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I look forward to seeing you all again in 2016 and wish the Greensborough Branch of NSA another successful year. I would like to extend my best wishes to all mem-bers and their families for a very Merry Christ-mas and a Happy & Healthy New Year. Regards. Bob Goodyear, President
Dear Members,
King Island Tours: Both tour groups had great experiences on King Island in November and I thoroughly recommend a visit to this pristine island. I am still dreaming about the delicious, tender ‘grass finished’ beef fillet our group was served for lunch in a rustic shed, on picnic tables set with white table-cloths, wine glasses, etc. Marlene and I are also enjoying the ‘yummy’ cheeses we purchased at the King Island Cheese Factory. Members from the two groups (Val Johnson, Margaret Wood & Harry Morris) have collaborated and written an excellent article on the King Island trips - you will find this on pages 5, 6 & 7 of the newsletter. Branch Xmas Dinner Dance: I would like to thank the Committee and other branch members who have helped with this year’s Christ-mas “International” Dinner Dance. These nights don’t just happen! There are always members who work tirelessly behind the scenes. I would like to thank Marlene, once again, for what will be, I am sure, another successful night! Marlene is fortunate to be able to call upon members such as Lynne Maw and Gaylynn Pinniger to bounce ideas off and get their assistance. When it comes to trans-porting props, etc and putting up decorations — we couldn’t do it without the guys too. We hope those attending the dinner dance will have an enjoyable evening. Some Acknowledgements: Thankyou once again to Bunnings Eltham for their donation of Poinsettia plants for our Christmas Dinner Dance. Their support is always appreciated. Coles Greensborough have also kindly donated a Coles Gift Card for our Dinner Dance raffle and we thank them and appreciate their support.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Page President’s Report 1
Management Committee (2015 / 2016) 2 Next Branch Meeting details Get Well Message / Birthday Greetings Branch Email / Website / Mailing Address
Coffee / Lunch / Dinner / Walking Clubs 3 Golf Group
Branch / COBA Activities 4 Norfolk Tour Friday Dinner Club
King Island Article 5,6,7
Treasurer’s Report 8 NSA Membership payments/renewals NSA Investment Discussion Group
Notice Board 9
Advertisers 10
Greensborough Branch Newsletter Branch No. 100133 Incorporation No. A0044936A
DECEMBER 2015
Santa’s sleigh flies off-course!
1
Management Committee 2015/2016
President/Activities Officer/Zone 121 Chairperson Bob Goodyear 9435 2529 Vice President/Activities Officer Peter Oaten 9434 6795 Treasurer/Social Committee Lorraine Oaten 9434 6795 Secretary / Newsletter Editor Marlene Goodyear 9435 2529 Email: [email protected] Publicity & Communications Officer/Branch Meeting Manager David Hewett 9459 0653 Email: [email protected] Membership Officer/Zone 121 Dep Delegate Ken Pickett 9435 0076 Fundraising Officers John Brook 9432 1695 Ian Schuck 9434 3839 Asst. Membership Officer/Travel Committee Coordinator Marg Wood 9438 4219 Speakers Sub-Committee Jim Kindness 9469 4469
Bob & Marlene Goodyear, Gaylynn Pinniger Welfare Officer Judy Harvey 9401 6752 Door Attendants/Registration
Barbara Crosling 9435 5020 Anne Schuck 9434 3839 Gail Young 9439 3601
********************* Travel Committee: Marg Wood - Coordinator Bob Goodyear Marlene Goodyear Lorraine Oaten Frank Beale Ian Schuck
********************* Speakers Gifts & Door Prizes, Coffee Club Coordinator - Gaylynn Pinniger Book Exchange Coordinator - Ken Pickett Craft Books Coordinator - Lois Williams
Branch Meeting
Tuesday 19 January 2016 — 10.00 am
(Doors open at 9.30 am) Greensborough RSL
“Forum & Quiz”
Greensborough Branch Email Address: [email protected]
Greensborough Branch Website: www.greensboroughnationalseniors.com.au
Mailing Address: Box 838, Macleod Post Office, Macleod 3085 Zone Website: www.vicbranches.org.au
Greensborough Branch Email, Website, Mail
Zone Website
(If you know of any member who is unwell, please contact our Welfare
Officer, Judy Harvey, on Tel: 9401 6752 or by email: [email protected]
To members who are unwell or recuperating, your friends at the Greensborough Branch are thinking of you and send best wishes for a
speedy recovery.
2
Walking Club
Walkers meet weekly at 9.30 am on the following days & at various venues
Most Tuesdays (except on a Branch Meet-ing day when the group walk on the Wednesday): Meet at the Henry Street end of Greensbor-ough Memorial Park. 1st Tuesday of the month: Meet at Kalparrin (opp. Skateboard rink). Last Tuesday of the month: Meet at Bottom Car Park, Lower Plenty Ho-tel, Main Road, Lower Plenty.
Confused??? … Contact Coordinator: Ken Pickett - Tel: 9435 0076
Low Impact Walking Club
NOT UP TO HILLS? Walkers meet Tuesdays at 9.30 am at Willinda Park Athletics Track, end of Nell Street, Greensborough (except on Branch meeting days when the group walk on Wednesdays). On the last Tuesday of the month the group meet at 9.30 am at the Lower Car Park, Lower Plenty Hotel for a gentle walk. Coordinator: Margaret Lloyd - Tel: 9404 3393
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO COFFEE CLUB
IN JANUARY
COFFEE CLUB WILL RESUME IN
FEBRUARY 2016.
COFFEE CLUB
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO LUNCH CLUB
IN JANUARY
LUNCH CLUB WILL RESUME IN FEBRUARY 2016.
LUNCH CLUB
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO DINNER CLUB
IN JANUARY
DINNER CLUB WILL RESUME IN
FEBRUARY 2016.
DINNER CLUB
Seeking Golfers (Good & Bad) A group of Greensborough branch
members are now playing golf on the 1st Monday of each month
commencing at 9.00 am at Strathallen Golf Club
100 Main Drive, Bundoora
Cost for 9 holes - $16.00/pp for Seniors
If you are interested in joining us for a game you would be most welcome
For further information - please see Ian Schuck at branch meetings or phone
him on 9434 3839
3
Branch & COBA Activities
Reminder to members: A deposit of $20.00/pp is now required when placing your name on an activity list. 2016: Thursday 25 February: Balwyn Palace Theatre/Luncheon (Film TBA) Time: 10.45 am - 1.30 pm. Cost: $15.00/pp. Own transport. Wednesday 23 March: Corio Bay Lunch Cruise Incl Coach, Morning Tea, 2-hour Cruise with 2-course Lunch. Time: 9.30 am - 3.00 pm. New Cost: $57.00/pp. 12-19 April: Norfolk Island Tour. See below…………. For bookings see: Peter Oaten at Branch meetings or Tel: Peter on 9434 6795 / Bob Good-year on 9435 2529.
∗ Norfolk Island Tour: 10 to 18 April 2016. Cost: $2895/pp. incl airfares. Single supp: $675/pp.
Balance of monies due no later than our Branch meeting on 19 January 2016. Contact Ian on Tel: 9434 3839 or 0421 062 894 if you have any queries. PLEASE NOTE: ∗ You will need a current Australian Passport or a valid document of Identity. ∗ Norfolk Island is not covered by Medicare. Travel Insurance is highly recommended.
NORFOLK ISLAND – APRIL 2016
November Friday Dinner Club members freezing in the ‘Winner’s Circle’ at The Meadows. On right - winners of our Sweep - Lyn in the middle won 1st prize with Kate, Laura, John & Elaine all equal 2nd. Thanks to Bev Sharp for once again organising such a great night.
4
King Island – November 2015
Contributed by Val, Margaret and Harry
King Island, an island in the middle of Bass Strait, in the direct path of the roaring forties – exposed,
windswept and wet – why would anyone want to go there? Perhaps it is to experience some of the
cleanest air on the globe, maybe it is the relaxed laid back lifestyle, or maybe it is for the maritime
history, the shipwrecks and the light houses – or is it the attraction of 5 star hotel and the pool
surrounded by palm trees and the balmy nights – oops, wrong island.
King Island’s small population hosts three football teams, possibly the only place in Australia where a
team can lose every game throughout the year and still play and win the Grand Final. Otherwise King
Islanders amuse themselves with bowls, golf and horse racing.
The adventure started with a long bus journey from the Melbourne Airport terminal, eventually
arriving at our aeroplane, then a short flight of 45 minutes. On arrival we were greeted by our tour
hosts Lucinda, Ian and David, and introduced to our ‘coach’, a monster left behind after the last Max
Max movie. It was then off to Currie the main town on the island of some 1700 people. The tour
begins at the kelp factory, along the beach to a shipwreck memorial or two, next a visit to the
museum and on to the power station. Grassy is a near deserted mining town on the east coast of the
island, that’s where we stay. Dinner was served in the beautiful Wild Harvest restaurant, built from
recycled materials from various soldier settlement farms and the sheelite mine – overlooking the
Grassy Harbour. Late stayers, Margaret and Gordon, venture off into the dark in search of home –
they talk to the driver of the only car in town, he gives directions then hours later he picks them up
and delivers them to the motel. The rest of us enjoy a restful night, and the prospect of what was to
come.
Morning finds the Wilsons and the Morris’s aimlessly wandering the streets looking for breakfast
and the motel. Fortunately the town’s dog was out walking its owner, and being a local, we asked
her where the motel was. She didn’t know. Mad Max Ian was also looking for breakfast, and we get
on board and taken to the motel.
After breakfast we head south, down narrow dirt roads, across paddocks, over sand dunes, along the
beach, over the rocks and first stop – morning tea of damper and local honey in a surfie/fisherman’s
shack in the middle of nowhere, or maybe it was a cave hidden in the cliffs. From there it was over
more sandhills, beach, - bogged -, farm paddocks until we reached the calcified forest and our lunch
spot – a permanent wind shelter, with tables set out with white tablecloths, sparkling wine glasses
and shiny cutlery, and a wonderful camp oven roast lunch, finished with local cheeses. More hills,
narrow forest tracks and on to the site where Australia’s worst maritime disaster occurred – the
wreck of the Catarqui and the loss of 400 lives. We returned to our accommodation for a nap before
dinner. Dinner at the motel – wait for it – we certainly were – still swimming in the sea in the
morning – delicately prepared by expert chef’s and presented with a side serve of local grown salad
– King Island lobster. The standard is high now, and we wondered how tomorrow can compete.
5
Day 3, it’s back on the bus, more backroads, magnificent pastures, grazing cattle, sheep, wild turkeys
and geese, birds and wallabies. Morning tea is in a hayshed, or perhaps a stockyard where a mob of
Angus cattle are waiting for the bus. Surrounded by steaming cattle, flies and cow pats, we are
served scones with local jam and cream served on a neat serviette. Then more driving through the
coastal scrub to Penny’s Lagoon, a rare ‘suspended’ freshwater lake in the sandunes. Kathy the only
one brave enough for a dip in the lake. A succulent lunch served, this time wallaby, served with a
beetroot and red wine reduction, straw grown potatoes and local asparagus. Next stop Cape
Wickham Lighthouse, on the northern tip of King Island. Cape Wickham Lighthouse is the tallest
lighthouse in the southern hemisphere, and the cause of many wrecks to the south after they
confused it with the Cape Otway light. A great spot to get a group photo and learn more about the
maritime history of the Island. Last stop for the day was the King Island Cheese Factory. What more
can I say, except “what’s our luggage weight limit?” Dinner is back to the Wild Harvest Restaurant
and a scrumptious chicken dinner. Afterwards the bus took us to see the Little Penguins on the
Grassy Breakwater.
The final day we are packed into a ‘real’ coach and transported to Naracoopa, the island’s
retirement town – a sleepy settlement on the coast north of Grassy. Those of us on the second tour
enjoyed pancakes and icecream at Bert’s Cafe, those on the first had Chocolate Cream Puffs
overflowing with thick, rich King Island cream on the beach reserve. That ended our King Island tour
as next stop was back to the airport and flight home.
We learned a lot about the settlement history, agriculture and tourism on King Island. We have a
better appreciation of why King Island has some of the best meat, dairy and seafood in the country.
We travelled as two groups, the first group of 21 and the second of 8 plus 3 Probus members from
Macleod. There were slight differences between the two tours, reflecting weather and group size
restrictions – such as the visit to see the horses being trained in preparation for the KI Cup. We all
thank the organisers, Marg, Lorraine and their team. We also thank Lucinda and Ian of King Island
Holiday Village, and David who was with us on the first group.
6
7
TREASURER’S REPORT Lorraine Oaten
NOTE FROM OUR TREASURER
Members please note: The Greensborough Branch earns ‘Grapevine’ credits of $3.00 for every person who pays their membership (new or renewal) through the Branch
via the Treasurer. Payments can be made by cash, cheque or credit card.
NSA members are welcome to join this friendly group which meets on 2nd Thursday of the month at 10.00 am to listen to a guest speaker from the financial world followed by a lively Q&A session and then morning tea. Meetings are held in Hayden Raysmith Room on 4th Floor of Ross House, Flinders Lane (near the Melbourne Library). You can attend two sessions for free as a visitor - then if you wish to become a member of the group the cost is $7.00/yearly membership, plus $3.00 a meeting (to pay for the room rental/morning tea & a free Christmas party).
NSA Melbourne Investment Discussion
Group
Balance as at 01/11/2015 22,331.94 Plus Income Xmas Dinner Dance 1,230.00 William Angliss 206.00 Norfolk Island 9,380.00 Attendance 336.00 Raffle 154.50 Grapevine Credits 4.00 Total: 11,310.50 Less Expenditure Donation Darebin Brass Band -100.00 William Angliss Institute -5,040.00 Total: -5,140.00 Balance as at 30/11/2015 28,502.44
What do you call an old Snowman? Water! What did Santa Claus say to the over-stressed snowman? Chill out! What do get if you cross a Christmas tree with an apple? A pineapple! How do Christmas trees keep their breath fresh? By sucking on orna—mints! What did the spider request for Christmas? A computer so he could find all the best web-sites!
∗ I was taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one!
∗ The irony of life is that by the time you are old enough to know your way around, you are not going anywhere!
∗ My wife and I had words, but I didn’t get to use mine!
∗ Frustration is trying to find your glasses with-out your glasses!
∗ Aspire to inspire before you expire!
8
NOTICE BOARD
Are you interested in knitting children’s
garments or maybe toys?
Member, Brita Daly, collects knitted children’s gar-ments/toys. If you no longer knit, but have unused wool at home, Brita would be happy to take this off your hands as she can give this to her knitters. Items can be collected at Branch meetings, or you can contact Brita on Tel: 9435 2816. (Don’t forget you can always borrow one of the knitting books from the Craft Book Exchange!)
Are you planning to visit Thailand?
Member, Marg Wood - Tel: 9438 4219, is a regular visitor to Thailand and would be happy to advise you on: • The best shopping places. • Where to buy tailor-made suits. • Pitfalls for tourists. • The wonderful, exciting experiences
you can have. A must visit is to Kanchanaburi (the Thai Burma railway, the Bridge on the River Kwai, tigers living with monks, elephant rides & beautiful scenery). Do not pre-book a tour from Australia for Kanchanaburi - you can do so much better if you deal directly with a local travel agent.
The Fred Hollows Foundation uses second-hand spectacles and sunglasses to improve the sight of people in deprived communities in our Far North & Australian Islands. You can assist by bringing along no-longer-used specs/sunglasses. Cases for specs/sunglasses are also needed. Member, Lorraine Callow, will be happy to col-lect them at Branch meetings.
Spectacles & Sunglasses
BOOK EXCHANGE & CRAFT BOOK EXCHANGE
We operate a Free Book Exchange on Branch Meeting days. We ask only that you return the books to the
Branch when you have finished reading them so that other members may have the opportunity to borrow the
books. (Tables are set up at the rear of the function room.)
Coordinators for this activity are: Ken Pickett — Book Exchange
Lois Williams — Knitting/Craft Patterns
Members, please bring along your unwanted books.
Banyule Men’s Shed
Do you know men with spare time and skills to share? Men who enjoy tinkering with tools or getting their hands dirty in the garden?
Well, the Banyule Men’s Shed is looking to recruit men to volunteer and be part of the shed.
At the shed, you’re free to work on your own projects or help others work on community projects. To get involved or find out more: Call 9450 2000 or drop in any Monday 1.00 - 3.00 pm
Cnr St Hellier & Edwin Streets, Heidelberg Heights
Members are invited to attend the Bunnings Garden Workshop held in their Eltham store on 1st Thursday of the month at 10am - 12.00 noon. There is free morn-ing tea. The topics are interesting and informative, with guest speakers and everyone has a lot of fun. Bookings are required, for catering purposes - please contact: Helen Philp - Activities Organiser on Tel: 9430 0100.
Garden Workshop Bunnings Eltham
If you would like to play social tennis in a very relaxed atmosphere on a Monday morning, between 9.30 am — 12 noon, please see Glenda Sundstrom (Tel: 9435 4755) or just turn up (weather permitting) at about 9.30 am for a game. The only criteria is that correct tennis shoes must be worn. The cost is $3.00 per morning (incl a cuppa & biscuit). The courts are located at the rear of the Diamond Val-ley Baptist Church, 309 Diamond Creek Road, Plenty (Melways 11D7).
Anyone for Tennis?
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ADVERTISERS
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NOTE: Ben is currently offering 20% discount off Switchboard upgrades
Electrical Services
Providing painting & maintenance services for over 35 years Painting interior/exterior
Handyman services Call for free quote: Wayne Keenan 0411 883 569
W & J Painters & Decorators
Old Colonists' Association of Victoria is a charity serving elderly Victorians needing affordable, safe & dignified
independent community living, together with appropriate & practicable continuing care.
Our Estate at 339 St Helena Road, St Helena has an 81 bed Residential Aged Care Facility, including 1 Respite Room.
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For all enquiries please contact: Residents' Coordinator - Karen Ernest on 9433 1100
Our Services Include:
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Contact: Andrew Leeson - Mob: 0418 585 116 Email: [email protected] www.aclplumbing.com.au
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Contact: Tony Ross Mob: 0438 342 122 / After Hrs: 9434 2122
Garage Doors
Renovated 3 Bedroom Home - 1km from Rye Foreshore 2 bathrms/2 toilets. Sleeps 9. Sun filled open-plan living upstairs,
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Rates: From $160/night or $460/weekends. Negotiable for longer stays. Tel: Ronni on 0427272221 for more details….
RYE HOUSE TO RENT
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