| Reports 2004 Second Half Year |
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Report of Meeting held on Monday July 5, 2004. The first meeting for the second half-year started with 29 persons present. This is despite me sending out 50 letters to members who have not attended for some time. As a result of that 5 members returned. The speaker for the day, Darren Garbin from Homestart Finance, started very nicely and had his PowerPoint show running according to plan when suddenly it all stopped because of a lack of power to the computer. This was not caused by any fault of his but rather by the Hall’s power point failing. However he soldiered on like a good trouper. However I feel he would have done more had it not been for this fault. If he is willing I will therefore ask him back next year after the hall has been refurbished and the fault rectified. Back Report of Luncheon at Sky City on Monday July 19, 2004. Comparing this lunch with the previous occasions we have dined at Sky City this is a 100% improvement for the better. The extra option is certainly worth it as it also includes table service in a private room. And a choice of two desserts was also provided. 28 Persons took part. Very well done Sky City. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday August 2, 2004. With the forecast of very wintry weather and the likelihood of hail I did not expect a great turn-up today. However, 26 very faithful members braved the conditions. The speaker for the day, Dean Stewart from the CPS Credit Union brought along Andrew Woodrow, a Financial Planner with CPS. He gave us a very detailed description of what a Financial Planner does. And it turns out that they do a lot more than most people realize. He very expertly answered numerous questions from his audience. A large range of brochures was left for the audience to take home and peruse. The death was reported of Brian McKeough, formerly Running Foreman Mile End, at the age of 87. Also Tom Aplin, occupation unknown, at the age of 92. A minute’s silence was observed for the departed members. Payments were due today for our Day-Tour on Friday August 13. So far 28 persons will be taking part. Back Report of Day-Tour held on Friday August 13, 2004. With the weather forecasted as wet and windy we did now expect this to be so popular, but much to everyone’s surprise we had the greatest turn-up for a number of years with 39 persons taking part. And that is after receiving three cancellations on account of illness. We would have had 42 in that case. We proceeded smoothly to Tailem Bend where we had a comfort stop with coffee/tea at the now renovated railway station. This no longer used as a station and the complete line to Victoria is now unattended. Who would have ever thought this possible in the once so busy Tailem Bend? I can see this turning into a ghost town like Terowie. We then proceeded to Camp Coorong. Lots of history from the local Aboriginal Community is on display here. Back to Meningee and to the Cheese factory museum and restaurant for our lunch. With a choice of three, surprisingly 34 out of 39 went for the Coorong Mullet. Crumbed and deep-fried it was really delicious. After lunch we travelled around lake Albert to Narrung, crossed the neck of the lake by ferry, and travelled back to Tailem Bend. Then along the freeway to Hahndorf were we visited the local vegetable market. Lots of purchases were made. Back to Adelaide, arriving at the Festival Theatre by 5.00 pm. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday August 16, 2004. Another wet and cold day forecasted, hence only 21 persons turned up for our meeting. As well, three members that we know of are away interstate while one in on the sick list. And that also does not help. However, the speaker for the day, John Gawen from Community Fire Safe, was happy and gave us an extensive insight in the way fires work and especially the way undergrowth effects the progress of it. Embers are also very dangerous as they cause fires long after the main front has passed over. Supported by a PowerPoint display his talk was well worth the effort of coming to listen. We will see him back again later this year with a different subject. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday August 30, 2004. Mr. Val Pylypenko from the “Seniors Information Service” was the speaker for today. He gave us a very in-depth insight in the options available for the elderly when the need arises to go into homes. Types of Villages, Financial arrangements, Locations and care options were all discussed. He is a very capable speaker who can hold his audience. Regretfully, only 27 persons turned up to hear him speak. We also had to say farewell to two members who have departed from this world. They are Enid Redzinsky, daughter of Charge Storeman / First Aid Attendant “Doc” Bennett in Mile End, at the age of 81. Also Alby Pontifex, formerly Signalman at Gawler, at the age of 86. A minute’s silence was observed for the departed members. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday September 13, 2004. Tina Vella from the Commonwealth Carelink Centres was the speaker for today. The Centre provides free information about Community aged care, disability and other support services. They have a large database on a large range of services and how to contact them. Tina proved to be a very accomplished speaker who has a broad knowledge of all the services her centre provides. To contact them dial freecall 1800 052 222, which will connect you to the nearest branch, or visit their website www.commcarelink.health.gov.au. Regretfully we again had to say farewell to two members who have passed away. Jim Sitschuck, formerly a shunter in Adelaide, at the age of 82, and Bob Hunter, formerly a Foreman at the Islington Works, at the age of 88. Members stood in silence for one minute in memory of the departed members. May they rest in peace! Back For a full report of our 6-Day tour to Dubbo click on this link Report of Meeting held on Monday September 27, 2004. An improvement today with 32 persons turning up to hear John Morcom talk about his experiences as a Train Controller. And what an experience it was. He was stationed in 4 different locations in a 3-year period. What an ordeal that must have been, not only for him as he did it for advancement in the job, but also his growing Family. On one occasion he arrived at his destination before the furniture did, so they had to stay in a hotel. He started as a Junior Station Assistant, then progressed to Carriage Cleaner, Assistant Shunter, Supervising Shunter, Relieving Check-Porter, Acting Yardmaster and Guard before moving to the Train Control Section at Murray Bridge, Pt. Lincoln, Peterborough and finally in Adelaide. And the experiences he had in that time is enough to fill a book. Regretfully another member passed on in the past 2 weeks. He was Allen W. Wasley, formerly L.M.D. at Port Pirie, at the age of 73. The members stood in silence for one minute for the departed member. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday October 11, 2004. On a warm spring day we had 24 persons in attendance to listen to our speaker for the day, Jane Walkley, from the Seniors Information Service. With the aid of a PowerPoint display she gave us a very in-depth talk about the care options available for the elderly. Also the in-home support options, respite and aged care facilities and their fees. A talk in a complicated subject done with the knowledge of an expert. For more information phone freecall 1800 636368, fax (08) 8232 3700, e-mail information@seniors.asn.au or visit their website www.seniors.asn.au Back Report of Meeting held on Monday October 25, 2004. We must have done something right for this meeting because 38 persons turned up to hear Cliff Olds talk about the history of the narrow gauge Broken Hill express. And he did so with obviously excellent memory of those days. He described every stop along the way in detail, right up to Gawler. They were the days when railways really mattered and were vital for both personal and goods traffic. Everyone enjoyed his talk and he himself offered to come back to us again next year with a different subject, an offer much appreciated. Back Report of Day-Tour October 29, 2004. After waiting for a latecomer who still did not turn up, we left the Festival Theatre at 8.40 am with 25 persons on board and 2 more to pick up along the Main North Road for a total of 27 persons. Arrived at Port Wakefield by 10.00 am for a morning tea/coffee and comfort stop before proceeding to the Dry Land Farming Centre at Kadina. This is a very interesting place showing both the old and the new ways of farming dry land. Much history of farming is preserved here including a fully equipped family home. Well worth the visit. Went to the Royal Exchange Hotel and had a 2-course dinner before taking a drive to Wallaroo and a tour of the township. On the way back to Port Wakefield we stopped at the Kulpara Captain Flinders Lookout. Magnificent view. Another comfort stop at Port Wakefield before driving back to Adelaide arriving at the Festival Theatre at 5.30 pm. A day enjoyed by all. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday November 8, 2004. After the almost record turn-up at the last meeting, today was a disappointment with only 23 persons present. The speaker for the day, Phil Hendry, State manager of the Australian Pensioners Insurance Agency, is a very witty speaker who his capable of making his audience laugh while at the same time getting his point across. He is well versed in the insurance business and also the history of it. He gave some examples dating back to the 1700’s when insurance was run by fire fighting companies with the resulting problems having different companies vying for business. If not insured with the attending fire brigade they would just turn around and go back home letting your building burn to the ground. The passing away was receorded of Alf H. Barber on the 29th of October, formerly Yard Master at Mile End, at the age of 87. Members stood in silence for one minute for the departed member. Bookings are now being taken for our yearly Christmas Luncheon on Friday December 10. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday November 22, 2004. At this, the last meeting for the year, we had 29 persons present to hear our speaker for the day, Terry Hassam. He is the Community Fire Safe facilitator. He had a very impressive PowerPoint display to assist him in his topic “How to survive a bushfire”. Very well done! We have one more function this year and that is our annual Christmas luncheon at the Adelaide Pavilion. Situated in Veale Gardens, corner South Terrace and King William Road. At $30 per person for a 3-course table-service dinner it is very well priced. Our Club will provide the drinks. After last years success at this venue we hope this will be a repeat performance. For those who are not attending our luncheon, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and safe New Year. The first meeting in the New Year will be on Monday February 7 when we will have our Annual General Meeting. Back Report of Christmas Lunch, Friday December 10, 2004. This has proven to be the best Christmas Lunch we have ever put together. 38 Persons took part and I have already had comments about the quality of food and service plus the request for a repeat next year. The Potato and Bacon soup was full flavoured, the Barramundi I had and the Turkey others had was succulent and the excellent Pudding topped it all off. This one meal that cannot be faulted in any way. Very well done Adelaide Pavilion. You can see their website at www.adelaidepavilion.com.au for more information or email on contact@adelaidepavilion.com.au or by phone on (08) 8212 7444. Back |
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