PROBUS - Tomorrow's Vision for Active Retirees

Probus Newsletter April 2013

Editor: Jeff Cahn 84 Smeaton Close

LARA 3212 0419 822-110

smeaton5@netspace.net.au Club No: 57873

Guest Speaker

BRIAN Hollis will introduce Neil Webb who witnessed the bombing of Darwin in 1942.

Combined Probus Club of Lara Inc. (A0041548N)

PO Box 301, LARA, Victoria 3212 Australia home.vicnet.net.au/~laraprobus/

Diary at a Glance Thu 4 April Dinner at Man Bo Restaurant

Wed 10 April Committee Meeting

Fri 12 April Point Nepean National Park

Wed 17 April General Meeting 10:00 to Noon

Fri 19 April Walk through Botanic Gardens

Wed 1 May Hygeia Cruise

Wed 8 May Committee Meeting

Thu 9 May The King and I

Wed 15 May General Meeting 10:00 to Noon

Wed 29 May Dinner at Cucina One 12

Wed 31 July Morning Melodies

(Details next issue!)

Away We Go with the New Committee

PRESIDENT Val gave the Club her final report before Helen Glare took the chair to install the new executive with the assistance of John Thompson. Newly installed

President Brian Harris then gave us an outline for t h e 2 0 1 3 - 1 4 campaign.

THE bombing of Darwin on 19 February 1942 was both the first and the largest single attack mounted by a foreign power against Australia. On this day, 242 Japanese aircraft attacked ships in Darwin’s harbour and the town's two airfields in an attempt to prevent the Allies from using them as bases to contest the invasions of Timor and Java. The town was only lightly defended, and the Japanese inflicted heavy losses upon the Allied forces at little cost to themselves. The urban areas of Darwin also suffered some damage from the raids, and there were a number of civilian casualties.

This event is, on occasion, referred to as the ‘Pearl Harbour of Australia’. The Japanese raid was not like the Pearl Harbour raid, since Australia had declared war on Japan on 8 December 1941 so the Japanese were legitimately attacking an enemy. Although it was a less significant military target, a greater number of bombs were dropped on Darwin than were used in the attack on Pearl Harbour. The Australian government downplayed the damage from the bombing raids on Darwin believing its publication would represent a psychological blow to the Australian population. The raids were the first and largest of almost 100 air raids against Australia during 1942-43.

Almoner Notice!

MARGARET Allen can be contacted on 5275-2345, if you know of a member who requires a caring call.

Morning Tea Roster

Roster for April Meeting: Mae Craig Bev Brotheridge

Apr Birthdays

Margaret Allen Ros Botten Helen Coggle Bev Cotter Joan Earl Glenis Hynes Katie King Theresia Klaassens

Combined Probus Club of Lara Page 2

From the President’s Desk!

Dear Probians

THANKS to everyone for your congratulations at the Annual General Meeting. I am looking forward to an interesting year. However I need everyone’s help to make it a successful year. It is the input and participation of members that keeps the club going – you all play a big part.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Past President Val for the way she led the Club for the past year. I will be taking full advantage of her expertise for my term as president.

After the AGM at the lunch at the Lara Hotel I was lucky to be sitting near two past presidents and we had an interesting discussion about Probus in general and our local club in particular. Past presidents are a gold mine of information and I will be asking them for suggestions and ideas about our activities together with input from members.

Many thanks to Denise Sparks for volunteering to join the committee. We now need other members to work with Denise to organise our outings. Don’t think that you will be left to do the work all by your self. I would like to share around the jobs that need doing so things are shared by many, not done by a few. All efforts will be appreciated.

I would like to welcome our newest members, Helen Williams and Pauline and Gaetan Limsowtin. I hope your time with Probus will be a happy and interesting time for you. Remember we want your input and participation.

An interesting part of our meetings has been our 'show and tell' sessions at our meetings. Members are invited to tell part of their life stories. A favourite hobby could be the basis for a presentation. This doesn’t need to be long and involved. If you would like to be part of Show and Tell let me know.

Did you know that we have a club Historian? She is the lady with the camera who takes photos during club meetings and outings. Denise Sparks looks after our Club History and often has displays of the stories that she has recorded.

We look forward to an interesting and successful year in which we can all participate in the activities that are being planned.

We wish you and your families a happy and safe Easter and good health for the year ahead.

President Brian

April 13 Newsletter

Committee Contacts!

5282-2425 Brian Harris President 5282-2110 Jeff Cahn Vice President 5282-3936 Marilyn Joyce Secretary 5282-3574 Doug Arney Treasurer 5282-3278 Pam Christou Activities 5275-2345 Margaret Allen Almoner 5282-3680 Annette Wendleman Assistant Secretary 5282-8140 Theresia Klaassens Membership 5282-1245 Barbara Ingwersen Dine-Out 5282-2110 Jeff Cahn Communications 5282-3574 Jillian Arney Guest Speakers 5282-2465 Denise Sparks Committee 5282-1976 Dorothy McSorley Birthdays 5282-3663 Val Tonkin Immediate Past President

New Members

PRESIDENT Val had the pleasure of inducting Pauline & Gaetan Limsowtin and Helen Williams to the Club at our March Meeting.

We wish our new members many happy moments and memories while enjoying friendship, fellowship and fun!

Theatre

Thu 9 May 7:30pm Start, GPAC

THE King and I is a stage musical, the fifth by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The work is based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon

and derives from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s. The story deals with the experiences of the British schoolteacher, who is hired as part of the King's drive to modernise his country. The relationship between the King and Anna is marked by conflict through much of the play, as well as by a love that neither is able to express.

MEMBERS to make their own way to GPAC for a 7:30pm start. Tickets: $33:00 per person.

Out & About

Guided Walk Through the Botanic Gardens Fri 19 April 9:20am

MEET at Geelong Gardens main entrance at 09:20. If you require transport, let Pam know prior to the day. The topic will be Australia Day Plants.

Followed by morning tea in Garden Café at own cost. Plants will be available to purchase.

Please put your name in book as the Gardens require numbers now. Cost $3:30.

Cruising!

2 hour cruise on the new Hygeia: Wed 1 May Fishermans Pier Basin Bay end of Yarra Street Geelong

INTERESTED in cruising and enjoying a hot roast lunch with dessert, then a trip on the new Hygeia is the event for you.

We require 20 people ONLY and they will have a 2 hour cruise. Cost $30:00 all inclusive! Contact Pam.

http://www.hygeia.com.au/Main/Home.aspx

With Thanks

THANK you to the Hon John Eren MLA and staff for permitting us to utilise his office for the printing of this newsletter on a monthly basis.

Trips & Tours

Point Nepean National Park: Fri 12 April

THIS round the bay trip will comprise a ferry cruise from Queenscliff to Sorrento, shuttle bus transport inside the National Park including visiting the old quarantine station, lunch at the Rye RSL and home via Melbourne.

Departing from Lara Pool at 07:30 to catch the 09:00 ferry from Queenscliff.

After morning tea at the Park entrance, we take the 10:30 or 11:30 shuttle bus to Point Nepean ($7:50 for seniors) and/or explore the Quarantine Station.

We will leave the Park approximately 12:30 for lunch at own cost at the Rye RSL and then return home via Melbourne.

Cost: Will depend on numbers as the bus is taxed per metre length on the ferry. Quoted price for 28-32 starters is $25:00 excluding lunch.

Dinner

Man Bo Chinese Restaurant: Thu 4 April, 18:30 361-363 Moorabool Street, Geelong

MAN Bo in Chinese means ‘billions of lost treasures’. Come and find your lost treasure by booking with Barbara.

Dinner

Cucina One 12 Restaurant: Wed 29 May, 18:00 for 18:30 112 High Street, Belmont

FOR more than five years locals have been en joy ing traditional Italian food with a spin. Sophisticated and r o ma n t i c , t h i s seductive little restaurant is equally suited to a relaxed get together with friends or an intimate dinner for two.

April 13 Newsletter Combined Probus Club of Lara Page 3

The objectives of Probus are Friendship, Fellowship and Fun