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NEWS
Wednesday November 2, 2016
Gretta takes Probus ladies on trip around the world
COOMA NORTH PRESCHOOL
CONNECT - NURTURE - PLAY SUNDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2016 11AM - 2PM
The Taj Mahal, Mayan temples, Lake Baikal and the medina in Morocco are just a few of Gretta Seubert’s favourite places in the world. Having worked as a travel officer with SMEC and then for many years with Qantas, Gretta describes herself as a passionate traveller. Speaking at the Ladies Probus Club October meeting, Gretta spoke of her love of the surprises, the food and the people she discovers when travelling. When they first moved to the area, Gretta’s husband Dieter opened a hairdresser. Helping out as best she could in the salon, Gretta soon found it was not for her, particularly when she was told she was not sweeping correctly. So, securing a job as a travel officer with SMEC, it was a year later that Gretta began working for Qantas in the Hain Centre as an implant office for SMEC. After 10 years, Gretta says she was replaced by a 1800 number, and so moved to the Jolimont office in Canberra for the next 17 years. Gretta now works as a Mobile Travel Agent from her home in Cooma. At the Probus meeting, Gretta recalled many stories from her international adventures, including her first trip to Luang Prabang where she chose seats at the back of a Russian flight, only to find that was where live chooks and raw meet were stored in transit. Upon arriving, Gretta was the only tourist. She stayed in a motel where the generator would switch off at 7pm. Only two years ago, Gretta returned to Luang Prabang and could not recognise it. She went to stay at the same motel only to find that it had changed to a spectacular six-star establishment. In those early days she also visited ruby markets in Taunggyi while visiting Burma. Her driver refused to go with her, as the markets were considered very dangerous. Gretta took her travel companion and colleague, Bruce, along with her.
Gretta also recalled visiting Vietnam where Bruce insisted on eating only squid or cuttlefish. Out of frustration, Gretta insisted that he try some beef. However to their horror, they discovered what they were actually being served was dog. Needless to say, Bruce stuck to squid for the rest of the trip. Most of her trips were through standby travel, where you can often get left behind. In fact Gretta recalled one instance where they were in London with another couple and had to wait three days before they were able to get a flight to Singapore. However luckily for them, there were only four seats available and two of those were in first class. Needless to say, Gretta had quite an enjoyable journey on that instance. However there have been other journeys that have not been so enjoyable. Only a few years, Gretta and her friend Sue went on a river cruise on the Ganges. Everyone was violently ill and the boat ran aground three times. Once was at 4am, where they had to evacuate the boat to a little village, the residents of which had never seen white people. Many will have heard of Gretta’s daughter Anneliese Seubert, a famous fashion model. Once Anneliese began her career, it wasn’t long before she was living in Paris and New York, which provided Gretta with many more travel opportunities that were a little more luxurious in nature. Gretta concluded her presentation with a few of her favourite places, including Rome, Paris, St Petersburg, Shanghai, New York, Machu Picchu and South America. Next month’s meeting will host another fascinating guest speaker, Manager of Cooma Hospital Antje Badger. The meeting will be held on November 9 at the Cooma ExServices Club.
100 years working for peace and freedom
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Colour Me Grubby is an obstacle course, open to all children aged between 3 and 6 years.
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A fun event of obstacles, water, mud and colour.
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Register now and join us for some fun, friends and colourful muddy mess.
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Register your child by contacting Cooma North Preschool on 6452 1198 or email coomanthpreschool@bigpond.com
An exhibition of 20 beautifully produced posters will open at the Cooma Library at 10am on Saturday 5th November. In April 1915, 1400 women from most European countries and the United States met at the Hague in Holland to discuss how they could work to stop the war that was raging in Europe. They took their resolutions back to their heads of state. Today the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom has Sections in over 40 countries with offices at the United Nations, New York and Geneva. The Australian Section of WILPF was formed from
Cost: $20 Early Bird or $25 on the day Registration includes a Colour Me Grubby T-shirt, sausage sizzle and certificate of participation
two women’s peace organisations in Melbourne who were campaigning against conscription in 1916-1917 and led by notable peace activists such as Vida Goldstein. The ACT Branch of the Australian Section works for equal rights and pay for women, against militarism, peaceful resolution of conflict and in the areas of refugees and violence against women The Posters feature many reproductions of original photos and documents in the colourful collection over the 100 years and will continue until November 19th All are welcome. enquiries 64522773
COMING SOON...