Meetings  

2024

Friday 15 November: Our final meeting for the year. Dress 'Christmassy' and bring a small plate of finger food, please. Entertainment by the Singalong Group.

Friday 18 October: A Quiz with visitors from Panmure Probus Club

Friday 20 September: Guest Speaker is Maire Leadbetter, Human Rights and Peace Activist

Friday 16 August: Irene Bicknell summarised her trip with Epsom Probus to the Cambridge Velodrome and Sir Tristram Stud Museum. Our Guest Speaker, Ailaoa Aoina from Pacific Social Services presented the many aspects of her work

Friday 19 July: Howard & Hilary entertained us with Australian songs and Janice Willis from Elderly Assist gave us practical tips on downsizing and decluttering

Friday 21 June: Kevin Stanley covered his interest in photography, particularly nighttime projects and circulated samples of his amazing bird studies. Mai and Charlotte from the College of Chiropractic spoke on personal histories, training and the benefits of Spinal checks 

Friday 17 May:  Ann Skilling described her role as a judge of Burmese and Siamese Cats. Deputy Principal & students of Bailey Road School presented an impressive description of the activities and achievements of their very vibrant school

Friday 19 April: Our 30th Birthday Celebration included a black and white theme, photographs and a singalong

Friday 15 March: Our AGM.  Dr John Reynolds, Author and film maker described a stimulating journey through his young life as a teacher in many different countries. Thank you, Ted & Jean for your superb 60th Anniversary morning tea shout.

Friday 16 February: Sean Heenan from Glenbrook Vintage Railway gave us an overview of the Covid setbacks and ongoing revival of the Steam Engine site and various rail trips available in the North Island

2023

Friday 17 November: Our Scottish themed finale is the last meeting for 2023, We enjoyed the rousing sound of the bagpipes and Anton's explanation of the history, costume and culture of Highland music, followed by Scottish airs from our own Singalong Group.  We exchanged Secret Santa gifts and enjoyed plenty of home baking for a late morning tea.

 

Friday 20 October: Sarah Freiberg from Harbour Sport gave us good advice on “Falls Prevention” and had us up and energetic for balance and strengthening exercises

Friday 15 September: Joan King's recent trip to the Cook Islands left us envious.  Willie Iosia from Blue Light outlined his Samoan background and his role in supporting at risk young people

Friday 18 August: Irene Howard related her experiences during her career with Airport Security. Rob High from NZ Red Cross described the history, activities and local roles of the Red Cross/Crescent organisation.  We enjoyed his dynamic presentation

Friday 21 July:  We had a “Fun Fur Day”, parading our favourite fur finery. Howard & Leo enhanced the atmosphere with a great rendition of "Putting on the Ritz". ON a more sombre note the team from Davis Funerals gave a very comprehensive & informative presentation, after providing a sumptuous morning tea.

Friday 16 June: James Duncan gave a lively and enthusiastic presentation on historic trams & the early development of MOTAT, “Trash to Treasure”.

Friday 19 May: Mary Jones gave a mini talk on her adventures and explorations around Aotearoa.  Guest Speaker, Richard Blakeborough from Independent Living entertained us with humorous anecdotes and demonstration of several items to make life easier.

Friday 21 April: Our 29th Birthday. Kay Cossar-Stokes gave a mini talk on her summer trip around Northland. We celebrated with a quiz, MC’d by Ann Skilling. This was followed by birthday cake, cut by foundation and Life Member Rona Colbert, and a variety of 'plates' brought along by members.

Friday March 17: Our AGM was held including presentation of President's and Treasurer's Report and election of officers. Our Guest Speaker, Brooke van Velden, Deputy Leader of ACT gave an interesting insight into her own career and discussed several issues of interest to our members. St Patrick's Day gave us a chance to wear the green items in our wardrobes and enjoy creamy green on morning tea pikelets!

Friday 17 February: Our first meeting for the year.  Joan talked about her Cruise around the South Island cCoast in January and our Guest Speakers, Maria de Jong and Pamela Stone from 'Life Stories’ described the process of writing a family history and memoir.

2022

Friday 18 November: Joan King described her train holiday on the Edmund Hillary Rail Trip, around the South Island. Our last meeting of 2022 was celebrated with a catered lunch and a singalong led by Hilary and Howard and our singing group. 'Secret Santa' gifts were also exchanged

Friday 21 October: Judith Stanley spoke of her long involvement with the local Badminton Club. Guest Speaker was Karen Kilgour from Antiques of Parnell who gave an interesting outline of her career and showed some of her own favourite pieces. Members brought along several items for a show & tell and discussion

Friday 16 September:  Pauline McKinley shared her experiences in her Gift Basket business. Jenny Salesa MP outlined International Conferences she had attended and the aid projects to her native Tonga following the eruption and tsunami earlier this year

Friday, 19 August: Our mini–speaker Eunice Brooks described a scary flight back from the USA and Janice Chandler. at very short notice, displayed and described the many costumes she had purchased in Tunisia and Libya

Friday 15 July: Julene Burstall gave as an intriguing mini talk on a trip to North Korea. Our invited Guest Speaker was laid low with 'flu so we were fortunate to have our long-time Member Ted Dickens who was willing to step in and talk on his business experience in China as a buyer for Farmers Trading Co.

Friday June 17: Mikael Wills was both Mini & Guest Speaker and gave us a fascinating outline of his technician role on a cruise ship. Thank you for your musical interludes, too, Mikael

Friday 20 May: Bev Williams outlined her 'baby boomer' life and Norma Pretscherer described her early years and how she came to write her book 'A Skylark Sings'.

Friday 22 April: Our 28th Birthday!  Yvonne Salesa talked about her visits to Samoa.  Hilary and Howard entertained us with song, and we celebrated with a catered lunch.

Friday 18 March: Our AGM followed the usual format with Office Holders and Committee unchanged - Please think about joining our committee and contributing to the smooth running of our club. It's fun! Our Guest Speaker was Graham Walton who gave an interesting screen show on the history of Eden Park

Friday 18 February: Our first meeting in 6 months! Val Jackson described her visit to the Gallipoli exhibition at Te Papa and showed us the woollen socks she had knitted from the souvenir pack. Kathryn Trounson from BetterNZ promoted the benefits of EV's.

2021

Meetings in August, September, October and November cancelled due to COVID lockdown.

Friday 16 July: G Mini speaker was Hilary who described her early years in music and travel. She finished with a beautiful song: My Lagon Love. Gillian Eadie gave a stimulating presentation on ways to develop and maintain a healthy memory.

Friday 18 June: Elaine Rutherfurd covered her involvement with a Northland Charity, Bald Angels.  Anna Crane from Macular DegenerationNZ gave a very insightful presentation on MD, making us more aware of our precious eyesight and ways to preserve it.

Friday 21 May: Irene described her recent visit to Culverden and surroundings where she accompanied her son on his stock run. Julie Chapman spoke on her lifestyle and the reasons she set up and continues to lead Kidscan.

Friday 16 April:  Birthday Meeting. We celebrated with a challenging, entertaining Quiz researched and organised by Ann Skilling.  Afterwards we had a special Morning tea provided by the Committee.

Friday 19 March: AGM. The 2020 Minutes, President's and Treasurer's Reports were moved and accepted. Maureen Reed accepted nomination as President and was voted in unanimously. VP is Bev Williams. With no further nominations, all other office holders remain in their roles.  Ann Skilling moved a vote of thanks to Kevin Stanley for his 2 years as President and we thanked Fran Duncan who has resigned from the Committee after 7 years’ service. We do need more Committee members to keep the club alive and stimulating.

Dr Ian Alexander gave a fascinating history of Tiritiri Matangi along with superb photographs of the returning birdlife and environmental changes on the Island.  Inspiration for a future Probus trip in the future?

Howard Wills entertained us with amusing songs from his repertoire.

Friday 19 February: Cancelled due to COVID lockdown.

Friday 22 January: Picnic.

2020

Meetings in March, April, May, August and September cancelled due to COVID lockdowns.

Friday 20 November: Mark Solo entertained us at our last meeting of the year.

Friday 16 October: Venue changed to Ellerslie Masonic Centre, 9 Roberts Street, Ellerslie. Ted Dickens spoke on his career with Farmers.

Friday 17 July: Maureen stood in as mini speaker and described her lifetime hobby of knitting soft toys. She read her poem on Scarecrows Her favourite scarecrow was much admired as it was passed around the audience. Janice Chandler gave a fascinating glimpse of her travels in Uzbekistan, a history of The Silk Road and a colourful display of the local dress and customs.  Thank you, Janice and Dave.

Friday 19 June: We held a delayed AGM and Birthday Morning Tea. Our AGM included the President's and Treasurer's Annual Reports and Election of Officers. We welcome new Committee Member, Hilary Wills and farewell Suzanne Turner from the Committee.  Thank you, Suzanne, for your service.  Suzanne displayed her beautiful quilts. The main topic of the day:  'Lockdown' experiences!

February Meeting: Our Vice President Maureen Reed gave a mini talk on her trip back to the UK late last year. In two weeks, she covered Edinburgh, via London, to Guernsey in the Channel Islands, her birthplace.

Our main speaker was Geoff Matthews, a school Principal with a passion for bee keeping. He gave fascinating insights into the life of bees, in and out of the hive, and his early experiences which developed into an ongoing business of honey and beeswax production. We were not only entertained by his presentation but also amusingly informed on his lifelong interest.