Don’t worry, Sandra . . .

being president can’t be that bad

Sylvia Gratton and Sandra Death just after the March AGM

Next meetingThursday 5 April 2012

Registration 10.15for a 10.30 start

Asquith Mixed Probus Club Inc.P.O. Box 3140, Asquith 2077Formed by the Rotary Club of Berowra on 2 October 2008Club No: 9003799District: 9680Inc. No.: 9890687

Bulletin: Editor: Jeremy Steelejsteele@pobox.comPRIVACY: In accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 and recommendation from Probus South Pacific, this Newsletter is Private and Confidential for Asquith Mixed Probus use only and is not to be used for any other purpose.

The following were elected:

President: Sandra Death

Vice-president —president elect John ChannonVice-president and Treasurer Angus Dougall

Secretary (and Membership) Barry Willick

Committee members (9): roles allocated by the CommitteePhyllis Davies Assistant TreasurerJan Ferguson HospitalitySylvia Gratton ActivitiesSusan Manwarring Assistant Secretary, Assistant Activities

and HistorianRichard Stater ProgrammeJeremy Steele BulletinKerrie Carley WelfareJudy Lafrenais Assist with Activities (Craft and Movies)Rhonda Wilson Hospitality {elected by the Committee}

Non-Committee positionsBarbara Williamson TheatresLaurie Keaton Walks and Public OfficerDoug Carley Photography

New Guard takes overAt the fourth Annual General Meeting of the Asquith Mixed Probus Club (AMPC), held on Thursday 1 March 2012 in the Asquith Bowling Club, a new Committee was elected to manage the club for the year 2012-13.

THE NEW COMMITTEE

B U L L E T I N O F T H E A S Q U I T H M I X E D P R O B U S C L U B I N C .

Probus News A P R I L 2 0 1 2

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Vol. 4 Issue 7

Barry Willick hands over the presidency to Sandra Death Vince Hughes, Bulletin editor, receives his certificate

The March General Meeting

The old and new Committees in session in March. Starting from the bottom left:Sylvia Gratton, Judy Lafrenais, Phyllis Davies, Richard Slater, John Channon, Barry Willick, Sandra Death, Susan Mainwaring, Vince Hughes, Barbara Williamson, Kerrie Carley, Laurie Keaton.Angus Dougall, whose empty chair is at the top table, had already left to go to Melbourne . Jeremy Steele took the photo.

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2011-2012

I have considered it a real privilege to serve as your president again this year; after 1 year you feel that you are just getting started.

This has been a year of further establishing the club and working together with a great committee to make Asquith Mixed Probus Club Inc. the best possible club for you, the members. I thank you all for the opportunity you gave me to serve the extra year, and the way you have supported me in this role.

I especially want to thank Laurie again this year, for the very efficient way he has carried out the task of secretary; this is a very important role in the life of our club. After three-and-a-half years in this role he has decided to stand down.

I have had 2 vice presidents that have given me great support, and I am sure that President Elect Sandra will fulfil the role of President in an outstanding manner. Our other vice President/Treasurer Angus has been a great asset to me and the committee. Sandra has again taken on the role of meet and greet at the door, also arranging dining out nights, and the pot luck dinners with the help of Jan on the hospitality committee.

I also want to thank Jan and Waverly for sitting at the front desk marking off your names each week; this is an important role as it saves you having to sign in at every meeting.

Barbara with Sylvia as her assistant has arranged some excellent and interesting day trips and trips away, and I am sure all the members will join me in a big thank you to them. Barbara has also served in this role for three-and-a-half years, and has decided to stand down from the committee. We thank her for all she has done for our club. We all look forward to what Sylvia has arranged for us this year.

John has again arranged some very interesting speakers for us this year with such a wide range of subjects. A great big thank you, John, for what you have achieved for us. We will look forward to having you as one of the Vice Presidents this year.

What can I say again this year about our club news editor Vince? I think each month it speaks volumes on how professional Vince is in the production of our news letter. He has also decided not to stand again this year after his long stretch; a great big thank you, Vince, for all you have done.

Phyllis while being assistant Treasurer this year has been a great help to our Treasurer and Activities desk in keeping things flowing with the bookings.

So many others do so much in our club. Kerrie has done a great job in looking after welfare, and our members have been appreciative of her cards and contact. Laurie with the great walks he arranged again this year. Janice who arranges what movies we see. Judy is doing a great job with the Craft group. Sue has arranged some interesting shows as well as being Assistant Secretary. To all the ladies who help Barbara on the tour desk, I say a big thank you.

It is always hard when you start naming people as it is so easy to leave someone out; if I have missed anyone I do apologise and thank you.

We have had a number of members leave again this year for various reasons, and new members have joined us to take us back up to 150 members. Our new and existing members have melded well and our club continues to be a very friendly club.

A number of members have indicated that they will not be renewing their membership this year; we wish them well and look forward to the new friends we will make as new members join with us.

Finally again thanks to you all for your support; I hope you will again get behind the new incoming committee with the same support you have given to the committee this year.

Barry Willick

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

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WALKING GROUP REPORTGreenwich Point—evening walk: Thursday 23 February

A group of 12 members and two visitors enjoyed the summer evening walk. Again a number of members who registered did not attend. Lack of faith in our ability to invariably organise good weather is hardly an excuse. It was a lovely night.

New participant and potential member Geoff enjoyed the walk.

Enjoying supper at Greenwich Views of the city from Greenwich

Next two walks

Details for the next two walks are listed below.

The next walk is in two parts. On the next walk anyone who wishes to join us for lunch at Como only may catch the 12.02 pm Cronulla train from Central to Como. The group will rejoin this train at Oatley at 12.31pm. I will wish to advise the hotel of approximate numbers so please register for this outing.

26 April Lime Kiln Head Oatley

Lunch at Historic Hotel at Como.

5km easy and then train trip to Como 500m walk each way to Hotel.

Bring morning tea

9.02 Fast Train from BerowraDep Hornsby 9.13 Epping 9.22. Arr Central 9.49.10.02am Cronulla train ex Central. Arr Oatley 10.31. Train to Como at 12.31. Morning Tea at Lime Kiln Head.Lunch $15-25

Laurieljkeaton@bigpond.com94577061

On the day0409226121

31May Hunters Hill and Woolwich

5km Easy to Medium

8.55am ex BerowraDep Hornsby 9.09Bus 536 Stand J ChatswoodVictoria Ave West side depart 9.50am.Lunch at Woolwich Pub 1.47 Ferry ex Valentia St.

Laurie

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THE BULLETIN OF THE ASQUITH MIXED PROBUS CLUB

Tom Sweeney has been with Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium for over 4 years now and during that time has come to understand the pressure that a bereavement places on families and how Macquarie Park can help.

As a Funeral Celebrant, Tom understands the funeral industry and welcomes the opportunity to help people negotiate the process after a loved one passes away.

Prior to joining Macquarie Park, Tom was Community Relations Manager for the North Shore Heart Research Foundation, Community Relations for the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind

Children and Public Relations Manager for Hornsby Hospital. These positions cover a span of over 30 years.

Tom will cover some of the interesting history and the people that are part of what was the Northern Suburbs Cemetery—now Macquarie Park. More importantly he will answer all those questions you have been ‘dying’ to ask.

His talk is called “The Plot Thickens”.Tom Sweeney is married to Joy; he is President of Willoughby Theatre Company, Past President of the Rotary Club of Crows Nest, and resides at Killara.

SPEAKER FOR JUNENoted local identity and historian from the Brooklyn area, Tom Richmond, will be the guest speaker for June. Details will follow of his talk, to be entitled: “Coming Clean in Public and Our Links with Federation.

ORIGINS: The phrase — ‘To the bitter end’ in reality has nothing to do with bitterness.It’s a sailing term that refers to the end of a mooring line, that is attached to the ‘bitts’, — sturdy wooden or metal posts mounted on the ship’s deck. Angus Dougall

The Plot ThickensSpeaker for Thursday 5 April 2012

THE BULLETIN OF THE ASQUITH MIXED PROBUS CLUB

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BOOK CLUBAs announced at our March Meeting, Annette Coyle is coordinating a Book Club for members. This lets you exchange one of those books that you have enjoyed for another book that you haven’t read.This is how it works! Bring to the General Meeting one of your books that you think might be of interest to other members. In exchange, you will receive a Book Token which can be exchanged for any of the books

on display. Having read your book, it can be returned for other members to enjoy, and exchanged for a new book.

As with all of our activities, the more members

who join in, the more successful it will be and we look forward to your participation.

THEATRE OUTINGAn Officer and a GentlemanLyric Theatre—Need payment at the April meeting.

QUIZ QUESTIONShould your Probus News bulletin have a more specific name? For example, the bulletin for the Mt Colah Probus is called Colah Chatter. Some Probus clubs have names like this. Many are bland, like our Probus News.To get an idea of possible names, you could look at http://www.commonplacebook.com/current_events/indianapolis/newspaper_names.shtm.

To come up with a name, it is helpful to think of something relevant, as in Colah Chatter: the two words go together, and ‘chatter’ suggests talk, or news.

The best suggestions will be considered by the Committee, and a new name for the Asquith bulletin might be the result.

MACQUARIE UNI MEDIA RESEARCHER ASKS FOR HELP

Lyn Ryan, a Macquarie PhD degree candidate has asked our Probus Club if some members would help her with her media research. All that has to be done is answer twelve simple questions on how you feel about the media. It will take about an hour. The interviews will be held wherever you, the volunteer, would like.She’s hoping people over 65 may also tell stories about ‘respect’ and how they feel ‘over-65s’ are represented in the media.She adds: ‘I will be recording interviews but when they are written up for my thesis it will be done in such a way that no one is identifiable.’She has supplied details to show the research is serious, properly conducted and approved by the University—and even the questions she will be asking.She needs people in our age group to talk to. So if you might like to help then you can contact her on <lyn.ryan28@bigpond.com> or by phone at 9477 1931 or 0448 493 443. If you would like to see the project detail first, ask Barry Willick, as secretary.

THE BULLETIN OF THE ASQUITH MIXED PROBUS CLUB

Asquith Mixed Probus Club

Lyn Ryan

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Kay Anstiss

Joan Bauer

John Davies

Margie Hall

Georgina Hughes

Vince Hughes

Christine Isenegger

Jan Martin

Indra Patel Barry Rooke

Margaret Steele Margaret Young

Lunch at Ryde College of TAFE,Blaxland Road, RYDE Location: Ambassador Restaurant, Level 4,

Building ADate: Wednesday -  30th May 2012Time: 12 Noon for 12.30pmCost: $35 p.p. to be paid  -  April

meetingDrinks: All inclusiveTransport: Car pooling is a choice or train and

bus, however there is a hill to negotiate to the                                     restaurant

Parking: Free

This was a highly successful day last time. We have booked for 40 members.

The Secretary, Bary Willick, reports that➽ the Committee is looking at a name change for the news sheet.➽ Judy Lafrenais will assist Sylvia and also look after Movies for the next 6 months.➽ The Committee appointed Rhonda Wilson to fill the committee vacancy, and she will help with hospitality.

Sandra Death advises that Special Interest Groups are the same as listed in the March Newsletter 2012. There are a couple of updates. Greeting Committee.: Barb Williamson, Sonny Dougall, Carolyn Channon, Trish Keaton, Georgina Hughes. Movies: (next 6 months in absence of) Janice Mallett - Judy Lafrenais Cards/Euchre/500 : Vacant

Dining out:  Vacant.

MORE ORIGINSIn earlier times, only the wealthy could afford floor coverings, so many others, having simple dirt floors were seen as ‘dirt poor’.As for the wealthy — they often had slate floors, which would get wet and slippery in winter, so they laid thresh (straw)on the floor.As winter wore on, more thresh had to be added, requiring a piece of timber to be added at the entrance to hold the thresh in place.Thus the word — threshhold, entered the language. Angus Dougall

PROBUS NEWS FEEDBACKYou have come to the end of the first Probus News by its new editor from the April 2012 issue.Did you notice any errors? Is there anything you did not like? Did you miss the Soduku puzzle and did you want it put back in?If you have something to contribute (like Angus’s items on ‘Origins’), you could send them in ... such as an interesting photo taken on your travels.Don’t expect too many jokes. If you want more jokes, stand for the position of editor at the next AGM. Or if many readers demand them, there will be jokes aplenty from now on. Jeremy Steele.

Asquith Mixed Probus Club

THE BULLETIN OF THE ASQUITH MIXED PROBUS CLUB

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