24 June 2023

G’day All

This is another reminder about paying your annual $5 fee. You only have next week to pay it so that you won’t be overdue. Don’t forget that you must be a current financial member to attend the AGM at the Dorset Gardens Hotel on Monday 10th July. Please remind your friends that don’t have an e-mail address about this so they can fix their membership up as well.

Regards  Keith

​

16 June 2023

G’day All

Click here to view a letter from the kindergarten at the back of the Club.

They’re looking for anyone interested in helping out with the kids. I you wanted to you would need a Working with Children Card. These are really easy to get and are free – even I  have one (I had to get it because of a CFA rule).

If you’re interested, please contact the kindergarten direct (I think they’ve got Dianne she loves being a Grandma!).

Regards  Keith

​

14 June 2023

G’day All

Our bus trip to Werribee Park Mansion and the Watergardens Hotel Buffet Lunch is on next Monday. There is still some room on the bus. So, if you want to come call Dianne on 0411 446 854 to book your place.

We’re doing pretty well with the Annual Fees so far – nearly 70% of you have renewed. Now we just need the other 30%. You have just two weeks to drop your money into our white box in the hall. When you’ve all done that I will have a much calmer home life!! So, please do it soon.

Our AGM is going to be on Monday 10th July. It will be at the Dorset Gardens Hotel again. The notice will go up on the board tomorrow – Thursday. Don’t forget, you must be a current member to attend. Also, don’t forget, all committee places are open to anyone.

Regards Keith

​

8 June 2023

G’day All

Just a reminder that our hairdresser starts tomorrow. Gillian will be at the Club tomorrow from 9.45am. She will stay for an hour or as long as there are people waiting for a hair cut. She will be at the Club on the second Friday each month at 9.45am. She will cut hair for both men and women for $10. Don’t forget that it's hair cuts only – nothing else.

Regards  Keith

​

7 June 2023

G’day All

This is for our Exercise people. Joan asked me to let you know that Lea is back this Friday. She would also like to thank our fill-in volunteers who have kept the class going over the past month or so.

Regards Keith

​

5 June 2023

G’day All

Our Librarian – Judy – has asked for a short pause in books being donated to our Library. She is a little overwhelmed by the number and variety. When she has caught up I’ll let you know. Don’t forget, the Library is there for you all to use. It’s on the honour system – take books and dvd’s away and bring them back when you are finished with them.

Regards  Keith

​

1 June 2023

Newsletter from President, Keith and Secretary, Dianne

​

I would have to say that the most important thing that has happened to our Club in recent times is the updating of our Web site by Cliff. It’s interesting and up to date all the time, and has already brought in a number of new members and enquiries about our activities. So many thanks to you Cliff. You will find out how to connect to the Site in Dianne’s Activity Report.

We are still doing quite well – our numbers continue to increase, and most of our activities seem to be going strong – sometimes I wish we had more days in the week to do more.

Coffee and Chat on the first Wednesday morning of each month is not getting more people, which I think is a shame as the conversations are both interesting and, at times, very funny. We have a lot of different experiences within our club.

The pine trees are now all gone. I miss them as they were a good wind break for our building. Apparently they were all diseased. Council is now planning to turn the whole open area into a family recreation area with walks and picnic areas through it. I am a bit concerned about our parking situation. Our concern has been raised so it will be interesting to see how it all eventuates.

The Club area – inside and out – has been sprayed for crawly insects and spiders. I’m not sure how effective it has been. I guess time will tell for that.

Council has also engaged a new cleaning company. We constantly have a battle with our cleaning requirements – remember last year we had to turn to and give the whole place a complete clean ourselves! Hopefully we will have better results with this company.

​

A NEW BENEFIT FOR OUR MEMBERS

A hairdresser by the name of Gillian will be coming to the Club on the second Friday each month from 9.45am for about an hour. She will just do haircuts – nothing else – for both ladies and gents. NO APPOINTMENT – just turn up. It will cost you $10. We’ll give this a try for a few months to see how it works out.

​

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Our AGM will on Monday 10th July at the Dorset Gardens Hotel again.

The Committee has decided to have an open forum this time for up to half an hour for anyone to raise any queries or give any suggestions to the Committee. And speaking of the Committee, all positions are declared vacant and nominations for every position will be accepted by the nomination forms, or, from the floor at the Meeting.

The positions are – President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, with 6-7 other Committee Members. It’s aways good to have new people on the Committee in every role, to give new perspectives on running the Club.

Having the AGM at the Dorset Gardens Hotel is such a good way to give something back to our members (the Club will be subsidizing the cost by $5.50 per person), the meal is good and we don’t have to clean up!! Cost to members will be $20, for a two course meal. Timings are - arrive by 11.30am and the meal will be served at Midday. The AGM will be at approximately 1pm. If you want to attend, please do as usual – names and money in an envelope and names on the list in the hall way. If you want to attend just the AGM without the meal please let Dianne know and we will let the Hotel know to let you in at 1pm.

DIANNE AND KEITH'S TRAVELS

Dianne and I are heading off with our caravan again in August and September – going back to Coolangatta again, but, taking a different route. Last year we went well inland and went North from Hay up to Charleville then East to Toowoomba then Coolangatta. This year we’re going up the Newell Highway. We’ve often been up this road, but this time we’re going to take our time and stop at all the places we’ve usually just driven through.

We’ll go through Coonabarabran, Moree, Goondiwindi to Moonie, continue North to Rockhampton, then zig zag back South, down through Bundaberg, Hervey Bay (we want to go whale watching there), then back inland to Kingaroy and Gayndah. After that we’ll head down to Coolangatta for a couple of weeks. We’re going to stop at Coffs Harbour for a week on the way home as we’ve never stayed there before. I fought some fires between there and Grafton in November 2019 but that’s not quite the same! (Note picture in the Newsletter, click link above).

​

ANNUAL FEES NOW DUE

Our annual fees are now due still $5.00. Thank you to all the people who have already paid, it makes my job so much easier. As our annual fees are so low we don’t have pro rata fees for new memberships. All current members are required to pay $5.00 before 30th June.

Only financial members can attend club activities after this date. As I am collecting money for several activities, early payment would be appreciated. There is a form in the hall way to fill out if you have any changes to address phone or email. Please put your money and any changes in an envelope with your name and membership written on the front and place in the mailbox in hall. Receipts will be on the notice board in the hallway.

NEXT BUS TRIP COMING UP

Our last bus trip was a great day out. So we have organized another one.. It’s going to Werribee Park Mansion for a tour of the building, then to Watergate Hotel for their famous Buffet Lunch. If the weather is fine we will do our usual morning tea – if the weather is bad you will be able to buy it at the café at your expense. The brochure is on the board in the hall with all the details. Please put your name on the list,and pay by the specified time. If you need to take your name off, please cross it off and also ring Dianne to make sure it has been noted, ph 0411446854. No refunds can be given after a week before as the club has to pay in advance for meals, or activity undertaken. Place your money in an envelope (you will find envelopes in the plastic container on far passage wall.) Put your name and activity on the front, and place in white mail box in hall.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY/ ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

We are having a Christmas in July lunch at the Dorset Gardens Hotel on Monday 10th July, arriving about 11-30am. The cost will be $20,. We will be holding our AGM in between main meal and sweets. With open forum after AGM. A notice will go up in hall next week. The same rules for payment apply as written in above notice .Any special dietary requirements let Dianne know, or write it on your envelope with payment.

ENTERTAINMENT AFTERNOONS

Our Entertainment Afternoons are very popular. Keith tries his best to obtain really good entertainers (there have been a couple which have not been quite up to the mark!! But that’s the luck of the game) and the Club pays for them. Our next afternoon tea with entertainment will be on Saturday 26th August. Keep your eye on the board for details.

​

ACTIVITIES

​

COFFEE & CHAT Christina has been running this, and the members who come are enjoying the informal session. Although Christina has a theme each month, it doesn’t mean that that is all we talk about. We all enjoy each other's company and talk about a variety of things. It is a great way to get to know other members. Do come along and try, It is the first Wednesday of each month from 10am till about Midday. You can just turn up.

​

INDOOR BOWLS Another great way to meet other members. Jan King looks after this group and would welcome any new players. Tuesday afternoon from 1pm.

CARDS We now have Hand & Foot run by Gwen. This is proving very successful. It is on every 2nd Tue at 1pm, and every 2nd Wednesday at 10am, you may need to check our web site for dates or ring Gwen 0429085554.

​

CRAFT Gwen also runs this group once a month. As we have limited space available you would need to ring Gwen to see if she has a vacancy in this group. Gwen has been running this class for 11 years.

​

MAHJONG Asian Mahjong is played every Wednesday at 1pm. Wendy runs this and would welcome more members to play. Wendy can be contacted on 0423777975.

​

EXERCISE CLASS This is run every Friday at 1pm, we have a qualified instructor for this class, although when she can’t come we have other people in to run it, or sometimes one of our experienced members fills in. Doing strength and balance exercises. You just turn up. Cost of this class is $3, but as from 1st July this will increase to $5 to cover the cost of the instructor. This class was started by Joan and has been running for 11 years as well. Joan still co-ordinates the activity.

​

PA-TUAN CHIN This is another form of exercise which is popular with our members. John runs this class on a Tuesday at 9.30am, more members are welcome.

​

TABLE TENNIS Another very popular activity, Friday mornings are busy, and members have to wait their turn some weeks. Monday and Wednesday afternoon are not as busy. We have good tables and a very friendly group playing with lots of laughs as well as enjoying their game.

​

POOL/SNOOKER We have 2 good tables, and the game is played every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 1pm, also on a Tuesday and Friday morning.

​

WALKING GROUP On the 4th Friday we have a walk, various locations, you need to check the board in the passage for location. Some stay on for lunch at the end of the walk. These walks are generally easy walks, and you can walk as slow or fast as you like. Another great way to meet and get to know other members. David co-ordinates these and can be contacted on 0407002561.

​

CYCLING GROUP This is a new activity that has only been going a few months and is becoming popular also. Every Saturday from various locations. David also runs this activity and can be contacted on 0407002561 for any information about the group.

DANCES Last but not least, our dances are another very successful activity at our club. Thursday afternoon dances start at Midday till 3pm. If you like to dance come along we have some single ladies and men, but would love to see some more men come and have a dance. This dance is run every week. We have a lot of fun at all our dances.

Sunday dances are run on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, starting at 1pm. Maree teaches a new dance for the first half hour (she is a great teacher). Cliff does the music for this dance. (Please note that the fee for this activity will increase to $5 from 1st July). This is a great dance to come to if you don’t like going out of a night, same with the Thursday dance. Cliff and Judy take turns at doing the music of a Thursday.

Saturday night dances are so popular we have had to put a booking system in place so we don’t have overcrowding. You must book with Gwen on 0429085554. These dances are run a little differently to the day time ones, with some different dances added. Saturday night dances are run on 1st and 3rd Saturdays. Judy does the music of a Saturday.

Please note that we no longer run a dance on the 5th Saturday night.

WEB SITE Have you looked at our web site, what an amazing job Cliff has done, you can check out photos of recent activities. See what’s happening around the club and check out times etc for general information. www.northringwoodseniorcitizens.net

MAROONDAH COUNCIL have asked us to host a talk on Elderly Abuse at the Club on Tuesday 13th June at 10.30am. We will have the talk then a morning tea .

​

01 June 2023

G’day All

It's time again for our monthly Coffee and Chat, on next Wednesday 7th June at 10am for about an hour or so. Christina has selected a theme of “Winter” to talk about.  But as I have said before, the conversations end up in all sorts of places and directions. The more people we get the more interesting things we find out. So, do come along next Wednesday to try it out.

Regards  Keith

​

29 May 2023

G’day All

Well, do you ever get the feeling that nothing ever goes to plan. You know my last e-mail about this trip said that you could sleep in for a change. Absolutely WRONG!!!

The National Trust double booked our appointment at Ripponlea with a big school group. So the Bunnett household has spent an exciting couple of days trying to work out what on earth we were going to do with a bus load of Seniors getting cranky!!.

WE ARE GOING TO WERRIBEE PARK MANSION!!! We’ll do a tour of the building then we’re off to the Watergardens hotel for their famous buffet lunch. It is a really great lunch – we went there a few times before lockdown. If the weather is good we will supply our usual morning tea. If the weather is crook you can buy morning tea at the café at your own expense

So – UP EARLY – as the bus will leave at 9AM. We will be back by 3pm.Same price of $35 per head.

If you have put your name down on the list, and you don’t want to go, just delete your name off the list – Dianne will put up a new list on Thursday anyway. If you do want to go then put your name on the list and money in the white box as usual (I assure you the buffet is terrific!).

Any queries just call Dianne on 0411 446 854

Regards  Keith

​

25 May 2023

G’day All

We’ve just been over to the club and all the trees are down and rubbish has been cleared away. However the car park is still cordoned off and all the logs are stacked there, so be careful tomorrow when you go in and keep away from the log stack.

Regards  Keith

​

21 May 2023

G’day All

It’s coming around to Annual Fee time. Although they are not due until 30th June, early payment would be really helpful, and make for calmer times in the Bunnett household!!

If you are going away, please pay before you go to save Dianne having to chase you up. Also, if you decide not to renew your membership, would you please send Dianne an e-mail, or a text, or a phone call.

Regards  Keith

​

17 May 2023

G’day All

We have just been advised that the remaining pine trees in front of the club are to be removed next week – on Tuesday to Thursday 23rd to 25th May. All the front car park will be cordoned off and the approach to the front would have to by guides taking us through the machinery.

The Committee thought about trying to keep the Club open and some of our Activity Co-ordinators were approached. But we discussed it further and the Committee believes that it would not be acting under its duty of care to allow any members to go anywhere near the tree lopping machines. So, the Club will be closed on those three days – Tuesday 23rd to Thursday 25th May inclusive.

Would our activity co-ordinators please check with your members – particularly the ones who do not have an e-mail address. I will put a notice on the front door tomorrow.

If you have any questions please contact me by e-mail or phone 0412 763 468

Regards  Keith

​

3 May 2023

G’day

We had a really nice morning yesterday at our Coffee and Chat. We had Paddington Bear and Marmalade Sandwiches and a lovely Devonshire Tea – courtesy of Christina. The chat had a little about the Coronation and the Royal Family, but then it branched off into all sorts of places and events (some of it not quite politically correct, but that made it more interesting!!).

We would love to see more people come so our chats could broaden even more! The two hours just fly.

Next one is based around Winter and winter experiences, so rug up and come along.

That’s on Wednesday, 7th June at 10am – put it in your diary.

Have a look at our web site to see the photos from yesterday.

Regards  Keith

​

G’day All

This is for those members who attend our Sunday dances. We’ve just realized that our next Sunday dance is on Mothers Day – the 14th. Hadn’t given it a thought until today. So I asked the people at our dance today and it seems most people had family commitments so we have cancelled the Sunday dance on the 14th. We have never run a dance on Mothers Day before as families definitely take precedence for that day .

So NO Sunday Dance on Mothers Day.

Regards  Keith

​

21 April 2023

G’day All

This is a reminder about our activities that are coming up.

1. Our Coffee and Chat morning is on Wednesday 3rd May at 10am. We will be discussing the Coronation this time.

The Coffee and Chat sessions are on every month on the first Wednesday of each month. They are very relaxed and informative mornings  We start about 10am and finish about Midday – we could do with some more people to get a different perspective on our topics. Christina is our Hostess, and is bringing some interesting subjects to discuss.

2. Next one is Morning Melodies at Club Ringwood on Monday 8th May. Brendan Scott will be the entertainer. We have had Brendan at our Entertainment Afternoons at the Club before, and he is an excellent entertainer. Please put your name on the board in the hallway.

3.  Our next Entertainment Afternoon is on Saturday 13th May. We have someone new as our entertainer – Natalie Jay. She was at Club Ringwood a few months ago and we had really good reviews about her. Have a look at the Flyer for more details.

Regards Keith

​

15 April 2023

G’day All

I have had a few queries about our club insurance. We hold a Public Liability Insurance Policy. It’s the usual type of policy that every Club must hold. It is NOT a Personal Accident Insurance Policy - this type of policy is extremely expensive and rarely taken out by a Club for that reason.

The Public Liability Insurance Policy covers the club for any claims made by a member for any injury or loss of property IF THE CLUB IS AT FAULT IN ANY WAY.  So it protects the Club from the consequences of such a claim.

So, If anyone hurts themselves at the Club but it was NOT caused because of any faulty equipment or any negligence by the Club, the person who is hurt – we believe - would not have a claim against the Club, so the Club would expect that the person should simply use their own medical insurance and/or Medicare.

We do cover this on the New Member application where it states that “All activities are undertaken at your own risk”.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any queries regarding this.

Regards  Keith

​

13 April 2023

G’day All

I know we all love to fiddle with our air conditioning and fans (it’s hard to keep our hands off all the little buttons, isn’t it?)

Well we are TRYING SOMETHING NEW!!!!

Cliff has reversed the fan blades for winter use to bring the warm air down to the floor. Now, I know the table tennis players probably won''t want the fans on so they will just use the air conditioning as per normal.

Otherwise, here is a list of how to get the best out of our system for the next few months.

To turn on the system:

Turn on the air conditioner top rocker switch from OFF to Continuous (Cont)

Ensure the lower rocker switch is set to Auto (never to Heat or Cool)

Ensure the temperature setting is on 21 degrees

Turn on all the fans to #3 setting

Leave for 15 minutes then turn the fans back to #1 setting

Don’t touch any of the controls again, just let the system automatically adjust the ambient temperature. This may take up to 20 minutes before it stabilizes.

To turn off the system

Turn the air conditioner top rocker switch to 'Off'

Turn off all the fans

Please don’t touch any of the controls, other than to do the above. Let’s just see if this system works.

If anyone gets a little warm during a dance session we could put a couple of chairs out in the hallway so you can cool down, then come back into the hall – the hallway is always cool during winter.

Regards  Keith

​

10 April 2023

G’day All

I hope you’ve all enjoyed your Easter break – at least the weather wasn’t as bad as first forecast.

Really, for those of us who are retired it’s not much different to normal – although Dianne and I did spend a fair bit of Good Friday collecting money for the Childrens Hospital. We both belong to the CFA Bayswater Fire Brigade, so we do a street corner collection for the hospital every year. It’s quite tiring but it’s also good fun as you meet so many nice people in their cars – although you do have to keep watching the traffic lights to get off the road safely (It is authorized by Victorian Police for the one day).

Our next Entertainment Afternoon will be on Saturday May 13th – Usual time of 1pm and usual price of $5, and usual money and name in an envelope and into our white box in the hall.

Our entertainer is a lady by the name of Natalie Jay. Some of you may have seen her a few months ago at the Club Ringwood.

Regards  Keith

​

4 April 2023

G’day All

Most important Christina's Coffee and Chat tomorrow – Wednesday at 10am. Come along and chat and meet more people from the Club – we’ll be there.

Those of us who went on the bus trip yesterday – Monday – had a lovely day. We left the Club right on 9am (thank you to everyone for arriving at the Club on time – it makes the co-ordination of the day so much easier) and travelled down to the Portsea Quarantine Station. It’s now a National Park but all the old buildings are still there, together with the disinfecting and cleaning equipment. It’s been used for lots of different purposes over the years after the quarantine period – hospital – Army officer cadet school (I went to a formal dinner there once, but I can’t remember why!!) – and a camp for refugees from Kosovo. The place is right on the water, and the weather was sunny so the trip was beaut.

Then we had lunch at the Rosebud RSL and that was excellent – the meals were really nice and we were served as soon as we arrived so our timetable stayed intact. On the way home the bus driver – Kevin from McKenzies Bus Co – took us up to Arthurs Seat for some more great views then the back way back to the Freeway. We arrived back at the Club at 3pm after a  top day. Dianne did an excellent job of arranging the day.

Should be some photos on our web site today (if I can figure out Cliff's how-to-do-it instructions - his instructions are clear, my understanding is not quite so clear!!)

I’ve put up new posters for all our activities in our hallway. Have a look next time you’re there – you might see some familiar faces on them.

Regards, Keith

​

29 March 2023

G’day All

I should have included this yesterday – but I forgot!!

Our Coffee and Chat morning is on next Wednesday at 10am – the 5th April. Christina tells me it will have an Easter theme (I hope I’m not the Bunny!).

Come along and enjoy the chat – it was a very pleasant meeting last time.

Regards, Keith

​

28 March 2023

G’day All

This is just a reminder to those of you who are going on our bus trip next Monday.

The bus will LEAVE THE CLUB AT 9AM!!

We are bound by the need to do our trip and be back at the Club by 3pm so the bus can go back to its’ school bus role.

So, if you could be at the Club around -  say – 8.45am it will be very helpful to us.

Regards  Keith

​

21 March 2023

G’day All

We’ve just finished our Working Bee this morning to clean up the garden and get rid of a lot of the cobwebs around the club. I do thank the 11 people who came to help and I received several apologies which I respect. We did get a lot of work done and the area looks much better.

I am concerned that so few people out of our 300 membership bothered to help. It also does always seem to be the same ones who come.

Cleaning and garden maintenance never stops so we will always need help. We may need to consider hiring professionals in future to do this work in view of the poor turn out. That, of course would be a considerable expense, and would impact on our income. I do hope we can get more interest in the future for these events. We keep the time down to a couple of hours and it’s good to get to know new people.

Pool players, your room is not clean. A number of you promised to keep it clean after our last big clean up a few months ago, but you haven’t done so. Please have a little spring clean, you don’t have to do much.

Regards  Keith

​

21 March 2023

G’day All

Those fortunate people who have put your name down for our bus trip to Portsea Quarantine Station on 3rd April, please drop your money into the white box by this Thursday – 23rd March – if you have not already done so.

Those of you who would still like to be one of those fortunate people and come on the bus trip, please call Diane direct on 0411 446 854 and she will take your booking.

Regards  Keith

​

11 March 2023

G’day All

We had 73 members at our entertainment afternoon today – that’s almost ¼ of our membership!!

Col Perkins was great he sang all sorts of songs, country songs and old songs – brought back lots of memories.

Thank you Christina and Ray for coming along and helping to set up the hall and make the afternoon teas. Dianne and I really appreciated your work.

We hope to have the next one in May sometime – I’ll let you know when.

Don’t forget the bus trip to Portsea on 3rd April – just $35.

Regards  Keith

​

2 March 2023

G’day All.

I want to remind you about our activities coming up soon.

Morning Melodies this Monday 6th March. Old Rockers Show – well it’s music from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s – I remember the 50’s best!! Please call Joan on 0407408401.

We need the money for the Col Perkins afternoon by next Wednesday the 8th. You can still put your name down for that. Call Dianne on 0411 446 854.

The bus trip to the old Portsea Quarantine Station is going quite well – the bus is about two thirds full. When we were at Point Lonsdale we could see the Station from the other side of the Rip. Please get your names down soon for this. Regards Keith.

23 February 2023

G’day All.

We’ve just got back from our week away at Point Lonsdale. It was very enjoyable – we went walking, bike riding, snorkeling, and body surfing. Then I stubbed my foot and can’t walk too well!!??@ Bother!!

​

Anyway, back to business. We went to the Manhattan on Monday and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. It was good to see people from different areas of the Club there. The food was really nice with a big variety and everyone stayed for quite a while. You will see Cliff’s photos on our website. Click here.

Now THE BIG NEWS!!  Our Coffee and Chat mornings, which we had to cancel during Lockdown, are starting up again next Wednesday – the 1st March. They will be on the first Wednesday of each month. Just turn up at 10AM. Christina is going to host the mornings. Come and meet different people and learn all sorts of things – it’s amazing how many different things people have done. It will cost you our usual $2.

Our Morning Melodies last month at the Club Ringwood was very enjoyable. Next one is on the 6th March. Click here.

Finally – don’t forget to put your names down for the Col Perkins Entertainment Afternoon on Saturday 11th March. We have quite a few names already but we can still fit more in.

Regards,  Keith.

​

27 January 2023

G’day All

Here’s our first newsletter for the New Year.

It’s good to see all our activities up and running again – some stopped and some didn’t but now it’s all on again. We’ve had a few members in and out of hospital – I hope most of us are feeling ok now. Dianne and I are now getting over our bout of Covid. We caught it on the same day so we’ve both been really crook at the same time. Not well organized really!! We now understand how bad some of you have felt too.

​

I would like to bring up one small concern I have. Some of our activities are being put onto social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. by some of our enthusiastic members. I totally understand this and I think the results would be most enjoyable. However, I don’t know if everyone at the activities would want their attendance recorded – for lots of reasons, and I don’t see how we can ask permission of them all. So can I ask all of you to just forgo that pleasure and not put any of our activities onto social media at all.

​

Many of our members now have an e-mail address so I am able to keep you up to date fairly regularly. But we have about 50 members who don’t have one as far as we know. If you do have an e-mail address and have not let me know, I would be happy to add you to our list if you wish.

​

Sometime in February we’re having a Feast lunch at the Manhattan. Their price for Seniors is $22. The Club will subsidize you by $4 so your total cost will be $18. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT YOU MUST HAVE A VICTORIAN SENIORS CARD. THIS IS THE ONLY CONCESSION CARD THAT THE MANHATTAN RECOGNISES, so this activity is strictly only for members with a Vic Seniors Card – the Club can’t afford to pay their normal rate. Keep watching this space and it will also go up on our notice board at the hall as soon as we can confirm a date.

​

Saturday 11th March is our next Entertainment Afternoon. Arrive about 1pm ready for the concert to commence at 1.30pm. Then a nice afternoon tea. Still for just $5. Get your names and money into our white box please. Col Perkins is our entertainer this time. We have had him a few times in the past and he is excellent – a great singer of lots if different types of songs.

​

Monday 3rd April we’re off on a bus trip – not exactly finalized yet but more than likely to be the Quarantine Station at Portsea. There will definitely be a bus trip on this day.

​

ACTIVITIES

​

Pool needs someone as a phone contact. We just need someone who can give prospective new members information about when to turn up and a contact name for when they arrive.

​

Indoor bowls is looking for a few more happy players – on a Tuesday afternoon. They would like to be able to put out the third carpet. Jan King and her band are happy to teach anyone willing to come along and have a go – it’s a fun game. Call Jan on 0407326984.

​

Table Tennis is running along at good capacity on Monday, and Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings. John Tzinis has asked if he might run another table tennis morning. It would be on a Sunday morning. It would have to finish no later than 11.30 am as we already have Sunday afternoon dances running. Give John a call on 0414 772 043 to let him know if you’re interested.

​

Mahjong is looking for some more members. We’ve just purchased a few more tables for them and the card players so new players are welcome. Call Wendy on 0423777975.

​

Cards – hand and foot has now gained an extra spot due to so many members putting their hands up to play. As well as every second Wednesday (10:00 am - 12:30 pm) they will play every second Tuesday (1.00 to 3.30 pm). Call Gwen on 0429085554 for details. (Click here for card playing calendar).

​

Pa Tuan Chin is going well – John is happy with the numbers but there is always a spot open for new participants. Call John on 0414772043.

​

Exercise Class has gone down a little which is concerning as this is a valuable class for some members who are not quite as active as they used to be and this helps to keep them mobile. The instructors are extremely good and run an excellent programs. If anyone would like to come along and try the class call Joan on 0407 408 401. These classes cost $3 as the Club subsidizes the cost quite considerably, as we consider it a most important activity.

​

Craft Class Gwen is booked out with her class at present. But, one of our walker members – Ingrid Ashley – has offered to run a class for some simple hand sewing items. I have attached some photos of the type of thing she is referring to. Give Dianne a call on 0411 446 854 if you are interested. The cost for this will only be $2 as Ingrid will supply the materials.

​

Walkers can always take more members along. They are not too strenuous – about 5kms is the norm and there is plenty of time to chat and usually a spot for lunch at the end. We meet on the 4th Friday of the month. Please call David on 0407 002 561 to let him know you’re going.

​

Cyclists are actually increasing, which is good news. This has struggled a bit but now has quite a few riders. Once again David is the bloke to call.

​

Morning Melodies at the Ringwood Club has re-commenced. They are all on a Monday but it’s not on the same date every month which is a bit of a pain. Here’s the dates for the next few months.

​

13th Feb – 6th March – 3rd April. Call Pat on 0425 772 056 for details and to book.

​

HOW I LEARNT TO DANCE AND WHY

I said in my last email that I was going to tell you a bit about our New Years Eve dance. Judy and Herb made it a great fun night with lots of dancing, lucky spots, and a balloon drop at Midnight.

​

I’ve been a dancer all my life because I grew up in a small country town and everyone went to the dances as that was the major entertainment for the area.

​

Actually, the little country town I grew up in was Wantirna South. We moved there in 1946 when I was 6. We lived in a house on the corner of Burwood Hwy and Scoresby Rd. There was Charlie McMahons cherry orchard over the road – Johnsons cabbage farm diagonally across – Alf Neils flower farm down Scoresby Rd – and either bush or orchards everywhere else. It was a great place to grow up in. I went to Wantirna South State School in Tyner Road. Back then it was a two room school - classified as a rural school so it went to Grade 8, instead of the metropolitan state schools which went to Grade 6. It was assumed that most of the boys would go from school straight to working on their family orchards so they wouldn’t go to secondary school – most boys did just that. My Dad was a fitter and turner so we had no orchard so I went off to secondary school. Girls either stayed home and helped their Mum with work around the orchard or went off to a secondary school.

​

All the social life centered around the local community hall – every area had one of these. During summer everyone was busy with fruit picking and getting their goods to market so most of the social life happened in the winter. There were concerts, card nights, kitchen teas (which were always a dance) and dances. Everyone went to the dances. You started as a family (I went to my first dance when I was 6 – Mum taught me to dance), then you kept going as you grew older as that’s where you met the opposite sex!!!

​

We would all sit around the hall chatting to others – then we always had a supper – the deal was that ladies brought a plate – a bit sexist but nobody seemed to mind – and we danced a lot of dances.

​

So back to our New Years Eve dance – it was run almost exactly the same as the dances 70 years ago. It was just like stepping back in time. There were a few differences. Back then we sat around the hall and checked out the chicks and the chicks did the same to the blokes. As soon as the music started it would be a scramble to get to the right girl first!. (I’m not sure if we’re too old for that now but – who Knows)!!

​

There was always a Progressive Barn Dance which would go on for quite a while. This was an essential dance to have so you could begin to find out about different partners – it’s amazing how much you can find out about someone in just a few seconds of dance!!

​

The dances were referred to as a 50-50 dance in those days. There would be one old time dance, followed by a foxtrot or a modern waltz throughout the whole programme. The old time dances always had three songs in a bracket, as did the modern waltzes. The foxtrots always had a quickstep, then a slow foxtrot, then another quickstep in every bracket.

So, there were lots of foxtrots, which I didn’t like much, but if you didn’t know the old time dances you could always get someone up for the foxtrots.

​

They went from 8pm to Midnight with a break for supper – exactly the same as we did on New Years Eve.

It was a great way to stay in contact with our Community and it reminds me of the great way all our different sections of the Club stay in contact with each other through their activities and find new friendships.

​

You know I do enjoy reading other peoples’ stories – I think you learn so much from everyone's experiences. We have had some published before Lockdown and they were extremely interesting.

​

I look at our club members and see people from all areas of Australia and from all over the world. I would love to put your stories into our newsletters for us all to enjoy. Please send me your stories – no matter how large or small and I will put them in.

​

Regards Keith

​

A young man excitedly tells his mother he’s fallen in love and is going to get married. He says, “Just for fun, Ma, I’m going to bring over 3 women and you try and guess which one I’m going to marry.” The mother agrees. The next day, he brings 3 beautiful women into the house and sits them down on the couch and they chat for a while. He then says,

“Okay, Ma. Guess which one I’m going to marry".

She immediately replies, “The redhead in the middle.”

“That’s amazing, Ma. You’re right. How did you know?”

“I don’t like her.”

A burglar broke into a house one night. He shone his flashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said, "Jesus knows you’re here". He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze. When he heard nothing more, after a bit, he shook his head and continued. Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard a voice....say, "Jesus is watching you". Freaked out, he shone his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice. Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot. "Did you say that?", he hissed at the parrot. "Yep", the parrot confessed, then squawked, "I’m just trying to warn you that he is watching you". The burglar relaxed. "Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?"

"I'm Moses." replied the bird. "Moses?" the burglar laughed. "What kind of people would name a bird Moses?"
"The same kind of people that would name their Rottweiler Jesus". 

​

24 January 2023

G’DAY All

What a rotten week it’s been!!! Dianne and I are now recovering after a bout of Covid. We’ve been feeling a bit smug as we have not had any sign of Covid over the last 3 years. Well we certainly got our come uppance this week – it’s been really awful. I now understand what those of you who have had the illness went through – I hope you don’t have to do it again!

We have had two suggestions for more activities so I thought I would get them out to you now, instead of waiting for the newsletter.

John Tzinis has asked if he might run another table tennis morning. It would be on a Sunday morning. It would have to finish no later than 11.30 am as we already have Sunday afternoon dances running. Give John a call to let him know if you’re interested. His number is 98701441.

Craft Class Gwen is booked out with her class at present, but one of our walker members – Ingrid Ashley – has offered to run a class for some simple hand sewing items. Click here to see some photos of her needlework. Give Dianne a call on 0411446854 if you are interested.

​

If you know of any of our members who may be interested, but does not have an e-mail, please tell them about this.

Regards Keith

​

5 January 2023

Well!!! Have you dancers all forgotten that our dances have not stopped?? Were you all exhausted after New Years Eve?

There is a dance on this Saturday night and hardly anyone has put their names down. Please call Gwen tomorrow – Friday – to sign up!

Regards Keith

​

2 January 2023

G’day All

I’ve just noticed an error on our web site. Christina is definitely running our coffee and chat sessions but they DO NOT BEGIN UNTIL WEDNESDAY 1ST MARCH.

Regards  Keith

​

1 January 2023

G’day All

Happy New Year to all of you.

2022 was the usual year of ups and downs – it’s never been any different. But here we all are – still enjoying life as best we can. I hope your Christmas and New Year was enjoyable. Dianne and I had Christmas lunch with some of our children and grand children then tea with some more!! We did a bit of travelling but Dianne was happy as she didn’t have to do any cooking. We’re dancers so we spent last night at the Club New Years Eve dance with about 60 other members. It was really enjoyable. I’ll tell you a bit more about it in our next news letter which I’m about to start working on. – out in about a week I hope.

Regards  Keith

​

14 December 2022

G’day All

This is a message to our Friday Afternoon Exercise people. I’m sorry to announce that we have had to cancel this weeks class – 16th December -  as our instructors are unable to come. Now this is for this week ONLY!! Exercise Class is back again next week the 23rd December and will keep going without a break through January.

Regards  Keith

​

5 December 2022

G’day All

Well, what a nice day we have had today!! We had 99 members at our Christmas Luncheon at the Dorset Gardens Hotel today. That’s the most we have had for quite a few years. I thought the food, and the service at the hotel was great – I had trouble eating it all!!. I hope you were all as satisfied as I was. There were people there I hadn’t seen for some years and from the conversation around there was a lot of catching up all around. Then Rick Charles entertained us for an hour – he was terrific, not just as a singer, but, as an all round entertainer. I thought it was a great day in every respect. I would like to make special mention of my wife Dianne (our Secretary) for all the work she put into organizing the day. Merry Christmas everyone. See you at the club sometime soon.

Regards  Keith

​

2 December 2022

G’day All

This is to the 100 members coming to our Christmas Lunch. We have just confirmed the numbers with the hotel so we will not be able to give any refunds from now. Anyway, why would you want to cancel out on such a great event?

Regards  Keith

​

29 November 2022

G’day All

Well, I have just been dragged into the new IT world by one of our members – Cliff Bower. Cliff is updating, and re-vamping our club website. It has been a little redundant over the past few years, but now Cliff has revived it and it will become an integral part of the way we communicate with all of you as well as anyone interested in joining our club.

Cliff has just started to work on it but, already you can find out all sorts of things about the club. There is even a photo of me playing pool!! – What an absolute fraud!! But, just as we took it some real pool players arrived so the other photos are for real. We would like photos and information about all our activities and notes about club events. Have a look at the website and see what you think. You can also send stuff to Cliff on that address as well about the activities you are interested in. If its relevant to the Club we’ll post it up.

Use:  northringwoodseniorcitizens@gmail.com

Cliff has just started on this over the last couple of days so keep watching as it grows.

Regards  Keith

​

24 November 2022

Just a couple of items today.

Your money must be in the white box by next Thursday – 1st December – for the Christmas lunch. We have to confirm with the Hotel then. So it will be too late to pay after that date.

I’ve just spoken to Rick Charles today to confirm his visit. He is definitely coming which is a great relief as I am no singer!! He also told me he just returned from his honeymoon yesterday!!!

Sadly we have had to cancel the Race Day this Saturday 26th November. We only had six people interested so it would a very quiet Race course!! It’s a bit of a shame because they can be very funny days. Anyway, we might try again next year.

​

20 November 2022 - Christmas Luncheon

This looks like being our biggest Christmas luncheon for many years. We have about 80 booked so far. This is the week we need your final numbers and money in the white box. It takes a lot of work to make this day happen so if you could get your money in now it will be a great help – the 28th is the final cut off date. If you want to sit with a specific group please give a list to Dianne, either by the white box, or an email, or by the plain old phone!

​

19 November 2022 - Race Day

Our Race day is on next Saturday – try picking your winner – and have a bit of fun for a couple of hours. Get your $5 and name into the white box by next Thursday please – that’s the 24th.

Regards  Keith.

​