Probus North Sydney

 Newsletter 354                                     15 February 2022 

President’s report:   It is so good that we can meet again at our ‘home’ of Northbridge Golf Club and that we are heading towards some stability.  I am really sorry that Douglas and I can’t be there to celebrate with you.  We will be at my brother Eddie’s funeral in Brisbane. 

COVID unfortunately remains with us, and we will have to continue to exercise great care this year in the same manner as we did last year.  We 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. 

One of the lessons I have taken from last year is that cultural organisations such as Probus are critically important for social contact.  Thank you to all members who took the time to stay in touch.  To all the activity leaders you are each to be congratulated for wherever possible continuing to provide activities.  Well done.  Now that we have put 2021 behind us, I am very optimistic about the year ahead.  Once again we are looking forward to our regular walks, talks, outings and movie events. 

It’s coming around to that time of year again. . .the Annual General Meeting.  This will be held at our next meeting in March, and as always we are looking for new blood on the Committee.  New Committee members mean new ideas, so it is healthy to have a turnover.  There will be an Extraordinary General Meeting following today’s general meeting to cover the eventuality of not having a nomination for President.  My hope is that it will not be necessary and that somebody will step forward to nominate for that position.  We are also seeking a new Treasurer.  If you or somebody you know would like to contribute to the management of the Club, please nominate for this role. 

I read an interesting article recently about new words, phrases and acronyms that have been introduced into our vocabulary in 2021.  These include such as staycation: to holiday at home or in your own country; contactless; doomscrolling: becoming addicted to the news on social media and expecting it to be bad; PPE; WFH; vaxxed; super-spreader and many others associated with COVID-19.  We’ve also become so much more familiar with the Greek alphabet from Alpha to Omicron.  Let’s hope it doesn’t go all the way to Omega. 

Our speaker and topic today promise to be very interesting and it is good to know that there will be several guests in attendance. 

Please remember that this newsletter is for all members.  We would love to receive snippets of information, news, trivia, cartoons and jokes from our general membership.  

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 the 17th of March 2022.  The committee meetings are conducted in the Northbridge Golf Club at 9:15am on the same day.  Members are welcome to attend.   

Membership Report:  Our membership stands at 52 (34 women and 18 men).

Many Happy Returns of the Day for your February Birthday:  Joan H 04, Noreen B 25, Brenda O 26, and John G 29.

Guest speakers:  Today we welcome Julian Todd, who will talk about The Overland Telegraph Line.  Next month, at the AGM, Probus member Richard L is our speaker.

Probus Outings: 10am onwards, on Tuesday 22nd February at Pearl Beach.  Even though the danger of COVID is lessening, we have decided it is safer to go to the Sausage Sizzle at Pearl Beach by individual cars, instead of by bus.  If you cannot drive yourself, please email Noreen at noreenbyrne24@gmail.com or ring 0412 957 857, and we will work out alternative arrangements for you.

The house is very open-plan, breezy with verandahs, so you will be able to find spots to sit with good ventilation, although masks are recommended in cars and in the house until you are comfortable with the arrangements.

There is a donation of $10 towards the cost of tea and coffee, sausages and salads.  We would like an indication if you are coming, a couple of days beforehand, to assist with catering.  You may like to have a swim in the pool or in the ocean, or there are walks around the area.

The address is 42 Coral Crescent towards the northern end of Pearl Beach.  Please ring Noreen when you arrive for the easy way in, if you wish to avoid the front steps.

Probus Walkers:  Tuesday 8th March to Sir Joseph Banks Park, Botany.  This is an easy and interesting walk on the site of the first Australian Zoo, and now features many animal structures symbolizing this.  There is also a lake which is home for many water birds.  We will start with coffee at Botany, then continue down to the Park, past the old Sir Joseph Banks Hotel, walk around the lake and then across reclaimed land to a walkway out into Botany Bay.  After retracing our steps to the Park, we have lunch at the new Sir Joseph Banks Hotel.  Easy, approx. 4 klms.

MEET:  At 9:30am Redfern Station ticket barriers Giddon Street exit.  Catch bus 309 in Regent Street to Botany.

Events: Movie Day Tuesday 29th March.  As always, not quite sure which movie we will be seeing or the time!  This will be announced in the March newsletter once I am sure exactly which choice of movies we have showing on that date or the session time which is always announced at the last minute.  For now, please put the date in your diary.