President’s Report
James Kimpton
Welcome to The Probus Club of North Balwyn Inc. A0016781Z website, you are encouraged to visit the various pages within. Should you find an interesting topic please use our Contact Us page for further information or please come to one of our monthly meetings at the Greythorn Community Centre 2 Centreway Balwyn North on the 2nd Tuesday of the month commencing at 10 am – 12 pm.
Special Announcement from the Committee
We are hopeful of getting back to face to face meetings in May, provided the improvements in the situation are maintained.
This would enable us to revert to a formula very similar to that which we lost when Covid-19 appeared about a year ago The important feature of this format was that members could speak directly with each other and exchange views on the speaker and a variety of topics. We are very much hoping that we will be able to do this once more but otherwise we will keep using Zoom to preserve our meetings – fortunately, we have been able to recruit speakers who are comfortable with the medium.’
Our next Zoom Conferencing General Meeting will be – Tuesday 9th March 2021 @ 10.00am.
President’s Report continued: –
I became President of Probus Club of North Balwyn in April 2020.
Almost immediately the Governments (Federal and State) imposed requirements flowing from the need to avoid the spread of corona virus. “Covid-19” We have been concerned to comply with those requirements and believe that we have done so, notwithstanding the short-term impact upon our activity. Thus we have been unable to meet whether to discuss our interests via special interest groups or as an entire membership to hear a speaker of interest to all of us.
As the situation improves we look forward to returning to normal. The special interest groups will flourish, and our entire membership will enjoy meeting together again.
Meanwhile, we have been using the Zoom Video Conferencing over the internet to keep in touch for our committee meetings and our SIG meetings. Our General meeting’s from the 14th July will also be conducted by Zoom Video conferencing facility until further notice.
The Probus Club of North Balwyn looks forward to meeting you very soon.
Special Interest Group of the Month
Photography/Travel SIG
Convenor Nino Xerri mob: 0410 571 446
Email: ninros1946@gmail.com
The Photography/Travel SIG (Special Interest Group) consists of a group of members who are keen on all aspects of photography, of which Travel is an integral part.
We meet on the 3rd, Tuesday of each month to discuss topics such as:
– You tube tutorials on key features of photography e.g. RAW vs JPG : Manual vs Auto.
– Excursions such as : Frankston’s Annual Street Art Festival, Blue Lotus Water Gardens as well as others that were jointly conducted with the Heritage/Genealogy SIG.
– The following month members would present 2 or 3 of their images with discussion as to format used and why.
– As part of the Travel SIG, members present a PowerPoint presentation of images taken during their varied travels.
Whilst 2020 was a difficult year, whereby we were only able to go to a limited number of outings, it is hoped and planned that 2021 will be easier for the group to be able to do so.
I welcome any person or persons who would be like to join us, to please contact the convenor. You do not have to be a “photographer” as such, but we have all travelled in some way and have taken photos of the places we have been to and so it would be interesting to be able to share those memories with your fellow Probians. Our meetings/outings are always conducted in the spirit of Probus philosophy of Fellowship, Friendship & Fun.
Nino Xerri
Guest Speaker’s
Our guest speaker for our Zoom General Meeting on Tuesday 9th February 2021 is: – Topic “Hearing and Brain Health”
Andrew Campbell
Masters trained Audiologist
Andrew Campbell – Audiologist is a leader in hearing health care, certified in audiological sciences. He is a speaker, teacher, manager, philanthropist and innovator. His influence in the audiology industry stretches across the world with recognition and patient treatment. He was a founding member of one of the largest hearing health care groups in the country, the founder of Campbell Cosmetic Hearing, Neuaudio – Hearing & Brain Health the Gain Hearing Network, an organisation dedicated to supporting independent private practices in Australia. He is a member of the Australian College of Audiology. Furthermore, Andrew Campbell has been recognised multiple times as a leader in industry and integrity for his work in Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the USA.
Andrew Campbell https://neuaudio.com.au
Previous Guest Speakers 2018 – 2020
| November 2020 | Ross McMullin | Pompey Elliott – in his own words |
October 2020 | Vikki Petraitis | Crime stories “ Hodsons and Nicola Gobbo ” |
| September – 2020 August – 2020 | Julian Battistella Andrew Mitchell | Estate Planning Electric Cars and Clean Energy – Why? |
| July – 2020 | Anthony Caruana | Home Automation |
| March – 2020 | Brian Williams | Scams and Fake Tradies |
| February – 2020 | Radha Raghunath` | Add Years to Your Life |
| November – 2019 | Gary Ferguson | Elder Abuse and Seniors Rights |
| October – 2019 | Fiona Campbell | The Spencer Street Bridge |
| September 2019 | Thorold Merrett | Story of Collingswood Premiership 1958 |
| August 2019 | Rodney Richards | Angel Flights |
| July 2019 | Beverley Moss | Buckingham Palace in my underwear |
| June 2019 | Lloyd Phillips | Poetry can be fun |
| May 2019 | Joffa Corfe | My life and Gold Coat |
| April 2019 | No Speaker | Change over lunch |
| March 2019 | Kevin Trask | Myself and the media and the Australian singer Diana Trask |
| February 2019 | Madryn Sanderson & Alex Carter | Personalised In-home care and health |
| December 2018 | No Speaker | Christmas Luncheon |
| November 2018 | U3A Choir | Songs of Screen and Stage |
| October 2018 | Jacqueline Dinan | Racing the Boys |
| September 2018 | Anthony Knight | Beleura House Mornington |
| August 2018 | Cliff Hardy | The London Blitz |
| July 2018 | Natalie Durkovic | Shen Yen Performing Arts and Traditional Chinese Culture |
| June 2018 | Jessica Watts | Bladder & Bowel Health |
| May 2018 | Ross McMullin | Villers Bretonneux |
| April 2018 | No Speaker | Change Over Luncheon |
| March 2018 | Don McQueen | The Bush Balladeer |
| February 2018 | Elida Brereton | Travel Stories |
