Newsletter 329 20 August 2019
President’s Report: With our outings organiser Evelyn away touring the world and no takers for the proposed whale watching this month, Clive has suggested that we take a trip to Auburn Botanic Gardens. As I shall also be away with my family attending a country wedding in England, I will not be able to accompany you all. So, a couple of weeks ago I took the opportunity to pay an advance visit to this hidden gem. It was a glorious sunny day and I thoroughly enjoyed a couple of hours wandering around this peaceful retreat.
In 1968 Auburn council’s far-sighted chief engineer, Eric Black, proposed returning the land along the much-abused Duck river to public use. His revitalisation plan was for a mixture of sporting grounds and gardens from around the world. His grand vision was reduced somewhat by the time the gardens were opened by Sir Roden Cutler in 1977, but his Japanese garden is a magnificent creation considering Black had never been to Japan!
The gardens also include a sunken rose garden, Australian Native and Rainforest areas plus a small Fauna Reserve with wallabies, kangaroos and emus. One of my favourite features was the tranquil tree-lined reflection pool with, at one end, a progeny of the original Lone Pine found in Gallipoli in 1915. On the day I visited it formed a perfect reflection in the water. Why not join Clive next week for this outing—I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
I shall miss next month’s meeting so will entrust the microphone, bell and chain of office to our capable Vice President Robin S
Membership Report: Our membership stands at 55 (35 women and 20 men).
Many Happy Returns of the Day for your August Birthday: Jeannette G 07, Ian S 10, Maurice O 12, Valerie W 13, Annika T
24.
Guest Speaker: Today we welcome Leigh Hatcher, who will talk to us on the topic of “The Other Side of Journalism”.
Special Event: Clive Williams is organising a group to go to the Sydney Gilbert and Sullivan production of The Mikado, on Sunday 13 October at 2 pm at the Smith Auditorium. The cost is $35. Early bird bookings close on 31 August, so if you are interested in attending please contact Clive on 9929-0436 by 30 August.
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Note: All our Probus meetings are generally held on the third Tuesday of every month at 10:15am. The next meeting will be held on 17th September. The committee meetings are conducted in the Northbridge Golf Club at 9:15am on the same day as the meeting. Members are welcome to attend.
Probus Walkers: Tuesday 10th September. Cabarita Wharf to Parramatta Road.
This walk is a very pleasant, easy walk through Prince Edward Park, Bayview Park and passing along Massey Park Golf course whilst walking around Hen and Chicken Bay. Very scenic and tranquil along the water’s edge. We will end in Cintra Park and continue through to Parramatta
Road to catch a bus to Lane Cove for lunch at the Longueville Hotel. There are no coffee shops en route so those who wish to have coffee meet at the café under the AMP building at Circular Quay at 9:00am before catching the 9:37am ferry to Cabarita.
MEET: Circular Quay, Wharf 5 9:30am to catch 9:37am ferry to Cabarita Wharf.
Probus Outings:
Tuesday 27th August: Auburn Botanic Gardens. The annual Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival will just have finished but the beautiful Japanese garden is sure to be still at its best. Meet Clive at North Sydney station to catch the 9:51am train to Auburn, where it arrives at 10:35am. From there we can catch a shuttle bus at 10:50am for the 10 minute trip to the gardens. We’ll spend a couple of hours exploring the gardens then take a 909 bus back to the station. There are plenty of options for an enjoyable lunch in Auburn Town Centre. Meet at North Sydney station at 9:45am to board the second front carriage to Auburn.
Tuesday 24th September: Fairground Follies, Bowral. Fairground Follies offers a fascinating space, filled with an Antique Mechanical Music Museum. This warehouse space acts as a replica of a traditional fairground. It houses some pieces which are now unique. We should be able to take in a park display of tulips. Bowral is a long trip so departure is at 8am by bus. Costs: Bus $30, Entry $33. Morning tea on arrival, tour commences at 10:l5am. Lunch TBA.
Meet a Member—Douglas I. I was raised on a sugar cane farm near Cairns. One of the downsides of living in a Tropical Paradise is having to go 1800km to the closest university. There I started skydiving that became a major interest in my life even though I was hopeless at it. I then worked for a bank for a few years. The most interesting part was in the computer centre working on an early IBM mainframe. It is hard to believe how puny the computer was in those early days.
Back to farming for many years with some travel thrown in. A highlight was visiting peaceful Cambodia in 1969 before the horrors of the Pol Pot regime devastated the country. That was one of the tragedies of the 20th Century.
I also went from the most open-air sport of skydiving to an indoor activity of caving which is a current passion. My life took a turn for the better when I was introduced to Mary Ann who was from another cane farming family down the road in Innisfail. We married in 1983 and have two wonderful daughters.
The North got too hot for us so we moved to Sydney in 2012, a big move that we haven’t regretted. So life is good here in a wonderful community with Probus, bridge, Bush Care and more travel.
Photos from August walk at LaPerouse
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