2024
NOVEMBER
Excited chatter filled the room during our Cup Luncheon which was held just before our November meeting. Thanks go to Jill and her helpers; Jill’s handmade decorations were incredible; they certainly added to the ambience of the day.
OCTOBER.
During October each year we celebrate Friendship, fellowship and fun. Our October meeting certainly lived up to the Probus motto. Wonderful items were snapped up from the trash and treasure tables. Chatter and laughter abounded during a delicious afternoon tea, supplied by our members.
MONTHLY BIRTHDAY’S.
SEPTEMBER.
MYSTERY TOUR.
We all enjoy mysteries. After a most enjoyable drive through lovely countryside, we arrived at Carome Homestead a bluestone farmhouse built during the 1860s. Lunch at the Two Bean Cafe was followed with time to explore the property which is located within the broader Plenty Gorge Parklands. Merrinda Community Garden, at Carome, utilizes a portion of the former homestead paddocks. Travelling homeward we stopped off at Rivers Nursery Yarrambat. A great outing our thanks to Jill D
Our speaker for September was Kylie Neve from Ronald Mcdonald House. McDonald Houses are located very close by to our women’s and children’s hospitals across Australia. The Houses provide a homely and inviting place to stay for parents, guardians, carers and their siblings while their child is undergoing treatment in a nearby hospital. Kylie explained the many hours the wonderful volunteers give to help the very ill children and their families in their time of need.
For more info – search www.rehe.org.au
AUGUST.
Our speaker was Doug Walsh, who for many years has worked with the homeless of inner Melbourne on the food trucks. Doug spoke of the changing times with many more women seeking help mainly due to domestic violence.
University students are the main volunteers, and he shared a story of a homeless alcoholic who struck up a friendship with Tom an engineering student. Over a period of time the man disclosed that he too was an engineer, he eventually went back to study and reunited with his wife and had full time work in his chosen career.
It was interesting to hear of the strong sense of community among the homeless and how they look after each other.
Thanks to Jenny F. (Speaker co-ordinator) for the item above. (Editor)
We warmly welcome our 2024 new members into our Club.
JULY.
Our speaker for the month Mandy Bede spoke on Ephemera (something that lasts for a very short time) Mandy explained her extensive collection of paper items dating back as far as late 1890.
JUNE.
We began our June meeting early with a Pizza lunch. Jill and her helpers set the atmosphere with tables resembling an Italian restaurant.
In 1966 the NGV purchased an unknown painting. Our speaker for the month being Carl Villis, Senior Art Curator at NGV.
Carl spoke on deciphering Lucrezia Borgia’s portrait including the unidentified artist. We were transported into a new and fascinating world of the scientific analysis; travel and years spend researching the subject and Artist. His findings revealed the portrait was Lucrezia Borgia, the artist Dosso Dossi. Our members were fascinated with the story behind the painting. Our sincere thanks go to Carl for the time he spent with us. More info? Type Carl Villis / Lucrezia Borgia into your search engine
MAY.
Outing
Morning Melodies at Club Ringwood was recently the destination for 22 ladies from our Club, we enjoyed the music, food and chatter amongst our two tables. More interesting outings as the year goes by. Thank go to Jill for arranging and placing this item.
Our speaker for the month of May was Ian Whitehall (Chaplain). Ian entertained us whilst explaining the very important task Chaplains do. Prision Chaplains provide emotional encouragement and spiritual support which assists prisoners on their journey to re enter into society. Type into your search provider prison chaplaincy for further info.
APRIL.
Our Ladies were extremely pleased to have enjoyed the most delicious cakes and savoury items at Mary Eats Cake Montrose. Company and food exceeded all expectations.
Our speaker for the month was Darren Arnott the author of ‘No Regard for the Truth’ spoke about the Italian prisoners of war who had been captured years earlier in northern Africa and interned in camps around Australia. The story begins in March 1946. The war was over, and the prisoners were waiting to be returned home.
MARCH OUTING – TRAMBOAT
35 members and friends had a wonderful day on the Tramboat exploring the Yarra River from Docklands to the Maribyrnong River as far as Poynton’s Nursery in Essendon. The weather was perfect, the crew did an amazing job keeping us informed, well watered and fed on our 3-hour journey and everyone enjoyed the company and the great plants and treasures from the Nursery. Our bus driver Sonya from Mackenzie’s Busline gave us a very comfortable ride to and from our destination. We are looking forward to more bus outings as the year progresses. Our thanks to Jill and her assistant Heather for a wonderful day’s outing. We are looking forward to our next adventure.
March meeting
March is the month we hold our Annual General Meeting. Below: Photo of our newly elected President and committee.
February meeting
A special day – We began the meeting with congratulations to our February birthday ladies, followed by an induction welcoming Jill our newest member. It was our 34th Birthday, we celebrated with a delicious afternoon tea which our members supplied. During the afternoon tea the ladies placed a tick upon a sheet choosing their preferred outings for the coming months. We begin with a trip on the Tram boat down the Yarra river. An exciting beginning to the year ahead.
January Meeting
At our January meeting new Committee Members Carol and Jill were given the opportunity to speak to the Group. Carol spoke of her career as a music teacher; her delight at the achievements of her pupils; her involvement with her Church and her love of travel, particularly cruising the ocean waves to places near and far. Carol is our Vice President.
Jill D. spoke of her journey through life and her career as a library technician, librarian and then teacher librarian. Writing articles for Good Reading magazine forged an interest in travel which resulted in trips to England, France and Italy. Jill is the Outings Organiser.
Longtime Club member Jenny W. gave a short introduction to her teaching career and then talked about the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom Dame Carol Ann Duffy. What a fascinating person! Her poetry is studied by our VCE students and Jenny shared some of Ann’s poems with us. If you get a chance do look her up on the Internet and explore her works. Many thanks Jill for your item. Editor
2023 – 2024
DECEMBER 2023
60 Ladies enjoyed a delicious Christmas luncheon at Chirnside Country Club. Our members voted unanimously for the Committee to secure a booking same place, same time in 2024. They will be delighted to know their wish has been granted.
During November a ‘100 Years of Heathmont’ Community Concert was presented by the Heathmont History Group and Heathmont Sing Australia. What a celebration, to sing with the choir followed by a history lesson of the 100 years of Heathmont. At the conclusion of a scrumptious afternoon tea Jeanette was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for her outstanding contribution to Girl Guiding, The Ladies Probus Club of Heathmont and Sing Australia. Our heartfelt congratulations to you Jeanette.
Contributed by Margaret A.
NOVEMBER MEETING 2023
Speaker.
Alex Maisey researched the ecosystem and the extraordinary vocal range of the lyrebirds. We were fascinated to learn lyrebirds move more soil than any other land animal globally. If you type Alex Maisey into your search engine you will realize how fortunate Heathmont ladies were to have Alex spend time with us.
Many thanks to Jenny F. (Speaker co-ordinator).
October 2023
October Probus Club’s celebrate Friendship Day.
Heathmont Ladies invited members to bring a friend. Memorabilia being the theme. Below are just a few photos of a most interesting and successful meeting.
October outing 2023
A group of our ladies enjoyed a morning of music and friendship at the Club Ringwood. Tony Diamond performed many favorite Neil Diamond hit songs. The audience joined in singing along some brave ladies enjoyed dancing to the music. A delicious 2 course lunch finished off a wonderful morning we will certainly be back again in 2024.
SPEAKER AUGUST MEETING. 2023
Sue Schofield the Victorian Talks Co Ordinator for FREE THE BEARS related the amazing heartwarming story of how Save the Bears began and operates today. For the full story enter www.freethebears.org into your search engine.
RONE EXHIBITION (April) 2023 Club Outing.
SHADOW SPIRIT EXHIBITION
This extraordinary exhibition held in the Flinders Street railway building portrayed our first nation people’s spiritual belief in the Australia’s landscape and the skies above. The exhibition was a moving display interspaced with stationary artworks. The main piece shown in a very shortened video clip below, was the central piece in the ballroom. We completed our day together with lunch at ‘Time Out’ Federation Square.
Created over a period of three years. The Rone exhibition captures the working-class industries during the post WW11 period. The murals were incredible and the opportunity to walk in the Ball Room topped off a perfect day’s outing.
