Previous Outings
October Activity, 2nd October: UN BEL DI by Brian
In recognition of Probus Month and Seniors month 2024, the Probus Club of Kenmore Gardens decided to take the initiative and seek a Seniors Month Grant from the Queensland Government. Our goal was an ambitious one to replace the guest speaker part of the October Meeting with a concert featuring a professional opera soprano, a tenor and a piano player presenting a range of duets and solo performances from operatic favourites to operettas and contemporary musicals.
If successful, our intention was to livestream the performance to clubs around Australia.
Without the benefit of the grant, the initiative wasn’t economically viable so the project was put on the backburner indefinitely. And there it stayed for a few days only until the Committee, encouraged by the desire to provide an uplifting experience during probus Month, decided the project had to go ahead!
Concurrently one of the Committee members, Publicity Officer/Webmaster/Newsletter Editor, Chris, mentioned our dilemma to a local business, Just-in Time Electrical, owned by son Justin. A very generous sponsorship was immediately arranged, and a decision was made by the Committee to proceed.
Members Brian and Kaye resumed discussions with D’Arne Sleeman whose musical background was considered perfect for the role of musical director and lead performer for this unique concert concept. The musical program was soon settled, and negotiations concluded. Discussions with Just-in Time Electrical saw the sponsorship arrangements rapidly agreed.
Available funds for national streaming were not available so the ambitious plan to involve Probians from around the country were deferred to another time.
With almost 100 members and guests present our commissioned concert, “Un Bel Di - One Fine Day” was held at the Jindalee Hotel Grand Ballroom on October 2nd, 2024. D’Arne was joined by colleagues Bernard Wheaton and Mark Connor a well-known Tenor and Pianist respectively.
Bernard and Mark are well known music professionals, and D’Arne and Bernard have taken part in over 50 Opera Queensland productions over the as well as countless joint performances around Queensland.
In the intimate room - the term Grand Ballroom may be a little exaggerated - the plan was for everyone to experience close-up the magic of stunning operatic and contemporary musical performances. And nobody was disappointed.
The song list included well known favourites from Verdi, Mozart and Puccini. With no one further than 12 meters from our performers the magic of Un Bel Di from Madama Butterfly was pure bliss from D’Arne, and Bernie’s delivery of Nessun Dorma was flawless. Showcasing his talent Mark performed one of Liszt’s compositions.
Completing the program with “All I ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera and “Time to say Goodbye” our Trio left the audience in awe at their amazing talent and the beauty of their music. What a superb day for everyone. Happy Probus and Seniors Month.
September multi-day Bus Tour to Dorrigo
A big thanks goes to Rob for planning and organising this trip with Alan Foster owner of Granite Highland Maxi Tours. And a big thanks to Alan for a great and professional tour.
Day 1, because of the Indooroopilly Bridge closure, there were two pickup points – the first was at 7:30am at Akuna Oval and then onto Mt Ommaney shopping centre for the second pickup point. It was a beautiful sunny day for the first day of our adventure.
Our first stop was at the Gallery Café at Ballina for morning tea. We sat outside around a long table. We all ordered our drinks to our taste and then a range of cakes and slices were put on the tables. We then knew that we would be well fed on this trip.
Back on the road again heading for the township of Ulmarra. The tiny settlement of Ulmarra was established when Thomas Small bought land along the Clarence River in 1857. Small had been a timber cutter, exploiting the cedar in the area but by the 1850s he had turned to general farming firstly growing maize and then around 1865, growing sugar cane.
On the way we passed the Big Prawn and drove through very green pastures and paddocks along the mighty Clarence.
Our first stop in the picturesque 19th Century township of Ulmarra was lunch at the historic Ulmarra Hotel. We had pre-ordered our luncheon menu, so lunch arrived very quickly which we washed down with assorted beverages. After lunch, we wandered through the township taking in the history.
Back on the road again this time heading to the Carobana Carob Factory, via a very scenic drive.
Here, we spent about 45 minutes sampling the treats, looking through the factory, buying up for later consumption and taking in the surrounds.
We then travelled through the townships of Bonville, Repton, Raleigh, Bellingen and Thora. From Thora we followed a very windy steep road through the Dorrigo National Park, glimpsing incredible views through the forest canopy.
We arrived at our destination, the Lookout Mountain Resort, our home for the next three nights. After settling in, we took in the mountain views, checked out the deer in a paddock next to our accommodation, took in the local flora and fauna and then prepared for our dinner with drinks at the bar.
As we had pre-ordered our meals they arrived quickly and we settled into a very delicious main course followed by dessert. It had been a long day, we were now replete but tired so we were glad to hit our rooms for the night.
Day 2, another beautiful day in paradise. Up for buffet brekkie at 7:30am, the next leg of the adventure started at 8:30.
First stop was at Griffiths Lookout, then to Dorrigo National Park for short walk to Information Centre / Skywalk with morning tea at the Canopy Café. Tour around Dorrigo including a visit to the Old Railway Precinct which houses hundreds of old NSW railway carriages and locomotives, then to Dangar Falls and then time to browse shops with lunch at the Dorrigo Hotel, then to Ebor Falls.
After a very adventurous day it was back to Lookout Mountain Retreat Motel for dinner and bed.
Day 3, we departed after breakfast heading to the historic township of Bellingen for a stroll through the shopping strip. Bellingen is known for its hippie subculture and diverse arts community so there were some interesting shops and sights. We then headed to the Old Butter Factory for morning tea.
After morning tea we had a walk around the grounds, saw their guard dog (old salty on top of shed) and Dora, the cow, farewelling visitors. We then had a quick stop at and browse through the Old Yellow Shed.
Off to the Honey Place, Urunga for tastings. We had a short talk on bee hives and saw live bees in action in a transparent hive. For those with a sweet tooth, there was a wide variety of honey to buy.
Next we headed to The Clog Barn for lunch in the Coffee House.
After lunch, we had a clog making demonstration and then had a walk through the miniature Dutch Village, an ongoing project, that the 92 year-old owner has been working on for the last 40 years.
Next stop, the Bunker Cartoon Gallery at Coffs Harbour built around a WWII bunker used by the RAAF as an Operations Room.
It houses the National Cartoon Gallery located within the renovated bunker and the National Holden Motor Museum. The cartoons were displayed as photos of political sattire and one could spend hours absorbing the content.
After another scenic day we returned tired and cold to our Lookout Mountain Retreat Motel for our last supper at the Retreat Restaurant where we were greeted by a warming fireplace.
Day 4, we were up early fed, packed and boarded the bus to our next overnight destination at the Ballina Island Motel. It was a rainy day so our views out of the bus windows were of running water.
We travelled through Coramba to Glenreagh where we had morning tea. Then onto Maclean, a town full of Scottish heritage, for lunch.
We then travelled to Yamba where we had a short bus tour, and boarded our ferry to Iluka, where we were welcomed by a mermaid “sunning” herself in the rain.
We had a look around the Iluka Boating bait & tackle shop where Chris made a new friend! Alan drove the bus to meet us at the Iluka ferry terminal.
We then travelled to the Ballina Islander Motel, our home for the next two nights, and had dinner at the Ballina Bowling Club.
Day 5, another rainy day, saw us having breakfast at the Shelly Beach Café and watching out for whales. We did see some distant “blows” but nothing close. After breakfast we headed to the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum.
Following the development of Ballina’s maritime trade and industry over many years, the idea for the Museum began in 1973, with the arrival of the unique Las Balsas rafts from Ecuador. The rafts were used in an epic voyage to prove ancient westward migration across the Pacific was not only possible but took place. We were given an enthralling story of the Las Balsas raft (find out more here) adventures and how one of the rafts ended up in this museum.
Our next stop after a short drive was Summerland Farm, formerly known as the House with No Steps, at Alstonville, which has a restaurant, plant nursery, gift shop, fruit packing shed and avocado and macadamia tree farm and farm animals. Their main purpose is to provide employment for people with differing abilities. As it was pouring with rain our movements severely restricted, we were not able to see the farm animals for which they are well known. After lunch we went onto the New Italy Village, on the Pacific Highway between Ballina and Yamba. The Village contains a number of small shops and a fascinating museum detailing the early history of the area. Back to the Ballina Island Motel for dinner and bed.
Day 6, another rainy morning and our last day of our trek. Breakfast at the motel, loading the coach in the rain, then travelling to Byron Bay where we were unable to stop at the Lighthouse lookout because of rain. Still pouring we travelled to the North Beach Train Station where we boarded Australia's only solar powered train.
Disappointingly, because of the heavy rain we were unable to disembark at the next station, luckily, as we had return tickets we simply returned to the originating station and boarded our bus bound for Murwillumbah to visit the Margaret Olley Art Gallery.
At the Gallery members enjoyed the display of paintings and the incredible views.
Our next stop, the Tumbulgum Hotel for lunch. We enjoyed a great lunch. After lunch Rob, on behalf of us all, thanked Alan for a safe and fantastic adventure. Gill, on behalf of us all, then thanked Rob for putting together a very successful tour.
Once back on board many slept the remaining 110 kms back to Brisbane, firstly to Mount Ommaney Shopping Centre and then the last drop off at Akuna Park.
What a memorable and successful Probus tour with much Fun, Friendship and Fellowship (and Food!). Thank you Rob.
We can’t wait for our 2025 multi-day trip.
AUGUST OUTING - Guided Tour of Anzac Square Memorial and Gardens. Contribution from Barbara
On Monday 26th August, Judy and I were standing beside a pond in Anzac Square marvelling that neither she nor I had ever visited the area under the Flame of Remembrance in Ann Street, despite having both lived in Brisbane all our lives. How could we not have visited such a well-known landmark?
The Anzac Galleries are curated and staffed by people from the State Library and our guide was a knowledgeable young man who started our group tour by telling us that there are three pathways through Anzac Square to remind people that Australians fought in (a) World War 1, (b) World War 11 and (c) in several theatres of war post WW11. Inside the entry doors there are three galleries, each one dedicated to one of those three times of battle. Stone staircases lead from the Park up to the Eternal Flame - 19 steps to the first level of the climb and 18 to the Ann Street level - a reminder that the so-called “Great War” ended in 1918.
The galleries are airy and well-lit and contain plaques with details of the many battalions, squadrons and crews of soldiers, airmen and sailors who fought to maintain freedom for Australia and other countries. Nurses and civilian groups are also represented. There are also interactive sites where you can see photos, diaries and letters and heart-rending stories of men in warfare and their loved ones far away. In the post-World War 11 section there are videos to watch. If you’ve never visited the Anzac Memorial Galleries, I suggest you make a number of small visits and allow yourself plenty of time to see, hear, read and reflect. Entry is free, guided tours take place on most days and the Galleries are open almost every day. Check details online.
Another delightful first for many of us was having lunch at the Grand Central Hotel in Ann Street opposite the Eternal Flame. Because we were a group, we were seated in a long narrow section reminiscent of a railway carriage. Real windows along the wall allowed us to see trains as they travelled through Central Station. The lunch-time specials were great value at $17.50 and the food tasted good. An interesting and enjoyable outing for us all.
Kenmore VIEW Club 3 night (4 day) Toowoomba Bus Tour on 25th to 28th July with GRANITE HIGHLANDS MAXI-TOURS
DayTrip to Wynnum-Manly, TUESDAY 12th MARCH - REDISCOVERING the DELIGHTS of WYNNUM-MANLY
Our BUS TRIP TO WYNNUM-MANLY on TUESDAY 12th MARCH proceeded with a hitch when the bus company were unable to source a driver for the day. Members then arranged to car share so the day went ahead anyway.
The day started off with morning tea/coffee sitting over the water at Tides Restaurant, Sir William Gunn Jetty, Manly.
Next on the agenda was a short talk on migratory wetland birds/dugongs at the Moreton Bay Discovery Centre adjacent to Tides which was air-conditioned and with seating.
Lunch was Fish and chips, which was pre-ordered, at The Pelican’s Nest on the Wynnum Foreshore. And after lunch there was time for a stroll along the water front and a quiet sit by the bay taking in the views before it was time to head home. The day re-inforced the theme of Fun, Friendship and Fellowship for the members who participated.
Lunch at the Monier Hotel, Darra - 13th February 2024
17 of our members enjoyed Fun, Friendship and Fellowship (and Food!) with a luncheon at The Monier, Darra. It was good to see members from both amalgamated clubs sharing in this activity.
Xmas Luncheon at The Jindalee, December 2023
Past President and Joint Speaker Coordinator Brendan delivered a Trivia Quiz that had many guessing, and Gill delivered a novelty Pass-the-Parcel which produced laughs and merriment all round.
Lightning Ridge Bus Tour August 21-25, 2023
18 members and 5 friends arrived back in Brisbane at 6pm last Friday after an extremely enjoyable tour to Lightning Ridge. Everyone got on very well and I am unaware of any problems and complaints during the trip. There were no health issues.
The tour was well organized and we enjoyed visiting places to and from Lightning Ridge – Pittsworth Museum for morning tea, lunch at Railway Hotel, Goondiwindi, had a beer at the Nindigully Hotel, out in the middle of nowhere, established 1864, near St George, where we stayed overnight. We had a conducted tour of the Riversands Vineyard and sampled their many wines, lunch at Dirranbandi Hotel and then to Lightning Ridge for 2 nights. We had a conducted tour of the town and its many attractions, swim in the spa pool, 2 dinners at Lightning Ridge Bowls Club, climbed down and up 81 steps to view underground opal mining operations and on our 4th day departed Lightning Ridge for morning tea at Collarenabri Hotel, lunch at Moree Golf Club, then to Goondiwindi Gunsyd Motel and dinner at the Railway Hotel. Day 5 was on the road to Brisbane, morning tea tour of Coolmunda Olive Farm, lunch at Glengallen Homestead, Warwick.
We awarded Eugene, our tour operator and bus driver, 10 out of 10 for being a very pleasant and skillful operator and driver – nothing was too much trouble to him to make us happy. All up, we travelled just over 2,000 kms.
Members indicated that they would like to do a similar tour next year and I have asked them to put in requests for places and length of tour. If we go for more than 5 days, we would need to have more rest days at an interesting location. Something to ponder!
Christmas in July at the Canungra Hotel 26th July, 2023
We all met at Cubberla Park for a 9:30 am bus pick-up. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control the bus had to cancel at the last minute. Members decided to car pool and drive to Canungra Village. We had time to wander around the village to buy a cup of coffee, visit some interesting stores, including the Antiques shop, Op Shop, book shop, country gift shop, and a popular shoe store.
We then had a tour of the the historic St Luke’s Anglican Church. Built in 1936 with local timbers (The walls are made of rosewood, the floor is rose gum and the furniture is red cedar). On 18 October 1936 the Church was officially opened and dedicated by Archbishop William Wand. The building was designed by architect Raymond Clare Nowland and the contractor was Gordon Rhodes, supervised by architect Thomas Percy. It was built in the Old English Gothic style using rose cedar.Also gives other historical information - example tramway construction.
We then had a delicious xmas lunch at the Canungra Hotel.
Celebrating Seniors Month October 2022
General Meeting - October 10th
Members continue to celebrate Probus Day by dressing up in Probus colours for our October 10 meeting.
Celebrating Probus Day - Saturday 1st October
Members enjoyed a twilight river cruise to see the river bridges and buildings that were lit up in Probus colours of blue and yellow to celebrate Probus Day. Nine members of our Club sailed on the MV Mirimar with about 42 members of the Indooroopilly Probus Club. There was substantial finger food refreshments served as we proceeded up and down the river with a cash bar in operation for the occasional drink!
