News | North Ringwood Senior Citizens Club

News - from Keith, the President

02 December 2025

G’day All

Doesn’t Christmas come around fast. I hope everyone has worked out their plans for Christmas Day. I have – I said YES DEAR! And there it was, all done!

Now, back to business. The Club will be closed as usual on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Years Day. Other than those days it’s up to each activity to decide when – or if – it will close. If the convenors could let me know over the next week, I’ll let Cliff know and he will put it up on our website.

Now, the 130 of you going to our Christmas Luncheon (I believe this will be our biggest crowd ever), the hotel will open up the side door. So, you drive down the side of the hotel to the Motel section, and look to your right. You will see a car park there. That’s the closest car park to the side door.

Please don’t be late as we have a lot of people to seat, and the meal will be served at Midday.

Regards Keith

01 December 2025

G’day All

I just found out how to apply for the Victorian Govt $100 energy rebate. It’s not an automatic thing – you have to apply for it. So, if you are eligible, and haven’t applied yet, here’s what you need to do.

Gather these four things together –

A recent energy bill

Your bank BSB and account number

Your medicare card

Your pension card

Then call 1800 000 832. The nice lady there will then ask you lots of questions and work out if you are eligible for the $100. It takes about 15 minutes, but it could be worth it.

Regards Keith

28 November 2025

G’day All

Isn’t it great to be sitting inside on a cold winters day almost in December!!! Ah well, we’ll just get on with life.

Now my bossess wants me to remind you that all money and names for the Christmas Luncheon must be in the white box, and on the list, by this Tuesday – the 2nd December, as we must confirm numbers with the hotel then. We do have a fair few preferences for seating, but, if you have any more, they must be in the white box on Tuesday as well. On Friday, the kitchen table gets given over to drawing up table names -AND THEN THEY ARE SET IN STONE!!!

Just keep in mind that, If you are sitting at a table with new people, then you develop new friends anyway.

Regards Keith

27 November 2025

G’day All

Those going to the Christmas luncheon, don’t forget that the meal will commence to be served at midday.

Now, I would like to comment on one other thing. When we were at the Club today, I saw that someone had put “Not Paid” on our names for the Christmas Luncheon list. This made me think that some people have a misconception about how Dianne and I work. We pay full price for every single function we attend, whether that’s one someone else organizes, or one that we arrange and run. We never attend a Club function without paying for it.

Regards Keith

26 November 2025

G’day All

To those of you who get their hair cut with our hairdresser I’m sorry to inform you that she has to have some surgery, and does not know when she will be able to cut hair again. So her visits to us have been cancelled. She will let us know in the New Year if she is able to return.

Regards Keith

17 November 2025

G’day All

We (our Committee) are wondering if there is any interest in our members in, either running, or participating in, a Tai Chi Class. We have tried it on a Tuesday morning without success, but if there is any interest we have a few different time slots that we could try. Do please send me an e-mail if you are interested so we can gauge whether to pursue this or not.

Regards Keith

16 November 2025

G’day All you Saturday Night Dancers

Remember when you used to have to book with Denis to go to the Saturday dance? Well, I’m afraid you have to do it again starting for the next dance on Saturday 6th December. Everyone has come home from escaping North for the winter, so the dance is becoming really popular again. This means we have to restrict the numbers of people attending - both for safety and simply for comfort. You must ring Denis on 0448 772 327 to reserve your place, for each dance You may not have a permanent booking as this also makes it really difficult to assess numbers attending. So enjoy your chat with Denis each fortnight.

Regards Keith

15 November 2025

G’day All

It’s time to get ready for our Christmas Luncheon. It will be on Monday 8th December at the Dorset Gardens Hotel. Rick Charles was so popular last year that I asked him to come along again this year. It’s always a good day. So put your names down and come and enjoy yourselves. Still just $20. Click here for more details.

The name sheet is up on the notice board now.

Regards Keith

13 November 2025

G’day All

This is for our Pa Tuan Chin members. John Tzinis has not had enough interest for the Tai Chi class, so he has cancelled that. He has put the Pa Tuan Chin timings back to start at 9.30am every Tuesday.

Regards keith

12 November 2025

G’day All

By gee this is a busy day!

I thought I would tell you about our bus trip last Monday to Abbotsford Convent. We had a good crowd of 42 members. The Convent is a huge, striking building. The Catholic church was looking for somewhere to build a place to help orphans and children in the Melbourne area around the end of the 19th Century. They found some land where a couple of homes had been abandoned, so they bought the land and built the Convent. It’s actually like a small city which had it’s own shop and it’s own church. It eventually housed 200 nuns and about 600 children and people of all different ages. It was not a pleasant place but it provided shelter and food for them.

We split up into two tour groups and had a walking tour which ran for about 1¾ hours – sore feet and backs!! But it was really excellent. The Convent is now owned by a not-for-profit group which leases out all the small rooms for all sorts of artistic activities. You may all have heard of the Children's Farm in Collingwood, well, that was, originally the garden run by the nuns to help feed all the people there – it’s right next door to the Convent.

Then we had a pleasant drive to Springvale to the Village Green hotel for a smorgasbord lunch. It was a really interesting day, and the rain held off!

Regards Keith

12 November 2025

G’day All

Here’s a notice for our pool players. The pool room will be closed next Monday the 17th November. Now, Now, don’t fret!! It’s because we’re getting your windows tinted on that date so it will be better for you.

Regards Keith

07 November 2025

G’day All

I think I mentioned a while ago that we have a couple of Club Anniversaries coming up.

The club was formed 50 years ago next April, and the Club house was built for us 40 years ago by Maroondah Council, and was officially opened on 17th November 1985. We are working on a suitable event to celebrate our 50th birthday, but, meanwhile our Committee has decided to have another free week to coincide with the anniversary of the opening of the hall.

So, the free week will be from Monday 17th to Sunday 23rd November inclusive.

Enjoy the week.

Regards Keith

07 November 2025

G’day All

Oh BOTHER _ BOTHER!!

Our Club will be closed on next Thursday 13th November due to our power company doing maintenance in the area. So no dancing, or billiards, or anything for that day.

Regards Keith

30 October 2025

Hi members. This is Cliff the Web Master. Dianne and I have conspired to send you this email because Keith may be too modest to do so. It's an extract from Nick McGowan's Facebook page. It read as follows:-

This is what a local HERO looks like.

Keith has served (and protected our region) for 16 years as a volunteer fire fighter responding to 1800 call outs and fighting 39 bush fires.

Thank you Keith and all the other CFA (Country Fire Authority) volunteers at Bayswater CFA.

p. s. thanks for the cuppa and plate of goodies at today's North Ringwood Senior Citizens.

Check the Gallery Page for the photo.

26 October 2025

G’day All

Our bus trip to Abbotsford Convent is filling quite well, so I thought I should say that we are restricted in the number of people we can take on the guided tour. We can take up to one bus load only, that means 57 people. So, when we get to that number on the list that will be the limit we can take.

Regards Keith

25 October 2025

G’day All

We’ve just come home from our entertainment afternoon. What a day that’s been!! Well, actually, what a night before it’s been!!

Last night at about 8.30pm we were sitting, relaxing, watching a bit of tv – you know, the usual Oldies stuff! Then the phone rang – it was Alicia’s partner (Alicia was to be our entertainer today). Alicia has laryngitis and can’t talk, let alone sing!!! Well, that certainly focused our minds. The partner asked if we wanted to delay for a few weeks, but that was not possible for us, so he said he would try and find a substitute. We didn’t bother with tv after that. We sat there trying to think of alternatives – there weren’t too many! Fortunately we do have our film and tv roof mounted equipment, so it looked like Andre Rieu would come alive.

But at about 9.30 pm the phone rang again. Alicia’s agent had found a substitute – Chelly Parisi said she would come. Now I had never heard of her before, and I have always tried to hear artists before I hire them as we have had a couple of disasters in the past. But we had no choice. So I was definitely a bit nervous until she started to sing. I needn’t have worried, Chelly was Excellent!! Everyone really enjoyed the day – Mary and Pat were The Supremes (a bit more practice they could turn professional!) Then Chelly sad she would play the Nutbush if people got up. Well Mary and Pat were already up so they were trapped, then Dianne said to me “Get Up”. I tried to pretend I was deaf, but it was no use, so we both did The Nutbush. I puffed and panted for twenty minutes afterwards.

Then, we had two guests, Nicole Werner, our local member of the State Lower House, and Nick McGowan, our local member for the Upper House. I invited them along to thank them for their support of our petition to get traffic lights – they both wrote to the Minister for Transport on our behalf.

All in all, we had a great day. I think Dianne sent some photos to Cliff, so you should be able to see them on the Club website.

Regards Keith

24 October 2025

G’day All

Our Tai Chi and Pa Tuan Chin instructor, John Tzinis has just let me know that he has some vacancies still for his Tai Chi class. It is on Tuesdays at 9.15am. If you are interested to find out what Tai Chi is like, just drop in on a Tuesday morning and check the session out with John.

Regards Keith

20 October 2025

G’day All

I’m about to break one of my rules. I usually don’t advertise an event until anything previous has been completed. However, we have a great bus trip booked and we have had to fit it in a bit earlier than we thought. So, we’re going on a guided tour of the Abbotsford Convent (whereabouts?? In Abbotsford of course)!! There are no stairs to negotiate, but there are some uneven pathways.

Then we’re off to a smorgasbord lunch (No – Not at the Watergardens Hotel – somewhere different!).

It’s on Monday 10th November – Leave the club at 9AM and return by 3PM.

Do please note that we have had to increase our bus trip prices by $5, so the cost for the day is $40

Regards Keith

08 October 2025

G’day All

Our next Free Week is upon us!!

All our activities will be free from Sunday 12th October to Saturday 18th October inclusive. Do please continue to enter the names in the great new books that Cliff has provided for all of us.

Also get your names down for our Entertainment Afternoon on 25th October. Click here for the details (No it doesn’t come under the free week!!! – but it’s only $5).

Regards Keith

22 September 2025

G’day All

Here we are in sunny Katoomba. It’s a lovely place but as cold as charity!! Anyway, that’s for another day.

I want to advertise our next Entertainment Afternoon – Still only $5.

Alicia from The Treblettes is back again. She sings well and keeps the audience under control (almost – just ask Alan Thynne and Trevor Remidio?) She is funny and a great entertainer. It’s on Saturday 25th October at 1.30pm. Please arrive around 1pm so we can start on time. Click here to see the details.

Regards Keith

20 September 2025

G’day All

This is for the Friday Exercise Group. The class will run this Friday in spite of it being a Public Holiday.

Click here for the third part of our travel notes. It’s about two pages long – sorry about that but I got a bit carried away!!

Regards Keith

17 September 2025

G’day All

Here’s an update on the petition for traffic lights.

Council has accepted the petition and will conduct a traffic study during the period 2026-2027. They will notify me of the results of that study. They did point out that Warrandyte Road is a Dept of Transport and Planning road and Council would prefer them to be responsible for this. They also pointed out that the estimated cost of traffic lights would be approximately $2 million, with additional costs for moving the bus stop and lane marking. So, depending on the results of the survey, we will probably have to deal with that Dept eventually.

So, this won’t be a quick process, but we’ll keep at it.

I would like to thank three of our local parliamentarians who all sent letters to the Govt backing the deal – Nicole Werner, Will Fowles – both of the Legislative Assembly, and Nick McGowan of the Legislative Council.

Regards Keith

16 September 2025

G’day All

John Tzinins – our Pa Tuan Chin guru – has decided to extend his teaching a little more. He will teach Tai Chi as well.

The timings, as from next Tuesday 23rd September will be –

9.15am to 10 am Tai Chi

10.15am to Midday Pa Tuan Chin.

Regards Keith

13 September 2025

G’day All

This is for our 38 people going on the bus trip to Water Gardens hotel.

Don’t forget the trip is on THIS WEDNESDAY COMING – 17th September!!

Please be at the Club by 8.15 am as the bus leaves at 8.30am and cannot wait for latecomers.

Regards Keith

4 September 2025

G’day All

Here’s the latest from sunny Coolangatta.

THE MONEY FOR THE BUS TRIP TO WATERGATE HOTEL MUST BE PAID THIS WEEK.!! We have to pay in advance.

Lots of whales going past, and we have been swimming a couple of times! I’m sure it’s only Victorians and Taswegians who swim here at this time of the year – but it was nice.

Regards Keith

27 August 2025

G’day All

Remember that Crummy, Corowa Kookaburra that stole my lunch? Well here’s the next part of our trip. Throw this away if you’re not interested. Click here.

Regards Keith

24 August 2025

G’day All

This is a reminder about our bus trip to Water Gardens Hotel on Wednesday 17th September. I reckon it’s pretty good value – you get the bus trip, a Devonshire tea, a Morning Melodies concert, and a smorgasbord lunch – all for $35. We have about 35 booked so far, so we can fit in another 15.

Here’s how to book if you’re still unsure. At the end of the hallway there’s a white post box. Above the box there are envelopes. Just put your money in an envelope, write your name and what it’s for on the outside and drop it in the box. And please do write your names on the list that’s hanging in the hallway so , we can keep track of how many people are going. (Oh, by the way, it’s SUNNY AND WARM IN COOLANGATTA!! Dianne is sitting on our balcony watching for whales, and watching the surfers, whist I sit in here working away on this e-mail. I sometimes think that my bossess is smarter than me!!)

Regards Keith

19 August 2025

G’day All

Just a note concerning the traffic lights petition, I have received a letter advising that the Council will consider it at their next meeting on 25th August.

For those of you interested, click here for an update on our travels north – just 2 ½ weeks so far.. I’ll just send bits over the next few weeks as I don’t want to bore you too much.

Regards Keith.

14 August 2025

G’day All

We have a front door key card in a locked box at the front door. It’s used by some of our convenors . Sadly, we’ve just learned that our cupboard is bare!! What I mean to say is that the key card is missing. Could those of you who have access to the locked box, please check your pockets, and if you find the card, rush it back to the club, so that others can get in to the hall.

Regards Keith

12 August 2025

G’day All

Here we are in sunny Casino – Northern NSW. It’s about as warm as Melbourne at present. Last night we stopped at Glen Innes - minus 1 degree overnight!! Anyway, we’re having a nice holiday. I’ll send you some information on it later.

I just want to let you know about our petition requesting traffic lights at our entrance. The petition has been lodged with Maroondah Council, it will be presented at a Council meeting soon . Three of our local State members – Nicole Werner, Will Fowles, and Nick McGowan have pledged their support and have written to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and Maroondah Council on our behalf. Our local member, Linda Hancock is also supporting us. I have no idea how this will turn out but, at least, we have made Council aware of our concerns and that we believe something practical must be done to ensure the safety of the users of our location.

I will keep you informed.

Regards Keith

24 July 2025

POOL PLAYERS REJOICE!! THY KINGDOM IS AT PEACE AGAIN!!

Well ,actually I just want to inform you that our Council has just installed a brand new heater in the Pool Room.

Now, I know that most of us – including me – think that instructions for a new piece of equipment is simply a waste of time, and should never be looked at. But, please, humour me here and read the instructions first.

Regards Keith

17 July 2025

I was sitting out the front staring at the caravan, and dreaming of the hot weather up north, when Dianne said “I think we should do a newsletter before we leave”. I replied that I didn’t think I would bother! Well, here’s a newsletter.

Things are settling down a bit now that the car park is done. Our new storeroom is ready to go, so the four table tennis tables and the indoor bowls roller should all fit in ok. It will certainly be easier for everyone to move these in and out from their new spot. We have applied to Council for permission to put shelves in to take all our bits and pieces. These will be above the height of the tables so it won’t interfere with them.

Once that is finished our next project will be to request that the wall between the Board room (that’s where cards and mahjong are played) and the old store room be removed so the two rooms can be combined. We need more room for these activities as their numbers are growing. I suspect we will have to pay for that, but it will be good for the Club.

Our numbers continue to grow, and our roof continues to leak!! So, everything is fairly normal.

I have been a bit remiss in not reminding everyone about our library. This was started a few years ago. We had this run down room which didn’t do anything so the Committee renovated it, installed shelves and asked for donations of books. It filled up very quickly. We then appointed Judy Penwill as our librarian. She keeps it in excellent condition. So, now you can borrow books, and DVDs whenever you want. It’s strictly an honour system. Take the ones you want and bring them back when you’ve finished. If you have books that you don’t want you can bring them in – AFTER AUGUST (Judy is away until September).

Our bus trips and Entertainment Afternoons are organized for a while – Dianne has news of those in her part of this newsletter. The Christmas lunch is on the way and our usual Seniors Week free week of activities will happen in October.

ACTIVITIES

Once again we were well looked after at the Dorset Gardens Hotel for our AGM Xmas in July lunch. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, although the timing was a bit out. I asked for sweets to be served at 2pm, which allowed a good half hour for the open forum. This year hardly anyone had anything to contribute so it was over and done with quickly which put my timing out. Please remember that all these activities are for members only as they are subsidised by the club.

Although we will be away it is business as usual. I will take all my paperwork with me and keep up with membership, activities etc. I have organized a bus trip with a difference while we are away. Joan Craig has kindly offered to take charge of it for me. This will be on a Wednesday for a change (Wednesday 17th September). The brochure and list are up on the wall in the passage, please put your name on list and pay by due date. The trip will be to Watergardens Hotel for their morning melodies. Bus will leave the club at 8:30am, with scones and tea/coffee on arrival. Then 1 hr of entertainment by the Glen Star Variety show. Followed by a smorgasbord lunch. We had lunch there after the last outing, so a lot of you will know how good the meal is. Then back on the bus for home, arriving approx 3pm. The cost will be $35 each.

Then in October we have an entertainment afternoon planned. This will be Saturday 25th October. The brochure and list will go up in September. The entertainer will be Alicia from the Treblettes. We have had Alicia before about a year ago. She was very good, so we have invited her back again. Times will be 1pm for a 1.30 start followed by our afternoon tea cost will be $5.

For November we will have a bus trip to Abbotsford Convent, we did this on a walk with the club earlier this year, and walked around their lovely gardens. I have organized a guided tour through the old buildings to learn the history of this lovely place. Lunch destination and cost to be advised as it is getting very hard to find a destination and somewhere to eat for $35. I expect this trip will be slightly more expensive. The club covers the cost of the bus.

In December we will have our Xmas break up, this will be held at the Dorset Gardens Hotel on Monday 8th December. Brochure will go up Oct/Nov. We will have Rick Charles to entertain us again, we all enjoy his performances. Cost to be advised.

MEMBERSHIP.

We still have quite a few outstanding memberships, remember to attend any activity you need to be a financial member. If you can't remember if you have paid ring Dianne to check 0411446854, or check the membership list in the hall. Unfinancial will be in RED letters.

We have had a lot of new members this year, and I know you all will have received a warm welcome from other club members. We have a lot to offer, so make the most of your membership. To those members not feeling to good, we wish you a speedy recovery. Also our condolences to those who have lost loved ones during the year.

15 July 2025

G’day All

I hope all of you know about our great library we have – books and dvd’s are there for you to take and use whenever you want. No paper work, just bring them back when you have finished with them.

Our lovely librarian Judy is going on holidays for a while (off to the Gold Coast along with - it seems – half the Club, and including Dianne and me soon). She asks that no one donates any more books until the end of August. Also, any books that you bring back, please put them back on the shelves, in the right spot.

Regards Keith

13 July 2025

G’day All

My petition to request traffic lights at our entrance is going well, we have quite a few signatures. If any of you have not yet signed, and are willing to do so, please do it this week as I need to get all the pages together to present to Council. I hope that will be in the next couple of weeks.

Regards Keith

12 July 2025

G’day All

We’re heading off at the end of this month for two months caravanning. Whilst we’re away we have planned a bus trip on 17th September. Our good friend Joan Craig is looking after it for us. It’s actually back to The Watergardens Hotel. But there’s a difference. It includes a coffee and scones morning tea, then a Morning Melodies event, followed by the smorgasbord lunch. Details are on the Activities Page.

It seems a little odd advertising this so early, but we need to order the bus before we go, and we have to estimate the size of bus to order. We would appreciate it if you could put your names on the list in the next two weeks so we can work that out.

Regards Keith

08 July 2025

G’day All

I really don’t know whether to laugh, or cry!! At the AGM yesterday I was voted in as President again – Ah well, it will be another interesting year I’m sure.

Here’s the line up of your committee

President - Me!!

Vice-President - Barry McFarlane

Secretary - Dianne Bunnett

Treasurer - David Lovett

Members -

Judy Doekes-Pitt

Herb Doekes

June Mellett

Stephen Bailey

Dieter Staebner

John Van der Wyk

08 July 2025

PRESIDENTS REPORT to the AGM 7TH JULY 2025

The end of another interesting year - who knows what this next one will bring.

We have ended the year with about 340 members – we generally fluctuate between

320 – 350 each year.

Have you looked at our website yet. Cliff, our web site manager, did a marvellous job setting it up and he now keeps it up to date all the time. The majority of our new members now come from looking at the web site.

Apparently, we are one of the few Seniors Clubs going strongly around here.

All of our activities are going well. Every now and then, one dies off a bit, but then new members join and it comes good again.

Finances are still good. We have tried to give back some of our savings to everyone by subsidising events, such as the Entertainment Afternoons, bus trips, and lunches – we have subsidised our lunch today by $9 per head. We have also just completed a week of free activities.

We do have a plan in the pipeline to have the Board Room extended so our cards, and mah-jong players can have more room. We will need to pay for that as Council have run out of money for us at present. That may take a little while but – hopefully – it will happen eventually.

Council has completed our new store room – although we are going to put in some shelves, so that we can clear out the old store room completely. This means that all the table tennis tables and the bulky carpet bowls roller won’t have to be moved so far.

I have to thank you all for the patience shown whilst the car park was redone, and the remaining trees were chopped down. Took a bit of doing to stay patient didn’t it?!! Anyway, it’s now done – thank goodness.

Our roof leaks still – as usual. I feel sorry for the Council maintenance people – no matter what they fix up, another leak starts up. The problem is it’s such a flat roof, and it has air conditioning equipment and other stuff on it. Never mind, we’ll just keep the bucket handy!

I am concerned at the difficulty in driving in and out of our entrance. It’s been dangerous for years. Requests for traffic lights have been made numerous times over the past 20 years – I made another one several months ago – once again without success. I then asked if we could have a “KEEP CLEAR” sign painted on the road. That was knocked back too. So, now, I’m organizing a petition. We’ll see if that can wear them down!

Our 50th Anniversary is next year. Any suggestions to celebrate the event will be welcomed.

I hope you have enjoyed your last year at the Club, and continue to enjoy many more. I think it’s a really nice place.

Regards Keith

04 July 2025

G’day All

Here I am, back on the air again! I’ve had a few computer problems this week so everything has been quiet. It’s frustrating when you’re certain that you know something, then you push the wrong button and you find out you don’t know everything!!??

Anyway, this is for those attending the AGM. The hotel has agreed to open their side door for us so the long walk to our room won’t be so bad. When you drive in, don’t stop at the main car park. Drive past the hotel towards the back and turn right behind it. There is another car park there and you will see the side door. We will have it open from 11.15am.

Regards Keith

29 June 2025

G’day All

You remember a few days ago I tried to weasel my way out of admitting to Dianne that I had hadn’t sent an e-mail that I had promised to send and I got into BIG TROUBLE!!. Well I was just going to bed when Dianne said “Did you send that e-mail about making up tables for the AGM”?. Well this time I was smarter, I admitted I hadn’t so I only got a small smack! So Dianne is making up the tables for the AGM on Wednesday. If you want to sit with particular people, and you have not put any notice into the white box, you can contact Dianne up until Tuesday night. .After that you’ll have to sit where she picks. I often think that’s better anyway as you meet all sorts of other people.

Regards Keith

28 June 2025

G’day All

I have decided to start up a petition to request traffic Lights at the entrance to our Club. We have requested these a number of times over the past twenty years – obviously with no result. There are four different groups use our entrance – there is our Club, EPR, Ringwood Historical Society and the Community Kindergarten, together with several other small groups. Also, when the new improvements to the grounds are complete we can expect more people entering and exiting the ground. If you add everyone together, I reckon that’s about 600 people coming in and out over the week.

It’s a real nightmare trying to get in and out of the place – particularly during the day.

So I am going to try this petition – I’ve got no idea if it will be successful or not, but I figure if I don’t try, I’ll never know.

So, I will have forms in the hallway for the next few weeks. Do please sign them if you feel it’s worth it. Just remember that you must put your name, your address, and your signature on the form. Aso, only do it once – I don’t think twenty same names will help!!

Regards Keith

23 June 2025

G’day All

This is a reminder that your names and payments for the AGM must be in the white box by next Monday the 30th June. If you want to sit on a particular table (tables seat 10), please put your lists in the box by Monday as well.

ALSO, ANNUAL FEES ARE NOW DUE.

Regards Keith

19 June 2025

G’day All

This is a message for our Pool players.

Good news for you, your heater does work.

I spent a couple of hours at the club today. I turned the heater in the pool room on 7 times during that period. Each time I left it on for a while, then allowed it to cool off before I turned it on again.

IT WORKS!! But it takes about 5 minutes to come on. So – JUST PUSH THE YELLOW STOP/START BUTTON – DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE – JUST LEAVE IT, AND THE HEAT WILL COME ON AFTER 4-5 MINUTES.

I still have a call in to Council to have it checked and serviced, and I will keep that call on. So get back to playing in a nice, warm room.

Regards Keith

17 June 2025

G’day All

Well, our two bus trips to Como House went exceedingly well. The weather fined up for us on both days, and the house guides were really informative. It’s a home that was built by a lawyer back in the 1840’s. He purchased a 50 acre block which went from Toorak Rd down to the Yarra , and from Williams Rd, to Punt Rd. The house was sold three times, and the last family had nine kids – 5 girls and 4 boys. They owned the house for 95 years – 1861 to 1956. Then the last two surviving sisters sold the house to the National Trust, which was set up just to accept it. Only one of the sisters married. Now, that’s a bit puzzling but it was probably because so many of the men they knew died in World War 1. Australia in 1914 had just 5 million people in total (we have 27 million now), and we had 60,000 Australian soldiers killed during the four years of that War. So, there was a huge gap in eligible males for many years.

The smorgasbord lunch at Water Gardens hotel was good. Both days were good.

Regards Keith

15 June 2025

G’day All

This is about our bus trip AGAIN!!

We’ve had two cancellations from the bus for tomorrow – Monday. If anyone is interested in going, call Dianne straight away, we will get you on. Dianne is 0411446854.

Regards Keith

11 June 2025

G’day All

There is good news and bad news for our bus trips next week!!

First – the good news. We now have two vacant seats for the Tuesday trip. Please call Dianne straight away if you’re interested.

The bad news is – we have had to pay in advance for Como House and our meal, so there will be no refunds for cancellations for either the Monday, or the Tuesday trip.

Regards Keith

11 June 2025

G’day All

Our Annual General Meeting is going to happen on Monday 7th July. It will be at the Dorset Gardens Hotel Croydon. The first course will be served at midday so that the AGM can commence at 1pm. So please arrive at about 11.30am. The Committee has heavily subsidized the event, it will only cost you $15 for the meal. Now, of course all positions on the Committee are open on that day, so , if you want to help out in any way please nominate for a spot. The positions open are President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and we normally have about six on the general Committee.

As it is our AGM, only people who have paid their membership for 2025 – 26 will be able to attend as everyone present must be eligible to vote.

If you don’t want to attend the meal, but want to come to the AGM, let Dianne know and we will have seating arranged for you.

At the end of the meeting we will have our usual half hour open forum. If you have any suggestions, or comments, this is the time to bring them up.

Regards Keith

09 June 2025

G’day All

We’ve had a cancellation from our bus trip next Tuesday the 17th June (tomorrow week). So we now have one seat available if anyone wishes to come. Please call Dianne on 0411446854 ASAP if you are interested.

Regards Keith

07 June 2025

G’day All

Don’t forget today is the start of our Free Week which runs until next Friday afternoon – the 13th.

This is a big Dance weekend for us – dance tonight, then our Sunday dance tomorrow. It will be too cold and wet to go anywhere else so go to the two dances and warm up! (Don’t forget to book in for the dance tonight).

Regards Keith

05 June 2025

G’day All

A reminder that your Annual Fees are due.

Dianne loved all the renewals in the white box when we came back from Cairns, and asked me to thank everyone who did that for her! So, please keep her happy by dropping more in to the box. You know the old saying about ”Happy Wife – Happy Life” – Hmm!!

Regards Keith

02 June 2025

G’day All

Remember when I told you – a few months ago – Well you probably don’t, so I’ll tell you all again! Your Committee decided, a while ago, that a good way to return some money to our members would be to have an extra free week of activities. WELL it’s nearly here. Our Free week runs from next Saturday the 7th June, and finishes on Friday afternoon the 13th June. Every now and then a week appears that includes every one of our weekly activities, and this is one of them. So, I know you will enjoy yourselves, but do it for free next week.

Regards Keith

29 May 2025

G’day All

Remember – years ago – when all the space ships were going up – everyone would say “HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM!!

Well we do have a problem of our own – our booking for the bus trip to Como House has been re-arranged! We have had to split the booking into two groups on TWO DIFFERENT DAYS.

First group on Monday 16th June as we have advertised will be a maximum of 28 people. The second group will be on the following day – Tuesday 17th June at the same times. Now, to fix this we do need some of you to agree to shift to the Tuesday. Would everyone who is booked for the bus trip, or going to book, please ring Dianne on 0411446854 ASAP!!! We don’t have much time to fix this as we have to pay the National Trust in a few days time. At times it is really confusing working with them.

Regards Keith

26 May 2025

So, here we are, back in cold Melbourne. Still, it’s nice to be home again. We had a lovely time in Cairns, it’s a very pretty town, right on the water and quite a few things to do. We had been there 19 years ago when we were caravanning around Australia. We went snorkelling on the Outer Barrier Reef ( takes about two hours to get to it on a fast catamaran). The coral has a lot of dead patches and the colours are down, but it’s still great to see. Then we did it again on another day at Green Island – that’s about an hour out from Cairns. The coral is not very good at all here, but the fish life is terrific with all types and sizes and colours of fish. We actually almost touched a reef shark which was just lying flat on some coral. He checked us out, and, fortunately did not feel hungry, or threatened, so it swam away. We helped by swimming the other way!!

We went up to Kuranda – a town at the back of Cairns by train. It’s a great journey, takes about 1 ½ hours. It’s on a track that was carved out of the mountain side in the 1890’s to help the tin miners up on the Tableland. It’s really steep in parts – rising 1 metre in every 50 metres, and has sheer drops right at the trains edge for much of the way. Then we came back down on the SkyRail – a cable car. So, we had two extremes of transport. Right at the bottom of the Sky Rail is a n Artillery and Armour Museum. I was in both of these Corps during my 30 years in the Army Reserve so I went in and had a look and renewed acquaintance with lots of equipment. There are about 200 armoured vehicles from all over the world and about 60 guns. Dianne was very patient with me!

We also drove to Mossman Gorge. This is about 100 kms North of Cairns and is a lovely place to walk – take your bathers, we forgot and it was hot and humid!!

Anyway the week flew by. Now I have to thank you all for arranging Diannes’ present. When I checked out our white box today, it was crammed full with membership renewals. Dianne was absolutely thrilled!! Keep going on it.

Regards Keith

17 May 2025

G’day All

Last March there were 90 of us at our Entertainment Afternoon, when the Renoufs played and sang. They were marvellous!! Now the male in the duo is the son of one of our members Lorraine Renouf.

Sadly Lorraine’s long time partner – Murray – passed away a couple of days ago. They danced, came to Entertainment Afternoons, and bus trips. I used to love watching Lorraine and Murray dance – they had style and grace. Murray's funeral is next Thursday at 10.30am at William Matthews Funeral home in Cave Hill Road Lilydale. We can’t be there as we are away in Cairns. I do hope someone will go to represent the Club to show that we care about all our people.

Regards Keith

17 May 2025

G’day All

I said to Dianne yesterday that I would like to give her a present (you do that sometimes for people you love)! She said “That would be lovely” so I asked her what she would like and she said “ I would like the White Box to have lots of membership renewals when we come back from our holiday next weekend”. So, now I’m in a fix, I never thought she would ask for that!! I need lots of you to put your renewals in to the White Box by next weekend so I can give Dianne the present she wants, and I’ll feel good.

Regards Keith

16 May 2025

G’day All

Our next bus trip is on Monday 16th June. We’re going to Come House in South Yarra, for a guided tour, then lunch somewhere or other – no idea yet but Dianne will find a nice place. It’s still just $35 for the day. We’re leaving from the Club this time. I’m hoping all the car park schemozzle will be finished by then.

Regards Keith

15 May 2025 - Newsletter

G’day All

It’s been a while since we did a Newsletter and things have been quite busy, so I decided it was time for one (actually I thought about it and Dianne said “DO IT!!” She’s very forceful at times!).

We’ve all been through the new Car Park bit, with us and EPR, and the Historical Society, and the Kindergarten, all competing for the same car spaces. I did think that it couldn’t get any worse, and then they closed off our car park!!! The snag with that was that the council people running the job didn’t realise that we couldn’t get into the building via the doors from the main hall. Luckily the boss on the site from Jotomex (the company doing the work) was a very nice bloke, and when I explained the situation, he devised the path around the rear of the building to our front door.

I did also attempt to get our entry keys altered so we could enter the building through the Historical Society entrance. This would have saved us about 30 metres in the open, and saved us walking on a bit of rough pathway. However, although Council tried, it hasn’t quite worked out because of the separate alarm areas in the building.

Anyway, the plans for the open area next to our building look quite good. But I am certainly OVER all the car park business at present.

Before that we had the new fire hydrants, they cost the Council an arm and a leg and half a thigh I reckon. They occurred because of our new small storage room, believe it, or not. We applied to Council about 3 -4 years ago for that. Finally, when they decided to go ahead and approved it, one of their Departments decided that the building should also have two new fire hydrants. It was interesting watching the two Departments fighting each other.

Remember last winter, how our roof opened up to the skies again? That has happened almost every year for at least 17 years. that I’m aware of. Our parquetry floor was damaged, one of the fans shorted out, and the ladies toilet roof collapsed!! Council have done some work on the roof, but none of our retired plumbers are very convinced they have fixed the problem. I guess the next rain storm will tell!

Speaking of our new storage area, we plan to house all the table tennis tables, and the bowls mat roller, in there. Once we have our present storage area cleared out we propose to ask Council to knock out the wall between the Board Room and the Storage Room. Apart from our Committee meetings, we have Cards and Mahjong in there. These are both packed out, so the larger room would be really good for us. I suspect Council will say that they’ve spent enough on us for a while, so we will need to offer to fund the alteration ourselves. It’s not a load bearing wall, so, hopefully, we will be able to afford the cost.

There are some more alterations on the way. The open area outside the hall windows is to be turned into a covered verandah, with a lockable pool fence along the outside. So, we will be able to incorporate the area into some of our activities.

Now, getting back to the alterations in the park next to us. As you are aware, we do have a lot of trouble getting out of the driveway at any time. We have requested the erection of traffic lights several times over the past few years, with no result. I sent another request a month ago, including the information that people accessing the new family park next to us will also be using the same driveway. I received a reply that the matter would not be considered until the 2027-28 period. The reason given was that there had been no accidents there!!! I intend to raise a petition.

I have just sent a request back asking for a “Keep Clear” sign to be painted on the roadway. I’ll let you know how I get on.

Our numbers continue to move along quite steadily, being an older persons club, our exits seem to match our entrances fairly well, and we maintain a membership of around 320 – 350 each year.

This brings me to the point that our Annual Fees are due next month. They are still $10. We still haven’t got to the point of allowing these to be deposited direct to our bank account, the idea of 350 $10 entries many with no identification does fill me with terror! Now, I know we will have to do it soon, so if I can get my head out of the sand (and I’m re-elected) we will look at the solution to the problem this next year.

Meanwhile, back to the white box with envelope and cash. Now that’s something that will certainly force us to act – the rapidly diminishing amount of cash around. Dianne and I both belong to Bayswater CFA Fire Brigade and we stand on roads several times a year rattling a tin to help raise money for the Children’s Hospital and for our Brigade (CFA Brigades have to raise money themselves to keep their brigades going as no Government has ever provided enough money to meet all our expenses). It’s really becoming very apparent that cash is disappearing quickly. We used get people emptying out the small change in their consoles, now, there is often nothing there.

Your Committee is looking at ways to fund different activities which will benefit everyone in the Club. One of the ways we have decided on is to have an additional free week for activities in addition to the one we hold for Seniors week later in the year. Now there are several weeks in the year when every Club activity happens One of these is the week Saturday 7th June to Friday 13th June inclusive. So that week will be free for every activity.

Lastly, our AGM is on Monday 7th July. Once again it’s at the Dorset Gardens hotel – Dianne has all the details in her section. Don’t forget, all positions on the Committee become vacant on that date, and a continual flow of people on and off the Committee is good as new people have new ideas and new ways of doing things.

NOW, FROM THE SECRETARY

Our AGM will be held at Dorset Gardens Hotel again this year. We will run it as Xmas in July on Monday the 7th July. A notice will go up shortly. Lunch will be served at 12 noon, our AGM about 1pm followed by an open forum where any member can have their say or ask a question. All committee positions will become vacant at this time and anyone can nominate for a position. Most of our current committee are happy to stay on, but don’t let that stop anyone from nominating for a position on the committee. A vote will be held if more than one person nominates for the one position. Numbers for general committee to be decided at the AGM.

A description of positions are as follows:

PRESIDENT This person is the main go to person for any problems. He/she deals with the council on all issues, attending to the many emails, as well as any trades person the council sends out, also attending the many person to person meetings with the council, following up on all the work orders for repairs and maintenance the council has been requested to do. He/she does all the bookings for the hall use. He/she sends out the emails that keep everyone up to date with club matters, also does the News Letters 3 times a year. Officiates at the committee meetings and AGM. A Bank Signatory.

VICE PRESIDENT Fills in for President if he/she not available. Or to help out when and where required.

SECRETARY Takes the minutes at all meetings, and the AGM, Emails the minutes to committee members, posting copies to committee who don’t have an email. Receives all the emails and records them then hands them to President for action. Collects the mail. Keeps the key register up to date. Does the purchasing of tea, coffee, milk, and all other supplies the club uses, Orders the biscuits. Sends out get well cards etc. Address envelopes for newsletter.

TREASURER Collects the money each week, balances it, records which activity it comes from and banks the money. Keeps all financial records of the club. Pays the bills, writes the cheques. Prints out a financial statement foe every committee meeting. Prepares a full statement to be presented at the AGM.

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Receives all phone calls for people wanting to know more about the club. Receives all new application forms, processes them. Keeps a manual record book, also a computer record of names addresses phone etc. Writes receipts for payment of fees and posts receipt, welcome letter and name tags to new members. In May, June, and July receives annual fees, writes receipts for these, records them in both manual and computer records. Rings, emails and text the many late payers, sometimes 3 or 4 times. Makes sure envelopes are available and membership application forms are available also.

ACTIVITIES/SOCIAL SECRETARY Organizes bus trips, lunches, afternoon teas, concerts or entertainment days, and any other activity that they may decide to run, including the shopping for these activities . Setting up the hall for these activities. Organize to have an email sent out to advertise the event, also a notice to go on the board. Collect money, balance it up, chase up people who haven’t paid on time. Write receipts for money collected.

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEMBER Help out where needed, can collect money and make sure full names are recorded in activity book. Vote on any decisions made at a meeting. Come up with ideas on how the club can improve. Greet any new member who attends an activity where the committee member is, and introduce them to other members.

FEES ARE DUE BY 30 TH JUNE, STILL $10. Please put your money in an envelope with your full name and any changes of addresses, phone numbers or email details so I can update my records. As we do not have pro –rata fees, no matter which month you joined the club the annual fees are due and payable by everyone. I would really appreciate it if everyone would start paying ASAP as with 340 members it takes a lot of time to write receipts and up date the records if everyone pays at the last minute. Receipts will be pinned on the board a week after I collect the payment. Envelopes to go in white mail box in hall. Don’t forget your name and $10.

ACTIVITIES Next bus trip will be on Monday 16th June, most likely to Como House for a guided tour, then lunch at a local hotel. Still $35. A notice will go up on the board when I have confirmed details. After that it is the AGM. No other activities are planned until we see who will be doing that job after the AGM.

MEMBERSHIP We have had quite a few new members again this year. We hope you are enjoying all we have to offer. To all members I hope you are making the most of your membership, and are making new friends into the bargain. We have had a lot of members who have ended up in hospital, also a lot of illnesses amongst us. We wish you all a speedy recovery and hope to see you back at the club soon. Unfortunately we have had a few members pass away, and our sympathy goes out to family and friends. Keep warm and well over the winter months. ahead.