Murray Magpie

June 2016

5

The Combined Probus Club of Murray Districts (Inc.)

Western Australia

President: Judith Bardon 9537 7954

Vice-President: Ron Moffat 9537 8782

Past President: Adri Weggen 9537 7708

Secretary: Shirley Boyd 9537 7066

Minute Secretary: Margaret Glass 9531 1284

Treasurer: Dee Arnold 0418949514

Membership Jeannette Mcdonald 9531 1965

& Welfare:

Programs: Ann Bevis 9537 7419

Activities: Fran Snabel & 9537 7461

Raylee Dickson 9537 6030

Interclub Liaisons Kerry Martin 9531 2351

& Publicity:

Assets: Ernie Hogan 95311732

Historian: Tom Hoffman 9537 6526

Murray Magpie Jan Bishop 0478636860

Newsletter Editor: Jan Bishop bishette42@gmail.com

Refreshments: Thanks to all the tea ladies

Club email address: murrayprobus1999@gmail.com

Website: http://murrayprobus.net

Our next General Meeting will be held

June 14th at the Ravenswood Hotel

N.B. 8.30am for 9.00am

Membership Requirements: unable to attend Apologies must be sent!

50% attendance throughout the year

Judy Bardon Jenny Fitch

Colin Brown Maureen Hayes

Shirlie Makin Kerry Martin

The June Meeting was held at the Ravenswood Hotel on Tuesday

the 14th June 2016 attended 51 members 1 visitor

Minutes of this meeting have been circulated to all members

Happy Birthday

To the following members on the

occasion of their Birthday

Programs 2016

June 14th Hamish McGlashan: Early Kimberley Explorers

July 12th John Thornton: Life in the Theatre (Regal)

Aug. 9th Shannon O’Connor: Volunteering in Zambia

Sept.13th Rory O’Brian: Planning/Managing W.A.Coast

Oct.11th Glenn Mitchell: Sport Topics

Things to do Places to see

July 12th Christmas in July Ravenswood Tavern (see flyer)

July 7th KEMH Centenary Historical Public tours.

Contact club secretary for more details

July 25th Whale Watching in Augusta

Aug.31st 40yrs of Probus Royal Perth Golf Club

Where

spring was called Ishtar.

Judy’s Jottings

Hello Friends,

Our first storm of the season has passed; hopefully none of you sustained too much

damage. I know we need the rain, but do we really need such strong winds? As you all

are probably aware, I’m not a “winter person”! I am looking out on a grey cold day with

fingers that have gone numb with cold. I will have to winter proof myself for our August

whale watching excursion in July.

Having said that, I have been on several long drives recently and the countryside is

looking absolutely beautiful. The trees and shrubs are returning to green in the

aftermath of recent devastating fires. Both trips, one to the hills and the other down

South, were especially enjoyable when rewarded with a lovely winter warming lunch, and a

glass of red, shared with family and friends.

Ann Bevis and I visited the Byford Probus Club on Wednesday 11th of May. We were

made very welcome, and we intend to invite two of their members to our meeting

sometime in the future to reciprocate their hospitality. These inter-club visits are a

good way to share ideas and gauge how our club is going. Ann even managed to secure a

very interesting speaker!

Just a reminder when unable to attend meetings, please lodge your apologies with a

Committee Member. Also, if away for two consecutive meetings or more a leave of

absence is required.

Till next time – keep smiling.

Judy

A Fishy Story

I went fishing one morning, but after a short time I ran out of prawns.

Then I saw a redbelly black snake with a frog in his mouth. Frogs are good barramundi bait.

Knowing the snake couldn't bite me with the frog in his mouth I grabbed him

right behind the head, took the frog, and put it in my bait bucket.

Now the problem was how to release the snake without getting bitten.

So, I grabbed my bottle of Jack Daniels and poured a little whiskey in its mouth. His eyes rolled back, he went

limp.

I released him into the lake without incident and carried on fishing using the frog.

A little later, I felt a nudge on my foot. It was that bloody snake, with two more frogs.

A Cryptic Experience

Jan Bishop

On our recent travels cruising overseas, we

visited many interesting places, one stands out

as very bizarre - Barcelona in Spain.The city is

a study of contrasts. Most striking is the

diversity of architecture in which Gothic

structures share the skyline with the surreal

created by Antoni Gaudi. His name is

immortalised in many landmarks, however he is

best known for his work on La Sagrada Familia

(The Unique elaborate Church) that began

constuction in 1882. The central tower is

172.5metres tall (tallest is Europe).The

flabouancy of the whole building is remarkable.

In 1911 he decided to devote himself

exclusively to the project, but unfortunately in

1926 this came to a sudden halt when he was

hit by a tram. Because of his rough attire taxi

drivers refused to take him to hospital and the

great architect died five days later. He was buried in the crypt of his church. 133 years later,

‘La Sagrada Familia’ is due to be completed soon!!!!!!

(2030 possibly)

The art historian Nikolaus Pevsner, writing in the 1960s, referred to Gaudí's buildings as growing

"like sugar loaves and anthills" and describes the ornamenting of buildings with shards of broken

pottery as possibly "bad taste" but handled with vitality and "ruthless audacity". perfection". Time

Magazine called it 'sensual, spiritual, whimsical, and exuberant’, George Orwell called it "one of the

most hideous buildings in the world",

Early Explorers in the Kimberly

Our guest speaker Dr. Hamish McGlashan

Dr McGlashan a retired obstetrician - gynecologist who worked in the northern suburbs and the

Kimberley for many years. He participated in many back packing expeditions in the Kimberley

retracing the routes of early explorers and looking for Aboriginal rock art. He is past president of the

Kimberley Society of Perth and contributor-co-editor of the Kimberley Society publication,

Kimberley History. the beaten track.

He will be talked about early explorers such as George Gray, Alexander Forrest and Joseph

Bradshaw and the settlements which resulted from their reports of the area which are still so far off.

In 1837, at the age of 25, Grey led a catastrophically ill-prepared expedition of exploration of north-

west Australia – only one man of his party had seen northern Australia before. It was at that time

believed that a great river entered the Indian Ocean from the north-west of Australia, and that the

country it drained might be suitable for colonisation. Grey, in conjunction with Lieutenant Franklin

Lushington, of the 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot, offered to explore this country and on 5 July

1837 he sailed from Plymouth in command of a party of five, the others being Lushington; Dr

William Walker, a surgeon and naturalist; and Corporals Coles and Auger of the Royal Sappers and

Miners.

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Neologisms:

Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.

Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.

Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.

Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.

Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absent-mindedly answer the door in your

nightgown.

Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.

Gargoyle (n) flavoured mouthwash.

Flatulence (n.) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.

Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.

Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.

Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.

Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.

Congratulation to Jillian Brown

For Best Local Artist Award at the Pinjarra Rotary Art Fest.

********************

Welcome to our new Probians

Elaine and John Lynch

Margaret Norris

This Publication and the Directory of members is for the exclucive use of the members of the Combined Club

of Murray District (WA) and should not be made available to persons who are not members except as

required by law