Probus North Sydney

July 2026 newsletter 403

PROBUS CLUB OF NORTH SYDNEY

President's Report

 I hope you are all keeping well in this cold weather. Unfortunately I have been unable to attend any of our Probus activities in the past month, but I have received great feedback about the July lunch. Although very few people could make the walk, the weather was glorious and the scenery and wildlife beautiful. Thanks to Jocelyn and her team for organising the lunch, and to Lindsay for organising the walk. I am pleased to be able to tell you that I have been able to negotiate with Lusso Kitchen at Northbridge Golf Club to increase the number of lunch selections which can be preordered from 3 to 5. If you want the selection changed next month, I am happy to take suggestions. I look forward to seeing you all at next Tuesday’s meeting. 

Barabara B, President

Membership

 Membership is currently 58 members. Members who have completed the Probus Club Health Check survey, please return to Deon. Extra forms will be available at the upcoming meeting.

Deon C, Membership Officer

Speakers

This month our speaker is Charles Fellner, a retired IT professional. Charles will speak on something we should all be wary of nowadays - 'Scam Awareness’ …and AI is raising the need for even more awareness.” Ivan B, Speakers Organiser

 July Birthdays

Oriel T, Carol-Anne B, Denise B, 

august walk - botanic gardens/opera house The walk will be on 11 August. We will meet at The Calyx in the Botanic Gardens for coffee at 10:15am. Anyone who would like to look around the walled garden at The Calyx is welcome to do so - gold coin donation for entry. We will walk down through the gardens and out through the entrance at the Opera House. There is an option to walk around the base of the Opera House. We will have lunch at CityExtra in Circular Quay. This is an easy walk, all downhill or flat, which will take about 75 minutes. 

Mary W on behalf of Douglas I, Walks Organiser 

july movie 

This month’s movie on Tuesday 28 July at the Orpheum theatre, at a time to be advised is The Invite. A middle aged couple who are feeling stagnant in their relationship invite a younger couple from the apartment upstairs for a get together that takes an unexpected turn. The film stars Olivia Wilde and Penelope Cruz in what has been described as a funny intelligent comedy.

Peter W, Movies Organiser

july outing -  Our July Outing was a most successful banquet at Infuzions in Cammeray. Twenty-eight members attended and everyone enjoyed both the meal and the company. I think it is very likely this event will be repeated.

Jocelyn M, Outings Co-Organiser

august outing 4th August – Nan Tien Temple and Wollongong The required minimum number for this On Course Tour has now been reached. There may be room for perhaps 1-3 more if anyone still wants to come. The cost is $85 to be paid into the Probus Account with your name and the word “Temple” added to it. Pick up will be at 8.30 a.m. sharp from the Northbridge Golf Club so it will assist the organizers if we assemble at 8.15 am for a roll call prior to getting on the bus. We will be back around 5.00 pm. 

Jocelyn M, Outings Co-Organiser

september outing 

Enjoy a delightful morning of friendship, nature and discovery at the beautiful Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden. Explore native plants in flower, wildlife and bushfoods on an easy ranger-led walk along accessible paths. You will have time to wander on your own, buy plants, take photos, etc. before departing for lunch at the Terrey Hills Tavern 

Date: Tuesday 1st September Depart: 9:00am Northbridge Golf Club Travel: Community Connect bus Cost: $40 (includes bus, morning tea and tour of the garden) Join fellow members for lunch at the Terrey Hills Tavern (own expense) BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL Please pay the Probus Club of North Sydney by the August meeting. Reference: “Garden Outing”. BSB:  Account number: 

Enjoy a delightful morning of friendship, nature and discovery at the beautiful Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden. Explore native plants in flower, wildlife and bushfoods on an easy ranger-led walk along accessible paths. You will have time to wander on your own, buy plants, take photos, etc. before departing for lunch at the Terrey Hills Tavern Date: Tuesday 1st September Depart: 9:00am Northbridge Golf Club Travel: Community Connect bus Cost: $40 (includes bus, morning tea and tour of the garden) Join fellow members for lunch at the Terrey Hills Tavern (own expense) BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL Please pay the Probus Club of North Sydney by the August meeting. Reference: “Garden Outing”. BSB: 032-099 Account number: 000255375

member spotlight - Peter W

Editor’s Note: In this new section of the Probus Newsletter members are invited to share a short story about their life. The aim is simple: help us get to know each other better and to spark conversations. Here is Peter’s Story: 

I was born near Liverpool in the UK and lived at a place called Rainhill - famous for Stephenson’s Rocket winning a prize to transport passengers by rail between Liverpool and Manchester in 1829. I was just old enough to experience the Mersey sound with groups like the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers etc. making their mark and putting Liverpool on the map. An avid sportsman, I was signed up to play football for a semi professional team, Kirkby Town and captained their youth team which reached the first round of the FA Youth Cup. We lost to Wigan Athletic. I then moved south to Hertfordshire where I studied at Hatfield Polytechnic - gaining a Degree in Business Studies, majoring in Personnel Management. Then my career in PM, or Human Resources as it became, began with Eastern Gas where I initially specialised in job evaluation before moving into generalist HR. My love of sport continued with playing cricket at a senior level, captaining Broxbourne first team. A highlight of my cricket career at Broxbourne was my participation in a testimonial game for the famous English and Worcestershire cricketer Basil D’Oliveira. Additional participants included a young batsman Imran Khan, other Worcestershire players and all stars like Brian Clough, Leonard Whiting, Cliff Morgan. I decided to take time off from work to travel and arrived in Australia in 1980 on a year’s visa and loved it. Fortunately I managed to get sponsored and eventually became a citizen. I had met my wife, Francoise, initially in UK and after a few years apart, travelling, we got back together and married in 1982 in France but settled in Australia.  

Family life has been important with our two daughters, Jessica and Isabelle, and now our twin grand daughters. My HR professional career blossomed in Australia where I worked in the Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industries holding Senior Country and Regional Director roles in HR before retiring in 2020. I continued playing sports in Australia - premier league soccer for Mosman, grade cricket and squash. But my main sport is now golf.

Peter

 5th tuesday picnic & walk - report On Tuesday 30th June 12 Probians braved the cool & damp midwinter weather and met at the Lane Cove National Park. We commenced with a cuppa at the café and then proceeded to walk along the path by the river & various picnic spots. The path has

recently been refurbished & can easily accommodate motorised wheelchairs & electric bikes. The park is lovely & peaceful with towering gum trees, tree ferns, the meandering river & a variety of native bird life. Some members chose a bush track for the return journey. There are many other tracks to explore another time. We regrouped at the café for lunch, where the meals & service were very good. The rain held off & a very enjoyable day was had by all.

 Susan G, Picnics Co-Organiser

A story to tell - Ian S

Editor’s note: when Ian heard that it was proposed to include life stories which would be

of interest to Probus Club members, he responded with a story about his uncle Jack

Bowers. Although Jack’s book is a story about an epic motorcycle trip, it also paints a

picture of life for a boy growing up in Australia when life was very hard for many. Jack’s

father died young. Jack’s mother was left to bring up her 5 young children with little

outside help. Their poverty was extreme - living in a small makeshift hovel with barely

enough food, threadbare clothing - Jack was without shoes for his first 10 years of

childhood. Yet his indomitable spirit and a thirst for adventure led to a full and interesting life.

In 1929 my mother’s cousin Jack Bowers and his friend Frank Smith were the first to motorcycle around Australia, capital to capital. For this they were mentioned in the Australian Section of the Guinness Book of Records. They replaced the sidecar of their Harley Davidson with a stout wooden box to accommodate their gear and the relief driver. Not many roads were sealed; most were just gravel or dirt. Across the top end they followed stock routes and whatever tracks there were. In later life Jack Bowers wrote an account of their exploits called “Around Australia the Hard Way”. It was published by “Kangaroo Press” in 1995. 

our regular tuesday monthly schedule 

1st Tuesday outing 

2nd Tuesday walk 

3rd Tuesday committee meeting 9.15 am followed by general meeting 10.15 am 

4th Tuesday movie 

5th Tuesday picnic/lunch/other activity 

dates for the diary: june, july, august 

Tuesday 21 July, 9.15am Probus Committee meeting, followed by 

Tuesday 21 July, 10.15am Probus General meeting, Northbridge Golf Club 

Tuesday 28 July, Cremorne Orpheum, The Invite. Time to be announced. 

Tuesday 4 August 2026, Outing Nan Tien Temple and Wollongong. 

Tuesday 11 August 2026, Walk - Sydney Botanic Gardens 

Tuesday 18 August, 9.15am Probus Committee meeting, followed by 

Tuesday 18 August, 10.15am Probus General meeting, Northbridge Golf Club Thursday 

20th August @ 1:00pm Fiddler on the Roof. Theatre Royal Sydney. Tuesday 

31st August. Fifth Tuesday Picnic. Blackwell Park in Lane Cove with the Lane Cove Probus invited. Tuesday 1st Sept. Outing Kuring-gai Wildflower Garden. Bus departs Golf Club 9:00 am 

Thursday 1st October from 9:30am. Morning Tea. North Sydney Council have provided funding for the 6 Probus Clubs of the North Sydney LGA to hold a 50th Anniversary celebration at the Crows Nest Centre. There will be a nominal charge to attend. More details will be supplied closer to the date.