| Reports 2007 Second Half Year |
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Report of Meeting held on July 2, 2007 Representing the Council of the Aging (COTA), Monica McGrath, was our speaker for the day. The topic of today’s talk was the pros and cons of buying Generic or Brand Name medicines. She explained that there is no real difference between either of them apart from price, so the Generic must be the winner. She also stressed the importance of returning old or disused medicines to the Pharmacist for proper disposal. The importance of having a list of current medicines handy was also discussed. The death was recorded of our member Roman Borecki, formerly Engineman Mile End at the age of 80. A minute's silence was held for the departed member. Back Report of Meeting held on July 16, 2007 As both advertised speaker were unavailable for today, Brian Bush representing STEAMRANGER has agreed to take their place at the very last minute. This was his first day of retirement from full-time work and if this is any indication of his future, He will have a busy life. And what a speaker he proved to be. In a very relaxed manner, he gave a complete outline of all the activities of STEAMRANGER, from the present as well as future plans. And all of that done at short notice without any preparation, nor any written notes. Well-done Brian!! Back Report of Meeting held on July 30, 2007 The speaker of the day, Geoffrey Parkinson of the AUSTRALIAN RETIRED PERSONS ASSOCIATION (ARPA) had an audience of 30 persons. Being a retired teacher, he had this uncanny ability to put his subject over to his audience in an easy to understand way. The Association was first started in 1981 for the purpose of offering people over the age of 50 a broad spectrum of social, physical, learning and cultural activities. It is a non-profit organisation run by members for the benefit of members. It has a current active membership of over 4000. To have some idea as to what people contemplating retirement think, go to this page For more information about the Association go to their website at www.arpasa.asn.au or telephone them locally at 8211 9711. The death was recorded of Norm Jovanovich, formerly Engineman at Mile End, aged 87. A minute’s silence was held for the departed member. Back Report of Day-Tour on August 3, 2007 As everyone was on board by 9.05 am we left early with 29 persons. Travelling via Modbury, Holden Hill and Tea Tree Gully we went to Gumeracha for our morning coffee/tea stop in the park. Many of us also visited the local craft shop on the corner of the park. Then we went on to Birdwood for a very interesting demonstration of the craft of making Lead-Light windows. At the completion we then went via Mount Torrens to Charleston arriving there at 12.15 pm for our lunch. And what a lunch it was. Consisting entirely of homemade meals, they were all very delicious including desserts. Several suggested we should go back there one day. At 2.00 pm we went to Hahndorf for a browse around the township until 3.30 pm before travelling home via the freeway arriving at the Festival Centre at 4.15 pm. A day well enjoyed by all. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday August 13, 2007 Through circumstances beyond our control, the advertised speaker for the day was not available. However, the speaker for November 5 was willing to come forward and thus our Member Ray Jaensch with an audience of 26 persons gave his presentation today. What a delightful presentation that was. He had us laughing several times as he related his experiences when joining the railways at Callington and his subsequent journeys to Sedan. As I have heard of the goings-on in that territory before it would be hard to believe. All of this was presented in a very jovial manner. Moreover, he has already agreed to a return visit next year with more stories. We are looking forward to it already and well-done Ray. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday August 27, 2007 Always popular Pharmacist Alan Christie was the speaker for today. He had an audience of 25 persons and as is usual with his presentations, he had his audience spellbound with all the information he brought with him. He also put it to us in such a manner that it all became most humorous and he had us all laughing to our hearts content. A lot of information was asked for and was answered in the same humorous manner. It was a pleasure to have him with us. Moreover, he has already agreed to a return visit next year. Thanks Alan. The death was recorded of Walery Blocki, formerly Blocker in Adelaide, aged 86. May he rest in Peace. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday September 10, 2007 Our Speaker for the day, Andrew Hill, Manager of the Government Investigation Unit (GIU) of the Crown Solicitor’s Office had an audience of 29 persons present. He gave us an insight of the many individual departments within the Crown solicitor’s office with the aid of a PowerPoint display. They are specialists in all types of investigations at all levels of complexities from Civil and Worker’s Compensation claims to Executive and Ministerial enquiries. The death was recorded of Mike Clark, formerly Yard Master Dry Creek, at the age of 83. May he rest in peace. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday September 24, 2007 Our Speaker for the day, Keith Searle from TEKNIS ELECTRONICS, had an audience of 24 persons present. Teknis is an Electronic Wayside Monitoring System designed to monitor Wheel Condition, Vehicle Loading, Truck geometry, Wheel Profile, Bearing Acoustics and a host of related measurements to report the performance of rail vehicles while on the move. It can prevent derailments by forecasting when maintenance is required. A very ingenious system designed to warn of impending disasters. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday October 8, 2007 Senior Constable Dave Petterson from the SA Police had an audience of 27 persons when he talked about the Australian road rules. It certainly was an eye opener to our members. Most of them have not looked at the rules for many years. As most of them have not changed a great deal, some details certainly have. All was explained in simple language easily understood by all. Many questions were asked and expertly answered. He will be back next year to talk about driving and the aged. Should be another interesting session. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday October 22, 2007 With 28 persons present, our very popular speaker, John Evans, of the SA Tourism Commission, gave a very interesting insight in the many “Break of Gauge” Stations we used to have in South Australia. They started at Hamley Bridge and went all the way to Quorn. Amazingly, until pointed out, one does not realize how many there were. Moreover, every one of them had its own problems regarding yard management and transhipping by hand of all the goods. With the introduction of Standard Gauge, they have now all but disappeared. Another talk is already in the planning stages from this popular speaker. Thanks John. The daeth was recorded of Arthur Creeper, formerly Engineman in Adelaide, aged 81. And also of Ron Manson, formerly Instructor, aged 92. May they Rest in Peace. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday November 5, 2007 Through a swap around earlier in the year, we did not have the advertised speaker today. In its place was Donna Sullivan from the Animal Welfare League. She also brought along an assistant to work the computer and PowerPoint display plus her favourite pooch Sophie. A very delightful little dog who wanted to make friends with everyone. She proved to be a very capable speaker and delighted her audience of 27 persons with many stories about animals. The death was recorded of Ron Willats, formerly Train Controller, at the age of 87. In addition, Arthur Rafferty, formerly Electrical Fitter in Adelaide aged 90. A minute’s silence was held for the departed members. Back Report of Day-Tour to Cudlee Creek, November 9, 2007 With 24 persons on Kevin’s new 33-person coach, we left the Festival Theatre at 9.30am to travel via the Glen Osmond Road and the South Eastern Freeway to Hahndorf to stop for a morning cup of coffee/tea. Browsed through the Hahndorf Main Street until 11.30am when we travelled via Balhannah and the Melba Chocolate Factory to the Cudlee Creek restaurant were a 2-course lunch was waiting for us. And what a lunch it was. The Chicken or Beef schnitzels were plate-size and with a delicious flavour. Desserts were plentiful and enjoyed by all. Leaving at 2.30 pm we visited several Craft shops and also an apple orchard pie shop before travelling home via Tea Tree Gully arriving back at the Festival Theatre at 4.00pm. A day enjoyed by all. Back Report of Meeting held on Monday, November 19, 2007 Our Patron Ron Fitch was the speaker for today who had an audience of 29 persons. He has been our patron since 1973 when He retired from the then South Australian Railways as Railways Commissioner. He was also the last serving Commissioner as it then changed to Australian National. He has a very impressive range of titles including Order of the British Empire, Bachelor of Engineering (WA), Master of Engineering (WA), Doctor of Philosophy (NSW), Fellow of the Institution of Engineers and Life Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport. He first started working in the West Australian Government Railways in 1927 at the tender age of 17 and finished as the Supreme Commander of the South Australian Railways in 1973. Now aged 97 he still leads a very active life and visits our Club on a regular basis. Back Report of Christmas Lunch held on Friday, December 7, 2007 This is the eight Christmas Lunch we have celebrated with Frank, three at the Renaissance centre and five at the Adelaide Pavilion and every year He is getting better. The meals are superb, the service is excellent and the organization skill of the organizers leaves nothing to be desired. We had 34 persons attending this year and all of them must be in agreement with me. Thank you Frank and Staff for this excellent service over the past eight years. For a look at their extensive Menu, visit www.adelaidepavilion.com.au Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. Back |
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