PRESIDENTS LUNCH

The lunch was attended by 66 members and one visitor and I think everyone would agree that there was a good variety on the main course menu to choose from and I don't think anyone would have gone hungry from the size of the meals including dessert.  Thank you to all who attended in making this a great lunch for our outgoing President, Betty.

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Lyn

        2022

     FUN, FRIENDSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP

SUE'S WALK REPORT:

We had nine members & 1 visitor join in for our walk on 22nd March along the Anniversary Trail, Kew.  It was an absolutely delightful morning for a walk. We were lucky, because this walk often encourages rain. Once again , it was good to see our menfolk joining in and having a great time.  On the way back we stopped at Town & Country Cafe for our "cuppas".  Service was great and everyone, epecially our coffee Connoisseurs, were delighted with the quality. After our extended coffee and chat break, we wandered around the lovely gift shop, where a couple of the ladies have decided to head back for a bit of shopping at a later date.  We highly recommend this place for a visit.

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This trail follows the right-of-way of the old steam era Outer Circle Line.  It runs from the Yarra River Trail near the Eastern Freeway at Fairfield, down to Hughesdale Station in the south.  The Outer Circle train line opened in 1891. Parts of the trail were opened 100 years later in 1991, hence "The Anniversary Trail.

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Our next walk is along the Warrandyte Riverside on Thursday,14th April (day before Good Friday), and I look forward to many of you there.

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I'm going to throw in a "Coffee" saying this time.

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                                          "I only drink coffee three days a week!  

                                           Yesterday, today and tomorrow".

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Before I sign off, I would like to give Loris a BIG, "THANK YOU" for all the hard work and amazing job she does with our wonderful Web page. For those of you who are able to read it, you know what I mean.  Thanks a heap Loris!

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Thanks Sue for your comments regarding the Web Page. I enjoy publishing the Page and showing readers what a great Club we have.

MARCH BARBECUE - RUFFEY LAKE PARK

A perfect evening for a barbecue. 21 members attended. We all enjoyed the company of our fellow Probians and were entertained by a joke from one of our past Presidents, Brian. A fun, relaxed evening of companionship.

AMBLER"S REPORT:

On the 1st April, no joke, we had three members join in for a delightful amble around Birranung Park inTemplestowe.  This has become an exclusive Club for this Amble, there was Lyn, Ros and Sue!!!

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It is a very pretty area with great facilities and we promise to organize this one again further down the track - no pun intended.  We three had a very pleasant amble followed by an extended cuppa and chat. Being only us three, we managed to do a selfie!! I bet you can't tell from the photo.  Ros held the phone, we all leant in and I pushed the button.  Very professional.  I did take a photo of a very beautiful gum tree along the way.  Please keep this one in mind when we do it again.

Our next amble is on the 6th May at Ruffey Lake Boulevard end carpark and we hope to see a few of you join in.  New members welcome as it is a great way to get to know a few folk in a relaxed way.

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Saying for the day:

"Beauty surrounds us, but usually we need to be walking in a park or garden to know it"

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Sue and Ros

LUNCH AT OLD ENGLAND HOTEL:

                Flicker Photos

29 people attended the Old England Hotel which proved a great place to eat and catch up with our friends.

Thank you to everyone who came and I think all enjoyed the day at the hotel as you can always rely on it and enjoy the food and atmosphere.

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Judy

SUE'S WALK REPORT:

On the 14th April,(or Maundy Thursday) we had 12 members join in for the Warrandyte Riverside walk, and what a delightful sunny morning it was.  Our beautiful Yarra River never lets us down either.  It was good to see some new faces on the walk - hope to see you again Barbara and Margaret - I say the more the merrier.

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I had planned on having our cuppa at the Warrandyte Cafe and after many failed phone calls, I thought we will just wing it when we get there. But, alas, it was closed down.  Not sure why as it still comes up on Google. Sad if it is another business gone.

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But, we enjoyed our drinks at Stonehouse Cafe halfway along.  The Easter Bunny was supposed to hand out some Easter goodies to have with our cuppas but forgot.  Instead we received them along the track on the way back to take home and enjoy.  I would like to wish all our Club members a very happy and safe Easter, and look forward to seeing you on our next walk which is: The Cootamundra Walk in Blackburn on 26th April.

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Sue's saying for the day:

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"Don't tell secrets in the garden!  The potatoes have eyes, the Corn has ears and the Beanstalk!"

CRAZY WHIST:

We had 18 players settle into a cosy night of Crazy Whist games.  We took a while to remember the basic rules and how to interpret the crazy rules which can have such a big effect on the scores.  As usual the player with the lowest score receives the same prize as the winner who has tried so hard to get the highest score, and everyone gets chocolate rewards throughout the night.

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Our April winner, with a score of 94 was Susan, closely followed by Ron with 91.  Our lucky tail-ender with the lowest score was Marion.  It was good fun to be back enjoying ourselves together again.

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Jan

SUE'S WALK REPORT:

12 walkers joined in for the Cootamundra Walk around Blackburn area. I had arranged to park in a certain area in the North Blackburn shopping centre, which is being upgraded, so to make sure, I checked it out a few days before; all good!  But, on the day, adding a bit of interest to the morning, the entrance we needed was blocked off.  Soi after a few phone calls and U turns we managed to congregate and head off.

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We had another lovely morning for walking and this is a very pretty area, following the Cootamundra Trail and heading out to wander through the very leafy streets of Blackburn before making our way back to have a very enjoyable cuppa and chat at Aunt Billies Cafe near the end of our journey.

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Our next walk on Thursday, 12th May, is the Mullum Mullum Creek trail from the stadium top Park Rd, having our cuppa and toilet break at the Stadium.  Hope to see you there.

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Sue's Senior's Saying:  "The best thing about being over the hill is that now can have some fun and free-wheel down the other side".

APRIL 'PICNIC IN THE PARK':

             Wikipedia

                Wikipedia

16 members attended the picnic at our usual Ruffey Lake meeting place. This was the first time we had met at the earlier time of 3pm. This is a great idea for the cooler months. We all enjoy this get together, meeting up with our Probus friends, enjoying a glass of wine or two, feasting on the many nibbles bought along by members and of course the usual chatter and laughter.

"COME ALONG AND  JOIN IN THE FUN"

AMBLES REPORT:

How lucky were we weatherwise!  Six ladies joined in for our Amble on 6th May. I was very apprehensive as to what the weather was going to do.  I had visions of "let's call it off and find a coffee shop" but no, we had sunshine and although it was a bit chilly, ideal conditions really for a lovely amble alongside the lake at Ruffey Park.  And of course, after the amble there was the usual chat and cuppa, hopefully solving the problems of the world.

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Our next Amble is 3rd June at Warrandyte, and we have the option of coffee shops if the weather turns nasty, so Ros & I look forward to seeing you there.

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Sue's saying for the Day: 

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"Remember to turn everything off once a week,  including your brain - and walk somewhere quiet."

SUE'S WALK REPORT:

We had 8 walkers join in for the Mullum Mullum Creek Trail on 12th May.  This is a pretty area and once again, the weather was good for walking.  Afterwards, we enjoyed a coffee and chat at the Stadium Cafe, where Ralph was able to join us and enjoy a cuppa, and Joan was in the area  and waited to say "hello".  Good to see them both.  Unfortunately, I had 4 phone calls with a couple of sickies and some members who were having to isolate.  I hope everyone is ok now and we get to see you next walk.  I think this is the way of the world now.

Along the way we noticed a Manningham Council worker with an iPad checking out the trees.  On chatting to him we found he was surveying the trees, noting ones that needed attention with branches having to be lopped.  Part of this is estimating how many people use the track, how long it takes them to travel a certain distance, and making sure we stay safe from falling branches and trees.  Attached is a photo of a very large interesting tree, with bits falling off everywhere that I had taken earlier.  This happened to be the same tree he was standing under while, with a grin, telling how they keep the place safe for us.  Now we know one of the jobs our Council are doing for us.

Our next walk is 24th May at Campbell's Croft, Vermont and I look forward to seeing you there.

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Sue's Saying for the Day:  "An early morning walk is a blessing for the day".

DONVALE CENTRAL PROBUS CLUB 16TH BIRTHDAY

70 members of Donvale Central Probus Club

attended the birthday celebrations following

the meeting on May 17th.

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They enjoyed a great roast lunch followed

with cake for dessert.

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Thank you to Lyn and the helpers.

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Jean

      PAST PRESIDENTS

SUE'S WALK REPORT:

We had 8 walkers join in for the Campbell's Croft Vermont to Wantirna walk. It was a perfect Autumn morning for our walk along the very pretty Dandenong Creek area. We saw goats and ducks all of who were very friendly and thought they were going to be fed.  I felt bad when we had no tucker for them.

After our walk it was a short drive and a bit of a fiddle finding a parking spot, for our cuppa and chat at a very nice "Sweet LIme Cafe". Another very enjoyable morning with friends and I look forward to seeing many of you join in for our next walk on 9th June along the Koonung Trail East Doncaster.

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The Story of Campbell's Croft:

Campbell's Croft Reserve was once owned by two generations of the Campbell family, who were early settlers of Dandenong Creek.

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John and Mary Cambell first settled here at the end of the 19th century, living in a small "wattle and daub" hut in the creek-side meadow and raising poultry.  The couple had two children, Bruce in 1888 and Daisy in 1900.

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The two children inherited the property in 1930 and continued to cultivate the 30 acres of land, creating what is traditionally known as a Scottish "croft" - a small farm.  The pair constructed a bulrush thatched roof atop of their family home, which was originally built of ti-tree and mud.  They also planted the meadow with a selecion of English trees and flowers, many of which can still be seen today.

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For 85 and 79 years respectively, Bruce and Daisy Campbell enjoyed a simple life at the croft, where their family home remained until the 1970's. They grew vegetables in a market garden and continued raising poultry and were well-known in the community for their love of the local environment.  Bruce and Daisy resisted all offers from land developers, but in 1969 sold 9.7 hectares to the Nunawading Council for passive recreation and a walking track.  The English-style parkland and natural Dandenong Creek landscape is enjoyed by the community today.

http://www.ccaw.org.au

               Vermont 'The Story of a Community'

CRAZY WHIST:

Coughs and colds kept our numbers down last night for our Crazy Whist games, but we all still had plenty of fun, chatter and competition. A delightful Lyn was the winner with a score of 111, just beating a devastated Ron Washington by 1 point. Ralph stayed on the same table all night until the last game, but he was still beaten into last spot by a very happy Mary Drake, with a score of 58.

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Crazy Whist will be in recess for Winter but will be back in the warmer months later in thr year.

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Jan

AMBLES REPORT:

We had 6 lovely ladies join in for our Warrandyte Riverside Amble on 3rd June.  The weather was chilly but fine, and the river, as usual, beautiful. We wandered along heading to the "Now and Not Yet" Cafe where we lingered longer over our drinks while having a good chat in the warm and friendly environment.  Our waitress was very impressed with Peggy's beautiful hot pink nails and commented on how they matched her lipstick perfectly.  On our way back we stopped for a wander in the Stonehouse Gallery, always good for some interesting items and gift ideas.

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Our next Amble is on Friday, 1st July meeting near Schwerkolt Cottage, Mitcham, and we look forward to seeing you join in.  

If the weather is not good, straight to the coffee shop is always an option.

Here is a small part of the story of "Now and Not Yet Cafe".  "It is a not-for-profit social enterprise. We live in Warrandyte and are committed to seeing our community flourish.  Having places and spaces where people can connect, hang out and do what brings life to each other is vitally important.  We believe it's better to give than receive, so our profits go back into supporting Warrandyte."

From "Not and Not Yet Cafe" 

SUE'S WALK REPORT:

The Gods are certainly smiling on our walkiung group with the weather.  Listening to the news reports, I thought we would be heading straight to the Coffee shop, but no, it stayed fine - chilly- but fine.  We had 17 cheery members join in the Koonung Creek Trail walk on June 9th.  The section we did is a very pretty area, with one part a lovely community garden, gnomes included, maintained by the residents.

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We were meant to have our "cuppa" at the "L'Affogato Cafe" in Tunstall Square but it closed for renovation a few weeks ago, so, change of Cafe.  We were made very welcome at "Home of Delicacies".

Our next walk is on Tuesday, 28th June (School holidays) and I look forward to seeing you join in.  Here's hoping the weather stays fine.

We walk alongside a lot of lovely creeks so I thought I'd try to find a story behind them.  I couldn't find a lot of history to the Koonung Creek (or Koonung Koonung Creek, a tributary in Victoria).  It is a small tributary, 11 kms long, of the Yarra River in Melbourne's east originating in Nunawading near Springvale Road and flowing to join the Yarra at the border between Ivanhoe East, Bulleen and Balwyn North.  The place the two waterways meet forms the border between these suburbs. According to Melbourne Water's monitoring station for the creek at Bulleen Road, it is also the poorest quality, which has been evident from the earlier days of European settlement.  It does have 5 species of frogs calling the creek home, being the Common Eastern Froglet, the Spotted Marsh frog,  The Striped Marsh Frog, the Eastern or Pobblebonk Frog!!! and the Southern Brown or Ewing's Tree Frog.  I didn't realise our frog life had such exotic names.

Pobblebonk Frog                                                                                                                                                                                               Striped Marsh Frog
Australian Geographic                       Wikimedia                                                                    Wikimedia                                            Wikipedia

LUNCH AT WARREN GLEN

14 attended our lunch at Warren Glen on Thursday, 23rd June. This was a very happy group and there was plenty of catching up amongst Probus friends. The food was nice served by very helpful staff.

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Hope everyone enjoyed themselves and were happy with my choice of venue.

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Judy

SUE'S WALK REPORT:

Our walk for the 28th June was listed as "Dandenong Creek Trail from Parker Reserve, Heathmont. As our numbers were going to be low for many and various reasons, I made an Executive decision and changed it to the Warrandyte Riverside Walk.  We hadn't done the planned walk for some time and I thought it a pity for folk to miss out, so we will do it in September.

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We had 3 members and 2 visitors - my hubby and grandson.  As you will see from the photos, we put the grandson in charge of the 'selfies" and he seems to be right in the front!!! The weather was chilly but fine, the river very full and flowing fast with lots of ducks, and as usual, lots of owners and their dogs out walking.  We had our "cuppa" at the Stonbehouse Cafe which was warm and cosy.

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Our next walk is on Thursday, 14th July, along the Gardiners Creek Trail, Burwood and I look forward to seeing you join in.  Here's hoping the weather stays fine.

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I was meant to be telling a story about the Dandenong Creek, but as plans changed I will save that for when we do it.

Here's a thought for the day:

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"In every walk with nature, one receives far more than you seek".

I find this every time we walk along the Yarra, always changing, slways beautiful and makes you feel good.

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