Blog Archive
Wednesday, 31 December 2025
Wednesday, 19 November 2025
THE PROBUS CLUB OF NORTH SYDNEY Newsletter 396 18 November, 2025
PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Barbara B
Year’s end for 2025 is rapidly approaching, with our thoughts turning to planning for Christmas. Our club Christmas lunch will be held on Tuesday 9th December, at Northbridge Golf Club, and it promises to be a great day - canapĂ©s followed by a traditional Christmas dinner, with a Christmas quiz, Christmas carols and great company.
Tickets are $80, and payment to the Probus bank account is required by Friday 28th November at the very latest.
This month’s outing was a Melbourne Cup lunch at Cammeray Golf Clubhouse organised by Patrick; and Lindsay led our walk on 11 November from BrontĂ« to Bondi, followed by lunch at Bondi Icebergs. And our newsletter is ably compiled by Judy.
If any one reading this would be interested in assisting with planning and leading walks or working on the newsletter, we would love to hear from you. Plenty of training/guidance will be available.
I look forward to seeing you all at our meeting next Tuesday.
VALE Peter B
OBITUARY - from Lyn Molloy
It was very sad to hear that Peter B had passed away suddenly during the month. Our condolences to his wife Noreen.
Peter and Noreen joined the club in April 2019. For many years Peter and Noreen organised a variety of outings for members - all of which were well supported.
It seemed to me that they were always there. Supporting the Club in any way they could. For me most recently at the North Sydney produce market recruitment drive. Rest in Peace Peter. You will be missed.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT AT OUR MEETING ON 18 NOVEMBER WE ARE VOTING ON THE SPECIAL
RESOLUTION DETAILED IN THE Secretary’s memo and 6 attachments sent to all members on 26 October.
MEMBERSHIP - Lyn M
Currently 53.
WELFARE - Jackie M
Remember to call Jackie (0412 836 997) if you know of any members needing welfare support.
BIRTHDAYS
November: 1 Lyn M, 11 Don P and Mary W, 17 Ken C, 14 Robin S, 15 Marie A, 21 Mary Ann I.
December: 14 Lindsay K, 19 Bill C, 27 Peter W, 31 Deon C.
SPEAKERS - Patrick W
Our Speaker this month will be Simone Carson, Manager of Arts at the Willoughby Council. She will be accompanied by a string quartet from the Willoughby Orchestra, who will play for us.
December will be our Christmas Lunch, and the next Speaker will be on 20 January.
MOVIES - Peter W
Unfortunately my original movie choice for Tuesday 25 November, Train Dreams, will no longer be shown at The Orpheum. So instead I am recommending an
interesting alternative called Two Prosecutors, also on 25 November, at a time to be advised.
This film focuses on a young prosecutor who sets out to challenge a system during Stalin’s Great Terror in 1937 after discovering a letter from a prisoner that is a desperate plea for help. The film is subtitled and has some excellent reviews.
On Jocelyn’s recommendation my wife and I went to see Inter Alia at the Orpheum. No it isn’t a sci-fi production but a play that has been filmed for the big screen by the National Theatre in the UK.
It stars Rosamund Pike as a Crown Court judge at the top of her career but also handling the problems of motherhood. She is on stage the whole time together with a small cast but she is amazing. I can endorse Jocelyn’s recommendation if you are interested in something a bit different!!!
MELBOURNE CUP LUNCH - Patrick W
On a lovely warm spring day, 10 members enjoyed an excellent lunch at the Cammeray Golf Club. The joie de vivre flowed, as did the odd drop of wine, and some of the sweepstake flutters paid off.
OUTINGS - Jocelyn M
November Outing:
Our November Outing was a Melbourne Cup lunch at Cammeray Golf Glub. Nine members and one visitor enjoyed a sumptuous lunch and some members were successful sweep winners. A good time was had by all.
3 February 2026. We are looking at a guided tour of the old GPO Building in Martin Place. The tour is limited to 15 people at a cost of $20.00 per head. As our meeting on 18 November 2025 is our last one before this Outing it would be appreciated if members would give some thought to this proposal so that we can decide before Xmas whether this Outing is feasible.
Your Outings Committee will be meeting on 18 November to discuss the 2026 Outings programme. We will be considering using “On Course” travel for some day trips as well as the Community Bus. While “On Course” may cost a little more it should give us more options for out-of-town planning and would certainly make the job of the Outings Committee less onerous. Your thoughts on this would be appreciated.
We are also in the early stages of planning a 9 day trip to New Caledonia in September/October 2026 with the Waverton Probus Club and will be looking for expressions of interest at the
November meeting.
WALKS - Lindsay K
LAST WALK
Nine of us participated in our walk from Bronte to Bondi Beach. Myself & Penny, Louise, Jackie, Robin S., Joan B, Deon, Ivan, Peter W. It was a sunny day and not too hot. We had our coffees at a cafe near the Bronte Beach bus terminus.
At Bronte Beach we witnessed the struggle of a spider wasp and its prey, a medium sized huntsman spider. Pretty soon a large crowd gathered around wondering what we were looking at. We
continued
past
Tamarama
Beach. It was
a spectacular
day. We had
lunch at the
Bondi
Icebergs.
Peggy B and
Bill C. joined
us for lunch.
NEXT WALK
The next walk will be on the Tuesday 2 December. Please note the date as it is the 1st Tuesday of the month because of the Christmas Party being held on the 2nd Tuesday. We will be catching the 10am ferry from Wharf 4 Circular Quay to Mosman Bay. We will have coffee at Cafe Monstera at Mosman Bay Wharf. After coffee we will walk to Cremorne Wharf. It is an easy medium walk with a bit of a slope and stairs at the beginning. It is a level walk after that. There are stairs at the end that take us down to the bus stop. From Cremorne we need to catch the 225 bus, at 12.13pm, so we can get to Minsky's at Cremorne by 12.30 for lunch. Penny will be leading this walk as I have a specialist's medical appointment that morning. I will be joining you for lunch. There will be no walk in January.
10 February we have our annual lunch at the Little Snail in Pyrmont.
CLUSTER MUSTER - Mary Ann Irvin Waverton Club are organising a tour to Griffith and surrounds for 5 days and 4 nights from 3rd to 7th May 2026. The tour cost is $2148 per person twin share (single supplement is $380) Mary Ann will bring a couple of fliers to the meeting for anybody who is interested.
A REQUEST - from Douglas I Has anyone a spare set of computer speakers that could be used at
presentations? Putting the microphone up to the laptop is ineffective.
I'll show a couple of slides of other Club's websites to demonstrate how we can adapt the Probus South Pacific template. I’m asking for feedback.
‘MAGIC NUMBER’ REMINDER
For anyone who needs a reminder on how to obtain the Transport Code, please speak to Lyn, who will give you a refresher and a printed handout. Having the ‘magic number’ makes the trip cheaper for everyone.
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PREFERRED METHOD OF PAYMENT FOR ALL PROBUS ACTIVITIES Probus bank account:
BSB 032-099
Acc number
Information in Description: name of the activity and your name.
Probus Tuesday monthly schedule
1st Tuesday outing
2nd Tuesday walk
3rd Tuesday committee meeting 9.15am followed by general meeting 10.15 am
4th Tuesday movie
5th Tuesday picnic/lunch/other activity
DATES FOR THE DIARY: NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY
Tuesday 18 November, 9.15am Committee meeting, Northbridge Golf Club
Tuesday 18 November, 10.15am Probus general meeting,
Northbridge Golf Club
Tuesday 25 November, film,Two Prosecutors, Cremorne Orpheum, Details TBC. See p 2
Tuesday 2 December, walk Mosman Bay to Cremorne, Details p 3
Tuesday 9 December, 12 noon - 3 pm., Christmas lunch, Northbridge Golf Club.
Tuesday 20 January, 9.15 Probus Committee, 10.15 am Probus general meeting, Northbridge Golf Club
Tuesday 10 February lunch at Little Snail Pyrmont
Thursday, 23 October 2025
sorry - unable to load photos
THE PROBUS CLUB OF NORTH SYDNEY Newsletter 395 21 October, 2025
PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Barbara B
Probus Month is almost over. In October every year Probus clubs throughout Australia and New Zealand celebrate and promote “fun and friendship in retirement” enjoyed by Probus members. The month started with our club’s participation in a Probus Open Day at Mosman Art Gallery, organised by Probus Cluster 9, of which North Sydney Probus is a member. Thanks to Mary Ann I, our Cluster
representative, who worked tirelessly to co-ordinate our contribution, to Patrick W who very ably agreed to be the North Sydney speaker, to Bill B for designing and printing our promotional posters, and Douglas who created a very slick slide show to support the other promotional material. The day was a great success, and Lyn M has been assiduously following up all the people who expressed an interest in North Sydney Probus.
Of course we have had our usual range of outings and walks since our last meeting - attending Downton Abbey the movie, organised by Peter W, the picnic organised by Douglas and Mary Ann in conjunction with Waverton Probus, a tour of the State Theatre organised by Jocelyn, attending a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Sorcerer, organised by Robin, and the walk at Sydney Olympic Park, organised by Lindsay. These activities take considerable planning to co ordinate and plan, and our thanks go to all
the members who are involved in the planning and leading of these activities.
The focus on attracting new members is very important - to maintain financial viability, whilst keeping membership fees affordable, we need to maintain member numbers. We don’t necessarily want to become a very big club, but we do need to maintain our current size. Please share your Probus experience with your friends, and invite them to attend as guests - this is one of the best ways of attracting new members. They will always be welcome to our group.
I look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting.
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MEMBERSHIP - Lyn M
Currently we have 55 Members.We are looking forward to some guests at the next meeting who may be interested in joining our Club. Please look out for them and make them welcome.
WELFARE - Jackie M
Remember to call Jackie (0412 836 997) if you know of any members needing welfare support.
BIRTHDAYS
Eleanor S 26 October, Bill By 27 October, Joan Be 29 October.
SPEAKERS - Patrick W
• Our Speaker this month will be Dr Kathryn Goozee and her subject is Dementia and Alzheimers.
• In November we will be welcoming Simone Carson, who will be
accompanied by a string quartet from the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra. After Simone’s brief talk, the quartet will entertain us.
MOVIES - Peter W
This month’s film on Tuesday 28 October, at a time to be advised, is The
Travellers with Bryan Brown and directed by Bruce Beresford.
A charismatic, successful stage designer returns to Australia for a quick visit to see his dying mother. However, family responsibilities, a difficult relationship with his father and a number of other issues make his return to Europe and the opera he has committed to design, increasingly problematic.
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MELBOURNE CUP LUNCH - Patrick W
Our club has booked a table of 10 for a Melbourne Cup lunch at the Cammeray Golf Club on Tuesday 4 November. As of 16 October, 9 have booked and paid, and there’s room for one more if anyone else is interested. The 3 course lunch costs $110 per head, with prizes for best dressed table and best dressed individual, and sweeps will be organised on the day.
Please email Patrick
patrick_h_wale@yahoo.co.uk
if you’d like to attend.
WALKS - Lindsay K
LAST WALK
16 of us turned up for the walk around Sydney Olympic Park to Newington Armory, on a warm sunny day. We had our coffee at the cafe near the Sydney Olympic Park Ferry Wharf, then walked to Newington Armory and back to the Wharf. We caught the ferry to Meadowbank to have lunch at the Fork and Spoon, where we were joined by Anne and Don. The walkers were: Bill B, Peter & Noreen, Mary Anne, Carol-anne, Ivan, Peter W, Robin S, Jackie, Joan, Deon, Louise, Mary & John, and Penny and I.
NEXT WALK
On 11 November we will do our regular walk from Bronte to Bondi. It is a bit less than 3 kilometres of varying grades, a few stairs. Lunch at the Bondi Icebergs. I haven't worked out times yet. So watch this space.
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PROBUS OPEN DAY - Report from Mary Ann I
Our club featured a table at the recent Probus Open day held 1 October by our Cluster Clubs at the Mosman Art Gallery. More than 100 prospective members attended the event and 6 clubs had tables to encourage people to join. The morning was voted to have been an
outstanding success.
19 people expressed an interest in joining our club and Lyn has contacted them all with more details about what we do and invited them to our October meeting.
Thank you to Barbara for designing and creating our stunning tablecloth, Bill for designing the posters, Douglas for the slide presentation and Patrick for presenting on behalf of the club.
We are hoping that several of those people who expressed an interest will attend our meeting on 21st October. Please keep an eye out for them, assist Robin with welcoming them, and ensure that they are included in morning tea and lunch tables.
‘MAGIC NUMBER’ REMINDER
For anyone who needs a reminder on how to obtain the Transport Code, please speak to Lyn, who will give you a refresher and a printed handout. Having the ‘magic number’ makes the trip cheaper for everyone.
What a fabulous outing to the
State Theatre, in all the glory of
1929, a mixture of original and
restoration, talks of the stars and
of avoiding the developers. How
we ooh’d and aah’d! Thanks to
Jocelyn for arranging such a
splendid visit.
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PREFERRED METHOD OF PAYMENT FOR ALL PROBUS ACTIVITIES Probus bank account:
BSB 032-099
Acc number
Information in Description: name of the activity and your name.
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Happy picnic people at the combined Probus picnic at Tunks park
Probus Tuesday monthly schedule
1st Tuesday outing
2nd Tuesday walk
3rd Tuesday committee meeting 9.15am followed by general meeting 10.15 am 4th Tuesday movie
5th Tuesday picnic/lunch/other activity
DATES FOR THE DIARY: OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER
Tuesday 21 October, 9.15am Committee meeting, Northbridge Golf Club
Tuesday 21 October, 10.15am Probus general meeting,
Northbridge Golf Club
Tuesday 28 October, film, The Travellers, Cremorne Orpheum, TBA, See p 2
Tuesday 4 November, Melbourne Cup lunch, Cammerary Golf Club, See p 2
Tuesday 11 November, walk Bondi to Bronte am, See p 3
Tuesday 18 November, 9.15 Probus Committee, 10.15 am Probus general meeting, Northbridge Golf Club.
Tuesday 9 December, 12 noon - 3 pm., Christmas lunch, Northbridge Golf Club. Payment date has now passed.


