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photo thanks to Graham Craig

Next Meeting 4 November 2015 9.30am

Whitby Bowling Club

Apologies please to Annette Craig (annette@angnz.com)

Committee Members

President Don Quirk Ph 234 7700 Guest Speakers Graham Kelly Ph 234 8825 Past-President Diana Paris Ph 234 7683 Newsletter Julie McLagan Ph 2379022

Vice-President Julie McLagan Ph 237 9022 Club Duties Ian Webster Ph 4 902 4818 Secretary Annette Craig Ph 234 7558 Member Margaret Faulkner Ph 235 7283

Treasurer Gaye McGill Ph 238 9904 Member Derek McDonald Ph 234 6033

Caring/Welfare Norma Withers Ph 238 4222

That is the great thing about our Club. We are all so different but we love being together for our monthly

meetings and other events too. No pretence, just us, as we are …

Please don’t take me wrong. It’s just so good to belong!

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October Meeting

Bruce Carson and Diana Paris were the welcoming duo. What a happy smiling meeting greeting …

Where does President Don find his stories!

“A Glasgow man phones a dentist to enquire about

the cost for a tooth extraction.

“£85 pounds for an extraction," the dentist said

"£85 quid! Huv ye no'got anythin' cheaper?"

"That's the normal charge," said the dentist.

"Whit aboot if ye did nae use any anaesthetic?"

"That's unusual, sir, but I could do it and would

knock£15 pounds off."

"Whit aboot if ye used one of your dentist trainees

and still without any anaesthetic?"

"I can't guarantee their professionalism and it'll be

painful. But the price could drop by £20 pounds."

"How aboot if ye make it a trainin' session, ave yer

student do the extraction with the other students

watchin' and learnin?"

"It'll be good for the students", mulled the dentist.

"I'll charge you £5 pounds but it will be traumatic."

"Och, now yer talkin' laddie! It's a deal," said the

Scotsman.

"Can ye confirm an appointment for the wife next

Tuesday then?"

New member

Sheryl Levy was introduced to the club by Barb Nichols. We are looking forward to getting to know you, Sheryl.

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The Birthday Draw

Wine buff Dale Williamson was the lucky winner. He will be happily sharing his birthday bottle with wife, Jenny.

Club Profile Speaker - Dale Williamson

Arrival “I am a New Zealander, born and bred! I arrived 70 years ago this month. My parents were living

at Karori in Wellington.

Family

Both my parents were originally from Napier. My grandmothers were both born in New Zealand.

Both grandfathers were originally from England, one a tailor from Wakefield, Yorkshire; and the other a grocer

from London. The first family members to arrive in New Zealand were my paternal grandmother’s family at

Port Chalmers in 1862, where my great-grandfather established a dairy farm on what is now Blueskin Road.

My father was a surveyor. He had much involvement in the re-surveying of Napier following the 1931

earthquake. He was later involved with the Public Works Department in aerodrome construction projects

within New Zealand and the Pacific during WW-2. From around 1950 he was a Town Planner for the Wellington

City Council.

Unfortunately my father died in 1963, shortly after the family had moved to a new property in Khandallah.

My mother had a late career as a librarian, working at the Karori, Khandallah, and Ngaio Public Libraries.

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She died in 1990.

I have one married brother. He lives in Warkworth and is a computer systems engineer for a company

in Albany (Auckland). He and his wife are in the process of moving from Warkworth to Dunedin where

they have purchased a small hazelnut orchard, which has a side business in white truffles that are supplied

to local restaurants. Their daughter is a doctoral student in music at Otago University.

I have two children from my first marriage (and five grandchildren ages 5 to 17). My son’s family is at Hawera

where he and his wife work for Fonterra. My daughter and her husband are at Napier, where he is a teacher

at Napier Boys High School, and she is completing a post graduate diploma in education.

I have been married to Jenny for seventeen years this month.

Education

I attended Karori (Normal) School, Donald St, from 1950 to 1959. Then on to Wellington Technical College

(now Wellington High School) from 1960 to 1963 which I had chosen over Wellington Boys College, with some

disapproval from my parents, as I wanted to be able to take the more technical subjects not offered by

Wellington Boys.

After starting work in the Radio Section of the New Zealand Post Office in 1964, I attended Wellington

Polytechnic (now part of Massey University), for some 5 years part time study, graduating with a New Zealand

Certificate in Engineering in Telecommunications in 1968.

I subsequently became a Registered Engineering Associate (REA) in 1977.

And much later: In the second half of 1995, I attended a six month course at the NZDF Senior Staff College

in Auckland. I graduated with a p.s.c. (passed staff college), and also won the Chief of Air Staffs Essay Prize.

Completion of the Staff College course gave me an opportunity to enroll at Massey University in 1996, where

I graduated in 2000 with a Master of Philosophy Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies.

Work

I have worked for a number of organisations, based mainly on my radio technician/telecommunication

engineering experience. My first job was as at the Radio Section of the New Zealand Post Office as a trainee

radio technician from 1964 to 1966. I then joined the New Zealand Police as a radio technician from 1966 to

1968.

In late 1968 my first wife and I moved to Waihi where I had obtained a position at Pye Limited (formerly Akrad

Radio Corporation, later Philips) in its Development Laboratory from 1969 to 1971 where my duties included the

maintenance and development of test equipment for the Waihi factory that manufactured a diverse range of

equipment including stereo systems, television sets, and radio-telephones.

We returned to Wellington after about three years where I re-joined the New Zealand Police from 1971 to 1982,

eventually as a Senior Engineering Officer. Soon after a marriage break-up in 1981, I joined the Government

Communications Security Bureau in 1982 where I remained until 2012. I was at the GCSB for thirty years. My

employment there was initially in information security roles; and in more recent times in a strategic policy and

planning role.

I was fortunate during my working time to have official visits to overseas locations such as England, Canada

(Ottawa), Australia, the United States, and others.

I “retired” from the GCSB in 2012 (it was described as enhanced early retirement) after the policy and planning

positions were disestablished.

Interests

Jenny and I enjoy wine and food – we are both members of the Paremata Beefsteak and Burgundy Club; which

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is where we met. We were married at Matakana seventeen years ago this month.

I joined the Rotary Club of Porirua in 1991, and after a short break in the late 1990’s while completing my

Master’s Degree, rejoined the Club. I retired from Rotary this year after joining Probus. I was Club President in

2007/08 and awarded a Paul Harris Fellow in 2008/09. Jenny remains a member of the Rotary Club of Porirua.

I have an interest in History, which in 2011 culminated in being the author of a book on the NZ Coastwatchers.

I joined the Probus Club of Whitby this year; and as I have interests in genealogy and photography I have

joined the Club’s groups for these topics.”

Thank you Dale.

November Clive Solomon will speak to us

December We shall be entertained by Graham Kelly on keyboard at our Christmas do. Wonderful!

February 2016 will bring us Bruce Menzies.

Guest Speaker

Sir Bruce Ferguson

Sir Bruce Ferguson gave us a very moving account

of his mission to bring home the body our Unknown

Warrior who was then laid to rest with full ceremony

in the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at our National

Memorial. He will remain there, honoured, for all

time.

Sir Bruce entreated, “ When you visit this Tomb,

think on this. He may well be one of Wellington’s

boys killed in that War. Assume that he is, and tell

him what Wellington is like today. Tell him that he

has not been forgotten. Let him live, through you, a

small part of the life that he lost while just a boy

himself. He would like that.”

A full transcript of Sir Bruce’s address to us can be found on our club website at http://probus.angnz.com

Back in my day …

My mum called my name, not my mobile

I played outside, not online

If I didn’t eat what my mum put before me, then I didn’t eat.

Hand sanitizer didn’t exist, but I could get my mouth

washed out with soap.

I rode a bike without a helmet and getting dirty was o’kay

If I got a sore hand from playing conkers in the playground,

then it was my own fault , not my teacher’s

I drank water straight from the hose … and didn’t die

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Morning tea is served …

On time, every meeting! We pay homage to you, our lovely smiling Morning Tea Ladies. Without you and your

helpers we would be a very thirsty lot!

Thank you Shirlene, Cath and Dinia plus helpers – Margaret and Shona at the last meeting

Christmas Lunch – our December Meeting!

Mana Cruising Club Wednesday 2 December.

Cash bar will open at 11.30am, lunch at 12.30pm.

Come along early and enjoy extra time for fellowship

Serious dietary preferences? Please advise Diana Paris.

Payment is due now. Only $30.

First payment Preference: Use ‘Electronic Funds Transfer’ (from your bank account to the Probus bank

account. In the Particulars column, please state your ‘Name’ and

in the Reference column, state Lunch’. ASB Bank Account details: 12 3254 0089053 00.

NOTE: If you pay by ‘Electronic Funds Transfer’, then send an e-mail to Gaye McGill (our Treasurer)

gayemcgill@gmail.com to advise you have paid your $30 per person by this system.

Second Payment Preference: Cheque (made out to ‘The Probus Club of Whitby’). Please give to Gaye

McGill, Treasurer, at the upcoming November Club Meeting.

Third Preference: Cash (place in an envelope with your name and address. Please give to Gaye McGill,

Treasurer, at the upcoming November Club Meeting.

Management Committee Members for 2016-2017

Please give serious consideration to standing or nominating someone to stand for the Management Committee

of our Club for 2016/2017. All positions are up for election. Secretary Annette has nomination forms available

now. A short Management Committee each month and duties shared. Not onerous at all! Totally enjoyable in

fact!

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It was a set-up!

There’s actually more to this story than meets the eye. This lady does not like having her photo taken. Got

you Barbara Strachan! We even know how old you are now!

Club Activities

Have a Go at Bowls Join us at Whitby Bowling Club on Monday, 16 November at 1.15pm. Thank you President Don for coming up with this great idea and then

organising it! Outside bowls and 2 indoor bowling mats for those of us who wish

to have a go at bowling.

On the day we shall be asking for a gold coin donation to help cover the cost of

the prizes. Afternoon tea will be available so come along, even as a spectator.

You will be smiling all afternoon as you watch the amateur antics and have a

good old chin-wag. New experience, new friends …

Mah Jong

“We have had good attendances at Mah Jong this month, in spite of the fact

that one day clashed with the Cinema outing. It has also been good to have a

new member join us.

We will be meeting on 1st and 3rd Mondays so 2nd and 16th November at 1.00 pm

at the Croquet Club.

On the 7th December we are planning to have lunch at The Sandbar Pub at 11.30am before moving on to the

Croquet Club to play Mah Jong at 1.00pm. Please diary this as it will be a special games day and we would love

to see some members who haven’t been able to join us for a while for various reasons.

I would like to know numbers and your choice of food (menu has been sent to you but may change slightly) by

the 1st December.” Barb Nichols

Reading

“We used to meet at the Whitby Library on the second Thursday of each month 10.15 - 11.15am but alas, the

library is out of action till December while its roof is being repaired.

We are off to Time Cinema on 12 November so we shall meet at Seagulls, 456 Paremata Road, on Thursday

morning, 19 November.

You are welcome to join us for a cuppa and a sharing session. I always come away inspired and determined to

find more time to just sit down and have a good read.”

Julie McLagan Phone 2379022 jmclagan@seagulls.co.nz

Walking

Don Quirk filed this report …

Now that the finer weather is coming members are enjoying the walks without having to cope with the

elements. The option of walking around the lake or tackling the hilly tracks is the choice on the day but the

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gathering afterwards over a coffee is the time to enjoy the company of all. What a fun group of members we

have participating. Come and join us Tuesdays 9 am until 10. Meet near CO-Op by the lake. If wet we still

meet at 10 am for coffee and friendly chat. You will be most welcome. The benefits of walking are

immeasurable.

Please remember that I have organised a Sunday walking group also that is open for all. We meet at the CO-

OP at 9.00 am finishing about 10.30am. We car pool at the CO-OP and walk in different areas as a group,

finishing with a coffee and a chat afterwards. The Sunday group is family orientated and ages range from 7 to

80 plus. Come along and join us, we would love to see you.” Don phone 2347700 dquirk@xtra.co.nz

Dine-Out

This report furnished by Colin Edwards

“This outing was different in a few ways. It was held on a Friday not Wednesday. It was combined with Mana

Probus. It had entertainment. It was a buffet lunch. All to keep us on our toes?

We were pleased to see a young man helping us all to find carparks - made things easier for the drivers as

there is not a lot of parking space at Aotea Lodge, Papakowhai - the venue for our meeting.

The two clubs' members were mixed, seated at small tables around the restaurant. We went to the hall to get

our food as tables were called. There was lots of talking and meeting others while we ate.

But, we mustn't forget to mention that there was an interloper wandering around the room too.

Manuel (alias Rick) was the entertainment for the day and he covered most of the things that the TV chappie

got up to in Fawlty Towers. For example … a tea towel over one arm, his pet rat hiding there and a few magic

tricks with the help of a member from the audience.

Next month’s dine-out will be at Te Onepu Restaurant, Whitireia NZ on Thursday 19 November from 6pm. As it

is after work hours parking should not be a problem. More details at the November Probus meeting.”Colin and

Bev - 234 1090 or bev@cebus.co.nz

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Outing

This month the second group were fortunate to visit the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute. Once again they

marvelled at the knowledge, skill and dedication of the scientists at work there. Our President Don was so

impressed that he was motivated to write a letter to The DomPost. It received headline coverage as follows …

Research Institute worthy of our help

Recently, I was privileged to visit the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute in Newtown. Dr Swee Tan and his

team of dedicated world class research technicians are internationally recognised for their ground –breaking

work into the research of strawberry birthmarks and tumours that has the potential to lead to fundamental

advances in the understanding and treatment of cancers.

As a group we were shocked to learn that very little government funding is earmarked for this institute. They

survive on donations and find difficulty in managing with minimal staff which unfortunately is delaying the

progress for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.

I challenge politicians from all parties to visit the Gillies Institute and see the wonderful research being don.

Then, perhaps, they will recognise the importance of this project and maybe vote for some of the $414 million

surplice to be advanced towards this worthy organisation.

Don Quirk

Whitby

Well done, Don. We are proud of you! You took action on what so many of us were feeling!

November Outing

We are planning to go to Time Cinema in Lyall Bay on Thursday 12 November. There are only 40 places

available so you will need to book and pay at the meeting or very soon thereafter. This is a great outing!

A real experience. A step back in time!

We have hired a kneeling coach for easy access for all. It will depart from the Whitby Bowling Club at 9.00am

sharp to travel to Lyall Bay where we shall enjoy a cuppa, short films and then a simple lunch. We shall see a

golden oldie film in the afternoon. The coach will return us to the Bowling Club around 3.30pm. For this great

day out, the cost is only $30 per person. This covers the hire of the bus, morning cuppa when we arrive, films

before and after lunch and lunch too!

Come along with your $30 to the meeting on Wednesday. Put your name on the board. Pay, and you will be

on board. The theatre has only 40 comfortable old-style seats.

Genealogy

Our October meeting was held at the Porirua Public Library. We had the benefit of the expertise of one of the

Library`s genealogy volunteers as well as searching for information on several members’ ancestors. Interesting

discoveries. All good progress.

The group’s next meeting will be held at 456 Paremata Road at 1.30pm on Tuesday 3rd November.

All club members are very welcome to attend our meetings. Please contact Lenora Jones (tel 235 5252 or e-

mail lenkenjones@xtra.co.nz) or Rob McLagan (tel 237 9022 or e-mail robmclagan@seaguls.co.nz) if you are

interested.

Cinema

Barb Nichols filed this report. Where would we be without our busy Barb! Thank you Barb for all you do for

the club!

“In October more than 20 of us went to see ‘Legend’. This movie was extremely violent and contained MUCH

offensive language and I apologise to those of you who found this too much. However I felt the film portrayed

the events of the time well and the acting by Tom Hardy (in the dual role of the Kray twins) was excellent.

On November 23 we are to see ‘The Dressmaker’ which stars Kate Blanchard. This will be shown at 10.30am

so please meet from 10.00 am. For coffee/chat etc

Many members have indicated they would still like a cinema visit in December.

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On December 14 (please note time and date change), ‘Spectre’ (James Bond by popular request) at 1.30pm.

We shall meet at 1.00pm for usual fellowship time.

As many of you would like a visit to the cinema in January, I have booked the theatre on 18th (4th Monday is

not possible as it is Anniversary Weekend). The film has not yet been chosen but ‘Suffragette’ could possibly be

offered to us.

As always any Probus member or anyone on our waiting list is welcome to join us at the Lighthouse for these

movies. It is a good morning out and another chance to get to know other members.” Barb Nichols

nichols@xtra.co.nz Ph 234 8415

500 Cards

“The 500 Club had a good turnout last month of 10 people and a lot of fun and for once some really good

hands. This month the club will meet on Wednesday 18th November at my place 7 Portage Place.”

Allan Nichols nichols@xtra.co.nz Ph 234 8415

Photography

“The weather was not very kind and that put off at least two members. However three of us braved the

conditions and went hunting for landscapes around the Pauatahanui area that are about to be changed forever

as the new motorway takes shape. The weather actually deteriorated into light drizzle but by then we had

been distracted by a helicopter removing trees from the Seaview Road Peninsula and ended up watching that

from very close range as the rain came down.”

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Duty Roster for November Meeting

If you cannot be present to undertake your duty, then please arrange a substitute.

Room Set Up Lindsay Kelly, Bernice Solomon, Clive Solomon, Brian Turner. Please meet for an 8.45am start.

Meeters and Greeters At 9.05am, the first two names on this list move to the front door to welcome people,

mark the attendance roll, check for apologies, take details for the birthday draw.

Morning Tea Margaret Brown, Sue Couch (to assist the co-ordinators at morning tea time only).

Club Profile Speaker Clive Solomon

Guest Speaker The Virtuoso Strings

Introduced by Graham Kelly

Thank Speaker Peter Lillico

Dates for our Diaries

02 November Mah Jong Croquet Club 1.00pm 03 November Walking Group Tuesdays Whitby Lake 9.00am

03 November Genealogy Group at Seagulls 456 Paremata Road 1.30pm 04 November Probus Club Meeting Whitby Bowling Club 9.30am

12 November Outing Time Cinema Lyall Bay 9.00am from Whitby Bowliing Club

16 November Mah Jong Croquet Club 1.00pm 18 November 500 Club 7 Portage Place

19 November Reading at Seagulls 456 Paremata Road 10.15am 19 November Dine-Out Te Onepu Restaurant, Whitireia NZ 6.00pm

23 November Cinema ‘The Dressmaker’ Lighthouse Pauatahanui 10.00am for 10.30am 25 November Photography Group Venue tba

02 December Probus Club Christmas Lunch from 11.30am Mana Cruising Club

14 December Cinema ‘Spectre’ Lighthouse Pauatahanui 1.00pm for 1.30pm 18 January Cinema ‘Suffragette’ (tbc)