Forresters Beach Probus Club - NEWS LETTER EXTRACTS

As we traditionally do not have a December meeting, this is the last meeting of the calendar year and what a year it has been with a very busy social program despite the world’s financial problems. There are a lot of Henny Pennys running around in circles yelling that the sky is falling but hopefully, we are all old and wise enough to know that its time to circle the wagons, keep our nerve and wait for the financial storms to clear. How’s that for mixed metaphors!

For all of us, Probus has created new friendship opportunities, some of which have blossomed and grown. At our stage in life and with many of us moving to the Central Coast for a new life and lifestyle, opportunities to meet and make new friends are not like they were in our past lives, but thankfully Forresters Beach Probus Club has changed all that by widening our horizons.

Our members enjoy a comprehensive social program - from songsters to sizzlers, tennis to travel, bowls to golf, craft to theatre parties, monthly meetings and lunches to garden tours and caravan/cabin trips. Such an excellent program is made possible by the volunteers who contribute their time and energies by working as members of the Management Committee, Support Group and as COAST Convenors. Thank you everyone for your successful involvement, it is much appreciated by us all.

We meet again on January 13, 2009 and, at the following meeting in February, we will be calling for nominations for the new Management Committee. Your present Committee is prudently planning for succession of the present members but anyone can nominate in February. I have had a most satisfying and enjoyable year as your President and wish to thank the members of the Management Committee, for their support and sharing with me, a wonderful team spirit and an excellent working relationship.

In particular, I am most appreciative of the support and assistance which I have received from Frank Kelett, our Senior Vice President.

After the Annual General Meeting in March, the new Management Committee will appoint the various convenors and organisers, but again we are planning for an orderly succession for those good people who want a break next year. With a Probus Club our size and the quantity and variety of the activities and functions, we need plenty of members involved. If you would like to find out more about the various tasks of running our Club, please speak to me or the incoming President Frank Kelett.

Speaking of Club management, you will remember that the last meeting adopted our Risk Management Policy which proves we are ‘covering the bases’ for our Probus South Pacific group insurance cover. Members also adopted the event booking and cancellation procedures which will now apply to all functions and events. These procedures are in the minutes of the last meeting which are inserted into this current newsletter.

On behalf of my husband Tony and Members of the Management Committee, I wish you and your loved ones a joyous Christmas and may 2009 bring us all, peace, love and continued good health.

In conclusion, I would like to share with all members and your families:

A CHRISTMAS TREAT
Blend equal parts of Faith and Hope, mixed well with Charity;
Stir in Goodwill and Sweet Content and Precious Memory.
Add Kindness, Helpfulness and Joy, of Gratitude don’t spare;
Then drop by drop Love’s Essence sweet, and Praises freely share.
And don’t forget such spices rare, as Laughter, Smiles and Fun,
Taste often for the best results, (‘Tis sweet to mince upon).
Now add a Thankful Heart and then, the recipe’s complete.
Your “Merry Christmas” all will like… so try the season’s treat.

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Classy field in cup capers

It was a classy field at the Club’s Melbourne Cup celebration at Breakers Country Club at Wamberal. The best hat prize went to Faye Smith (bottom left picture) and while it was supposed to be the best tie for men, the judge couldn’t go past Tony Scott’s creation (bottom right picture) - no prizes for guessing what everyone said it was made from! Julie and Les Coventry (top picture below) enjoyed the day if not the pay.

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Forresters a step in the Ramsay path

For the original convenors of Forresters Beach Probus Club, John and Judy Ramsay, the move to Forresters Beach after they married in 1998 started them both in the new phase of their community involvements.

John had a career in merchant banking and while living in Sydney he was active in community affairs. He was NSW President, then National President of the Australian Administrative Staff College Association and was awarded Life Membership for his work.

John became Treasurer of the Channel 9 Sponsors Club, raising funds for the NSW Society of Crippled Children. The Club suggested and helped organise the first TV telethon and then conducted the first Tele-Auction at Roselands Shopping Centre.

As Joint Secretary of NSW Country Rugby John had specific responsibility for Country Week Tours, publicity and fund raising. He was also founder and President of The Institute of Short People “FISPs”, raising funds for the Childrens’ Hospital and MS.

After moving to the Coast, John was Secretary for three years of Terrigal Probus Club. He was a member of the Central Coast Rugby World Cup 2003 Business Task Force. He has been a Business Mentor since 2003 for the Central Coast Business Mentor Service Inc, providing volunteer business mentoring services to small business clients. John is Area Supervisor for Salvos Red Shield Appeal and was an Area Supervisor for the 2006 Census.

With Judy, John agreed in September 2004 to a request from The Entrance Rotary Club to become a Convenor of a new combined Probus Club at Forresters Beach. An information meeting held in November 2004 drew enormous interest and the inaugural meeting was held in February 2005 with John as Inaugural President.

Judy took an active role in Rotary and various other charitable and community activities as well as a devoted full time mother.

In 1976 Judy joined a group of artists working as a Co-operative at the Argyle Arts Centre in Sydney’s Rocks area. In 1984 Judy established the Old Northern Gallery and Academy of Arts and Crafts in Dural. This prospered and became a very successful business and is still operating to a wide range of Australian artists and artisans.

After an unfortunate tragedy in the death of husband Max in 1994, Judy moved to a new home in Cheltenham and set about a new life. Judy then became involved in the operating of another Art Gallery in the Clocktower at The Rocks in Sydney. Judy’s art work was exhibited and sold in many galleries in Sydney and NSW.

Later, Judy met John and they married in 1998, moved to Forresters Beach and the rest, as they say, is history, with one of the biggest and most active Probus Clubs as their legacy.