Official Newsletter of

The Combined Probus Club of Murray District (Inc.)

Western Australia

Murray

Magpie March 2013

President: Brian Sydney-Smith 9537 8847

Vice-President: Valerie Green 9537 7182

Immediate Past President: Fran Snabel 9537 7461

Secretary: Shirley Boyd 9537 7066

Treasurer: Brian Martin 9531 2351

Membership: Joan Timperley 9535 5291

Registrations: Jenny Armstrong 9537 7359

Programs: Christine Norman 9537 6543

Activities: Fran Snabel 9537 7461

Interclub Liaisons: Elizabeth Ford 9537 6979

Assets: Adri Weggen 9537 7708

Historian: Tom Hoffman 9537 6526

Behind the Scenes VIPs

Book Club: Lloyd Bevis

Newsletter Editor: Sandy Bartle

Refreshments: Janice Rinaldi

Fran’s

Thoughts

President’s Report from the March Annual General Meeting

I think, as a club, we have reached our goal for fun, friendship and fellowship for the year.

This has been greatly helped by Roger's very informative and enjoyable outings. At one

stage Brian and Roger joined forces and organized a car rally, which took many of us to

places we had never been to, before we ended the day by going to Brian and Kerry's home

and sat in the lovely garden for cold drinks and a b.b.q. Who could forget the outing just a

few weeks ago to the water treatment plant. We all turned up in long sleeved clothes boots

and long trousers, after the tour we were surprised we did not see one bit of poo. From there

we went to the sea museum and some members watched the mating habits of a star fish.

Once again, one of the popular functions was the Christmas party in Waroona, however I

think the Australia Day at Tony and Marie's home was the highlight. A special thank you to

them for allowing us to use their home and beautiful gardens for our almost legendary

Chicken night. After the meal, Ken Murray played the piano and we had a sing along. Tony

was very pleased to see his piano in use, and being played so well.

Christine had some wonderful speakers, Many of us ended up supporting a community in

Cambodia with gifts and money, with our speaker and her family delivering them personally.

On her return, she called again and explained how the gifts were received and the money was

spent.

A special big thank you to all the committee. Geoff has kept a rein in the finances, Elizabeth

and Margaret did a very good job of membership and welfare. Joan and her work on liaison

saw some visitors come to our club. Raylee for her publicity and Ken, for his work with the

assets, Tom our hardworking historian. Doug always being on hand with much needed

advice for me. Sandy's popular Murray Magpie was well enjoyed by all. Lloyds book club

has been a big help with outings and needs to be maintained. Janice, Gill, Margaret and

Elaine for making sure morning tea ran smoothly. (I hope I can have that little job back)

Finally without the wonderful help I have had from Judy and Ann, I think the club would not

have run as well as I feel it did. They were both always advising and helping whenever it

was needed. They have done a great job.

Thank you also to all members for putting up with me and I must say it was a wonderful

fulfilling year for me. Any issues we have had were worked through and on one occasion a

vote was needed to make some changes, but was done in a fair and democratic way.

I wish Brian and his committee all the very best for 2013/14.

FRAn Snabel

The March General Meeting was held at the

Ravenswood Hotel on Tuesday 12th

March, 2013.

There were 55 members and 1 visitor, Ernie Hogan.

Minutes of this meeting have been circulated to all members.

This was immediately followed by the Annual General Meeting.

Out going President Fran Snabel presented the incoming President

Brian Sydney-Smith with his collar and pin

and welcomed the new committee members.

Minutes of this meeting have been circulated to all members.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY

March

Val Green

Daryl Makin

Gillian McClelland

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Reporters interviewing a 104-year-old woman asked

“What is the best thing about being 104?”

She simply replied, “No peer pressure.”

OUR NEW PRESIDENT

Brian J Sydney-Smith

Who on earth is this fellow? He had his 5

th birthday

on the same day as Winston announced to the world that

England was at war with Germany. He lived in the south

of England and was not affected by the war machine as all he knew was the noise of the night

bombers flying north to deposit their loads on the City of London. He can, however, still recall

the horrible sound of the notorious Doodle Bugs. The early years of food rationing were difficult

for the parents of the day. I recall the family receiving the occasional food parcel from Canada

with very upmarket packaging containing all sorts of goodies. Mother cooked a cake with the

flour that was sent over but later the overseas relatives wrote to say “Did you receive Uncle

Harry’s Ashes?” Oh dear.

I moved to London in about 1954 and witnessed Princess Elizabeth’s wedding from the

Strand. At that time a material part of the City, where I was working, was surrounded by nothing

more than the derelict basements of the buildings that had been demolished. Incredibly today it

has all been rebuilt and nothing is there to show the wartime damage.

In 1956, I was lucky enough to earn the attention of young Gillian and by March 1957 we

obtained parental consent and the marriage took place. About this time Gill and I had

investigated migrating to Australia as Ten Pound Poms. (The UK Authorities saw it as a way to

reduce the population explosion.)

Arriving in Australia, we walked through St George’s Terrace knocking on doors and both

got jobs within a week. I then took up studying accountancy and graduated as a C.A. in 1962

and shortly afterwards we welcomed our first born son before going back to UK, as promised to

parents. Having run out of money, I took a job as Area Financial Controller in Port Sudan. ( It

was actually a bookkeeper but had to be called something which was not on their books due to

the Sudanisation policy. The company already had an Accountant, Branch Accountant, and

Cashier.) We stayed in Sudan for three years, saving hard to return to W.A. It was very hot and

uncomfortable but a most interesting and worthwhile experience.

After our return, we proceeded to produce two more sons. I had to produce sons as I was

materially involved in Scouting from 1970 to 1990, a very long time, but very happy years in

Bunbury.

In the year 2000, I sold my accountancy practice in Bunbury and we moved to North

Yunderup where we, and the family, now enjoy the peaceful environment of the Murray River.

Oh yes, I have just been honoured with the position of President of your very prestigious

Club. You have given me a fantastic group of helpers by way of a complete committee, and

together we will now endeavour to run the Club to your satisfaction and enjoyment for the

coming 12 Months

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VICE-PRESIDENT

Val Green I did not like the idea of Brian facing the prospect of getting on with the new position of President without the support of a full committee.

At Morning Tea, my husband Peter turned to me and said - "you could do that" and I thought that he had always wanted me to not take on any further commitments. One never knows eh! Herewith my potted version of" life down here"

I have been in South Yunderup since 1993 and simply love it. I have seen great changes, lots of residents coming down and adding to the rich fabric of retirement life in a "Little bit of Heaven”. Having lived in Midland/Greenmount and Morley I never ever thought I would live in a canal situation. My previous husband and I settled into life down here and were quickly immersed in the great vibrant South Yunderup way of life. Becoming a Calendar Girl with my friends, we raised over $15,000 for Fremantle Medical Research when one of our residents spent time having treatment in Fremantle Hospital. Lots of fun! Both my husband and I belonged to Probus Clubs in Mandurah and really enjoyed the fellowship and fun. In discussion with our friends Graham, Jan, Bruce and Corona over a few glasses of wine, we decided to get a Probus Club established for the Murray area. Bruce had tried earlier but could not get sponsorship but Graham thought he would lobby his Mandurah Group and the rest is history. My previous husband Geoff was the inaugural President. Sadly the next year he passed away. Going back to playing Bridge was very fortunate for me as I met up again with a fellow bridge player who had also lost his partner. Peter and I eventually married and I encouraged him to join me in "the little bid of heaven".

Editors Note; Thank you Val for stepping in at the last minute and rounding off the committee.

TREASURER

Brian Martin

CB’s RESUME I was born in 1940 in Albany, a small coastal town

population 5,000. Albany still had the night cart sewage

system, milk and bread delivered by horse and cart and a

vegetable man bringing his truck to your door. York

Street running through the central shopping area still had

open very large drains down both sides to cope with

winter downpours. On our way home from school we

would race objects down the gutter and under crossing roads. One day I tried it with my rain

hat but it never came out the other side. We were barefooted urchins with patched pants

living a wild free life.

In 1945 Hunt’s Canning Company was shifted from Hope Town and my father went salmon

and herring fishing at Cheyne Beach for four months of the year. In the early days we lived in

an ex-army tent and my brother and I fished and ran barefooted over coastal hills trying to

capture the wild black mare. My father eventually built a beach shack 50 metres from the

beach and I enjoyed a fantastic childhood. At 16 years of age I was allowed to purchase a

spear gun and I commenced spear fishing which I continue today.

At the age of 12, I started working after school at Allan’s Grocery store weighing bags of

potatoes etc for 20 shillings an hour. This gave me funds to purchase a bike and a VJ Which I

raced at Emu Point with the Prices Royal Yacht Club. I was very competitive but in the

champion ships I could not beat Johnny Broomhall an experienced 24 year old and had to be

content with second.

After Year 12 high school education I spent a three years working as a farm laborer, contract

clover harvester, shearer, bulldozer driver, concrete worker, mobile sales person, salmon

fishing, cleaning fish in a fish shop etc. My friends were at teachers college and spending

their holidays spearing fish so I enrolled at Claremont Teachers College and after graduating

I was invited to attend University on half pay to enroll in the first year of a Physical

Education Diploma. I continued to study part time gaining the diploma and then a Bachelor

of Education.

I dreamed of becoming a millionaire and purchased 164 acres at Gidgegannup where I

farmed part time. My aim was to use primary industry taxation deductions to develop and

then subdivide the property. My vision was 20 years too early.

I built an intensive piggery and ran a 30 sow unit. I worked weekends for my neighbor

burning charcoal, spreading superphosphate, cutting and bailing hay constantly chasing my

piggery food bill. Both my son and daughter were born at Gidgegannup. Unfortunately due to

family reasons, life said, you are not going to become a millionaire and I had to sell the

property.

I soon became bored with teaching physical education and applied for deputy principal and

then Principal. My first Principal’s position was at Port Hedland where I met my beautiful

wife Kerry and stepdaughter Reisha. During long service leave we sailed up the East Coast

from Sydney to Port Douglas for six months and then returned to being Principal at Pinjarra

Senior High School.

SECRETARY

Hi, my name is Shirley Boyd.

I was born in England and completed my education

plus general nursing and midwifery training there.

Roger and I were married in 1957. After the birth of

a boy in 1959 and a girl in 1961, we moved to W.A.

in 1964, and settled in Pinjarra. Roger became the

4th Member of a Medical Practice serving an area including Mandurah, Pinjarra,

Waroona, Dwellingup, North Dandalup and Serpentine, a huge change from the

Medical Practice we had left in England !!!

We then had two “Aussie” Babies, a girl in 1965 and a boy in 1967. ( Yes I was

pregnant when we left England)

Over time I have been an office bearer/committee member on several organizations

and was involved in the fundraising /building committee, which resulted in

Pinjarra’s first Kindergarten being completed, debt free.

In the sporting scene, I held official positions on the Tennis and Golf Committees

in Pinjarra.

As the children became older, I returned to Nursing at the Murray District

Hospital, and became the Sister-in-Charge of Ward one, which was then, a very

busy 42 bed ward, catering for acute Medical and Surgical Patients.

Following retirement, I was asked to serve on the Board of Management of

Bedingfeld Park, a position held for 7 years.

My hobby since retiring has been Machine Knitting, and I have been successful in

the Perth Royal Show competitions and have intermittently been a Royal Show

Judge

For many, many years, I have been on the Machine Knitting Association of W.A.

committee, was President for 6 years and have recently been honoured with a Life

Membership.

I am a Foundation Member of Murray District Combined Probus Club, and was

Secretary for 3 years, and here I am to about to take on this role again.

I am looking forward to working with the two Brians and the new Committee in

the coming year.

Memories.

Many factors have contributed to mankinds success on the evolutionary tree.

One is our ability to recall memories, which has allowed us to review, analyse and forward plan. Yet it is apparent that we have not yet learned to utilize this skill to its full extent.

The foetus in utero can hear and reacts after birth to familiar sounds, but autobiographical memory for specific events does not develop before age 2-3 and most peoples’ first memories are from around the 6th birthday as neural pathways are not mature. So much for those who insist they can recall their birthing.

In fact we are quite selective in events we recall in our life story, and memory is cemented by repetition of facts or stories which may be biased by cultural importance. It is easy to absorb as true, events suggested by others. This has special importance in legal issues especially where interviews reinforce one line of events.

“Memory champions” have shown that it is possible to utilize training strategies and improve the average short term number recall from 7 digits to 50-100, or the random order of a shuffled pack of cards. These are useful for short term lists but not for every day life. These memories of minor events are held as fleeting electrical or chemical activity in brain circuits, but fade quickly. Long term memory is established when impressionable facts are consolidated in neural networks in specific areas of the brain.

It is easy to confuse memory with imagination, and clinically there is a relationship with depression and post traumatic stress disorders. Often confused memory is evident before the depressive problem appears. Possibly memories are needed to provide stability.

As we have discussed before, train your brain and slow down your Alzheimers.

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Men are like Parking Spots - All the good ones are taken, the rest are handicapped.

SOCIALLY SPEAKING

PAWA INFORMATION DAY SOUTH OF THE RIVER CLUBS

Tuesday 30th April 2013

RAAFA, Bullcreek Drive, Bullcreek

9.00.am.

October: 2013 PROBUS RENDEZVOUS ...Albury/ Wodonga We will have 11 members of our club attending this function so far.

Anyone else interested please contact Fran Snabel for details.

South West Get Together November 14th

2013 Pinjarra Civic Centre

Our club is hosting this event and planning is well under way.

Hall is booked, caterer booked, entertainment booked.

Looking for donations for the raffle etc. If you know of any organisation that may be able to

help, please ask them. We will be giving each attendee a gift bag so will need various articles

to go in that as well. We are planning on catering for 200.

The Murray Drama and Music Club are loaning us tablecloths and glassware, so it would be

nice if we returned the favour by attending their Quiz Night on Friday 19th

April.

Tables of 8 @ $10 per head. Bookings to Lance Woodhead on 953707135

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EDITORIAL;

Hopefully you will enjoy the pin shots of our new executive committee.

You will note that Kitchen Kapers is missing from this edition. No recipes have been

sent in, so I gather that no one likes this aspect of the magazine.

My thanks for the past year go to Fran for her thoughts each month and also to Roger

Boyd for writing Healthwise every month. Many thanks as well to those members who

sent in jokes and puns. I still need articles about your “doings”, happenings, overseas

trips, bush walks, bike rides, babies, christenings, etc ---- anything please. Also any

interesting article that you read somewhere else that you think could be of interest to

our members, I am not above plagiarism. If you want to keep this magazine alive, I

must have something to put in it.

Sandy

A little boy got on the bus, sat next to the man reading a book and noticed he had his collar on

backwards. The little boy asked why he wore his collar backwards.

The man, who was a priest, said, “I am a Father.”

The little boy replied, “My Daddy doesn’t wear his collar like that”

The priest looked up from his book and answered, “I am the Father of many”

The boy said, “My Daddy has 4 boys, 4 girls and two grandchildren and he doesn’t wear his collar

that way”

The priest, getting impatient, said, “I am the Father of hundreds” and went back to reading his book.

The little boy sat quietly thinking for a while, then leaned over and said, “Maybe you should wear a

condom and put your pants on backwards instead of your collar.”

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Marital Bliss After being married for 30 years, a wife asked her husband to describe her. He looked for a while then said, “You’re A B C D E F G H I J K She asks....”What does that mean?” He said, “Adorable, Beautiful, Cute, Delightful, Elegant, Foxy Georgeous and Hot” She smiled happily and said....”Oh, that’s so lovely... What about I J K?” He said...”I’m Just Kidding” The swelling in his eye is going down and the doctor is fairly optimistic about saving his testicles.

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Local police are hunting the “Knitting Needle Nutter” who has stabbed

six people in the last 48 hours.

They believe he is following some kind of pattern

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Through the eyes of a child

Johann Bach wrote a great many compositions and had a large number of children. In between he

practised on an old spinster which he kept up in his attic. Bach died from 1750 to the present. Bach

was the most famous composer in the world and so was Handel. Handel was half German, half Italian

and half English He was very large.

The greatest writer of the Renaissance was William Shakespeare. He was born in the year 1564

supposedly on his birthday. He never had much money and is famous only because of his plays. He

wrote tragedies, comedies and hysteroctomies, all in Islamic pentameter. Romeo and Juliet are an

example of a heroic couplet.

The Greeks were a highly sculptired people and without them we would not have any history.

In the Olympic Games, Greeks ran races, jumped, hurled biscuits and threw the Java.