The Victorian
Official newsletter of the Probus Association of Victoria Inc.A9835
February - March 2021 Vol 38 No 1
FREE
TO EVERY MEMBER OF ALL AFFILIATED
PROBUS CLUBS WITHIN VICTORIA
Changing of the guard The 2020 year was a strange one for Probians, with club members endeavouring to stick together the best they could while forced apart by the Covid-19 pandemic. The pages of this edition show the innovation of some of the clubs in overcoming this obstacle. The new 2021 year also brings a changing of the guard at the PAV, with Anne Vick taking over from Rennus Crossley as association president. Here Anne presents Rennus with a Certificate of Appreciation for her service.
Stay local! Balmoral is a community within a community. Enjoy safety, security, low maintenance, landscaped gardens with beautifully appointed apartments and villa units.
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45 years in Australia! TENS of thousands of active retirees can confirm the secret to maintaining a fulfilling lifestyle in retirement is to stay connected with like-minded people. From exciting adventures to casual outings, for more than four decades Probus Clubs have been offering retirees the opportunity to discover new interests with new friends. The first Probus Clubs in the South Pacific were formed in New Zealand’s Kapiti Coast in 1974 and in Hunters Hill, Australia in 1976. Since then, Probus has enriched the lives of thousands of retirees across both countries. Last year Kapiti Coast Probus Club celebrated their 46th year anniversary and on 3 February, Hunters Hill and District Probus Club reached its 45-year milestone. For 45 years, the members of Hunters Hill and District Probus have enjoyed a variety of activities, trips and outing and despite the pandemic, they have stayed socially connected either technologically or face-to-face in smaller groups. There are over 1650 Probus Clubs across Australia and New Zealand just like Hunters Hill and Kapiti Coast, providing fun, friendship and fellowship to over 120,000 older people, enjoying active social programs. As the last 12 months has demonstrated, social contact and connections are so important in today’s world. Clubs have maintained communication and support of their members and are actively encouraging retired or semi-retired people to consider joining Probus.
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2 The Victorian Probian
Mt Erebus from the Dreamliner window.
Docklands Probus team greets Antarctic A party of eight from Melbourne-based Bearbrass Probus saw in the New Year in spectacular fashion. They downed champagne as their Boeing 787 Dreamliner circled the smoking Mt Erebus crater in the Antarctic, brilliantly lit by the midnight sun. The party was organised and led by retired IT executive Mike ‘Spike’ Sparkes. Three other members of the one-yearold Bearbrass club booked in, plus two spouses and two friends. Despite the formidable expense of the Melbourne round trip from 5.30pm to 7.30am, they all say it was worth it. “We got four hours of low-level cruising along the iceberg-studded coast and into inland mountain ranges and white wilderness,” Spike says. The Dreamliner, piloted by veteran Qantas pilot Lisa Norman, operated almost like a light plane, following paths of massive glaciers and traversing valleys and mountain ranges in the vastness of the continent - twice the size of Australia. “As we circled the Erebus volcano, I was overawed by its size and beauty,” said Bearbrass secretary Sue Hoile. “It was completely covered in ice, yet pouring out steam and CO2. “The naked valleys of bare rocks were a landform standing out black and brown amid the whiteness. Those valleys have no ice or snow yet are surrounded by ice. The sea ice also comes in an amazing range of formations, each with its specific name and beauty. “We actually flew over a very small part of the immense mass. I have a greater understanding of the challenges faced by early explorers and the Australians now working at the research stations.” Spike Sparkes is himself a lightplane pilot and studied the Dreamliner’s elaborate flight plan. “I tried to join a summer expedition as a kid finishing uni but they only wanted experienced scientists or builders, drivers
Monday, 15 February, 2021
The eight person team line up before boarding their Antarctic flight.
Over the iceberg-strewn coast of Antarctica.
Bearbrass Secretary Sue Hoile.
and tradies,” he said. “No room for freshman engineers!
fulfilled my lifetime goal.” Bearbrass, now with 60 members, welcomes inquiries to bearbrassprobus@ gmail.com or website bearbrassprobus.org. “Bearbrass” was an early suggested name for Melbourne.
“Twenty years later, a friend joined a small group on a chartered sailing boat from Tierra del Fuego but I was too late to get a bed. So the New Year’s flight for me
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Wandering closer to home Ken Heaslip THE Probian Wanderers, like all those who wish to wander, have been in Lockdown. Our last successful event was at Marcus Hill (Geelong). Event No. 38 saw us based at Big4 Bellarine Holiday Park, located quite conveniently between Geelong, Queenscliffe, Portarlington and Ocean Grove. With only 44 members bumping elbows or toes, or simply exchanging a“G’day“, we faced the early stages of the Covid-19 disaster. The scenery was great, the shopping a race with the locals to secure a roll or two of toilet paper, some wipes, a bottle of sanitiser. Rather amusingly, the offspring of some couples were demanding/pleading that they return home to safety. One particular couple’s daughter, a trained nurse, demanded that they stay where they were, in the clean, open air! But, the interest in the Wanderers is still apparent, as we approach our 20th year of events. So to our 39th event in October last. Such was to be our first visit to Mansfield. Not so! The whole state in lockdown! This person had visited the venue on the way home from his usual Christmas hideaway at Jamieson. A lovely, picturesque holiday park within walking distance of C.B.D Mansfield, hosted by a private family. This ownership is reflected in very reasonable prices. So, from a democratic vote of one, we shall explore Mansfield and its environs in mid-October,2021. That brings us to a regenerated Event No. 39 in visiting Phillip Island in February, 2021. The Big4 Caravan Park is most
Inverloch. conveniently located just over the San Remo Bridge. This will be the Wanderers third visit to the Island, the first at this venue. And, as we well know, there is such a multitude of places of interest, sites to see, and beautiful seaward scenery abounds. Full details of venues, dates and booking information appear elsewhere in this magazine, and on the ProbVic website - www.probusvic.com.au. Updated information will be e-mailed to all clubs shortly. *Ken Heaslip is a member of Greensborough Probus and Wanderers coordinator.
Bellarine.
Cowes.
Life feels good 12479918-JW08-21
Safe, secure and full of the most wonderful people. Staff and residents alike, the people of Greenways Village are caring, supportive and lifelong friendships are ready for the making.
See it for yourself. Come visit, talk to the people who live here. We’re certain you’ll be making new friends in no time.
Monday, 15 February, 2021
The Victorian Probian 3
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2020 - what a year that was! WHAT a year, with Covid-19, making such a difference to our lives and I think one that we will all be glad when it is behind us. It was a challenge to be the President of the Probus Association of Victoria in 2020. It continues to be a pleasure to work with such a dedicated committee. We have all appreciated the support of Joan Vogels OAM over the year and appreciate the fact that she has offered to arrange the race days for us in 2021. I was particularly grateful that Rodney James stayed around and has kindly helped us through a change to our treasurer when Dale appeared to forget about us and we were just so thankful that Patricia Morecroft came to the rescue and has acted as our treasurer again for most of the year and will hand over our books to our new treasurer Lin Byron. Our secretary Jane Johnson has done an excellent efficient job attending to all queries and paperwork immediately and has even taken on organizing Zoom meetings for us. Hopefully the AGM on Zoom will go without a hitch but then if something goes wrong I am sure we will all do what is necessary to solve the problem even if the meeting has to be adjourned. Brenda Rose continues to be a most enthusiastic member of our committee ensuring that our guest speaker list is kept up to date on the website and that the speakers are described accurately. Valery Dawson is a valued part of our committee with her wise input into our
debates and ensuring that the dates printed in the Probian are correct. I am happy to report that we have a nomination for treasurer, vice president and an organizer of Friendship Days, which should mean that we will continue to have a vibrant committee providing for as much fun, friendship and fellowship as possible for all Victorian Probians. We will always be grateful for any Probian that has another idea for a friendship day anywhere in Victoria and can provide the necessary Probians to help run the day. Item 14 of our Constitution states: The income and property of the Association howsoever derived shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objectives of the Association and no portion thereof shall be paid to, or transferred directly or indirectly to, Member Clubs or voting delegates provided that nothing herein shall prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration to any member of the Committee, Member Club, or voting delegate for any services rendered to the Association, or reimbursement of expenses incurred on behalf of the Association. To me this means that the association can only provide sponsorship funds for events that are for the whole of the Victorian Probians. Maybe we need more of these events. Ernie Bingham continues to update and keep our probusvic.com.au website relevant. We are extremely thankful that PSPL is there to strongly support us.
There will not be reports from The Card Tournament or the Golf Tournament as they did not happen this year due to Covid-19. The Probian Wanderers still exist with Ken Heaslip still in charge and hopefully will find new exciting places to visit after we are through with the Covid-19 virus and for this we thank him. We are so thankful that Shirley Jones put together a very successful 500 Cards Tournament in 2019 and hopefully there will be one in 2021 and we will be able to continue to have a Card Tournament but we may have to wait and see if this is possible for 2021. The Golf Tournament has been an outstanding success over the years thanks to Kerry Fraser and his team and our sponsors, Trade Travel, Grand Pacific Tours, Ryman Health and Yamaha who have provided extra carts. For the Golf Tournament to continue we are grateful that Patrick Danaher has stepped up to run it and his home club will support it. We just have to wait and see if it will be possible to run in 2021. The Probian, produced by Star News Group, continued to keep us up to date with news from our clubs up until everything stopped. The printed edition returns in February/March 2021 edition. We must remember to take the photos of any events that we manage to have and get them along with the story of the event to the Probian as soon as possible so that they can be published in the next edition. Rodney James will be endeavouring to find businesses that will advertise in the
Covid-19 dominated the year Probian because advertising is needed to make the publication viable, giving us information about goods and services that are available to Probians. We need to support these advertisers as much as we are able. I am sure we are all hoping that Trade Travel will still be in business after the business of travel shut down for 2020. As soon as they get started again I am sure we will all want to support them as well as looking forward to travelling again as soon as it is safe to do so.
Rennus Crossley, PAV Past President.
PAV Commitee President: Anne Vick Email: president@probusvic.com.au
Vice President: Rod James Email: rodney.james2@icloud.com
Secretary: Jane Johnson Email: secretary@probusvic.com.au
Treasurer: Lin Byron Email: lbyron@netspace.net.au
The PAV committee’s Christmas catch-up at Shanikas in Carrum Downs, from left, secretary Jane Johnson, Theresa Robinson, Val Dawson, Pamela Morecroft, Rodney James, past president Rennus Crossley, new president Anne Vick and Joan Vogels.
Guest Speakers: Brenda Rose
Looking forward to bouncing back
Email: delrose4@bigpond.com
Friendship Days: Joan Vogels
The President
Email: joanandlouvogels@bigpond.com
Anne Vick
Golf Tournament Co-ordinator: Patrick Danaher Email: p_danaher@optusnet.com.au Phone: 0411 904 635
Webmaster: Ernie Brigham
Send contributed editorial material and Club Notes to Star News Group. PO Box 9, Pakenham 3810 or Email: probian@starnewsgroup.com.au 4 The Victorian Probian
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Email: webadmin@probusvic.com.au
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WOW what a year we have just experienced in 2020! I hope you have all enjoyed a great Christmas with family and friends and wish you all a prosperous New Year for 2021. With the New Year now upon us, let’s hope we can look forward to some normality from now on. In November we held our AGM via Zoom due to restrictions and this was most successful with many clubs joining in who wouldn’t necessarily come, due to travel distances.
With many favourable comments about Zoom, it was decided to carry on with Zoom meetings through our normal meetings, for those who wish to participate from afar. Details will be sent out prior to the meeting to be held at Mulgrave Country Club corner of Wellington and Jells roads, Wheelers Hill on 22 February 2021. The meeting will be held in the Panorama Room 9.45am for 10am start. A reminder to all club secretaries to fill out nomination forms. With the New Year upon us ,I look forward to joining all members at our functions and gatherings if all goes well and no repeats of Covid. Please book as early as possible so you won’t miss out.
Firstly, our race day is at Pakenham on 28 June 2021. This is always a highly successful day with many attending. Secondly, our golf day on 18 October 2021. Please register your names early, this proves another fun day. I urge all members to contribute to the Probian either by photos with small captions advertising your clubs or any other activities that the clubs have actively been participating in during lock down. Hopefully all clubs have been keeping in touch with their members. We love to hear about your different activities and it helps make the magazine more interesting for all of us!
Yours in Probus Friendship PAV President. Anne Vick.
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A golden day
Tilly
Bearing up well THERE was a lot of sadness and stress, but also some heartwarning stories to come out of 2020.
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Like Upper Ferntree Gully woman Tilly Esse, who created a Bear Hunt in her
local park to give the kids something to do. At one stage she had 139 bears planted around King’s Park. Well done Tilly.
COLLIN and Jenny Woodall, members of Traralgon Combined Probus celebrated their 50th wedding Anniversary last year. The couple met at Woodside Beach where Collin was surfing and Jenny stunned him with her pink bikini! They started dating and Collin would drive over from Woodside to Traralgon weekly. Two years later, on 4 April 1970, they were married in the Church of England in Yarram by Archdeacon Hipkin. Their reception was held upstairs at Wynn’s Cafe in Yarram. They lived with in-laws on the farm at Woodside and their daughter, Annette was born in Yarram. The couple share farmed (dairy) for Ernie Cook of Trafalgar, in Nar Nar Goon for three years. They also added to their family with the birth of their son Bradley. The family moved on to beef farming at Maryknoll where they stayed for two years. Later they moved to Maffra where they bought a house which they lived in for three years. The family then made a big move over to Western Australia where Collin worked with his sister and brother-in law, doing maintenance on state housing, Jenny worked at the South Hedland Tavern. They both enjoyed a busy social life and their hobbies included Collin racing at the local speedway and Jenny playing softball and both were avid cricket fans. The couple later moved back to Traralgon permanently, where, over the
Collin and Jenny Woodall. years, built several homes and for the past 11 years have happily lived in St George’s Road. Collin and Jenny, unfortunately, had to cancel their anniversary celebrations due to the virus. Their thoughtful daughter Annette gave them a lovely surprise by arriving at their home with lunch and dinner which they all enjoyed. The couple have four grandchildren who keep them on their toes. Traralgon Combined Probus congratulates them and wishes them many more years of happiness together.
Clean & Fresh
Visit Europe again. In Mornington.
With just the push of a button...
5 Days Autumn Beautiful Bright Thursday 29 April – Monday 3 May 2021 Come and join me on a stay put holiday, with many new attractions. Mount Buffalo Chalet – Milawa Gourmet Region – Red Stag Deer Farm. Bright Festival Gala Day!! Nightingale Alpine Apples Staying 4 Nights Riverbank Park Motel located in the heart of Bright Breakfasts - Evening meals – 4 lunches – Home pick up & return service Cost: $1,370.00 Per person twin share Single supp $300.00 (limited)
...this Bidet will clean you with warm wa water and then dry you with a gentle am of warm air. stream It simply mply replaces yourr existing toilet et seat.
NEW TOUR!! 5 Days Echuca – Moama Sunday 16 – Thursday 20 May Another stay put holiday, visiting many new places including Deniliquin. At one time Denilquin was the southern depot for the original Cob & Coach. We hear of the many rural industries, and history of the area. Barham & Koondrook on the Victoria /NSW is another place of interest we visit. Our return journey home takes us past Silo’s and enjoying lunch at the oldest National Trust listed Pub in Country Victoria. Includes all meals, Home pick up & return service Cost:$1,370.00 Single supp $270.00 PHONE: 0418 853 810 FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES AND MORE 2021 HOLIDAYS
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Enjoy a morning or afternoon tea and explore Beleura. Discover an historic family house that showcases a world of art, architecture and gardens – from its classical architecture and frescoes to a collection of French artworks. Visit www.beleura.org.au for our tours, teas and programs.
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03 9081 0789 12479934-SN08-21
Monday, 15 February, 2021
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Maroondah back on track COMBINED Probus Club of Maroondah members really enjoyed the walk before Christmas when the Covid restrictions were eased - it was a beautiful sunny day and there was much chatter and laughter! The Christmas lunch, without masks, was great fun also! Some of the club’s activities have recommenced, much to the delight of member - walking, golf, cycling and craft. The Cabins and Caravan trip is also occurring in March.
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6 The Victorian Probian
Monday, 15 February, 2021
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Member John Graham playing his electronic organ.
Member John Wicks giving his presentation on being a vet in England on Christmas Day.
Member Beth Graham reciting ‘The Yorkshire Messiah’.
Zooming into Christmas 2020 Colin Pask RINGWOOD Clocktower had an amazing Christmas Meeting via Zoom. The club had its first general meeting via Zoom in April during the Melbourne restrictions on large gatherings. Prior to the meeting, members were offered assistance with setting up their computers or tablets and many took up the offer. The club took out a 12 month licence for Zoom Pro which allows meetings to overcome the 40 minute limit of the Zoom Basic (free) version. Since June, each general meeting has had a guest speaker, always showing photos or PowerPoint to supplement their talk. The club had a challenge in how to provide an interesting Christmas Meeting via Zoom for members. A sub-committee put together an agenda for a 15 minute general meeting followed by 80 minute Special Christmas Meeting. To control all technical aspects of the meeting we had two hosts (main host
President Ginny Pask speaking with members Lyn and David Beeley. and a co-host). One host was responsible for spotlighting (crossing to individual members who were to talk) and the other host responsible for PowerPoint, Photos with music, Quicktime Movies and Youtube Movies In order to coordinate the meeting, the printed agenda had two columns on the left. The first for one host showing the 22 spotlight crosses and the second column for the other host showing the 15 crosses to PowerPoint, Photos, Quicktime and Youtube. Following the general meeting, which included vales for two members, the Christmas meeting chaired by President Ginny Pask kicked off with member Beth
President Ginny Pask opening the meeting.
Graham giving a very funny recital of ‘The Yorkshire Messiah.’ This was immediately followed by a recording of the actual Messiah, along with photos from past club Christmas meetings. We zoomed across to Santa’s helpers who drew out members’ names for 23 special prizes. Members Noelle Hutchinson, Ron Greer and John Wicks spoke about (respectively) Christmas in Chad, Christmas in Ireland and a Christmas Day as a vet in England. The meeting was interspersed with crossing to fabulous organ recitals from member John Graham who played, ‘The Entertainer’, ‘Jingle Bells’, and ‘Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer’.
During the meeting we crossed to four members’ homes to see what they were having for morning tea and to admire their Christmas attire. The President’s Special award was presented to John Martyn for outstanding service to the club. The meeting concluded with more photos of our past Christmases to the song ‘What a Wonderful World’ and then four kids singing and dancing ‘We Wish you a Merry Christmas’ courtesy YouTube. The Special Christmas meeting was 80 minutes of Friends, Fellowship and Fun for the 117 on line for the meeting… all thanks to Zoom.
MOUNT MITCHELL ESTATE EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF AN HISTORIC PYRENEES PROPERTY OF SIGNIFICANCE. ENJOY AN ENGAGING TOUR OF THE GARDENS AND GROUNDS OF THE ESTATE. THE HISTORY AND THE CURRENT STORY OF MOUNT MITCHELL WILL BE SHARED TO VISITORS. PLAN A FUNCTION FOR A CLUB, PRIVATE OR CORPORATE GROUP. CATERING CAN BE ARRANGED.
Please contact Kate 0400 899 075 kate@mtmitchell.com.au | www.mountmitchell.com.au Facebook - Mt Mitchell | Instagram – mtmitchellhomestead THE HOMESTEAD IS A PRIVATE RESIDENCE AND NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 12480325-SN08-21
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The Victorian Probian 7
We have a different way of doing things. Moving into RCA Villages • No deposit required, nothing to pay until the day you settle. • No contracts to sign until you have an unconditional sale on your house. • You pay for your villa on the day your house is settled.
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Leaving RCA Villages • Our deferred payment accrues gradually over ten years, not five years as some do. • We have a track record of prompt resales at strong prices. • The levy is payable for only three months after you leave.
For further information call 03 9988 6020 Or visit: rcavillages.com.au
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8 The Victorian Probian
Monday, 15 February, 2021
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The business of friendship THE word Probus stands for Professional Business. It originated in the UK in 1965, Australia 1976 and is now worldwide. It was originally intended only for senior professional retired men as a club where they could enjoy social activities with their peers. Now, however, it is open to both senior men and women with no restrictions. It has a huge following in almost every large Australian city or suburb. My name is Clyde Woods: I am a senior; I cared for my wife until she died some three years ago. I was devastated and was at a total loss as to what I would do with the rest of my life. A friend suggested I visit the Moorleigh Probus Club in East Bentleigh, very close to where I live. I went as a visitor with no real expectations. I was amazed; the minute I walked in the door I was greeted by a ‘visitors mentor’ and shown to a seat. I listened almost open mouthed as I heard about the forthcoming bus outings and lunches being planned for the members. I then heard a most interesting guest speaker talk about his bicycle trip around most of the world. I even won the meat tray (wonder if it was rigged). But what impressed me the most was during cuppa time, my mentor introduced
me to many of the members and I had a great time. I thought “this is for me”. I am now president of the Moorleigh Club and help with all the planning. I have a new purpose in life. During the recent isolation I was never lonely as I always had friends on the other end of the phone or computer. So if you are a senior and are interested in Friendship, Fellowship and Fun go visit your nearest Probus Club. Clyde Woods, President, Moorleigh Probus Club
North Balwyn’s first post-Covid catch-up MEMBERS of the North Balwyn Heights Probus Club enjoyed a Picnic in Beckett Park, Balwyn on Monday 18 January. It was the first time members had been able to meet since Covid restrictions were lifted. A beautiful sunny day presented
itself and 33 members enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with each other. A good time was had by all and agreement was made to meet again for another picnic. New members most welcome. For information please visit the club’s website.
“This place is amazing! The history it explains is great. The guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. Would thoroughly recommend it to anyone visiting Echuca!” - December 2020
The Port of Echuca Discovery Centre is now
free entry
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The Victorian Probian 9
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Finding the hidden treasures
From there on to the Bluff Lookout. Instead of the usual Silt Jetty Lookout, the group took a short walk on a track to the left to get a different perspective of the great views of the Mitchell River, Bluff Cliffs and the farms below. These views extend across the river flats and wetlands to Bairnsdale with the foothills and mountains beyond. Well worth the look but be cautious you don’t get too close to the unfenced cliff edge. Heading to Bairnsdale, and turning left at “dry weather only” Sudings Road, which takes off over the wetlands and emerges just below the museum. a sharp left below
the museum, through the saleyards, across the new bridge and up to join the east end of Bosworth Road. Turning left there and travelling for a short distance can be found an entrance to the little known Bairnsdale Recreation Park, that includes a dog walking oval, several walking tracks and parking with great views over McLeods Morass to Eagle Point Bluff. Now time for a picnic lunch at the Port of Bairnsdale on the Mitchell River followed by a surprise visit to Clifton Waters Retirement Village where they were granted access to a parkland area overlooking the Mitchell River backwater, with views across to the Eastwood housing estate.
At this viewing site is a monument to Rev Robert Martin who in 1893 purchased a 21 acre property called “Mizpah”. The property was later sold to St John’s Anglican Church, Bairnsdale, as a site for a village for the elderly, now known as Clifton Waters Retirement Village. The adventures were completed with coffee at the Eastwood shopping centre. The club’s second outing was a Wednesday “lunch@thelocal” where a group of 41 members and friends enjoyed a lunch at the Nicholson Hotel. It was great to be able to get back together and enjoy some fun and fellowship.
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WITH the relaxation of Covid-19 rules, Paynesville Probus Club has finally been able to conduct some enjoyable outings over the past few months. The first outing was the explorers group, where 22 members and friends took a Wednesday mystery tour of Paynesville, Eagle Point and Bairnsdale hidden treasures. Stop one was at Spoonville, Paynesville, where there is a growing community of decorated and dressed up spoons (mainly wooden), that can be found at the end of Fort King Road, near the jetty and to the left of the toilet block. From there the group travelled on the Paynesville/Bairnsdale Road, turning left to McTaggarts Road, at the end turning left in to Jones Road and continuing a short distance to its end. They took a short walk through open bushland to an area that has excellent views of the upper reaches of the Newlands Arm waterway. For the adventurous, you can continue along this track back to Paynesville, via Sunset Cove. Next stop was near Eagle Point jetty and the flora and fauna park. On entering the park, a short track off to the right leads to a hidden and currently dry lake, which at the moment is surrounded by brightly flowering pigface. The group then set up morning tea on the grass near the jetty, where they helped club member Judy O’Connor celebrate her 80th birthday with an outdoor rendition of happy birthday.
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Monday, 15 February, 2021
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Anne and Noel Bedford being presented with their 20 year membership certificates by club president, Lyn Coulter.
Lyn Coulter being presented with a Distinguished Service Certificate for the 2019-2020 presidency.
Paynesville moving ahead ON 28 October 2020, 48 members of the Probus Club of Paynesville attended a Virtual Zoom Meeting for the Club Annual General Meeting which was due to be held in March 2020 but was unable to be held because of the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the meeting the new committee was elected for the 2020-2021 as follows, President Lyn Coulter, Vice President Bill
Buckle, Secretary Rob Kimm, Treasurer Sonja Ottoway, Publicity Bruce Eacott, Outings Frances McGrath, Welfare Robyn Wirken, Attendance Sandra Wilson, Membership Maureen Turner, Guest Speakers Jim Basham, Newsletter Editor Julie Wylie and Tours Loraine Lloyd. Anne and Noel Bedford were “virtually“ presented with their 20-year membership certificates.
Anne has made a long and outstanding contribution to the success of the Paynesville Probus Club, is a life member and has held the many positions of Newsletter Editor, Vice President, President, Immediate Past President, Treasurer, Caravan Group Organiser and Assistant Treasurer, a position Anne still holds. Noel is a big enthusiast of Holden cars,
especially the Monaro as during his 34 years working for General Motors Holden, Noel had the privilege of naming the Holden Monaro. Anne and Noel enjoy the fellowship and friendship they have experienced during their 20 years of Paynesville Probus membership, leaving them with many happy memories and they hope to enjoy many more.
7HUULILF &OXE 'D\ 7ULS
7KH IULHQGO\ YROXQWHHU VWDII RI WKH VICTORIAN GOLDFIELDS RAILWAY PDNH VXUH \RX DQG \RXU FOXE KDYH D JUHDW GD\
6WHDP 7UDLQ OLQNLQJ &DVWOHPDLQH DQG 0DOGRQ Heritage Steam Train ride ƉůƵƐ visit Australia’s first ΗNotable Town.Η *Explore Maldon *Plenty of eating choices
YJU FRP DX Join us with a group booking on regular Sunday and d Wednesday d d trains OR get a few clubs together and charter your own train……
džĐƵƌƐŝŽŶ ůĂƐƐ osy compartments seating 6͕ Žƌ ǁŚĞĞůĐŚĂŝƌ friendly ƐĂůŽŽŶ ĐĂƌƌŝĂŐĞ͘
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Staying active through Covid WHEN the Covid pandemic caused many Probus activities to be curtailed, the Combined Probus Club of Syndal committee got together to see what actions could be undertaken to maintain contact with the club members who would otherwise be isolated. One of the first activities was Syds Ramblings, a weekly emailed newsletter edited and produced by an anonymous ‘Syd’ and his helper. This publication was comprised of comments and humorous musings relating to the Covid news of the time, with other news, jokes and cartoons forwarded by members to an email address set up for this purpose. After a trial committee meeting held in April, it was decided to hold all committee and general meetings over the internet using Zoom. These proved very popular and it was then determined that as many other activities as possible would be undertaken. These activities comprised: Tony’s Armchair Travels - a weekly one hour show on Zoom covering various countries and locations around the world. Each week, club member Tony would ask participants where they would like to travel for the following week and these suggestions would make up the content for the next week’s show. Garden group - this was mainly a monthly catch-up and chat for the usual participants although guest speakers were used later during the lockdown. Coffee and Chat - a monthly chat and catch-up for participants. Book Club - Every month a questionnaire would be circulated to participants by
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the group leader. These questions were answered and discussed at the next meeting over Zoom. Happy Hour - a chit chat over Zoom each week with our own nibbles and drinks. Melbourne Cup and Oaks Day high tea sessions were held at the appropriate times. Dress up and drinks as they wished. A Melbourne Cup sweep was organised, with horses allocated to all club members, at no cost, with all winners receiving a monetary prize. An AGM was held on Zoom in July three months later than normal - with the
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new committee installed. An annual Christmas party was also held, on Zoom, with approximately 80 participants. Some members hosted others for lunch and they enjoyed the entertainment on screen organised by life member Barry David, with assistance from Tony Wilson for the screen sharing of various YouTube highlights. A wine appreciation night was held on Zoom in mid-December as the lockdown period was ending. Hosts, Bob and Del, acquired the small bottles of four different wines, and beautifully packaged them
for each participant. The packages also included cheese, crackers, cherries and chocolates. Each wine was tasted and discussed over the Zoom linkup and the evening was a great success. Special thanks goes to Robert Renshaw for technical assistance in encouraging members to use Zoom which enabled the continuation of many club activities and involved the majority of club members also to Barry (Syd) David, for Syds Ramblings and his efforts in organising the Zoom Christmas party, and Tony Wilson for Tony’s Travels and assistance with the Christmas party.
Syndal catch-up THE Syndal Ladies Probus Club had one outing on 10 December when they took their own food, drink and chairs to Brickmakers Park in Oakleigh. Despite the fact that there was a little rain in the morning by 11 am, the time they had planned to meet, the rain had all gone, the sun was out and only a slight wind so the 12 members who actually went were able to form a small group and chat amongst themselves catching up on what they had all been doing at home.
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Trafalgar out of hibernation John Atwell I wrote an article in March last year that Probus had gone into hibernation, so it has been a long time between meetings to hold a successful meeting in January this year. Yes, it was a Covid compliant meeting and a bit of a different program and morning tea arrangements but at least we could get together and catch up as a group. Just as importantly, able to catch up on nine inductions, Covid style, that were made during our hibernation, as well as presentations to members who had passed milestones in their membership of Probus. We had over 50 members as well as 10 visitors attend this first meeting this year which was a great turn out! It looks like we will have some more new members soon. It’s great to be back and ready for more “Fun, Friendship and Fellowship.“ 20 YEARS MEMBERSHIP It was good to see Beverley and Otto Nielsen receive their 20 years membership awards from President Carol Achterdenbosch. They are great members and rarely miss a meeting. Well done! Our monthly walks have continued over the last part of the hibernation and this month is at the Botanical Gardens in Moe.
Beverley and Otto Nielsen received their 20 years membership awards.
The new members after their official induction by President Carol Achterdenbosch Wen and Bob Venables, Merv Moon, Kaye Moore and Pam Pinkerton, Pam Moore and Tom Pinkerton at back and Mick and Carol Bourke at front. Wayne Butterworth has done a great job keeping this going and it is well appreciated by those members who can participate and join in the physical activity and a cuppa and chat afterwards. We are not planning any trips at this
stage due to the difficulties with costs due to capacity restrictions however we do hope that this will ease soon and we can plan any trips into our local area. Now that we have re-started we are looking forward to a good year ahead!
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Enjoying a picnic in park COMBINED Probus Club of Tunstall held a picnic in the park at Antonio Park, Mitcham. This was the first official outing for the club since the lockdowns. On a beautiful day, the event was attended by 40 members.
Warrick Lee and Erich Olbrich enjoying a Christmas moment at Antonio Park, Mitcham for the Christmas picnic.
Back together again, finally AFTER over nine months of being Probus free, restrictions lifted just in time for the Blackburn South Ladies Probus Club to arrange a catch-up morning tea at Blackburn Lake where members could finally meet again and give Christmas greetings in person, from a safe distance of course! There was a great sense of camaraderie and, although far removed from the usual Christmas gathering with lunch and all the trimmings, it was most enjoyable. Even the traditional lucky draw for
poinsettias went ahead to everyone’s surprise and delight. The outdoor gathering proved so popular, members met again in January for a shared ‘cuppa’. The club is now swinging back into action, with meetings resuming in February and groups and activities commencing where possible. The ladies are now looking forward to High Tea at Beau Monde in Doncaster, where the friendship, fun and fellowship, possibly aided by a glass of champagne, will flow again.
President Bev Olbrich presents a Christmas hamper to winner, Val Glenn.
Fashion Revolutionary 20 March – 11 July 2021 Tickets on sale now – bendigoartgallery.com.au
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Friendship across the divide IT is hard to maintain friendships amid Covid restrictions, but members of the East Malvern Combined Probus Club did their best.
Committee meetings have gone online. Head-office announces Probus Day is 1 October 2020.
How to keep the friendship alive and well when you can no longer see faces or shake hands, no-one wrote a “how to “ guide.
What can we do, when no face to face meetings allowed? Get inventive. President has made a suggestion, the committee is consulted and a plan was put in place.
We all have had to be inventive. Sharing songs via emails - the secretary found his voice and perchance for writing ditties. Webmaster has turned newsletter editor and distributor of all contributions from members - friends.
The photos below show what happened. Probus items purchased and packages assembled, something for every member. Some were posted others were delivered by committee members.
The president packing.
The packages.
The handover of packages for delivery.
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The Bidet is a real Godsend Check out the eight, nine or twelve-day Adelaide, Kangaroo Island and Murray River packages.
Escape to stunning SA ESCAPE to stunning South Australia on a trip of a lifetime and discover its amazing food, wine, wildlife, history, and attractions on an eight, nine or twelve-day Adelaide, Kangaroo Island and Murray River package. Packages include three night’s accommodation at the Mercure Grosvenor Hotel in Adelaide, a full day Adelaide and Hahndorf tour, a 2 day/1-night Kangaroo Island Tour and a three, four- or sevennight Murray Princess Cruise on the Mighty Murray River. On the Ultimate Adelaide and Hahndorf tour, visit St Peter’s Cathedral, Adelaide’s cultural boulevard - North Terrace and its university, library, art gallery and museum, Adelaide Oval and Haigh’s Chocolates. View the city and coast from the Mount Lofty Summit Lookout and visit Beerenberg’s Farm Shop for jams, condiments, and sauces, followed by afternoon tea or beer tasting at the iconic Hahndorf Inn. Fall in love with the wildlife and landscapes on the 2 Day Ultimate Kangaroo Island Tour with overnight at the Aurora Ozone Hotel, Kingscote, breakfast and two-course lunches each day. Get up close and personal with the wildlife at the KI Wildlife Park, go on a guided beach walk amongst an Australian Sealion colony, marvel at the spectacular
Birds of Prey presentation at Raptor Domain and visit Clifford’s Honey Farm. Enjoy Gin tastings at Kangaroo Island Spirits, wine tasting at False Cape Wines Cellar Door and visit breathtaking Flinders Chase National Park to witness the spectacular regrowth after the bushfires. Then head to Mannum for a three, fouror seven-night Murray River cruise aboard
the largest paddle-wheeler in the southern Hemisphere, the PS Murray Princess. Visit historic river ports, enjoy guided nature walks, wine tastings, boat rides, delicious meals, lively quizzes, and live entertainment. For further information visit www. murrayprincess.com.au/cruise-packages or phone: 1300 729 938.
IF you are anything like me, life gets more and more complicated with each birthday. I refer to it as the “complications caused by aging”. I know that people all over and of all ages are faced with the same if not more complicated issues. But toileting for me became a hindrance. As I got older, I was hit with all the additional bathroom related issues: incontinence, UTI’s, haemorrhoids and constipation just to name a few… I am not as nimble as I used to be. I have arthritis in my wrist, elbow and knees and toileting became a hated moment in the day. One of my grandchildren told me once that an average person uses the toilet 6 to 10 times a day, I am well above the average, and the moments that came were dreaded. I was becoming pessimistic about life and my quality of living. The most simple of task and a natural process were painful and tiring, but I wasn’t ready to give up! I spoke to my doctor about assistive technologies and that’s how I found out about The Bidet Shop. They have a dedicated health care team that works with funding agencies and medical professionals. They arranged for the perfect bidet and accessories to meet my needs. Delivery, installation and funding were all a breeze. For me it was not only free but freeing, it has been my godsend. The bidet has assisted me with my daily toileting and I would recommend it to anyone with complications caused by ageing.
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Bristlebirds bouncing back RESEARCH in East Gippsland on the endangered Eastern Bristlebird has found the birds responded to the 2019-20 summer bushfires in an unexpected way. On a research trip into Howe Flat, east of Mallacoota, Dr Rohan Clarke from Monash University heard the bird’s distinctive call from burnt Lowland Forest and gully vegetation that was regenerating after the bushfires. DELWP team leader for the Eastern Bristlebird Recovery project Mick Bramwell said: “The species has always favoured nearby heathland and wetland scrub areas and has not previously been recorded in forested areas”. “The discovery of the birds in burnt forest is great news as it indicates they not only survived the bushfire but have also moved into new habitat including areas that had been burnt,” Mr Bramwell said. “A lot of grasses have grown up in the burnt forest areas making it suitable habitat for the species - we’ll continue observing them over the next 3-5 years to see if they remain in this forest area after the trees recover from the bushfire. “We are hoping that this discovery means Eastern Bristlebirds are more resilient to fires than initially thought.” The research team is taking DNA samples for testing and during the latest trip the team managed to take 16 samples. The new samples will be tested and compared to DNA samples from the 15 birds that were taken to Melbourne as an insurance measure to protect the species during the bushfires.
The Eastern Bristle Bird has been discovered in forested areas for the first time. The results from the initial 15 birds showed some in-breeding. The new DNA samples will help determine if the rest of the population has the same issues and if needed inform a plan to increase their genetic diversity. The Victorian population of Eastern Bristlebirds is confined to Howe Flat and is estimated to be around 120-160 in the wild. The research is part of the Victorian Government’s $51.5 million Bushfire
Pictures: DELWP
Biodiversity Response and Recovery program. The research team comprised a mix of
DELWP Natural Environment Program staff and researchers from Monash University and Wollongong University.
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news Star News Group writer and noted author PHIL JARRATT meets the lady who won everything...
They call her Mrs Lucky WHEN Susie Clark was a young girl, she won a television spelling bee in which the winner was to receive a huge ice cream cake, while all the other kids received much more modest ice cream bricks. But Susie had barely accepted her accolades from the studio audience when one of her rivals made off with the cake, leaving her with a second-rate brick. This dirty deed could have turned the young girl off entering competitions for life, but instead it had the opposite effect. She became a compulsive entrant, and an incredibly frequent winner. I didn’t win everything I entered,” says the Noosaville retiree who moved from Melbourne a few years ago, “but I won often enough to keep me interested.” Over more than half a century, Susie has won overseas holidays, cars, lounge suites, motor bikes, push bikes, fur coats, mixmasters and enough clothing to tog out a small army. At the start she would only enter a competition when the prize was something she really wanted, but over time she couldn’t walk into a suburban shopping centre and see the big barrels they used to have for promotional competition entries without racing home to fill out a few dozen forms, then put them in envelopes she would cover with intricate designs, or carefully fold them into unusual origamitype shapes. “If you fold your entry like everyone else, you haven’t got a hope,” she says. “And those envelopes - sometimes I’d spend up to four hours decorating each one.“ Mostly the competitions were games of pure chance, but Susie’s first big win came from a contest that required deduction. A hardware chain was offering a cruise to New Zealand on the luxurious Flotta Lauro and a Mini Minor for matching a long list of products in the correct order. A mathematician friend worked out that Susie would need to put in a few thousand different entries, but she cracked it with about 20, and had entered so many other competitions that she couldn’t remember which one she’d won when the telegram boy delivered the good news. She was a single mum with young kids when she threw about 100 entries in the barrel at the Westfield Shoppingtown in Doncaster, really, really hoping to win the prize of a trip to California and Hawaii so that she could take her eldest for his fifth birthday. On a warm summer evening she took
the kids down to the centre still in their bathers and watched as the organisers pulled one of her entries from the barrel. In addition to the trip of a lifetime for one adult and one child, she walked out with a Polaroid camera, a set of suitcases and $400 worth of clothes. Becoming a little bit famous now, she went on Ernie Sigley’s television show and won a fox fur coat. She recalls: “I wasn’t nervous at all. I think winning things gave me far more confidence than I have now!” Next she won a trip to the Treasure Island resort in Fiji at the Box Hill Plaza. It was for two adults and two children but they let her change it to three adults and she took her mum and dad. Her mother had been somewhat scathing about the time Susie “wasted” filling in contest entries, but she changed her tune now and joined in, soon winning two first class round-world airline tickets. For Susie a skiing holiday at Mount Buffalo followed, then another trip to New Zealand (been there, done that, gave it to the parents), a holiday on Phillip Island, travelling by helicopter (mum and dad), a Sunbeam MixMaster (which she adored), a dinner party for eight at a luxury downtown hotel, and so many more things she’s forgotten about. And then a trip to China and Hong Kong in a celebrity chef Elizabeth Chong promotion. Susie puts this win down to the fact that the Sydney Olympics were on at the same time so there weren’t many entries. These days most competitions are online, and Susie, now in her seventies, admits she’s not yet a computer person, although it’s on her to-do list. But she’s not sure she’d still have her lucky streak. She says: “People used to say I was born lucky, but it’s like anything else, you have to work at it, like with the design of the envelopes. But they don’t do it like that anymore. The problem now is that if they get your phone number or your email address they contact you trying to get you to buy things. That would drive me crazy. But, you know, if I ever see a barrel in a shopping centre again, I might be tempted.”
Pictured right: Susie Clark at home.
Come and be a part of 150 years of history Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine Take a guided tour through one of Victoria’s great gold mines, from which 13.7 tonnes was won.
N Museum N Blacksmith Shop Tour times: Mon to Fri 1:30pm only. Weekends and Holiday periods: 12 noon, 1:30pm and 3pm. Group tours available by arrangement.
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18 The Victorian Probian Monday, 15 February, 2021
The Long Tunnel Extended Mine caters particularly for Seniors groups. The entire tour is flat walking and is wheelchair or walking frame accessible. Tour groups move at the speed of the slowest member
For reservations and information Phone (03) 5165 6259 Email: tours@walhallaboard.org.au www.walhallaboard.org.au
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Over 50s Resort Living 12480523-NG08-21
Monday, 15 February, 2021 The Victorian Probian 19
recipes Dietitian Sharon Natoli shares her tips to keep snacking on track this year using Australian Eggs.
Supercharge your immunity IT’S more important than ever that we are fueling our bodies with the right nutrients to help us focus, keep our immune system healthy and our energy levels high. Many people are also still working from home, and while it’s become a familiar routine for most, easy access to a full fridge when the weather gets colder can sometimes mean snacking more frequently, and on food we wouldn’t choose when in our normal work routine. Australian Eggs has teamed up with Dietitian and Author Sharon Natoli, to share her tips on how to help manage your food intake and snacking through winter, including the snacks that can help supercharge your immune system.
· Eat regularly: When it comes to eating,
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it helps to stay in a regular routine. Plan to eat healthy snacks and meals around every 3-4 hours. Eating regularly helps manage hunger which in turn helps manage not only how much you eat, but the type of foods you choose. The hungrier you are, the more likely it is that you will eat more, eat quickly, and be less intentional about your choices. Choose foods to boost your immunity: In the current environment and with winter approaching, choose foods that are high in immunity boosting nutrients, like protein, iron, selenium, vitamin A and vitamin D. Boiled eggs are great to keep in the fridge as a handy, natural ‘protein ball’ and contain good amounts of these key nutrients so are a great inclusion as a healthy snack. Vitamin C is also key to a strong immune system so choose fruit and vegetables to snack on, like vitamin C-rich red capsicum, kiwi fruit, citrus like oranges, grapefruit and mandarins, guava and strawberries. Choose energy boosting snacks: A good way to get energy from your snacks is to combine foods that contain both carbohydrates, for the energy our brain needs to think, and protein or fibre, to have the energy last for longer. Foods that provide B vitamins, iron and magnesium are also great choices. Try chopped egg on wholegrain crackers, nuts and fruit together, or a savoury muffin (for
PIE MAKER EGG HACK: CARAMELISED ONION, TOMATO AND THYME TARTS Ingredients
· ½ cup pumpkin, roughly chopped in 1cm dices · ½ cup zucchini, roughly chopped in 1cm dices · ½ cup spring onions, sliced · 1 large handful baby spinach leaves · 1 cup skim milk · 2 eggs · A pinch pepper to taste · 2 cup wholemeal flour · 1 tsp baking powder · 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds · Low fat cream cheese, to serve
more ideas see the accompanying egg recipes). Plan ahead: Just as you might plan your meals, it’s also useful to plan your snacks. Write out a list of ideas that include both savoury and sweet options. Shop for these, or the ingredients you need to make them, and that way you will have choices readily available when you need them to satisfy your palate. Cultivate a curious palate: By sticking to the usual suspects that we eat day in and day out, we can get bored and disinterested. To build joy into food and eating, each week aim to try something new to snack on. This also helps expand your palate, opening a whole new world of food experiences. If you have children who are fussy eaters, it’s a great way to model behaviours that also encourage them to be curious about food and explore new flavours. Make it nourishing: A good question to ask yourself before you eat is ‘is this choice nourishing me?’. Make a decision to only eat foods that nourish you – whether that’s nourishing your body, mind or your soul. Create your own definition of what this means for you. Share your intentions: Accountability empowers action so share your snacking intentions with others in your household. Take snack breaks together and use the experience to create connection and conversation. Indulgence in smaller portions: Research shows there is a point of fatigue when it comes to the enjoyment of rich foods, for example, chocolate or cakes and biscuits. If we eat too much of these types of foods for example, there is a point where our experience turns from pleasurable to sickly and we stop enjoying them. To help prevent this, serve small portions of these types of foods. Once you have finished eating, tune in to how your body is feeling and ask yourself if you feel satisfied. If so, move on with the rest of your day. For more inspiration, visit https:// www.australianeggs.org.au/recipesand-cooking/
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Method 1. Preheat pie maker. Wait for the green READY light to go on. 2. Meanwhile, using a rolling pin, roll and flatten bread slices. Using a 10cm cutter, cut rounds from bread slices. 3. Whisk eggs and milk together in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. 4. Spray pie maker with oil. Press bread rounds into pie maker holes to create cases. Divide relish, tomatoes and half the thyme among bread cases. Carefully pour over egg mixture. Scatter with cheese. Close lid and cook for 8-10 minutes or until golden and set. 5. Remove from pie maker. Serve scattered with remaining thyme. Tip: Be careful not to drizzle any egg mixture under or on the outer sides of the bread case. It will cook quickly and may burn.
20 The Victorian Probian Monday, 15 February, 2021
EGG TOPPERS 4 WAYS Prep & cook: 10 mins Serves: 1 Ingredients ITALIAN:
· 1 poached egg · 2 teaspoons cashew pesto · 3 cherry tomatoes · Pinch basil leaves, shredded Pesto: · 1 bunch basil, leaves picked · ½ cup cashews · 1 cup olive oil · 1 teaspoon lemon zest · 1 tablespoon lemon juice · Sea Salt and black pepper INDONESIAN:
· 1 egg, fried · Cucumber, sliced · Zucchini, sliced and blanched · Bok choy, trimmed and blanched · Chilli flakes · Sea salt and black pepper Peanut satay: · ¼ cup smooth peanut butter · 2 tablespoons almond milk · 2 teaspoons lime juice · 1 ½ teaspoons fresh chilli, finely chopped Method ITALIAN: 1. To make pesto: blitz all ingredients in food processor until uniform. Store in airtight container in fridge for up to 1 week. 2. To serve: spread pesto over toast, top with poached eggs, cherry tomatoes and basil leaves. Season with sea salt and black pepper and serve. INDONESIAN: 1. To make peanut satay: place all ingredients in a small saucepan on low heat, whisk together over heat for about 5 minutes or until smooth. Place in airtight container in fridge for up to 2 weeks. Heat slightly before using. 2. To serve: place blanched zucchini slices and bok choy on toast with cucumber. Top with fried egg, drizzle with peanut satay to taste, sprinkle with chilli flakes and serve with fresh coriander if desired.
AUSSIE:
whisked and cooked to an omelette · 2oreggs, scrambled · 1 tablespoon olive oil · Broccolini · Large handful baby spinach · ¼ avocado · Fresh dill and parsley leaves · Sea salt and black pepper JAPANESE:
· 1 egg, soft or hard boiled as preferred shaved with a vegetable peeler · zucchini, into fine ribbons · 20g baby spinach · 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds · ¼ avocado, sliced · Sea salt and black pepper Miso butter: · 1 tablespoon (25g) butter · ½ teaspoon white miso paste
AUSSIE: 1. For the greens: add olive oil to a medium frypan, then saute broccolini and baby spinach for 3-4 minutes or until tender and wilted. Season with sea salt and black pepper. 2. To serve: place sauteed greens on toast, top with omelette or scrambled eggs, avocado and fresh herbs. Season with sea salt and black pepper and serve. JAPANESE: 1. To make the miso butter: melt the butter and whisk in miso until smooth. 2. To serve: saute zucchini and baby spinach in a small frypan, spread toast with miso butter then place veggies on top, followed by boiled egg and avocado. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds, season with sea salt and black pepper and serve.
Method 1. Preheat oven to 180 C and grease a square baking dish with olive oil or butter 2. Drain the corn kernels and set aside 3. Chop the broccoli into very fine florets; almost like a very chunky broccoli “rice”. Roughly chop the herbs 4. Mix together the corn, broccoli and herbs (plus the cheese if you are using it) and spread evenly into the baking dish 5. Whisk together the eggs, then whisk in the flour, milk and salt and pepper to taste 6. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the rest of the ingredients. Bake in the oven for approximately 35 minutes, or until the slice has set and the top is golden brown 7. Allow to cool slightly before slicing into pieces.
SWEETCORN AND BROCCOLI SLICE Prep & cool: 50 mins Serves: 8 Ingredients
· 8 eggs · 1/3 cup gluten free flour · 1/3 cup milk · 1 head broccoli · 1 x 400-420 grams can of corn kernels · 1 handful of fresh parsley or chives · Salt and pepper to taste · Olive oil or butter for greasing baking dish · ½ cup grated cheddar or mozzarella cheese (optional)
Note:
slice can be kept in the fridge for around · The 4 days don’t need to use gluten free flour if · You you don’t need the recipe to be gluten free.
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Simply use plain flour (white or wholemeal) instead For a dairy free slice, use a non-dairy milk and omit the cheese Instead of the fresh herbs, you can add some slice spring onion or some roughly chopped baby spinach
Recipe by Monique Cormack for Australian Eggs
WHOLEMEAL VEGETABLE AND PUMPKIN SEED MUFFINS Prep & cook: 40 mins Serves: 6 Ingredients
· ½ cup pumpkin, roughly chopped in 1cm dices · ½ cup zucchini, roughly chopped in 1cm dices · ½ cup spring onions, sliced · 1 large handful baby spinach leaves · 1 cup skim milk · 2 eggs · A pinch pepper to taste · 2 cup wholemeal flour · 1 tsp baking powder · 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds · Low fat cream cheese, to serve
Method 1. Preheat oven to 180c. 2. Place pumpkin into a microwave-safe bowl, cover with water and cook in the microwave for 3 minutes or until slightly softened. Drain and add zucchini, spring onions and spinach. 3. Lightly beat eggs and milk, pour over the vegetables and season. 4. Sift flour and baking powder over the top and stir until just combined. 5. Spoon mixture into baking paper lined, nonstick muffin trays, sprinkling with pumpkin seeds, and bake for 25 minutes or until done. 6. Top with low fat cream cheese to serve.
RASPBERRY ALMOND MUFFINS Prep & cook: 50 minutes Serves: 8 Ingredients
· 250g self-raising flour · 100g ground almonds · 150g caster sugar · ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda · 3 eggs · 300mL buttermilk · Zest of a lemon or orange vanilla bean, seeds scraped or 1 tsp of vanilla · 1extract · 100mL olive or other vegetable oil · 250g fresh or frozen raspberries, plus extra to top · Flaked almonds, to top Method 1. Preheat oven to 180C. Line a muffin tray with muffin liners and set aside. 2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, ground almonds, sugar and bicarbonate of soda. 3. In another bowl whisk together the eggs with the buttermilk, zest, vanilla and oil until smooth. 4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Gently stir in the raspberries and divide the batter amongst 8 muffin liners. 5. Top each muffin with 3 raspberries and a scattering of flaked almonds. 6. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted. 7. Allow to cool for a few minutes in the tin then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Recipe by Julia Busuttil for Australian Eggs
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Family’s escape to the country FOR the Tol Family, it was a classic case of escaping to the country. In 2015 the family purchased the historic property Mount Mitchell - and absolutely love it. Having lived in Geelong for the previous 25 years, they were keen to start a new chapter in their lives. They had successful occupations, wonderful social lives and a happy home, but were keen to have a new project. Finding Mount Mitchell was just amazing. The family had restored and renovated a number of homes in Geelong and loved the history of properties. After the inspection of Mount Mitchell, driving back to Geelong, they just knew they wanted to live there. “Every aspect of the property was just breathtaking”. The history of Mount Mitchell has been of interest to all family members. Obviously the property was named after the famous early Australian explorer Major Thomas Mitchell. In 1836 Mitchell’s lieutenant Granville Stapleton wrote the following of the district, which certainly would have appealed to squatters searching for new pasture. “Ascended a high forest hill and beheld a country beyond measure superb, a mixture of every terrestrial qualification desirable for the settler. To the eastward and north-east high green hills bare of timber and downs… I can scarcely credit my good fortune when the fact even presents itself to my view that such a vast portion of country which may be truly said to be unequalled in the world, should in this age of wonder have been left to your humble servant and the Surveyor General to discover”. In 1838 only three years after Batman and Faulkner sailed up the Yarra River and established the site of Melbourne, Mount Mitchell run was claimed by Henry Bowerman. Bowerman was a civil servant who had recently retired from his position of responsibility at the Moreton Bay Convict Settlement. He came overland with sheep, cattle and assigned convicts as servants, whom became shepherds and hut keepers on the property. The stock included forty eight rams from John McArthur’s, Elizabeth’s Farm flock. The original map of the run takes pride of place in the enclosed veranda of the homestead. The early drawing of the 20,800 acre property highlights the boundaries. Noted landmarks identified on the map include “Gum Tree marked with a W”, “Stoney Gully”, “Light Tree marked on four sides” etc. highlight the early squatter’s process to claim. A road on the map is labelled Geelong Road, not Ballarat as the drawing was completed prior to Ballarat’s establishment. In the spring of 1839 Bowerman sold his stock to the Learmonth brothers, who took over the run and the assigned convicts. Unfortunately on his return to Sydney, Bowerman drowned in a shipping accident. Tom Robertson in who had been previously employed by the Learmonth’s
S PIRIT T RAVEL & T OURS
in partnership with William Skene became the new owner of Mount Mitchell. Having to contend with aborigines, bushrangers and having to rely on their resourcefulness, the Mount Mitchell estate became selfsufficient. There was an earlier homestead built in around 1843 along the creek bed approximately a kilometre from the current homestead. It was constructed of wattle and daub, with a thatched roof. Very little evidence exists of this structure today. In 1861 Robertson employed a notable architect of the time Charles Webb, to design a significant home of distinction. Other prominent buildings in Melbourne designed by Webb include Tasma Terrace, the Windsor Hotel and the Melbourne Grammar School. If you look at the home from the front lawn, you can imagine how the 1861 home would have looked. Two windows either side of the entrance indicates the early façade, with the point tucked bluestone having been quarried on the property. An extension was added in 1910 to the left of the 1861 building, almost doubling the size of the residence. At this time renovations were undertaken in the earlier part of the house. Apparently a number of marble fireplaces were replaced by art deco tiled mantle pieces, plaster ceilings were covered by pressed metal and bathrooms were renovated. In 1926 Thomas Barratt Jnr. became the new owner of Mount Mitchell. In his time of ownership, a picturesque garden adorned the front lawn, pine trees were planted along the driveway and memorable parties and dances were hosted at the property.
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By 1936 when the Muller brothers purchased the property it had been reduced in size to 2,590 acres. Over the next fortyfive years the Muller brothers focussed on farming, producing super fine merino wool. Wonderful stories of their Silver Dawn Rolls Royce being used in the paddock to collect injured sheep, the storing of pumpkins on the dining room floor and sheep grazing in the homestead’s courtyard, have been passed down through the years. For a period of time the homestead was left neglected and was in a state of disrepair when it was purchased by Richard Salter in 1981. Richard Salter commenced extensive restoration of the homestead and garden re-establishment. He was passionate in the completion of the renovation. Some of the initiatives Salter undertook included converting gas light fittings to electricity, paving the courtyard with bluestone from the Newmarket Saleyards, planting the Cyprus hedges, avenues of elms and plane trees, creating the most amazing ornamental lake, kitchen gardens and orchard and restoring the various outbuildings including wonderful stables and a gorgeous bluestone cottage. His eye for interior and garden design, interest in history, vision and enthusiasm has resulted in pure perfection! The homestead and stables are now both listed with the National Trust and are on the Heritage Victoria Register. Since purchasing Mount Mitchell, the Tol Family have become very involved in community life, hosted many wonderful events, revamped garden spaces and
farmed the land. The 10 acres of impressive garden spaces include expansive lawns, established trees, significant hedging, a substantial kitchen garden, a large orchard and a beautiful formal rose garden. The property has been the setting for numerous spectacular events, including weddings, open garden weekends, club visits and other special occasions. Sharing the property with the public on these occasions has always been well received. A beautiful bluestone cottage on the estate is available for accommodation. Club visits include a tour of the estate by the current owner, informing guests of the wonderful history of the property and the stories of interest associated with the various owners of Mount Mitchell. Tour groups are shown through the extensive gardens and some of the historic outbuildings throughout their visit. The tour takes approximately one hour. Visitors have the option to stay on for either a morning/afternoon tea or a wonderful luncheon in the National Trust listed stables. As the homestead is a private residence it is not open to the public. Including nearby historic gardens and the wonderful Lambley Nursery could make for a beautiful day out. Email kate@mtmitchell.com.au Instagram mtmitchellhomestead Facebook Mt Mitchell www.mtmitchell.com.au
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Sundae Best. 226505
Mary Quant - a fashion icon “FASHION is not frivolous; it is part of being alive today,” Mary Quant. A major retrospective on revolutionary international fashion designer Dame Mary Quant will open at Bendigo Art Gallery on 20 March, 2021. The queen of the miniskirt, colourful tights and tailored trousers, Mary Quant personified the energy and fun of swinging 60s and was a powerful role model for working women - encouraging a new age of feminism. Always challenging conventions, Quant inspired young women to rebel against the traditional dress of their mothers and grandmothers, turning her tiny London boutique into a wholesale global brand, making fashion less exclusive and more accessible to a new generation. This brilliantly colourful exhibition comes direct from a sell-out season at London’s revered Victoria & Albert Museum, and explores the years between 1955 and 1975, when Quant revolutionised the high street, harnessing the youthful spirit of the sixties and new mass production techniques to create a modern new look for women. Drawn from Mary Quant’s own archive as well as the V&A’s extensive fashion holdings, which include the largest public collection of Quant garments in the world, the exhibition brings together over 110 garments as well as accessories, cosmetics, sketches and photographs. Many of the star objects featured in the exhibition come directly from a public call-out by the V&A to find rare garments and collect personal stories from the real women who wore Quant clothes. The results of the WeWantQuant social media campaign, which received over 800 responses, demonstrates the scale of Quant’s impact on fashion and her vital role in pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable for women to wear. Bendigo Art Gallery Director Jessica Bridgfoot said she was delighted to present this exhibition in Bendigo. “Mary Quant is an icon whose fashion business emerged as a response to gloomy Post War Britain and it comes to us at a time when we could all also use a lift.” “As a designer, she transformed the
Mary Quant - Fashion Revolutionary.
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way young women dressed - moving away from the dominant and often restricting silhouettes prescribed by Parisian couturiers, to comfortable, affordable, and sassy mix and match designs.” “The Butterick sewing patterns, Quant cosmetic line and the Ginger Group collection were hugely popular here in Australia, and many of a certain age will also remember Dolly magazine’s long running Mary Quant Cover girl contest - always a big moment for Australian teenagers,” she said. The exhibition begins in post-war London, when Quant first opened her experimental shop Bazaar on Chelsea’s King’s Road in 1955, a time when her designs, often based on schoolgirl pinafores or masculine tailoring, brought an entertaining new slant to fashion editors and newspaper journalists in the burgeoning media of the day.
Ahead of her time in marketing and promotion, Quant was the embodiment of her label. Her distinctive, photogenic style, playful energy and revolutionary approach made her the ultimate ambassador for the brand. The exhibition explores some of Quant’s most memorable moments, from collecting her OBE to the evolution of her rising hemlines with miniskirts. It looks at her collaborations with manufacturers, where she diversified into underwear, hosiery and cosmetics, all packaged with her distinctive daisy logo, and explores her own line of dolls, known as Daisy Dolls, a rival to Barbie. Mary Quant is part of a series of revelatory fashion exhibitions created by the V&A which also included the critically acclaimed Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion, and Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear - which were also presented at Bendigo Art Gallery.
“This is a vibrant, energizing exhibition and was the most popular exhibitions ever to be staged in the V&A’s Fashion Gallery, so we are thrilled to be able to bring it to Bendigo and continue our successful ongoing relationship with this revered international museum,” Bridgfoot said. Mary Quant: Fashion Revolutionary 20 March - 11 July, 2021 About the V&A The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance, with collections unrivalled in their scope and diversity. It was established to make works of art available to all and to inspire British designers and manufacturers. Today, the V&A’s collections, which span over 5000 years of human creativity in virtually every medium and from many parts of the world, continue to intrigue, inspire and inform. vam.ac.uk
Monday, 15 February, 2021 The Victorian Probian 23
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Rob’s whirlwind life at sea From pirates, fires, hurricanes and ships sinking - to friendships and priceless experiences, retired ship captain Rob Anderson collated some of his best and worst memories onboard to write a novel. He has encountered a whirlwind of experiences over his lifetime, as JESSICA ANSTICE discovered. ENCOUNTERS with pirates, hurricanes and sinking ships were all part of the job for Rob Anderson - as were long hours and hard work. The retired ship captain moved to Nar Nar Goon North in 1980 to escape the growing suburbs of Melbourne, as well as the sea. After working his whole life at sea, the last 40 years as a Ships Master, Rob believes he is now just an ordinary person in the street - no different to anyone else. “I may have seen a bit more of the world and had a few different experiences, but I’ve worked my way through life the same as everyone else does. Snakes and ladders - just the same,” he said. “I guess the only difference is that I can jump on any ship (ships - not boats), any size, any flag, anywhere in the world, turn the key and drive away.” Rob was just 15-years-old when he first went to sea on a British flag cargo ship as a ‘deck boy’ - the lowest form of marine growth. Having never been further from home than Philip Island, he said it was a big adventure. “Especially in the days before sat-comm, cell-phones, and the internet,” he added. “It was pretty tough at times, sometimes brutal, but always interesting.” Progressively working his way through the Certificates of Competency as Third Mate, Second Mate, and Chief Mate, Mr Anderson gained his ‘Master of Foreign Going Ship Class 1’ before landing himself a job as Ship Master at age 29. From there, he was Master of many ships of all shapes, sizes, trades, tasks, and flags in all parts of the world. “All ‘blue water’ deep sea seafarers don’t really have a ‘love’ of the sea; they never use expressions such as ‘salt in the blood’, for example,” he said. “They have a love for the job and the way of life, but not for the sea itself. “Why would you love something that has the capability to smash and kill you in an instant, or send you broke? I have more love for my motorcycles than the sea.” Rob was a Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef marine pilot for 12 years, taking the big ships up and down the inner reef passages. He was also the marine operations
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Nar Nar Goon North man Rob Anderson recently retired after spending most of his life at sea as a ship captain. manager for the two biggest offshore operators at the time, and worked four years as harbour master for Gippsland Ports which covers the coast from Mallacoota around the Prom to Inverloch, including the biggest waterway in Australia the Gippsland Lakes. “Ships are very expensive and complicated pieces of machinery operating in a very sensitive environment while performing a myriad of essential tasks that most people take for granted,” he explained. “No ships - no containers - no export no fuel. If ships stop, the country stops. “The demands are high and the risks are great. A moments lack of attention by a Mate on the Bridge can result in catastrophic damage and pollution.” According to Rob, a big container ship can carry 18,000 containers - 9000 truck loads in one load, and it can also have about 15 million litres of fuel onboard. Like many industries, over time he has seen many changes and faced many challenges. “Ships crew numbers have greatly reduced over the years and when I first went to sea a cargo ship would have a crew of 40; now a giant container ship would have only a total 18 men and women onboard,” he said. “New ships may now be more highly automated but the workloads and responsibilities for the Master, officers and crew are higher than ever before.” During his time at Gippsland Ports, Rob started teaching at a maritime TAFE college in Lakes Entrance, helping more than 300 seafarers gain their Master 4 tickets. Following that, he went back to sea with the addition qualification as an ‘Unlimited Dynamic Position’ Master driving the very sophisticated and specialised shops that self position themselves using computer thrusters.
24 The Victorian Probian Monday, 15 February, 2021
The retired ship captain moved to Nar Nar Goon North in 1980 to escape the growing suburbs of Melbourne, as well as the sea.
Why would you love something that has the capability to smash and kill you in an instant, or send you broke? I have more love for my motorcycles than the sea.” With countless experiences and moments to remember, Rob says there are just too many to mention. “But like a lot of other Australian professional seafarers I have volunteered some of my time over the years to drive ships for Sea Shepherd; as and when it suits me and dependant on the task,” he said. “Illegal whaling operations in Australian Territorial waters is top of the list. “I was told that once you look directly
into the eye of a whale - you change. I did, and it’s true.” Rob was also faced with many traumatic experiences, such as sinkings, fires, hurricanes, typhoons and pirates. He even witnessed two oil rings sink while he was towing them. “I’m also a private pilot and a few years ago my beautiful Cessna 172 had an engine failure on take-off from Mackay and I ended up in the sea,” he recalled.
feature
After working his whole life at sea, the last 40 years as a Ships Master, Rob Anderson believes he is now just an ordinary person in the street - no different to anyone else. Pictured is Mr Anderson at sea with a colt in his pocket for the West Africa pirates.
Rob Anderson’s bridge on his first ship.
A long time in the making, When the Ship Hits the Fan was released in July. After a lifetime at sea, Rob was made to retire when he slipped and fell down an external stairway in heavy seas, resulting in an injured knee and hip. “It meant I was unable to pass the strict medical examination and renew my licences,” he said. “I walked down the gangway for the last time with at least seven Masters tickets including Australia, UK, Panama, Singapore, Monrovia, Bahamas, Norwegian, and a VicRoads Recreational Boating license. “Time to hang up the sea-boots - but at 70, I’d had enough anyway!” After retiring, Rob began writing a book to reflect on his experiences at sea - the good, the bad, and the ugly. He said he didn’t decide to write a book, the book decided for him. “Like all seafarers of my generation reading books was an important part of life at sea,” he said.
“No TV nor internet, and long sea voyages meant that books and reading were the only way to pass the time. “An endless supply of tax exempt grog helped a bit too! Later on I started to make notes of things that had happened to me and stories that I heard which evolved into a random collection.” His neighbour, friend and very talented and prolific author and illustrated, Alison Lester, eventually convinced him to put his random notes together and present them to an unsuspecting publisher she knew. The publisher took a chance, and the team at Affirm Press moulded Rob’s words into shape, and his book ‘When the Ship hits the Fan’ was born. The book is about anything and everything that came to Rob’s mind. “Most people wouldn’t know that working ships don’t carry a doctor nor medic,” he said. “The Master is the ‘doctor’ and regularly
Rob Anderson’s bridge on his last ship. does special training at hospitals; lectures by day and many nights in casualty and also time in the morgue, and a lot of my stories are about some of these things.” A long time in the making, When the Ship Hits the Fan was released last year. “For me, it has been quite an experience - more so than I ever would have imagined,” he said. “Sometimes it struck me pretty hard and writing was difficult, especially thinking back to my earlier childhood. Other times I couldn’t stop laughing. Some pretty weird things have happened along the way! “But the biggest surprise of all for me was the huge amount of work by so many people ‘behind the scenes’ to turn a memory stick full of words into a book. I am humbled by their efforts and support. Not only are these people hardworking and experienced, they are dedicated - they believe in books.”
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TIM PER ES YEAR
ALEXANDRA - ALEXANDRA LADIES - ALTONA - ALTONA LADIES ALTONA NORTH - ANDERSONS INLET - ARARAT LADIES - ARARAT ASHBURTON - AUBURN COMBINED - AVONDALE HEIGHTS COMBINED - BACCHUS MARSH LADIES -BAIRNSDALE - BALLARAT BEGONIA CITY COMBINED - BALLARAT CENTRAL - BALLARAT LADIES - BALLARAT EUREKA BALLARAT GOLDFIELDS - BALLARAT, NEW GENERATION - BALLARAT NORTH - BALLARAT SOUTH - BALLARAT WEST - BALNARRING LADIES - BALWYN CENTRAL - BANNOCKBURN - BANYULE COMBINED - BAR-ROOK - BARWON VALLEY - BELMONT COMBINED - BAYSIDE - BEACONSFIELD COMBINED - BEAUFORT COMBINED - BEAUMARIS - BELGRAVE - BELLARINE LADIES - BELMONT - BELMONT CENTRAL COMBINED - BELMONT COMBINED - BELMONT SOUTH COMBINED- BENALLA ROSE - BENDIGO - BENDIGO LADIES - BENTLEIGH - BENTLEIGH EAST - BERWICK CENTRAL - BITTERN COMBINED - BLACKBURN BELLBIRD COMBINED - BLACKBURN CENTRAL - BLACKBURN LAKE LADIES - BLACKBURN SOUTH INALA - BLACKBURN SOUTH LADIES - BLACKBURN SOUTH COMBINED - BOORT & DISTRICT BRIGHTON - BRIGHTON BEACH - BRIGHTON CENTRAL COMBINED - BRIGHTON MIDDLE - BULLEEN HEIGHTS - BUNYIP - GARFIELD - BURWOOD COMBINED - BURWOOD EAST - BROADFORD - CARRUM DOWNS - CASEY COMBINED - CAMPERDOWN COMBINED - CERBERUS COMBINED - CHARLTON - CHATHAM - CHELSEA - CHELTENHAM LADIES - CHISHOLM COMBINED - CLUNES - COBDEN COBRAM BAROOGA - COHUNA - COLAC - COLAC OTWAY - COAL CREEK COMBINED - COLERAINE - CORINELLA - COWES COMBINED - CRAIGIEBURN - CRANBOURNE LADIES - CRESWICK - CROYDON PARK - DANDENONG LADIES - DAYLESFORD - DEER PARK COMBINED - DINGLEY CENTRAL DINGLEY VILLAGE - DONCASTER CENTRAL - DONCASTER DONVALE - DONCASTER MAIN ROAD - DONALD - DONVALE CENTRAL - DONVALE HILL - DONVALE TUNSTALL - DONVIEW HEIGHTS - DOREEN - DROMANA BAY COMBINED - DROMANA VALLEY - DROUIN - DROUIN HILLS - DRYSDALE LADIES - DUNOLLY & DISTRICT - EAGLEHAWK COMBINED - EAST MALVERN COMBINED - ECHUCA MOAMA & DISTRICTS - ECHUCA MOAMA - TWIN RIVERS - EDITHVALE - ELTHAM COMBINED EMERALD LADIES - ENDEAVOUR HILLS - ESSENDON CENTRAL - EUROA - FAWKNER MERLYNSTON - FLINDERS - FOOTSCRAY - FOSTER & DISTRICT - FRANKSTON LADIES - GEELONG EAST COMBINED - GEELONG CENTRAL - GISBORNE - GLADSTONE PARK COMBINED - GLEN EIRA COMBINED GLENFERRIE - GLENROY - GLENROY LADIES - GLEN WAVERLEY LADIES - GLEN WAVERLEY - GOLDEN SQUARE - GOLDEN CITY BALLARAT COMBINED - GREEN HILLS COMBINED - GREENSBOROUGH - GREENWOOD - GRIMSHAW - GROVEDALE - GROVEDALE EAST LADIES - HAMILTON LADIES HAMILTON MEN - HAMLYN HEIGHTS - HASTINGS - HAWTHORN GLEN COMBINED - HEALESVILLE LADIES - HEALESVILLE MEN - HEATHMONT LADIES - LADIES - HIGHTON - HOPETOUN COMBINED - HOPPERS CROSSING LADIES - HOPPERS CROSSING MEN - HORSHAM COMBINED - HORSHAM EAST LADIES - IRYMPIE LADIES - INVERLOCH - JACKSON’S CREEK COMBINED - KANGAROO FLAT KANIVA - KARDINIA COMBINED - KYABRAM - KEILOR EAST - KEILOR - KERANG - KEW - KERRIMUIR - KEYSBOROUGH - KILMORE DISTRICTS - KINGSBURY - KINGSTON HEATH LADIES - KNOX COMINED KNOXFIELD LADIES - KORUMBURRA - KYNETON - LAKE COLAC - LAKES ENTRANCE CUNNINGHAME LANGWARRIN LADIES - LATROBE LADIES - LATROBE LADIES TRARALGON - LAVERTON - LEONGATHA - LEOPOLD - LEOPOLD GATEWAY - LILYDALE LADIES - MAFFRA LADIES - MAFFRA MEN - MAFFRA - MALING COMBINED - MANNINGHAM COMBINED - MARYBOROUGH - MARYBOROUGH LADIES MARYVALE - MAROONDAH COMBINED - MELBOURNE BEARBRASS - MELBOURNE NORTH - MELTON MEN - MELTON VALLEY LADIES - MENTONE - MERNDA COMBINED - MINYIP COMBINED - MITCHAM NUNAWADING - MITCHELL RIVER (BAIRNSDALE) - MOE - MONASH COMBINED - MONASH CENTRAL COMBINED - MONT ALBERT COMBINED - MONBULK COMBINED - MONTMORENCY PETRIE PARK MONTROSE & DISTRICT - MOONEE VALLEY CITY LADIES - MOORLEIGH COMBINED - MOOROOLBARK COMBINED - MOOROOPNA - MT. ELIZA VILLAGE LADIES - MT. ELIZA CENTRAL - MT.MARTHA MENS - MOUNT MARTHA LADIES - MOUNT MARTHA VALLEY - MT. MARTHA VILLAGE LADIES - MOUNT WAVERLEY COMBINED - MOUNT WAVERLEY MEN - MURTOA COMBINED - NARRE WARREN COMBINED - NEWBOROUGH - NEWCOMB COMBINED - NHILL - NILLUMBIK - NOBLE PARK COMBINED - NORTH BALWYN COMBINED - NORTH BALWYN HEIGHTS - NOTTING HILL COMBINED - NUMURKAH LADIES - OAKLEIGH LADIES - OCEAN GROVE - OCEAN GROVE ON BARWON - OCEAN GROVE SURFSIDE OLINDA - ORBOST - OSBORNE LADIES - PAKENHAM - PAKENHAM CENTRAL - PAKENHAM EAST - PARKTONE - PASCOE VALE - PATTERSON LAKES COMBINED - PAYNESVILLE - PHILLIP ISLAND PINEWOOD - POINT LONSDALE - PORTLAND - PORTARLINGTON BAYVIEW - PORTLAND BAY LADIES - PORTLAND HARBOUR COMBINED- PORT MELBOURNE - PRESTON - QUEENSCLIFF - RAPUNYUP - RED CLIFFS - RESERVOIR COMBINED - RICKETTS POINT - RINGWOOD CLOCKTOWER - RINGWOOD EAST LADIES - ROCHESTER - ROMSEY LANCEFIELD - ROSANNA LADIES - ROSEBUD - ROWVILLE LYSTERFIELD - RYE LADIES - SAFETY BEACH - SANCTUARY LAKES POINT COOK - SANDBELT LADIES - SANDOWN COMBINED - SAN REMO - SANDY BAY COMBINED - SEAFORD - SEAHOLME - SEVILLE COMBINED - SEYMOUR - SHEPPARTON CENTRAL COMBINED - SOMERVILLE - SORRENTO - SOUTH MORANG - SOUTHERN PENINSULA - SPRING GULLY COMBINED - STAWELL GOLD REEF LADIES - ST.ARNAUD - ST. ARNAUD KARA KARA - ST.LEONARDS - ST.HELENA - ST.KILDA -STRATHDALE - STRATHFIELDSAYE - STRATHMORE COMBINED - STUDFIELD WANTIRNA COMBINED - SUNBURY COMBINED - SUNBURY - SURREY HILLS MENS - SWAN BAY LADIES - SWAN HILL - SYNDAL LADIES - SYNDAL COMBINED - TATURA - TAYLORS LAKES - TEMPLESTOWE CENTRAL COMB. - TIMBOON & DISTRICT - TOORAK MEN - TORQUAY LADIES - TORQUAY ZEALLY BAY COMBINED - TRAFALGAR & DISTRICT - TRARALGON COMBINED - TRARALGON LADIES - TRARALGON - TRARALGON MEN TUNSTALL COMBINED - UPPER YARRA - VERMONT SOUTH - WANTIRNA HEIGHTS - WARRACKNABEAL LADIES - WARRAGUL BAW BAW - WARRAGUL RANGES - WARRAGUL TARAGO - WARRINGAL HEIDELBERG - WANTIRNA SOUTH COMBINE - WATSONIA - WAURN PONDS - WAVERLEY - WAVERLEY CENTRAL LADIES - WAVERLEY GARDENS - WAVERLEY LADIES - WERRIBEE - WHEELERS HILL WHEELERS HILL COMBINED - WHEELERS HILL LADIES - WHITE HILLS - WHITEHORSE COMBINED - WHITTLESEA - WILLIAMSTOWN - WILLIAMSTOWN LADIES - WILLIAMSTOWN PORT GELLIBRAND WINCHELSEA - WONTHAGGI & DISTRICT - WOODEND & DISTRICT. - WOODLANDS, SUNBURY LADIES - WOORAYL - WYCHEPROOF - WYNDHAM COMBINED - WYNDHAM LADIES - YARRAM - YEA
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The balloons even made their way into hospital rooms.
A club sticking LEONGATHA Probus Club has been unable to hold a general meeting since March 2020, but our committee worked hard to keep our 104 members connected. The first thing the club set up was a phone tree, where each member was phoned a few times each month to keep in touch. The club established a Boredom Buster Booth at a member’s front verandah where books, DVDs, jigsaw puzzles, knitting yarn, and magazines were left for others to share and swap without making contact. The knit and natter group could not meet either, but that didn’t stop our ladies from knitting up a storm, with member Lia joining together all the knitted squares to produce 24 rugs over the eight months of lockdown. A Facebook group was started for those who have the internet. The club’s newsletter editor emailed members every week with jokes, videoclips, and items of
fun or interest, plus the usual Newsletter each month. For those members without the internet, the club hand-delivered the monthly Newsletter, plus a Thinking of You card each week throughout Probus month of October.
DEL BY C IVERED OUR IER
PROBIANS AND THEIR PARTNERS THROUGHOUT GREATER MELBOURNE AND VICTORIA WIDE ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES CONTACT: Advertising Executive Barry 0408 990 200 Rod James 0425 864596 447901 Dellis 0412
Advertising Graeme Executive 0412 596 900 Andy Jukes 0431 950082 685921 Michael 0408 Advertising Manager Ian 0412 198 382 Mandy Clark 0478 700 449
12479999-DL08-21
26 The Victorian Probian Monday, 15 February, 2021
Lia joined together all the knitted squares to produce 24 rugs over the eight months of lockdown.
news
Some of the cards delivered to members.
The blue and yellow Probus balloons were delivered to members everywhere around town on Probus Day.
together while apart Club members participated in the online AFL Footy Tipping as a club, with a President’s Trophy to be awarded to the top tipster when we are able to meet again. The club organised an on-line horse race tipping contest, and a virtual Spring Carnival Hat Competition, with judging done by Zoom. Prizes for the winners of each of these will be awarded when we can get back together. For Probus Day in October, eight committee members drive around Leongatha to tie a blue or yellow Probus balloon to the fence or letterbox of 80 of our members. Those living out of town received their balloon by Post. With restrictions easily slightly, a walking club (socially distanced, of course) was started.
A balloon successfully delivered.
important dates to remember APRIL/MAY 2021 EDITION Club News supplied by Friday, March 26 To The Probian Editor, Star News Group. PO Box 9, Pakenham 3810. Email: probian@starnewsgroup.com.au ADVERTISERS Ad bookings & ad material supplied by Friday, March 26 To your regular media advertising contact listed herein by individual email.
FOR ADVERTISING CONTACT:
The Spring Carnival Hat competition played out over Zoom.
The Victorian Probian Advertising Manager: Mandy Clark Mobile: 0478 700 449 Email: mandy.clark@starnewsgroup.com.au Advertising Executive, Rod James | Mobile: 0425 864 447 Email: rodney.james2@icloud.com Advertising Executive, Andy Jukes | Mobile: 0431 950 685 Email: andy.jukes@starnewsgroup.com.au 12480003-CG08-21
Monday, 15 February, 2021 The Victorian Probian 27
12480340-SN08-21
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28 The Victorian Probian Monday, 15 February, 2021