Photo thanks to Graham Craig Newsletter for November 2019
Note: No meeting in December – Christmas Lunch Only
Next Meeting will not be until Wednesday February 5th
Just a reminder … if members are unable to attend the monthly meeting, it would
be greatly appreciated if an apology could be advised to the secretary
October Meeting
In October we were cordially greeted by Jill and Bob Merrick
October birthdays
and the winner was Jeanette Menzies
November birthdays
Margaret Baird, Pat Catton, Lorraine Cummings, Jan Fleming, John Gregory, Valerie Hellberg, Anthea Levy, Gaye McGill, Bruce Menzies, Bob Merrick, Jenny Patterson, Barbara Reilly, Peter Rushmore
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Club Speaker – Don Quirk
Don gave us a history lesson – about what took place off our shores during WW2. Some of these records were only discovered after the surrender of Germany, and many were surprised when they discovered how close to NZ the enemy were.
German Auxiliary Cruisers were merchant freighters which could voyage for 140 or so days with weapons ingenuously hidden behind false compartments.
These ships laid 10 mines outside Port Lyttleton and 10 off Pencarrow Head. Luckily these mines did not explode. Another disguised raider planned to mine the approaches to Auckland where the HMNZS Archilles was moored at the time.
In June 1940 the liner “Niagara” struck 2 mines laid at the northeast end of Great Barrier Island.
Several other incidents occurred when ships, crews and passengers were taken by the German Navy.
There is so much more to this story but time did not permit it to be fully told.
An error was made in Norma’s speech last month – please note that the illness her family member suffered from was – Burkitt non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Tea Ladies ready to serve your morning tea
Contact List for our Club Activities in November
Please note… If you are on our waiting list you are welcome to participate in any of our activities. We would love to get to know you while you wait to join.
Walking
Here's a message from Dr. Google Walking falls within the category of activities with repetitive motions that help the brain process thoughts and memories more easily. Not only that, but it also increases the production of neurons as well as an important neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), ( PHEW !!) which helps the
2 body and brain cope with anxiety. Walking also boosts mental health by helping individuals feel more energized and happier, particularly if they walk outside in a familiar location. And the best part is the mental health benefits of just two or three times a week of walking can last up to twelve hours or more after, so it’s a great way to start the day the right way. I say no more. You're welcome to join us
Contact Don Quirk Ph 0272 606 306 [email protected]
Wine and Cheese
The Wine and Cheese group will meet on Sunday 10th November at 4pm at the home of Bev Marsden and Colin Edwards. Bring your favourite tipple and some cheese. We will also be meeting on Sunday 8th December at 4pm (our last until February 2020) venue to be advised later on.
Contact Gaye McGill Ph 238 9904 [email protected]
500 Cards
Next game will be 20th November at 7 Portage Place at 10.00am.
Please note the December game will be on December 4th (as 3rd Wednesday is Probus Christmas Lunch) and you are invited to stay for lunch afterwards.
Contact Alan Nichols Ph 234 8415 [email protected]
Stitch Lovers Group
We are pleased with the response to the formation of the group. A few people still seem to be a bit confused as to what we do – we definitely don’t teach anything but help each other to sort out needlework problems should any arise - 6 heads are better than 1. We are just about nattering, stitching and bitching! Next meeting will be Monday 18th November at 10am.
Contacts: Gill Barkus Ph 971 8617 [email protected] or Kathy Wall Ph 234 7462 [email protected]
Dine-Out
Hoorah. The Waterloo Hotel (opposite railway station) has opened its Cafe and Bar again, and it is really nice. It is called "Duke of Wellington" and the entry is in the same place, round the corner from the Hotels main entry, about 25 metres along Waterloo Quay. I would be guessing we will all be catching the 11:13 train for a 12:00pm lunch. Prices are up a little, but I suppose someone has to pay for the decor. Meals are all different to, but overall pretty jolly good. Better give you a date. 13th of November (our last one). Hope to see many of you there, and thank you all who have participated in our get-togethers. Really Appreciated.
Contact Doreen Fleming Ph 233 2243 [email protected]
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Genealogy
At our last meeting we had a most successful introduction from Brian Turner at Whitby Lakes Retirement Village on what DNA is; how DNA testing works; and what the results mean. There were about 15 in attendance, a mixture of Probus and Village people.
Brian has offered a further session; this time a presentation on what to do with your DNA results. This will be at 1.30pm on Thursday 14th November, again at the Whitby Lakes Retirement Village lifestyle centre library.
Many thanks to Brian for the effort he put into the presentation, and to the Village for hosting us.
Contact: Dale Williamson Ph 027 535 7279 [email protected];
Book Lovers Group
As usual, at our October meeting, we all found new authors and books to explore.
Lisa Genova is an award-winning best-selling author and neuroscientist who has written “Inside The O’ Brien’s” which does for Huntington’s Disease what her debut novel “Still Alice” did for Alzheimer Disease.
Jonas Jonasson ‘s wonderful book “The Hundred-Year-Old Man who Climbed out of the Window and Disappeared” begins with Allan Karlson waiting in his rest home for a party he does not want to begin – his 100th birthday. So (in his slippers) he escapes out the window and makes his getaway. What follows is a funny, comical and intriguing tale of his unlikely journey involving criminals, several murders, a suitcase full of cash, incompetent police…. and an elephant called Sonya.
“Something in the Water” by Catherine Steadman is a taut, psychological thriller. A shocking discovery while on their honeymoon in Bora Bora changes the lives of Erin, a documentary film maker and investment banker, Mark. This is a thrilling story filled with piercing insights and fascinating twists.
“Unsheltered” by Barbara Kingsolver is a 2018 novel that follows two families living in the same house in Vineland, New Jersey, at two separate time periods and it alternates between the twenty-first and nineteenth centuries, using the last words of one chapter as the title of the next one.
The next meeting of our group will be on Thursday 14th November at Anne Miller’s home, 7 Gannet Way at 10.15. All welcome
Contact Anne Miller Ph 234 6399 [email protected]
Photography
The Photography group October meeting was cancelled but Con turned up and took a photo of a lovely day at Browns Bay, despite the tide being out.
The November meeting will be held at 9.30am on Monday 11th meeting at Browns Bay. If the weather is suitable we will check out the status of the Cannon’s Creek bridge which should be nearing completion by now.
Contact Graham Craig Ph 021 890 661 [email protected]
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Mah Jong
4th and 18th November at 1.30 at the Croquet Club
PLEASE REMEMBER COUNCIL ARE POLICING PARKING IN THE STREET SO PLEASE AVOID PARKING ON GRASS VERGES OR PAVEMENTS.
LAST MAH JONG OF THE YEAR WILL BE ON 2ND DECEMBER - please advise me if you wish to go to lunch at The Sandbar (at 11.30) before our game at 1.30 pm
Contact Barb Nichols Ph 234 8415 [email protected]
Cinema ‘Lighthouse’, Pauatahanui
November 25th at 10.00 am
“Fisherman’s Friends”
Fisherman's Friends is a 2019 biographical comedy-drama directed by Chris Foggin from a screenplay by Nick Moorcroft, Meg Leonard and Piers Ashworth.
The film is based on a true story about Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends, a group of Cornish fishermen from Port Isaac who were signed by Universal Records and achieved a top 10 hit with their debut album of traditional sea shanties.[1]
The film stars an ensemble cast headed by Daniel Mays, James Purefoy and Tuppence Middleton with David Hayman, Noel Clarke, Dave Johns, Maggie Steed, Sam Swainsbury and Christian Brassington playing key supporting roles.
A fast living, cynical London music executive reluctantly heads to Cornwall on a colleague’s stag weekend where he’s pranked by his boss into trying to sign a group of shanty-singing fishermen. He becomes the ultimate ‘fish out of water’ struggling to gain the respect or enthusiasm of the unlikely boy band who value friendship and community over fame and fortune. Attempting to overcome the fishermen’s scepticism about the music business, he finds himself drawn into the community, has his integrity tested and ultimately is shown the meaning of loyalty, love and friendship. This forces him to re-evaluate what really matters in life; ultimately giving him the chance of a different kind of success All members and those on the Waiting List welcome.
Contact Barb Nichols Ph 234 6033 [email protected]
Outings
The October outing to the Wellington Life Flight Rescue Trust had to be cancelled due to the lack of staff and equipment being available for a Show and Tell. (To be rescheduled at a later date)
The Helicopter and one of their aircraft were out saving lives. The other Aircraft was undergoing routine maintenance at Palmerston North Airfield.
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This information was handed to me with only half an hour to carry out a rapid response recall to all those members on the outings list.
Unfortunately I missed out on contacting two of the 16 members which has highlighted the requirement for you all to record your Mobile Phone number rather than a land line if you have one on the attendance list.
This month we are going to visit Nga Taonga Sound and Vision to explore their Exhibition at Te Puna Foundation Gallery, in the National Library Building, 70 Molesworth St Wellington. The highlight being the discovery of some 1930's early movie documentary of the Napier/Hastings Earth Quake. Lunch at the National Library Building Cafe for the foodies.
Transport via the 0918 Mana Wellington special from Platform One with a short 10 min walk up Molesworth St. should get us there just after 10:00am to be met by Kate Button.
Contact: Derek McDonald Ph 234 6033 [email protected]
Christmas Function for 2019
As advised in the October newsletter, we are returning to the Pines Restaurant on 18th December. Contact – Derek McDonald (Ph 234 6033 [email protected]) if you need transport – pick up will be 10am at the Whitby Bowling Club. Those on the waiting list are welcome to attend.
There is limited parking available at the rear of Pines car park for direct level access (car pooling maybe an option)
The cost for the function will be $36/head - cash bar open at 11.00am – lunch at 12.30pm
Please remember payments to be received by Wednesday 4 December 2019
Payment options are:
a. Electronic funds transfer into Probus bank account No. 12 3254 0089053 00 – your name in the “particulars” and “Xmas lunch” as the reference
b. Cheque – made out to “The Probus Club of Whitby” – please hand to the Treasurer at the November meeting
c. Cash – put into envelope with your name on the envelope and hand to the Treasurer at the November meeting.
When payment is received you will be on the list to attend.
A copy of the menu is attached to this newsletter.
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Forward Guest Speaker programme. Our speaker organiser, Graham Kelly, has an interesting line-up ahead
6th Nov Bronwyn Groot Exploitation of Seniors involving Scams and Fraud
5th Feb Roger Blakeley (name TBC) Public Transport Issues
How to Restore an Island 4th Mar John McKoy The work of the ‘Friends of Mana Island’
Guest Speaker
Joy Allcock gave us a talk on The Shine Literacy Project (see email attachment for details). As an educator she became concerned with why New Zealand children were not learning to read and came up with statistics which are appalling for a country like New Zealand. In 2001 New Zealand was 13 out of 35 countries – in 2016 we were 33 out of 50 countries. 63% of prison inmates are illiterate. To see more about this project visit Joy’s website www.joyallcock.co.nz to read about this remarkable, determined and tenacious woman who is trying to get our education system changed.
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November Check Sheet
Committee Members President Colin Edwards Ph 234 1090 Membership Diana Paris Ph 234 7683 Past-President Anthea Levy Ph 021 144 6293 Outings Derek McDonald Ph 234 6033 Vice-President Gaye McGill Ph 238 9904 Member Rae Denize Ph 238 1038 Secretary Diana Paris Ph 234 7683 Member John Antliff Ph 233 2215 Treasurer Derek Oldershaw Ph 234 7733 Member Brian Greaves Ph 235 9474 Caring/Welfare Norma Withers Ph 238 4222 Member Patricia Poynter Ph 238 2963
Ex Officio Committee Guest Speakers Graham Kelly Ph 234 8825 Newsletter Graham Poynter Ph 238 2963
Duty Roster for November Meeting
If you cannot be present to undertake your duty, then please arrange a substitute.
Room Set Up Clive and Bernice Solomon, Peter Cox Meeter’s and Greeter’s Clive and Bernice Solomon Morning Tea helpers Valerie Hellberg, Jenny Patterson Club Speaker Glenys Greaves Guest Speaker Introduced by Graham Kelly Thank Guest Speaker Sue Mortlock
Diary Dates for November 2019
Monday, 4th November Mah Jong Plimmerton Croquet Club 1.30pm Tuesday, 5th November Walking Group EVERY Tuesday Whitby Lakes 9.00am Tuesday, 5th November Geneology Group Whitby Village Lifestyle Centre Library 1.30pm Wednesday, 6th November Probus Club Meeting Whitby Bowling Club 9.30am Sunday, 10th November Wine and Cheese Venue to be advised 4.00pm Monday, 11th November Photography Group meet at Browns Bay at 9.30am Tuesday, 12th November Walking Group EVERY Tuesday Whitby Lakes 9.00am Wednesday, 13th November Dine-Out Waterloo Hotel Café and Bar 12.00 noon Thursday, 14th November Book Lovers At Anne Miller’s home, 7 Gannet Way, Whitby 10.15am Monday, 18th November Stitch Lovers At Kathy Wall’s home, 29 Gannet Way, Whitby 10.00am Monday, 18th November Mah Jong Plimmerton Croquet Club 1.30pm Tuesday, 19th November Walking Group EVERY Tuesday Whitby Lakes 9.00am Wednesday, 20th November 500 Cards At Alan Nichols home, 7 Portage Place 10.00am Outing Nga Taonga Sound and Vision to explore their Exhibition at Te Thursday, 21st November Puna Foundation Gallery, in the National Library Building, 70 Molesworth St Wellington. 9.18am train from Mana Cinema Lighthouse Pauatahanui “Fishermans Friends“ 10.00am for Monday, 25th November 10.30am Tuesday, 26th November Walking Group EVERY Tuesday Whitby Lakes 9.00am
A reminder - all our monthly Newsletters can be found on our club website at http://probus.angnz.com
Please note this Newsletter is private and confidential for Probus use only. It is not to be used for any other purpose. 8