President’s Report

James Kimpton President

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 

As a result of information concerning the Corona virus, the Committee has passed the following resolution.

That all  Face to face meetings, functions and events, including general meetings, Special Interest Groups have been cancelled until further notice as a result of the increasing threat from the Corona virus.

The Committee in making this decision believes it is acting in the best interest of members particularly considering the age group of our membership. Our next Zoom Conferencing General Meeting will be Tuesday 11th August at 10am.

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. It is proposed that our General meeting on 14th July will also be conducted by Zoom Video conferencing facility.

General Meeting in July via first Zoom Video Conference

This web site has an important role in keeping us all up-to-date. It sets  out all the activities that we encourage, and members can use it to see  what we are doing. In these ways our membership is always active.

The Probus Club of North Balwyn looks forward to meeting you very soon.

Special Interest Group of the Month

New Special Interest Group “SIG” has been set up called Zoom Lunch and Chat.

Graydon Findlay is hosting the above new SIG to fill the void whilst we are not able to go to Dine-Out venues, Cinemas or Theatres. Further Lunch & Chat zoom meetings will be held on the fourth Thursday of the month while these restrictions are in place. 

About a fortnight before the zoom lunch meetings, two or three movies are selected and details sent to participants so they can decide which films to watch at home in comfort prior to the zoom lunch.

An invitation is emailed to participants with a link so they can join the zoom lunch meeting at home. While having a light lunch they talk about the films thy have watched and chat about what they have been doing and how their families have been coping during the changing COVID-19 restrictions.

The Zoom group that joined on the 25th June

Two Zoom Lunch & Chat SIG meetings have already been held.

The first in May with the following movies:-

  1. Opal Dream – SBS OnDemand
  2. Love Alaska – Beamafilm (using your Council Library card to view)

The Second SIG during June with the following movies: –

  1. Charlie and  Boots – SBS OnDemand
  2. Florence Foster Jenkin – SBS OnDemand
  3. A Street Cat Named Bob – SBS OnDemand

The next SIG meeting will be Thursday 23rd July to discuss the following: –

  1. The King’s Speech – Channel 32 (SBS Movies)
  2. Maggie’s Plan 2015 – Channel 32 (SBS Movies)
  3. Hunt for the Wilderpeople 2016 NZ Film – Channel 32 (SBS Movies)

For viewing time please contact Graydon Findley E:graycol7@bigpond.com

 Guest Speaker’s

Our guest speaker for our Zoom General Meeting on Tuesday 11th August 2020, Andrew Mitchell, his topic is ”  Electric Cars and Clean Energy – Why?”

Jaguar i-pace

Tesla Model S

 

Andrew Mitchell CV’s

Following about 30 years on the corporate treadmill, Andrew bought a health care manufacturing business. He has been running this for nearly 25 years while failing to fully retire for more than a decade! He was a member of Balwyn Rotary Club for some 15 years including President in 2008-09. Current interests include bushwalking, travel, sustainability and family.

Our guest speaker for our Zoom General Meeting on Tuesday 8th September will be presenting “ Estate Planning” 

Julian Battistella

Established in 2007, Battistella Financial Services operate on a pure fee for service basis. Prior to setting up Battistella Financial Services, Principal Consultant Julian Battistella spent 17 years employed by some of Australia’s leading financial services organisations – Deutsche Bank AG, Wilson HTM Investment Group, Perpetual Private Clients and ANZ Banking Group. Julian Battistella is a CFP® practitioner, an SMSF Specialist Advisor®, a Tax (Financial) Adviser as well as being a Justice of the Peace (JP). Battistella Financial Services provide advice in all areas of financial planning with a particular focus on meeting the entire financial planning needs of our clients. Clients of Battistella Financial Services appreciate our commitment to ensure no stone is left unturned in our endeavor to structure their financial plan.

Topics for discussion: –

 – When is a basic will all that is required?
 – The benefits of including testamentary trust provisions in your will;
 – Asset protection for your surviving spouse, adult children and grandchildren;
 – Tax effectiveness for your surviving spouse, adult children and grandchildren;
 – Making sure your will is sufficiently flexible to suit your beneficiaries needs long into the future, and to avoid ruling from the grave;
 – Making sure you have effective Powers of Attorney in place. 

https://www.battistellafs.com.au/

Previous Guest Speakers 2018 – 2020

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
March 2018Don McQueenThe Bush Balladeer
February 2018Elida BreretonTravel Stories