Fe 2026 Outing, Museum of Sydney
Thursday, 5 February 2026
Tuesday, 20 January 2026
THE PROBUS CLUB OF NORTH SYDNEY Newsletter 397 20 January, 2026
PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Barbara B
Very best wishes to everyone for 2026. This promises to be another good year for our club. Our first meeting for the year will be on 20 January, and I hope most of you will be able to attend. Our walks and outings will start in February, and thanks to everyone who has continued to spend time over the break finalising arrangements, the details of which are in this newsletter.
This newsletter, and every walk, outing and film screening, and every guest speaker at our meetings only happen thanks to the efforts of a tireless group of volunteers on the committee. If anyone is interested in learning the ropes and eventually taking over some of these responsibilities, please contact me, or any other committee member to express your interest.
I look forward to seeing you all on 20 January.
✬✬✬✬
MEMBERSHIP - Lyn M
Current membership is 55.
WELFARE - Jackie M
Remember to call Jackie (0412 836 997) if you know of any members needing welfare support.
BIRTHDAYS
December: Lindsay K 14, Bill C 19, Peter W 27, Deon C 27.
January: Rowena E 4, Carole E 10, Barrie G 11, Judy McD 12, John B 24, Penny W 26.
SPEAKERS - Patrick W
• This month our Speaker is John Cameron on Artificial Intelligence.
• In February our Speaker will be Gabi McCauley speaking on The Life of a First Responder Nurse.
MOVIES - Peter W
This month’s movie on Tuesday 27 January at the Cremorne Orpheum, at a date to be advised, is The Choral, which stars Ralph Fiennes and is set in 1916.
As war rages the choral society in Ramsden, Yorkshire has lost most of its men to the army but the committee presses ahead with recruiting a new chorus master and choir to make music together.
It is a warm and witty film filled with some memorable performances and is a lovely film to start off the year.
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OUTINGS - Jocelyn M
MUSEUM OF SYDNEY
Our first outing for 2026 will be on 3 February to the Museum of Sydney, corner of Bridge and Phillip Streets, Sydney, to see their new Exhibition entitled
Unearthed.
We plan to meet for coffee at 10.30 a.m. and at 11.00 a.m. commence our unguided tour of the Exhibition. After the exhibition members can choose either to look at one of the other exhibitions on at the Museum or proceed to lunch in one of the Museum’s eateries.
If you are interested in joining this outing please let Jocelyn know by Friday 23 January.
Unearthed
Between 1983 and 1991, archaeologists excavated one of the most contested blocks of land in Sydney – the site of Australia’s first Government House. They unearthed around 140,000 objects that had lain hidden beneath the city’s streets for almost 140 years.
Unearthed displays a fascinating selection of objects excavated from the site, from remains of the first printing press in Australia, to wine bottles transformed into tools by First Nations toolmakers, and elaborately decorated crockery hidden in a privy. The exhibition explores the tangible and intangible histories embodied in the finds and sheds light on the people who lived and worked at the house, and those whose lives were impacted by decisions made within its walls.
Unearthed also presents the people and stories behind the archaeological digs, from the first excavation in 1983–84, which found remains of the house, to later digs that uncovered foundations of the governor’s guardhouse.
NORMAN LINDSAY GALLERY AND NEPEAN ROWERS - Robin S
On 3 March our first destination in the mountains is to the Norman Lindsay Gallery where we will enjoy morning tea, before our guided tour. Norman Lindsay was one of Australia’s most celebrated and prolific artists and the gallery contains a fine collection of his works. Located between Springwood and Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains the property was the inspirational home of the artist for many years. Now operated by the National Trust, the gallery is set on several hectares and the gardens contain many fine examples of the artist’s sculpture.
After our visit to the Gallery, we will travel to Penrith for a two-course lunch at Nepean Rowers, set beside the Nepean River. After lunch, we’ll visit Penrith Regional Gallery, home of The Lewers Bequest, set in beautiful heritage gardens on the Nepean River at Emu Plains.
Timings: Pick Up: 9.00am Drop Off: 5.00pm
Price Per Person: $105.00pp (based on a minimum of 30 people). Bookings will be made on receipt of full payment, which should be made into the Probus bank account, as below.
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.
‘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.
LAST WALK - Penny W
The weather was perfect for our last walk of the year, the Kent Memorial walk on Tuesday 2 December, blue skies and a 21 degree day. We caught the ferry from Circular quay to arrive at Mosman Wharf for a coffee. The Cafe Monstera was packed with a Walk and Talk group of men instigated by Mosman Council.
Our walk to Cremorne Wharf was undulating, going through bushland, fabulous water views, beautiful Arts and Crafts and Federation homes. The Lex and Ruby Grahame gardens, down a steep slope, were very pretty, building the garden base from thrown away rubbish and using plants thrown/ or given away by locals. The final part of the walk was to the lighthouse, overlooking the choppy harbour and a strong southerly wind. Time for a photo from Doug. Lunch was at Minsky's Hotel in Cremorne.
Present were: Annemarie, Bill, Doug, Ivan, Joan Brodie, Lis, Louise, Mary Ann, Penny and Peter. Marie and Lindsay joined us for lunch. An enjoyable time was had.
LUNCH AT THE LITTLE SNAIL - Lindsay K
Tuesday 10 February Lunch 12 noon at the Little Snail Restaurant, 50 Murray St Pyrmont. We currently have 25 seats booked for this lunch. The menu is 3 courses for $48 per head. Bring cash for your lunch and order and pay for your drinks separately. We will need final numbers by the next meeting. First in best dressed.
CLUSTER MUSTER - Mary Ann This is an opportunity to join another club in our local Probus Cluster group. Lane Cove Probus is organising a tour of the GPO on Friday 20 February at 11:45am.
They will meet at the Concierge Desk at the Fullerton Hotel for a midday tour. Cost: $20.00
Lunch: The Place, Fullerton Hotel to follow at your own cost.
Contact: Judi Gowing at 0419284262 or bgowing@bigpond.net.au
There are only a few places left, so be quick if you would like to join them.
Probus usual 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
PREFERRED METHOD OF PAYMENT FOR ALL PROBUS ACTIVITIES Probus bank account:
BSB 032-099
Acc number 000255375
Information in Description: name of the activity and your name.
DATES FOR THE DIARY: JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH
Tuesday 20 January, 9.15am Committee meeting, Northbridge Golf Club
Tuesday 20 January, 10.15am Probus general meeting,
Northbridge Golf Club
Tuesday 27 January, film,The Choral, Cremorne Orpheum, Details TBC. See p 1
Tuesday 3 February, 10.30am, Museum of Sydney, cnr Bridge & Phillip Sts, Sydney. See p.2
Tuesday 10 February lunch at Little Snail Pyrmont, 12 noon. See p.3
Tuesday 17 February, 9.15 Probus Committee, followed by 10.15 am Probus general meeting,
Northbridge Golf Club
Friday 20 February, tour of the GPO with Lane Cove Probus, 11.45 am, $20.00. See p.3, Cluster Muster.
Tuesday 3 March, Norman Lindsay Gallery Faulconbridge, then lunch at Nepean Rowers. 9am pickup, return at 5pm See p.2
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 - canapés 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 Brontë 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
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