Probus Club of Balwyn NorthPresident’s Welcome

John Thwaites  

Welcome to The Probus Club of North Balwyn Inc.  A0016781Z website, you are encouraged to visit the various pages within. Please use our Contact Us page for further information on our Club or on any topic that might be of interest.

Having the opportunity to serve as Club President for 2024 it is now my privilege as current President in our Club’s 40th year to move the current times and announce that next year following a Club survey a unanimous decision was reached to become a Mixed Gender Club from 1st April 2025.

Our incoming President, Stephen Millard will commence to lead an extremely strong and resourceful Club into the future with a sound history of Probus commitment.

My personal thanks go to a stable and competent Club committee with an extensive history of service commitment.

You are also warmly invited to come to any one of our MONTHLY GENERAL MEETINGS at the Greythorn Community Centre, 2 Centre Way, Balwyn North, meeting in the Foard Williams room. Ample parking onsite, map, (Melways map 46 ref H2) held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, 10.00am – 12.00pm, and afterwards for a casual lunch get-together at The Jolly Miller Café 315 Doncaster Road, Balwyn North. 

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We also extend a warm welcome to attend any of our SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, (SIG’s), which are for example, Investment, Walking Group, Computer, Photography/Travel to name a few. Further information regarding all SIG’s can be explored on the website and convenors can be contacted for further information.

Our SIG’s (Special Interest Groups) are created from our members interests and opportunities, some of which last the test of time, while others are superseded by technical advances. If members have any ideas to improve our existing interest groups or create new ones now is the time to come forward with suggestions.

Our attendance at SIG’s is paramount and we encourage all members to share ideas and assist our hardworking convenors. SIG’s provide a wonderful opportunity for new members to become acquainted with the activities and benefits of becoming a member of our Club.

We are always keen to attract new members to maintain the Club’s ongoing strength and vitality going forward into the future.

Our commitment, – “You will be a stranger but once”.

Our President John Thwaites and Immediate past President Ken Mitchell had the honour at our Change Over Luncheon at Kew Golf Club to wish our Member Don Eltringham a happy birthday celebrating 100 years of age. Don has been a member of our club for 35 years serving as a committee member for 4 years. He has also served as President, Jnr Vice & Snr vice president and various SIG convenors. Don Thanked everyone for their wishes and appreciated their warm greetings.

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Induction Ceremony on 13th August 2024 President John Thwaite inviting Graeme Adam & Peter Barnett to become members of Probus Club of North Balwyn.

Graeme Adam & Peter Barnett being official welcomed to joining our club by the President

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Our Guest Speakers have traditionally been of extremely high quality covering many topics of particular interest to our members.

We are always very keen for new members to join our Club, and they can be assured of an enthusiastic welcome from our current members.

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New members have been introduced to our club recently with the contact points being Golf and retirement accommodation. We have been delighted with the welcome offered to the new members and also their enthusiasm in accepting our club.

Our Club has an established “Special Interest Group Probus Ladies Group” was established which is made up of wives/partners of our members who meet occasionally for morning teas outings etc. and enjoy attending the other social activities throughout the year.

                     PLEASE WATCH THIS SPACE – OFTEN!

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Special Interest Group of the Month

Photography / Travel

Convenor: Nino Xerri M:0410 571 446

Our Special Interest group are keen photographers/travellers who are willing to share their knowledge and experiences in this wonderful art form “Photography.”  We meet on the third Tuesday of each month between 10am – 12.00 noon during February to November and I consider myself privileged, being the Convenor of this group.

The group undertakes regular daily excursions to Museums, Exhibitions as well-known Melbourne locations. During March, this year 15 Members of the group enjoyed a 3 day stay in Lancefield. A planned 4-day excursion to Echuca in October, exploring the Solo Art Trial and surrounds.

The regular Monthly Meetings consist of Video, Tutorials, images taken by Members of excursions/outings, workshops have been on macro photography and the use of vintage lenes on modern DSLR cameras, use off-line flash photography followed by a break for Morning Tea to allow fellowship and discuss mornings events. Finishing the morning with an open forum as to contents for future meetings.

Guest Speaker for our General Meeting:

The Guest Speaker Dr David Gilbert Hay topic will be – “The Battle of Binh Ba”.  will be speaking on the 12th of November 2024

Previous Guest Speakers 2018 – 2025

David was conscripted as a National Serviceman in 1968. He was trained in the Armoured Corps, and saw active service in Vietnam during 1969 as a crewman in a Centurion tank. His tank was one of four that were first reacted to a major action at a village named Binh Ba, just 5 kilometres north of the Task Force Headquarters at Nui Dat, on June 6th, 1969. As it turned out, this was to be one of several major battles initiated by the North Vietnamese just days prior to President Nixon announcing the first withdrawal of 20,000 American troops from the country.

The action at Binh Ba was the first time the 33rd North Vietnamese Regiment had been engaged in Phuoc Tuy Province, and it had demonstrated its fighting capabilities were superior to any other enemy unit previously faced by the Australian Task Force in the Province. Enemy casualties were severe; well over a hundred were killed, with many carried from the field of battle and about 80 left behind. The Australians lost just one, Pte Wayne Teeling, an infantryman, but suffered a number of serious injuries.  For the action at Binh Ba, both the 1st Armoured Regiment and 3rd Cavalry Regiment were awarded The Battle Honour of ‘Binh Ba’.

https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/binh-ba

October 2024Alan HallThe Four Men and the Walrus
September 2024Peter TullyFriends of the Cerebrus
August 2024Sue CorvasceDiscover the World
July 2024Isabel SimpsonWomen Achievers of Melbourne
June 2024Raylene SchrieverThe Aged Care Journey
March 2024Ross McMullinLife So Full of Promise – Further Biographies of Australia’s Lost Generation
February 2024Geoff ChambersHistory of Jazz to Australia
November 2023Denis DavisThe Kokoda Trail
October 2023Leigh HayHenry & Louisa Lawson
September 2023Pamela O’BrienGoldfields Presentation
August 2023Stephanie McCullochNeighbour Disputes
July 2023Bruno ZielkeAstronomy
June 2023Matthew Etty-LealTibet – Part 2
May 2023Tony ShawAFL Football Coach & Player
March 2023John BarlowWill your next car be Electric
February 2022Matthew Etty-LealTibet
November 2022Ken DavisMelbourne Suburban Signalling System
October 2022Graham O’RourkeMacpherson Robertson
September 2022Graham O’RourkeThe State Library of Victoria: The first 60 years 1853-1913″ 
August 2022Max HarrisSeniors Stepping Out Safely
July 2022Hazel MaynardVolunteering
June 2022Matthew Etty-LealCobb & Co
May 2022Ted Baillieu AOSir John Monash
February 2022Andrew CampbellCould Ageing be a treatable disease
November 2021 Dr Janet PatfordLiving – Apart – Together (Lat) Relationships
October 2021Ross McMullinFarewell Dear People
August 2021Rohan BrownMy Story – Personal Stories
July 2021Megan GouldingSwanston Street Excavations
June 2021Tim RobertsDiabetic and general foot care
May 2021Bev MossCome Fly with Me
April 2021Elida Brereton Travel to Antarctica & South Georgia
March 2021Ken ParkerElectric Vehicles, Renewable Energy
February
2021
Andrew CampbellHearing and Brain Health
November 2020Ross McMullinPompey Elliott – in his own words

October 2020
Vikki PetraitisCrime stories “ Hodsons and Nicola Gobbo ” 
September – 2020
August – 2020
Julian Battistella

Andrew Mitchell
Estate Planning

Electric Cars and Clean Energy – Why?
July – 2020Anthony CaruanaHome Automation
March – 2020Brian WilliamsScams and Fake Tradies
February – 2020Radha Raghunath`Add Years to Your Life
November – 2019Gary FergusonElder Abuse and Seniors Rights
October – 2019Fiona CampbellThe Spencer Street Bridge
September 2019Thorold MerrettStory of Collingswood Premiership 1958
August 2019Rodney RichardsAngel Flights
July 2019Beverley MossBuckingham Palace in my underwear
June 2019Lloyd PhillipsPoetry can be fun
May 2019Joffa CorfeMy life and Gold Coat
April 2019No SpeakerChange over lunch
March 2019Kevin TraskMyself and the media and the Australian singer Diana Trask
February 2019Madryn Sanderson & Alex CarterPersonalised In-home care and health
December 2018No SpeakerChristmas Luncheon
November 2018U3A ChoirSongs of Screen and Stage
October 2018Jacqueline DinanRacing the Boys
September 2018Anthony KnightBeleura House Mornington
August 2018Cliff HardyThe London Blitz
July 2018Natalie DurkovicShen Yen Performing Arts and Traditional Chinese Culture
June 2018Jessica WattsBladder & Bowel Health
May 2018Ross McMullinVillers Bretonneux
April 2018No SpeakerChange Over Luncheon