Probus Newsletter September 2012

PROBUS - Tomorrow's Vision for Active Retirees

Editor: Jeff Cahn 84 Smeaton Close

LARA 3212 0419 822-110

smeaton5@netspace.net.au Club No: 57873

Diary at a Glance

Wed 12 September Committee Meeting 09:30

Wed 19 September General Meeting 10:00 to Noon

Bisinella Centre

Wed 26 September Morning Tea at the Moorabool Valley Tea Rooms

Wed 10 October Dinner at the Little River Hotel

Thu 11 October Visit to Cape Otway Light Station

Mon 22 October 5 Day Trip to Mt Gambier

Newcomb Probus

Mon 29 October 4 Day trip to Tocumwal

Thu 29 November Tarndwarncoort Homestead

Editorial Note Lara Probus Website Our new Website can be found at home.vicnet.net.au/~laraprobus/

Easy payments for Activities:

Why have the problem of envelopes and cash when it is easier to pay for your activities by Direct Deposit. The Lara Probus details are:

BSB: 063 866 Account: 10072321

Just ensure you type in your surname and the activity in the transaction.

August Report

Guest Speaker: Barry Carter

HOST Rob Tonkin introduced Barry Carter, The Age Newspaper Marketing Guru, who gave us an immensely interesting insight into newspaper operation, his life and the future of print media. \

Show & Tell: Annette Wendleman

ANNETTE Wendleman gave a wonderful show & tell about Adventure, Theft & Embezzlement during an interesting part of her life at Alice Springs.

In Annette’s hand is a ‘I climbed Ayres Rock’ and the two opals she ‘took’ as payment for services rendered to a branch of an organisation who had a rather shifty manager who did a runner to Canada!

Forthcoming Guest Speaker: Frank Costa, Hosted by Val Tonkin

FRANK Costa was the eldest of five sons born to Sicilian immigrants that moved to Australia in the 1880s. His great-uncle established the Geelong Covent Garden in 1888; a produce grocery which he ran until the 1920s, at which time he turned it over to Costa’s father.

When Frank was 21, he (along with his brother Adrian) convinced his father to sell the business to them. Frank successfully grew the business with help from his brother, as they made forays into wholesaling. Although Adrian died in 1972 as a result of an automobile accident, and there were a few business blunders along the way; including the failed development of a state-of-the-art warehouse; the remaining Costa brothers were able to keep the business afloat. By the 1980s, the company had an annual turnover to the tune of $100 million.

As of 2006, the company has 800 employees, and a turnover in excess of 800 million.

Frank is the subject of a recent biography, with a foreword by eminent historian Geoffrey Blainey and references to Geelong identities, the Geelong Football Club, and Italian immigrants in Geelong.

The Order of Australia which was bestowed upon Costa in 1997 is one of many occasions where his involvement in the community has been acknowledged. He was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2001 for his instrumental role in Australian Rules football, which includes the restoration of the Geelong Cats to a position of prominence.

According to a 2004 poll, Frank held first place on the list of the regions ‘Movers and Shakers.’ It was also a year that saw him (out of frustration) publicly urge the authorities to keep its promise of developing a recycling and irrigation facility in the Werribee region.

Frank Costa is Patron of the Geelong Volunteer Resource Centre and the Geelong Volunteering Network.

Combined Probus Club of Lara Inc. (A0041548N)

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

Wear Footy Colours

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 Wed 19 September Joan Goudge Dot McSorley

Sept Birthdays 03 Loretta Shannahan 10 Dennis Cotter 10 Roberta Douglas 16 Veronica Mahoney 23 Joy Dove 30 Yvonne Kenny

Where Are You?

Please notify the Secretary if you have changed any details such as address or contact numbers and email.

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From the President’s Desk!

Dear Probians

After listening to Annette Wendleman with her ‘Show & Tell’, it is amazing the diversified interests and former occupations of our members. I am certain she fully deserved her opals.

Those who visited the Rotary Recycle Project and Osborne House were quite impressed with what they saw and learnt

from the volunteers. Thank you to Rosie for making us aware of such a worthwhile project happening in our neighbourhood.

At our September meeting, we will be inducting 3 new members to our club. They are Col & Ros Botten, and Lorraine Care`. Our thanks to former members Alec Hilliard, Mary Tuohey and Mary Walker for their contribution to our Club over many years.

As we are almost in ‘Footy Finals’ time, I invite you to wear your football team colours to add plenty of atmosphere. Party pies will be provided as part of morning tea. We will have Mr Frank Costa as our Guest Speaker who has had an interesting history in Geelong. I encourage you all to be seated promptly as a courtesy to the speaker at the conclusion of morning tea.

29 members and friends attended the lunch at Black Salt Restaurant which was very enjoyable and Barb Ingwersen has made a booking for dinner at the Little River Hotel on 10 October. I hope we will have another good attendance at this venue.

Alan has 14 people for the Tocumwal tour and would like some additional travellers to join this trip – if only to escape the cold and wet conditions here in Lara and surrounding areas. Please give consideration to being a part of this group. We always have a lot of fun and visit interesting places.

Some advance notice that our October meeting held on Geelong Cup day will have a ‘Racing Theme’ so start getting your racing attire together. We will also have a ‘Phantom Call’ with a small wager on the result.

A reminder that if you are unable to attend the monthly meeting, please notify Theresia prior to 8am on meeting day.

For those who would like to join us for lunch at the Lara Hotel, please remember to place your lunch order with Robert as soon as possible after you arrive for the meeting.

Stay as warm and comfortable as you can and I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.

September 12 Newsletter

Committee Contacts!

5282-3663 Val Tonkin President 5282-2425 Brian Harris Vice President 5282-3936 Marilyn Joyce Secretary 5282-3574 Doug Arney Treasurer 5282-3278 Pam Christou Activities 5275-2345 Margaret Allen Almoner 5282-1741 Brenda Hearn Assistant Secretary 5282-8140 Theresia Klaassens Membership 5282-1245 Barbara Ingwersen Dine-Out 5282-2110 Jeff Cahn Newsletter 5282-8417 Peter Wallis Guest Speakers 5282-1651 Alan Smedley Trips & Tours 5282-2052 John Coggle Immediate Past President

Theatre Thu 8 November

13:00 Matinee, Cost: $65:90 Confirm or book: Peter Wallis Dine Out

The Little River Hotel

Wed10 October 18:00 for 18:30 10-14 Flinders Street, Little River

Booking: Barbara Ingwersen. Out & About

Moorabool Valley Chocolate by Design

Wed 26 September HAND-made gourmet chocolates in exciting flavours and designs.

Moorabool Valley Chocolate ’Bellerive’, 320 Ballarat Road, Batesford

Names to Pam at September Meeting.

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

Trips & Tours

Cape Otway Light Station: Thu 11 October

THE iconic lighthouse is the highlight of the Great Ocean Road, but there's so much more to see and do within the Lightstation grounds.

Take a short detour from the Great Ocean Road through magnificent forests where you are guaranteed to see koalas.

Hundreds of lives were lost in shipwrecks off Cape Otway; a sad but fascinating history which led to the building of the Lightstation in the foothills of the impenetrable forests of the Otways.

Australia's first submarine cable link was laid between Cape Otway and Launceston in 1859. The Telegraph Station has been meticulously restored.

A radar bunker, built in 1942 after a United States ship was sunk by a German mine off Cape Otway, has been newly renovated. Total cost with buffet lunch included is $51:00.

Money to Alan by Sun 30 September, bus departs Lara pool at 08:00.

4 Day ‘Murray River Escape’ at Tocumwal: Mon 29 October TOCUMWAL, located 257 kilometres from Melbourne on the New South Wales border, is the first stop on one of Australia's major inland routes, the Newell Highway. The history of tourism in the region goes back over 100 years, with visitors attracted to the magnificent sandy beaches (with 24 located within 5 minutes East and West of Tocumwal), all surrounded by some of the most impressive Redgum forests on the Murray.

Tour of 4 Days & 3 Nights based in Tocumwal, with accommodation at the Bridge Motor Inn and visits to local and en route attractions.

Cost: $399:00 pp, twin share, single supplement $35:00 per night.

Only 14 starters (max. 20) are required to make this a goer! Names and money to Alan asap to secure YOUR place.

Note: Firm booking for proposed date can only be made on receipt of $50 deposit per person. Book NOW, as there are only 3 places available!

Tarndwarncoort Homestead: Thu 29 November

TARNDWARNCOORT and Polwarth Stud at Warncoort is historically significant as the home of one of the earliest Western District families, who have been notable in the wool-growing industry, farming and community life in the Western District over several generations.

Visitors are guided through the gardens and introduced to the flock of Polwarth sheep. The breed going back some 130 years. Then we take a self guided exploratory tour of the Homestead armed with notes. Visitors are told about the long family association with Polwarth wool and the property in the farm gate Woolshop.

The kiosk will be open for morning tea and after the tour, a two course meal at the Winchelsea Hotel.

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