - The Castle Hill Events Cinema has finally reopened.
At this stage most screenings are either in the afternoons or evenings.
 
If the cinema is open next week, and screening a movie of interest to us, on the first Tuesday of the month (our usual ‘movie day’), 
 
Movies currently being advertised for next week include:
12.40 pm – House of Gucci
“House of Gucci is inspired by the shocking true story of the family behind the Italian fashion empire. When Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga), an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately... murder.”
3.15pm - The Kings Man:“One man must race against time to stop history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds as they get together to plot a war that could wipe out millions of people and destroy humanity.
To enable all movie goers to have a catch up, Brunch / Lunch will be at our usual venue, ie Cosmo Café followed by seeing the movie of our choice.
​ 
Please let Sue Small know if you’ll being coming to Cosmo Café so a table can be booked.
 
An email will be sent to all Movie Group members confirming movie times and brunch / lunch details as soon as the Events Cinema confirm session times.

Please let Sue Small know if you’d like to be added to the Movie Group email list.
Leaders – Lorenza Powyer & Sue Small
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Probus Photography Group


November Photography Meeting
At our January photography meeting we agreed to have a photography excursion of three days. We viewed the best images of the year for an image of the year, the members voted on what they considered the best image (refer below). There was also interest in how to use the I-phone / android camera features, we agreed to schedule a training session early this year for members.
Our photography group has a Facebook page, all members are welcome to subscribe to this website and view the images posted by our members.
The link is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/254025278937219/?ref=group_header
  1. Image of the Year
The Image of The Year is a monochrome taken in Monument Valley, USA by Lynne Henderson. Please join me in congratulating Lynne on what is a truly outstanding photograph.
Probus Photography – Image of the Year 2021 Lynne Henderson
    Coming in a remarkably close second was Bain Shenstone’s image of the escalators at Wynyard station

​
  1. Capertee Valley Photography Getaway
We have 19 photographers travelling to the Capertee Valley in April 5-7.
This trip will involve exceedingly early morning starts, sunsets and midnight Astro photography. We are planning to take images of glow worms, canyons, waterfalls etc. For our non-photographer partners, we have booked in at Turon Gates where people can relax or go on a short bush walk. This outing was fully subscribed within a day of being announced, we must all be wanting a break.
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  1. Photography Challenge for the month
Please take 5 images of people you don’t know and put them in the album Monochrome Street. Taking images of people in the street is legal, avoid children, homeless people and people who have covered their face. Refer to the Facebook site for the tips on settings and how to take these images.

Photography Tip: When taking a street scene which has people in it set the aperture to between f8 and f12 as this will provide a wide depth of field. An f8 aperture will provide an in-focus range of between 5 – 80 meters. Focus at about 5 meters.

Next Meeting
​
Next Meeting: 7:30pm on Wednesday February 9th, at the Stanton’s residence. Note that this is a week earlier than normal.
Rob Clarke
Activity Coordinator

Leaders - Rob Clarke & Bain Shenstone
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TEN PIN BOWLING REPORT - January

Ten Pin Bowling is now in hibernation until February.
​
Doug Mathews
Leader - Doug Matthews
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Tennis Group Report- January 2022
​
​Tennis has restarted but the weather hasn’t been very good this month, resulting in only a couple of games so far.
 
Still meeting every Monday & Wednesday @ 9.00am at Hasting Park Tennis Complex, 44 Belltree Crescent, Castle Hill.
 
If you are interested in joining us, please give me a call.



 
Cheers

Bob

Leader - Bob Davison
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To be updated tomorrow (Sat).






​Bruce Bartle
Leader - Bruce Bartle
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​Walking - January

There will no walks arranged for December or January due to holidays and the heat. 

There will be no walking activity for the first Tuesday in Feb 2022 as Bob Carritt, Lynne Henderson, and myself are all unavailable due to travel arrangements.

​
Enio
Leader - Enio Dona
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Unfortunately the W & C night on Friday 14th January had to be cancelled.

​W&C will recommence when Covid conditions allow.


Julie & Sue
 Leader  Julie Shenstone
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PLEASE NOTE
The Club Newsletter is for the private and confidential use of Club members and is not to be used for any other purpose.  Approval for any form of advertising or promotion not directly related to club activities or general club information must be granted by the club committee.
Newsletter Editor: Andrew Little