Welcome to the Combined Probus Club of Belrose Inc
MOCCO’S MUSINGS
Musings definition – a period of reflections or thought.
Greetings Probus Club members and prospective new members.
Our recent AGM was the first one held at our comfortable new venue. We are one of three Probus clubs that now meet at the Forest Hotel. We had over 100 members in attendance to give a warm ovation to our outgoing President Ros Thompson who has worked tirelessly for the benefit of our membership. Our excellent committee remains largely unchanged but with two new additions. Lesley McQuire is our new secretary and Mike Hartnell is Vice President. Our supportive sub-committee welcomes Peter Loveday who will ably look after photography.
Our first social event was a lunch at Frankies. 40+ members attended and enjoyed a leisurely low key function added to by the early arrival of the Easter bunny. Thanks Marg.
Elsewhere Helen and Dennis Miles led the walking group on a tour of historic Cockatoo Island. Therein lies a Probus connection. Our late President, Kevin Radford spent his early years at the Island as an apprentice before gaining employment on the Harbour Bridge.
Cinema success, “The Great Escaper” drew a large number of our club members. Well chosen Gloria! And staying with entertainment, The Wharf Revue at Glen Street was as usual a resounding success. ( I’m sure Warwick will give a brief resume! ) Margaret Ayre took us down memory lane to Linnwood, the historic heritage house at Guildford in Sydney’s west.
Next meeting, Cherry our guest speaker coordinator, has arranged a visit from the Mayor of Willoughby as well as some musicians from the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra who will provide a musical interlude. Something to look forward to.
Wishing you and your families a safe and happy Easter.
President Peter
Lyn Loveday – Rest in Peace
Lyn and myself are foundation members of the Combined Belrose Probus Club. At the time we attended the inaugural meeting we were confronted with the situation whereby we did not know one single person in the room. It was at a time in our lives when we were facing retirement and we wanted to foster friendships with people living in our area. The stated values of Probus of “Fun, Fellowship and Friendship” was entirely consistent with our objectives.
Having joined Probus we have been delighted by the opportunity to make many friends and acquaintances. For that, we have often felt blessed. We have often also enjoyed the changed environment for us where we can frequently walk into a shopping centre and meet people we know and, in some cases, have a cup of coffee together. That is a situation entirely consistent with what we had hoped may be the result of joining Probus.
Lyn had significant health related issues which limited the aspects with which she could become involved and there were many opportunities within Probus which she would on the one hand have liked to have participated but was unable to do so. On the other hand, she thoroughly enjoyed many Entertainment events and also thoroughly enjoyed many tours, including tours involving being away from Sydney for about six days. They were opportunities which Probus made available to us, which, but for Probus, we would not have undertaken. As such, we sincerely thank Probus members who enabled such a situation.
Lyn became involved with the Wrap With Love and in later years, as her mobility decreased, she was able to sew together the wrap squares at home. She really enjoyed that as, in spite of her health issues, she was delighted to play a part in helping others, a role she so often played during her life. Prior to our marriage she aspired to undertake missionary work and teachings in Papua New Guinea.
Lyn was a wonderful woman; a wonderful wife; the brilliant mother of four children; the grandmother of eleven children and the great grandmother of three great grandchildren. Her death on the 20th of September 2023 as a result of renal failure was completely unexpected. Our marriage of over fifty seven years can properly be characterised as idyllic. I would like to thank Probus for their contributions to Lyn’s life, being things which she enjoyed and benefited from.
Sincere thanks to those members who have sent condolences and/or who attended Lyn’s funeral service.
Peter Loveday
John Robinson – An Appreciation by Lesley Walker
John was our Probus Club’s second President and it was during this time that I had the privilege of being inducted as a member to the Combined Probus Club of Belrose. He was an excellent President who made me feel welcome, ran a very active switched on club and was keen to make all the activities promote the motto of Probus being “Fun and Fellowship.”
During John’s 17 years of being in Probus he held many roles including organising away trips, outings, art appreciation/historic walks/museum trips and was an Executive Committee member for a large amount of that time. John and Cherry made history for the club being the first couple to both hold the office of President.
Over the years John (Robo) was considered as a mentor to many of us and this was true in my case when it was my turn to be President. He was always available at the end of a phone or email to be used as a sounding board and I valued his advice. Over many a cuppa we chewed the fat. John was very passionate about our club and always wanted the best for all members. I thank him for all his time and support.
We have lost one of our most dedicated members. RIP Robo.
John Robinson – An Appreciation by Bruce Nicholson
Members will have recently learned of the sad passing of John Robinson. The Club sends heartfelt condolences to Cherry and her family.
John was an inaugural member of our Probus Club and at its Foundation Meeting in June 2007 joined the Management Committee as Vice President. His position was confirmed at the first AGM in March 2008 and he commenced his Presidential term following the AGM in March 2009.
John was an energetic member of the Executive, and together with Cherry, Ted and Judy Morton, started the successful Club Walking Group in March 2008. John made a valuable contribution to the creation of the Club website, now an indispensable part of our Club, and he always had his camera ready to record Club activities. More recently John championed the Art Appreciation Group, leading visits to local exhibitions and galleries.
We remember John for his sincerity, friendly personality, his successful and welcoming leadership of our Probus Club and his ongoing involvement in the life of the Club.
Thanks to the Man in the Street
When the Combined Probus Club of Belrose first met in 2007, a great deal of preparatory activity already had occurred involving the Rotary Club of Belrose, Probus South Pacific and many individuals.
There is one event which occurred prior to this which hasn’t been publicised and now is the time to do it.
Back in the day when Rob Murphy was a Rotarian with the local club, he was undertaking a Community Service activity in Ralston Avenue, Belrose. This related to the distribution of a four-page A5 Community Newsletter to the letterboxes of homes in the area.
He was finding this to be a good activity – out in the fresh air, wearing his Rotary polo shirt, getting some exercise and hopefully informing the community about the wonderful work that Rotary was doing.
You get a feeling when someone has you in their sights. Rob had that feeling without even looking up from the letterbox he was currently crouched before. He was right! This tall solid man was approaching him – directly.
He said to Rob, “Are you with Rotary”. When he got an affirmative answer, he then said something to the effect of “Well when are you fellows going to do something about the formation of a new Probus Club. I was speaking to one of your fellows some time ago and he assured me that it was a priority. So far nothing has happened. When is it going to happen”.
I could see that this fellow was committed to having a Probus Club formed and said that I would follow it up with our new President. He left me with the feeling that this was something that I really should do! Well, I will cut the story short and say that I did follow it up. Our Rotary President at the time, Hastings Pawsey, got things moving with Rotarian Martin Alberts. The Foundation Meeting of the Probus Club was held in June 2007 with 52 people attending. It was a success, the Club was then formed and we all know that the Combined Probus Club of Belrose has been a great success.
Thank you John Robinson, the man in the street for being a catalyst of change, our first Vice President, our second President, club photographer, arts tours organiser, tours organiser and many other supportive roles.
Thank you Hastings Pawsey for seizing the opportunity and making it happen from the Rotary side and then being our 10th Probus President.
Rob Murphy
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Stroke Information
Facial weakness, arm weakness and difficulty with speech are the most common signs of stroke, but they are not the only signs. Other signs of stroke may include one, or a combination of:
- Weakness, numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg
- Difficulty speaking or understanding
- Dizziness, loss of balance or an unexplained fall
- Loss of vision, sudden blurring or decreased vision
- Headache, usually severe and abrupt onset
- Unexplained change in the pattern of headaches
- Difficulty swallowing.
The signs of stroke may occur alone or in combination and they can last a few seconds or up to 24 hours and then disappear.
View the Stroke Information website
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