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July 2016 Presidents Message Our Club Newsletter is undergoing a review led by Editor Warwick supported by Vice President Ron Seldon. In future we will have two newsletters for you to choose from – a computer version and a printed version. The difference will be that the version on the computer will be in colour and contain photos etc. of Club activities while the printed version will contain only the text. There could be some minor changes to layout to enable this to happen but the real content will be the same in both versions. The reason we are going this way is that it is, frankly, prohibitive to print full colour newsletters, while photos look so much better in colour. A bit of a quandary. I urge you to open the computer version (and print it if you wish) but if you cannot do so the usual printed versions will still be available at the Club Meetings. Also, if you have any personal news that other Members may be interested in please, don’t be shy, send it in. Or you may have a photo of yourself doing something of interest – an anniversary or a holiday snap perhaps. Again send it in to the Editor with an explanation. Members may be more interested than you think.

Bill Sherman Speakers July Dr. Daniel Talmont on the Olympic Games

Daniel's French heritage will make sure that we are acquainted with his fellow Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin as the founder of the modern games in 1896. As the 2016 Rio games will soon be on our TV screens, we will again become expert sports spectators. This presentation will help us prepare for the coming event by becoming more knowledgeable armchair experts. August David Adams – “The People of India” Golf This month Golf will be on 15th July at 10am - Palm Beach Golf Course

Lunch at the RSL afterwards Why not join this friendly group and you could be this month’s winner of the “coveted” Probus Golfing Trophy.

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Speaker’s Corner The Royal Botanic Gardens

16th June 1816 - 16th June 2016 Club member Geoff Richards delivered an astute and well-illustrated insight into the history and development of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. The first farm established by Governor Phillip at Farm Cove was a failure but eventually it became the heart for the Gardens which were established by Governor Macquarie in 1816. Macquarie's wife (Mrs Macquarie) loved the ambience of the area and convict labour produced Mrs Macquarie's Chair, an exposed sandstone rock cut into the shape of a bench. Australia's long history of collection and study of plants began with the appointment of the first Colonial Botanist, Charles Fraser, in 1817. The Botanic Gardens is thus the oldest scientific institution in Australia and from the earliest days has played a major role in the acclimatisation of plants from other regions. Part of the Gardens is devoted to the Herbarium which began in 1853. It started as a modest collection of approximately 1,800 native specimens. The Herbarium continued to expand its collection and today houses over 1.2 million specimens. We then viewed photos of proteas, a monkey puzzle tree, xanthorrhoea (Xanthorrhoea is a genus of about 30 species of flowering plants endemic to Australia. This unusual and iconic plant has been a part of Aboriginal history, colonial artworks and a modern day inspiration to landscape architects). As you will appreciate the list of photos encapsulated the huge variety in the Gardens. Most of us have seen or heard of bromeliads, red cedars, Moreton Bays Figs, a variety of eucalyptus trees but what about the Dinosaur Tree (Wollemi Pine) or Chrysophyllum imperial from the rainforests of Brazil. There are the oldest pre-settlement remnant trees like the Sydney Red Gum, swamp oaks and southern mahogany. There was once a magnificent Garden Palace, built in 1879 for an Exhibition and alas it was destroyed by fire in 1882, Australia's oldest bridge, the Macquarie Wall, the Phillip Fountain and now a new world-class attraction, The Calyx. The whole space will be an integrated mix of indoor and outdoor areas with the exhibition changing dramatically on a regular basis several times a year, reinventing itself through emotively themed exhibitions. What a wonderful place! Time to visit it if you haven't already done so.

Probus Investment Group Join this small group of Probus Members to discuss the impact of “Brexit” and recent events on the Australian Stock-market! Review the current status of our hypothetical investment portfolio over a cup of coffee. Decide whether to buy or sell to be ahead of the market. If interested in joining this group please talk to Arthur Napper.

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Functions & Activities Program Month Day Activity Location Comments July 2016 21st Thursday 10 00 am Local Walk - Newport Beach to Bilgola Beach and Return

Start at Newport Beach Surf Club Park at Newport Beach. Coffee at Bilgola Beach.

August 2016 17th Wednesday Changed Activity Visit the Barangaroo Site

L90 bus to Wynyard. Walk to the Gardens at Millers Point. Walk through the Gardens and Cove. Inspect the Cavern. Lunch after.

August 2016 21st Thursday Floriade Canberra 2 Nights October 2016 19th Wednesday Garden Walk Through Kur-in-gai Wild Flower Park Travel by Car

November 2016 16th Wednesday Probus BBQ Flying Fox Park December 2016 20th Tuesday Annual Christmas Lunch To be advised

Special Event – Dee Why Ten Pin Bowling A fun day was enjoyed by Probus Members showing off their bowling skills at the Dee Why Bowling Alley.

“See those sticks down there. That’s what you have got to hit.”

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“Next time I must remember to pick up the bowling ball.”

“Oh dear! I think he hit the ceiling.”

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“Maybe I will do better with the purple one.”

“It should get there soon.”

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The Australian Olympic Bowling Team on the way to Rio? ……

……. No. That us!!

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Books of the Month Private Paris by James Patterson The latest novel in the thrilling Private series, Private Paris takes Jack Morgan to the city of lights. Despite envisaging the trip filled with fine dining and sightseeing, Jack is soon called to duty to track down the daughter of one of his most important clients, who is on the run from a drug dealer. But before Jack can find her, he discovers several of Paris’s elite dead, with the only link between them all being a strange graffiti tag. A great thriller. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight Fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his dad and set off to create a company with a simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost athletic shoes from Japan. Knight grossed $8,000 in his first year simply by selling the shoes from the boot of his car. Today, the Nike swoosh has become an icon, and Nike’s annual sales top $30 billion. Shoe Dog tells Knight’s story, from his humble beginnings, the risks and setbacks, and his triumphs. Kevin’s story is contrasted against his artistic son Alex, who so badly wanted to be the sporty, popular son his dad wanted, while wrestling with his own sense of self. Minutes of Pittwater Probus Inc. Meeting 14th June 2016 38 members and 2 visitors. Meeting opened by Ron Seldon. Apologies There were 8 apologies. Inductions Nil. Minutes Minutes were presented in the Newsletter. Moved Bruce Farrar 2nd Bryan Pritchard. Carried by Members. No business arising. Birthdays John Hurley, Ron Seldon, Tug Tugwell, Greg Swasbrick, Cyril Webb. Anniversaries Nil. Correspondence Nil. Treasurer’s Report Treasurer’s report was delivered by David Varley. Balance at 1/05/16 $4,563.55 Receipts: Morning Tea $139.15 , Subs $480, Total $619.15 Payments: Probus South Pacific $796.25, Morning Teas $120.00, Probus Magazine $300.00, Admin. $113.74 Total $1,329.99. Balance at 31/05/16 $3,852.71 Moved David Varley 2nd John Hurley Carried by Members. Functions Ten Pin Bowling was enjoyed by the members who attended. Tour of the Bahai Temple was most instructive with lunch at Piemonte Café following. 22nd June lunch at the International College. 21st July walk from Newport to Bilgola and return. Speakers Brian Kennedy has engaged the following speakers: July: Daniel Talmont to talk on the Olympic Games. August: David Adams will entertain members with a talk on India. Welfare Report Nothing to Report. IT Report No report. Golf Friday 17th June at Palm Beach at 10 am General Business No general business Speaker Following the coffee break, Geoff Richards gave a well researched slide display and history lesson on celebrating the 200th year of the commencement of the Botanic Gardens. On 13th June 1816 our Secretary , Bruce Farrar, related that this day was the 200th anniversary of his Great Great Grandfather Nicolas Delaney ,and his ten convicts completing Mrs Macquarie’s Road. and Governor Macquarie awarding them with 5 gallons of Rum to celebrate. Next Meeting 12th July 2016. Meeting Closed at 12.15 pm. Signed as correct record.

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Office Bearers for 2016 President Bill Sherman 9997 5532 Speaker Organiser Brian Kennedy 9918 0937 Vice President Ron Seldon 9918 0677 Editor Warwick Dalzell 9997 4518 Secretary Bruce Farrar 9971 2042 Communications & IT Officer Michael Mannington 9973 1624 Treasurer David Varley 9918 7154 Registrar Trevor Stephens 9918 21 38 Assist. Treasurer John Crawford 9979 6149 Assist. Registrar Graeme Proctor 9999 2281 Welfare Officer Bill Marshall 9999 5226 Auditor Arthur Napper 9999 0233 Activities Officer John Harston 9940 0446 Public Officer Bill Henderson 9997 5723 Functions Organiser Gordon Stokes 9999 2073 Golf Convenor Alan Smith 9999 1334