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Hamilton Probus Club Inc. 56018

Accredited 14 December 1990 The Times President Dr David McEvoy Ph. 3262 9937 website: www.hamiltonprobus.com.au

Secretary Mrs Margot Kirby Ph. 3262 6693 email: ham.probus.sec@gmail.com

PO Box 2308, Ascot 4007 Next meeting 9:15am Tuesday 4th September 2018 at Merriwee Court, Oxford Street Hamil-

Meeting Apologies Contact Margot Kirby Last minute apologies may be made from the meeting floor.

Birthdays September Gaye White [01]

John Herron [04]

John Gooch [05]

Brian Nelson [09]

Colin Miller [18]

Syd Roberts [19]

Jan Herron [22]

Ngairetta Brennan

AM [23]

Jan Peldan [23]

Mary Rose Fraser

[24]

Julia Fryar [29]

2 0 1 8 C o m m i t t e e President: David McEvoy Secretary: Margot Kirby Treasurer: Jack Larkin Senior Vice President: Margot Kirby Immediate Past Presi-dent: Leafy Fussell Outings Committee: Leon Papi Speaker Program: Colin Miller Membership Officer: Barry Henzell Newsletter: Barry Henzell Records Officer John Wright Committee: John Ladbrook Jack Larkin Anne Gooley Auditor: Peter Nichols Almoner Leafy Fussell

President’s Report

Edition 193 September 2018

August has been a great month in Brisbane and for Hamilton Probus with magnificent weather at the end of winter and a continuing sched-ule of activities. The annual breakfast at The Hamptons organised by Doug Fussell was attended by some 25 members who enjoyed good food and company; and soon to come will be the PAQ Bowls Day and the Berghofer Institute visit.

The Management Committee has received complimentary remarks and membership enquiries on our website which has passed the initial 3 months trial without unforeseen glitches. We can be proud of our achievement as other clubs go down this path and ask us for information on how we did it. The process of archiving our records in a permanent digital form is well under way and Anne Gooley will report on progress in Sep-tember. I found reviewing club records enlightening , as I was reminded of the important role so many of current long standing members have played in various roles both on and off the committee.

Club members interested in discussing travel information and experiences gathered at The Verandah for coffee in a meeting organised by Susan Wright. This may grow into a special interest group if the initial good showing continues. Similarly, the book corner has brought together our members who share a love of reading and exchanging books. Any other group with shared interests will enjoy support within our club as a means of pro-moting new friendships. Your committee will look at any further suggestions of a similar nature.

Many rural Australians are suffering from the widespread drought and aid organisations are rallying. If you would like to help, a number of charities including Red Cross, provide easy to use online donation portals.

The experiment with a change in our morning tea provisions seemed to be enjoyed so ex-pect the cake menu to continue with a wider choice in sandwiches. Our booking for the annual Christmas Lunch at RQ Golf Club is confirmed with expectations of fine food and a rousing send off to the year. David McEvoy

N e w s l e t t e r

The Ekka is over, Spring is in the air, sitting in the sun is magic and we have a 2019 Secretary waiting in the wings. Have we someone who can help Barry out with editing The Times?

Douglas’ Club breakfast was reported as very good. Susan’s first meeting of the Armchair travel saw a dozen or more. From all reports both functions were very much enjoyed.

At the next meeting, John Wright will mention a few important tips about keep-ing your computer safe. Bruce Kynaston’s talk on Craft and Art will be a very in-teresting combination.

Secretary’s Report

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Tuesday 4th September General Meeting at Merriwee Court Tuesday 11th September Men’s Coffee at Verandah Monday 17th September PAQ Golf at Nudgee Golf Club, John Conroy Thursday 20th September Ormiston House visit and lunch at Cleveland Lighthouse Alastair Ward Tuesday 25th September Ladies Coffee at Verandah Tuesday 2nd October General Meeting at Merriwee Sunday 7th October Film of Shakespeare's "Merry Wives of Windsor" at Dendy Portside then nibbles at Belvedere Bar & Grill afterwards Tuesday 9th October Men’s Coffee at Verandah Thursday 25th October Lunch at Royal Qld Yacht Squadron, Manly plus a talk by Bill Kirby Tuesday 27th November Ladies coffee at Verandah for those not going on cruise.

Tuesday 27th November Bay Cruise to Gold Coast Marina Mirage, lunch on board &

return to Brisbane by coach...$75

Thank you to all who came along to our first meeting of the Armchair Travel Group at Ve-randah last Thursday. The plan is to hold a meeting once a month. Verandah was too noisy, so we have been sourcing another venue.

We went around the table to see what was of special interest to each person as far as fu-ture travel was concerned. The aim is to glean thoughts as to what can be seen or experi-enced outside the regular travel offerings. In my experience that is what can make travel exceptional and provide a further insight into the culture or part of the country you are visit-ing.

The inaugural meeting was attended by Barbara Fitzell, John Wright, David McEvoy, Rob-in Edwards, Anne Gooley, Di Nielsen, Brian Nelson, John Herron, Paula Chandler, Julia Fryar, Helen Henzell and me.

Apologies – Margot Kirby and Barry Henzell.

The response from around the table was that a significant number have an interest in trav-el in Australia as well as overseas destinations.

On this basis I would like to suggest that we take a theoretical trip to Townsville, Charters Towers and Magnetic Island. What are three things you would do on visiting these three towns to make this trip exceptional.

It has been confirmed by the office of Cr David McLachlan that we can use a meeting room in the Council offices, 42 Racecourse Road, Hamilton for our next meeting with access to tea and coffee. However, it is not available on the 3rd Thursday of the month but only on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. This would make the date of the next meeting Tuesday, 18 September 2018 at 10.30 am. Please let me know the suitability of this date as an ongoing meeting time. As I would like to advise the Council office regarding this offer of the meeting room could you please get back to me regarding the suitability of the date.

Thank you for attending the first meeting. It was a great response. The feedback was very positive, and I am sure we can come up with some exciting ideas and itineraries.

Look forward to your response as soon as possible regarding the meeting date. Please forward this email to anyone you think may be interested in attending the next meeting.

Regards Susan Wright

M: 0403910728

Dates to remember

Armchair Travel Group

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Guest Speaker - Sue Hines

Men’s Coffee

Get to know our fellow coffee drink-

ers more. It is a thoroughly enjoya-

ble morning. If you are available to

attend, the next meeting is

10am on Tuesday 11th September

Ladies Coffee

Please join us at our ladies coffee

group at Verandah

No bookings, just turn up.

Next meeting is Tuesday

25th September at 10am

Membership Report

We received a very interesting and informative talk from

Sue Hines. Sue filled in at short notice for Mr Terry Price Re-

gional Commander, Strategic Border Command Operations Group,

Australian Border Force. Mr Price was called to Canberra at

Short notice.

Sue told us of the roles of the newly formed Border Force.

The border Force Command is responsible for the security

of our borders, drug surveillance , migration.

We welcome Jan Herron back to Active membership.

We were also pleased to induct Muriel Mackenzie to our number. Muriel told us

of her life as a nurse and doctor’s wife. Her life in

Quilpie the return to Brisbane where her husband

practised medicine and worker at the Royal Brisbane

Hospital.

Beth Wilson and Laurie Miles have been promoted to

Non Active membership.

This month we welcome Stewart & Lyn Bryant to our number.

Month Guest Speaker

September Bruce Kynaston (Club Member) Subject: Craft and Art

October Jessica Shannon—Brisbane Airport Corporation

November Denis Wayper - The life and extensive career of Doris Day

December Captain Ross Nicholls—returning to talk about Mission to Seafarers

Ten Minute Speakers

September John Comerford

October Laurie Richards

Hamilton Club - Speakers 2018

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Please note, this newsletter is deigned for on screen reading with an electronic device. Distribution is via E-Mail. We have very small number of older mem-bers who do not have email access. For these folk an abridged black and white paper version is printed. Hamilton Probus thanks the BCC Hamil-ton Ward Office for providing the paper and printing for these.

ORMISTON HOUSE

The

Co

mer

ford

File

s Ormiston House Estate has been a Heritage Listed property since 21.10.1992. The

house was constructed between 1858 and 1865, for the Hon Captain Louis Hope, who

was born in Scotland on 29th October, 1817. He had served in the Coldstream Guards.

He came out to New South Wales in 1843, and thence to the Moreton area in 1848. He

became active in the economic and political life of Queensland. He leased/owned ex-

tensive landholdings in the Moreton region, including Kilcoy Station (1853), Shafston

House (1854) at Kangaroo Point, and in the Cleveland area overlooking Raby Bay (1852-

1855). He was a member of Legislature Council (MLC) from 1862 to 1882.

Louis Hope farmed the holdings at Cleveland from 1858, growing cotton, then sugar

cane. He established an ornamental garden and planted 20 acres of sugar cane and 13

acres of corn, and from the salt pans of Raby Bay harvested up to 4 tons of salt per day.

In 1864 he built the first sugar cane crushing mill, importing the machinery from Cook

and Company of Glasgow in Scotland. He used Kanake labour to work the property,

which in 1862 comprised 800 acres.

He initially built a slab hut, which became the kitchen wing when he later constructed a

substantial brick house on the property of 27 acres in 1864-5. He was a member of Leg-

islature Council (MLC) from 1862 to 1882.

Captain Hope, the soldier, the grazier, the sugar planter and miller, returned to the

British Isles in 1882 and lived in Hazelwood, Derbyshire, England. He died on

15.08.1894 in Geneva, Switzerland.

He has been recognised as the Father of the Sugar Industry in Australia.

In 1959 the property (the House and property of 27 acres) was acquired by the Carmel-

ite nuns, a contemplative order of nuns in the Catholic Church. Later a monastery was

constructed near Ormiston House.

Ormiston House is now a museum. The house is surrounded by 14 acres of equally his-

toric grounds and gardens overlooking Moreton Bay. It hosts a busy and varied calen-

dar of open days and specific events that attract many visitors and tourists.

Hamilton Probus Club will be visiting the House and property this month (20.09.2018)

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A. B. `Banjo Paterson

Parched are the plains and bare,

Dusty and eaten out;

Animals everywhere

Perish in dumb despair;

For the land is held in the iron grip

Of the enemy general Drought!

Who shall deliver us?

Who shall assuage our pain?

Men in their bitter grief,

Pray that they get relief,

That help may come from the friendly hand

Of our ally, General Rain.

Look at those flying mists

Sweeping across the plain!

These are the lads of the Light Brigade,

Light but fearless and undismayed;

They are the van of the first attack

Of the valiant General Rain.

Now are the Light Brigade

Baffled and beaten back:

But the blast of the rain-wind fifing clear,

Rallies its forces far and near

On to the grand attack.

A. B. `Banjo Paterson was not simply the author of the words of `Waltzing Ma-tilda, Australia’s unofficial national anthem, and many other classic ballads such as `The man from Snowy River and `Clancy of the Overflow. Though it is now almost forgotten, he was a first-rate war correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald.

His dispatches from the Boer War are as vivid and exciting to read today as when they were frantically scribbled under the guns of Boer sharp-shooters and delivered on daring rides from the front to the nearest telephone office. He was a friend of `Breaker Morant, whose notorious trial and execution was one of the sensations of that war. He was also an expert horseman, a man who knew everything there was to be known about horses and horse-racing, winning prizes at polo matches and race meetings. Returning from South Africa, The Banjo (as he always signed himself) travelled to China and England (where he stayed with his friend, the poet Rudyard Kipling). At the outbreak of World War One, he failed to get accreditation as a war correspondent, and served as an ambulance driver in France, and finally to Egypt where he headed a team of rough-riders and trained horses. Major Paterson came back to Sydney and by the time he died everyone in Australia knew the verses of `Waltzing Matilda but scarcely anyone could have told you they had been written by `Banjo Pat-erson as he had sold the copyright outright for five pounds!

Out of the stormy south

To the sound of the thunder’s drum,

Peal upon peal, and crash on crash,

To the heliograph of the lightning flash,

The big battalions come!

Look at those big black clouds,

Gathering out at sea!

Never the swiftest war horse yet

Moved as they move, all stern and set,

On to their victory!

Never a Maxim Gun

Shoots like the stinging hail,

Never the blast of a fifer rings

Clear as the call that the storm wind sings

As the foe begins to fail.

Now may our thanks ascend

Over the smiling plain.

Thanks let us give that the foe falls back,

Crushed by the might of the fierce attack

Of the valiant General Rain.

General Drought and General Rain—Banjo Paterson

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Please note, if you are unable to attend on your rostered day, please arrange a swap with another member from the respective list.

Hamilton Probus Club—General Meetings Annual Roster

Door Roster Hospitality Roster

Convenor

Barry Henzell

(Ph: 3256 0070, 0407 233 360)

Convenor

Pam Cole

(Ph: 3630 2508)

September

2018

John BLACKFORD (ph.: 0413 129 478)

Anne GOOLEY (Ph. 3868 2949,

0475 981 003)

Gaye WHITE (ph. 0404 193 404) Lorrie MILES (ph. 3262 4970) Margaret ELLISON (ph.3868 1495, 0448 149 500)

October

2018

Julia FRYAR: (ph. 3262 6848, 0403 954 178) Ruth CLARK: (ph. 3865 7110, 0408 747 669) Anne CLAY: (ph. 3268 5513, 0438 177 720)

November

2018

Carmel DINNEEN: (ph. 3630 5489 Phyllis OMMENSEN: (ph. 3868 4017) 0438 762 521) Sonja COMERFORD: (ph. 3257 4810

December

2018

Glen MCDONALD: (ph.0409 868 880) Margaret ELLISON (ph. 3868 4017, 0438 761 521 ROBIN McLEOD: (ph. 3852 6374, 0408 701 665)

EVENTS & BOOK CORNER

QSO and Alondra de la Parra with Beetho-

ven’s 7th at QPAC September 6th.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Power-

house . Free. From August 30th.

Dark Emu. Bangarra Dance Theatre. QPAC

Play house. From August 24th.

Film. “C’est la vie”. French Comedy. Palace

Centro. Current.

Please visit our Little Book Corner, we have lots of books to read.

Bette- Ann has given us some good trav-el books for browsing through (armchair travel reading!).

Brisbane author, Emily O'Grady has been named the winner of this

year’s Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award for The Yellow House.