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Probus Club of Pittwater
Club News
NO 2 1 2
Probus Amicus et Dignus
April, 2015
President’s Message
At last month’s AGM, John Harston said it was a good
year for our Club and how privileged he was to be
President of Pittwater Probus. We all agreed and said
Arthur Napper
thank you to John for his leadership during the last 12
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months. His success in setting up and running the
Bill Sherman
investment group has now become a strong new interest
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activity for our members.
I have now been entrusted with the same such privilege
of being President and will endeavour to continue the
success of our Club. I look forward to working with Bill
Sherman as Vice President as well as a very active
Bruce Farrar
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committee. They already have put a good framework in
Warwick Dalzell
place for the coming year.
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Our monthly meetings and activities are attracting more
David Varley
attendance and together with new members will
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strengthen our base for the future.
Brian Kennedy
A variety of speakers have been lined up for the year
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ahead as well as some interesting activities. Our monthly
Geoff Richards
golf mornings at Palm Beach continue and always
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welcome new players.
Gordon Stokes
This month we look forward to our speaker talk on the
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History of Surveying.
Michael Mannington On April 22 a walk along a section of the Narrabeen
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Lagoon trail has been organised.
John Harston
Membership fees are due so make sure you are a
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financial member.
Arthur Napper
Committee
President
Vice President
Secretary
Editor
Treasurer
Speakers
Activities
Functions
IT / Web Site
Past President
Other Officers
Welfare
Bill Marshall
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Registrar
John Collins
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Auditor
Arthur Napper
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Public Officer
Bill Henderson
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Speakers:
Today: Our speaker, Wally Knowles, on the history of
surveying in Australia.
May: Valerie Martin will give a talk on Ethiopia.
Activities: April 22 (Wed) Narrabeen Lake Bush Walk.
Monthly Golf, Palm Beach. All are cordially invited.
URL: probus.pittwater.org.au (www not required)
Speakers Corner
Our guest speaker was Mary Napper who worked as registered nurse in Mental Health.
In the course of her work, she came across a documented case history by *Cath
Macarthy of a young boy who was an autism sufferer. It struck her that this would be
the basis of a book. Her first step was to enroll in a creative writing course run by wellknown local writer, Robyn Mcwilliam. Robyn said that anyone can write but the secret
to being a successful writer was discipline.
After much diligent research of autism especially its treatment in the 50s she recognized
it had to be a work of fiction. She adopted a narrative style and just kept writing. The
next thing was to edit the story and after several drafts she decided to have it read by a
professional. The first comment was telling – there was no life in the story. She
suggested rewriting it in the voices of the characters. It was a gradual process before she
arrived at the final draft.
Before publication Mary decide to contact the family of the boy concerned. One
member of the family was a QC. She forwarded the manuscript to him and he obliged
by reading the story. He had 3 major concerns. 1 was the portrayal of the mother, 2 the
portrayal of the QC himself and 3 the effect of the publication on his brother. The
brother and sister of the boy went to Queensland and he had no problem with the story.
That was as a famous author once ‘not the beginning of the end, but merely the end of
the beginning.’ As anyone know who has ventured into the murky world of publishing
Getting a publisher to read a book, never mind publish it is no mean feat. Despite the
obstacles, Mary persevered and now has a hard copy (as they say in the trade) and an ebook. The title of the book is Born to Fly –Living with Autism.
Writing Born to Fly: Living with Autism was a personal journey in her resolve to come
to terms with her twin brother’s profound autism and appreciate his uniqueness. The
novella was launched in April 2014.
The success of her first venture has encouraged Mary to pursue that path and her next
novella may be set in Japan.
* (Cath McCarthy, his nanny and a mothercraft nurse, pioneered treatment interventions
before autism was widely accepted. Medical authorities failed to recognise her methods
which are being used effectively today – she was a woman before her time and Mary
Ann feels privileged to have known her.)
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Membership Fees.
Membership fees are now due.
Please see David Varley.
Pay by cash or cheque.
$40 per head.
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Club Activities
April 22 Wed.Narrabeen Lake Bush Walk – Meet at Bilarong Reserve car park at 10 am.
Coffee in Narrabeen at the finish.
June 24 Wed, Lunch at Ettalong.
Ferry departs Palm Beach at 12.00 pm.
Arrive at Ettalong for lunch (own cost).
Ferry fare $22 return to Palm Beach.
Leave 3.20 pm arrive Palm Beach at approx.. 4.00pm
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This month’s speaker
Walter Knowles commenced surveying in 1959 and attained registration in 1964.
During this period he worked mainly in Sydney but also in Parkes, Grafton, Dapto,
Bawley point and Tennant Creek. In 1965 he worked for the Commonwealth
Government attached to their Sydney Office. Although most of his surveying was in
Sydney, working on Airports, Defence bases and other Commonwealth properties he
frequently travelled around country New South Wales and spent six months in the
Northern Territory. He supervised the introduction of staff to mainframe computer in
1981 after completing a Graduate Diploma in Spatial Information Systems at NSW
University. In 1988 he completed supervision of the subdivision of 150 Post Offices
and Telephone Exchanges so that Telstra and Australia Post could become separate
businesses. In 1991 he set up his own Private Practice and commenced part time
teaching of Surveying at TAFE Colleges. Upon his retirement in 2007 he devoted more
time to investigating early Australian Explorers and with the Senior Group of Surveyors
they have placed 17 information boards around NSW to commemorate Sir Thomas
Mitchell’s four expeditions.
--------------------------------Next month we will hear from Avalon photographer Valerie Martin who will give an
illustrated talk on Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is one of the oldest independent nations in the world. It has long been an
intersection between the civilizations of North Africa, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan
Africa. Unique among African countries, Ethiopia was never colonized, maintaining its
independence throughout the "Scramble for Africa", except for five years (1936-41)
when it was under Italian military occupation.
------------------------------------------Australia Post
What will the new prices be?
The Basic Postage Rate (BPR) will still be overseen by the Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission (ACCC). Under the changes, the BPR will be tied to the new Regular service.
Australia Post has confirmed that subject to ACCC review, it will seek to increase the current BPR of
70c to $1. The price of the Priority Service will be set after the benchmark BPR rate is established.
The BPR has only increased four times in the past 23 years and is currently the lowest in the
developed world – however – for concession card holders  Free booklet of 5 concession stamps
 Ability to purchase up to 50 concession stamps per year
 Discount on Mail Hold and Mail Redirection
 A free MyPost Concession Card and digital mailbox
---------------------------------------------Australian Communities: Irish Australians
The Irish were among the first settlers in Australia and have contributed substantially to the
development of contemporary Australia. Around 6 million Australians (and an estimated 70 million
people worldwide) are commonly believed to have some Irish ancestry.
And so on 17th March I heard this story:
The Doctor was puzzled ‘I’m very sorry Mrs. O’Flaherty, but I can’t diagnose your trouble. I think it
must be drink.’
‘Don’t worry about it Dr Cullen, I’ll come back when you’re sober’
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Minutes of Pittwater Probus Inc
Meeting 10th March 2015
40 members present 1 guest
Meeting was opened by President John Harston
APOLOGIES,
There were 9 apologies from members
MINUTES were read and confirmed Mv B Farrar 2nd Alan Smith carried
INDUCTION of Gordon Finlay and Roman Zwolenski.
John Harston thanked all the Committee members for their help and service in the past year,
Meeting was halted to conduct the 34th Annual Meeting, chaired by Roy Bedford.
Meeting re-opened by President Arthur Napper.
BIRTHDAYS Bill Marshall .Victor Friezer, Roman Zwolenski,
ANNIVERSARIES.
Trevor Stephens 48 years married
CORESPONDENCE
No correspondence
TREASURER’S REPORT
Balance at 1/2/15
Receipts
Morning Teas
Badge
Subscription
Interest
$
$
$
$
$ 4765.00
124.00
20.00
40.00
.08
Total $ 184.08
Payments
Morning Tea
Admin
Badges
BBQ
$
$
$
$
135.00
214.20
27.00
52.00
Total
$ 498.20
Balance at 28/2/15
4450.88
Mved David Varley 2nd John Crawford carried
FUNCTIONS Lunch at Ettalong June 24th
ACTIVITIES Premiers concert 18th March. 25th March, Central Park and White Rabbit Art
Gallery
April 22nd Narrabeen Lagoon Bush Walk, May 3rd Heritage Steam Train Journey, July
22nd Light Rail trip to Dulwich Hill ,
August Mystery Your.
10th September Victor
Chang Institute
SPEAKERS
Brian Kennedy has engaged the following speakers;April Wally Knowles History of Surveying
May
Valerie Martin talk on Ethiopia
WELFARE REPORT George Repin and Barry Stewart both recovering from recent illness,,
GENERAL BUSINESS.
Nil.
Following the coffee break Mary Napper gave a talk about writing her book on Autism.
GOLF at Palm Beach Friday 13th at 10am . Bill Sherman won the Trophy.
Meeting closed at 11.55 am
Signed as a correct record
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