PROBUS CLUB OF LAUNCESTON

 UPDATED GUEST SPEAKER (30-45mins)   

 26 August 2014

Andrew FULLARD

Peter Anderson introduced Andrew Fullard, General Manager of the Launceston Flood Authority who was appointed four years ago.  Peter told us that the present organisation had replaced  the Upper Tamar River Improvement Authority (UTRIA) and was given a budget of $M59 for the construction of a flood levee system. The Flood Authority also undertakes sediment management in the North Esk River and the Tamar estuary.  The catchments of the North and South Esk Rivers and the Tamar Estuary covers an area of 10,000 square Kilometres (about one sixth of the land mass of Tasmania !)

Our own John Shepherd gave us a stunning 40 minute presentation of
this subject by presenting 295 relevant pictures that matched the written
words (in 1970) of Max Oldaker that had recently been recorded and narrated
by his old friend, Ray Sangston.

Maxwell Charles Oldaker (1907-1972), singer and actor, was born and
educated in Devonport, but left there in 1930 to establish his career in
England. He had good looks, elegance and a natural charm and his lyric tenor
voice was enhanced by professional training. Gaining experience ranging from
opera to vaudeville, including broadcasting and recording, he returned to
Melbourne as a celebrity in 1939. A star of the JC Williamson Company for
more than a decade, he understudied Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady in England
but, disappointingly, was denied the lead in Australia.
Oldaker returned to Tasmania in 1959, still playing roles on the
mainland but participating in local radio and television broadcasting, music
and theatre reviewing, vocal teaching, and acting and producing, bringing
professionalism to all that he undertook.
The 'walk' began in the former Cornwall Square car park (no longer
used as such) and travelled along several streets stopping at Ritchie's
Mill.  He commented on the 'Flume' which transported water along the walls
of the Gorge to feed a watermill.  From there passing Kings Bridge (erected
1864) we were taken to the QVMAG which was opened in 1888, the same year as
Launceston was declared a city.  Our next stop was at Staffordshire House
which, we were told, was the finest preserved Merchants Building in
Tasmania.  We progressed past Paterson Street Methodist & St. Andrews
Churches pausing at the Old Union Bank (now the Bendigo Bank) and on to the
Town Hall.  We saw original pictures of the Hall and how it was extended
from four to the present nine columns and we were surprised to find out that
the Post Office Clock does not align with the surrounding Streets !
The next stop was at Macquarie House, built by Henry Reed in 1830 as
a store and which is unique in Australia for its design. After several more
heritage sites, we stopped at the Albert Hall (1891), where we discovered
that both Nellie Melba and Percy Grainger had performed within its walls.
We also discovered that the house at 15 Brisbane Street (Sunnybank) is the
oldest house in the city being built in 1823. We learnt that The Cornwall
Hotel was home to John Fawkner who embarked on the ship "Rebecca" in 1836 to
found Melbourne. Another old building was the Old Umbrella Shop which is
constructed entirely of Blackwood.

Our next stop was at the fountain in St John's Square (now Prince's
Square).  Contrary to popular myths it was ordered by the council from a
foundry in Paris, France but the makers were strictly forbidden to include
unsightly nudity !  He mentioned Moreton House, the home of Doctor Pugh who
was the first physician to use anaesthetic for an operation in Australia.
The Synagogue was mentioned as being of outstanding design as we were led
down to "Dicky White Street" (now Brisbane Street) then to the Princess
theatre (1911) which, we were told, had, in 1970, one of Australia's largest
stages.

Some major points presented by Will Homan who addressed the Club om the Federal Budget 2014 impacts on the aged.

Deeming t  apply to superannuation pensions from 1/1/15

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card – indexation of income levels with inflation ($50,000 / $80,000)

§Removal of Concessions for Health Care Card

 Medicare Levy increases to 2% of taxable income

Guest Speaker -Ian Wheeler - Probus Launceston -27th May 2014

      Ian first gave us a potted history of himself : at the age of 15 years he became an apprentice boilermaker.  From there he spent six years in the regular Army and, on leaving, joined Comalco.  Unfortunately, due to him developing Asthma, he had to leave there and went on to study Horticulture. After qualifying he spent ten years as a farm labourer before taking a Diploma in Christian Ministry.

       City Mission commenced in 1864 and has expanded throughout the State.  It helps 150 people every day in Tasmania and has recently started a new venture, Ewaste, which recycles parts of old computers.  Their Morton Place Day Centre caters for between sixty and ninety persons every day.  It is open between 8.30am and 1pm  and puts on special events, games days and offers friendship.

       Mission Beat Outreach Van was originally started to help drug/alcohol etc persons, who were incapable of caring for themselves, by taking them home or to a place of safety but has now developed to also giving coffee/tea drinks  on weekend evenings.

       “Rainbow” and “Playhouse” are two programmes for children.  The first helps youngsters cope with loss and grief whilst the latter looks after children before and after school.

       The Choir of High Hopes is an avenue of creative expression through music, song and performance.

       Prisoner support provides transport for the families of prisoners and helpers to visit prisoners.  It operates every second Saturday.

       Mission Therapeutic Community provides help in the recovery from life controlling habits, helping inmates cope when they return into the community.

       Administration has a large task looking after 700 persons and 124 work-for-the dole candidates.

       Orana House provides males requiring crisis or longer term accommodation.  It does, however, have some facilities for families. Persons pay $315 per fortnight for a single room, TV and self contained bathroom plus all meals.  This facility also has two “sobering up” rooms.

       City Mission also provides “Places of Safety” for persons at risk, persons suffering from substance abuse, breakdowns and mental health issues.

       Ian Wheeler is an organisation which, together with Anglicare, helps homeless persons find accommodation.

 SPEAKERS 25^th MARCH 2014

Guest Speaker

No guest speaker due to the AGM.

Man Behind the Badge.

Bill Marshall was raised in Scottsdale and attended the local school before matriculating in Launceston. Between 1962 and 1966 he worked with two of our members, John Bye and John Roberts, before returning to Scottsdale and working with his father until the latter’s retirement in what became the largest independent store and the first to introduce checkout scanning. Roelf Vos and the independent store joined forces as wholesalers and when Roelf Vos was taken over by Woolworths the arrangement continued as Statewide Independent Wholesalers. When the store was sold Bill joined the wholesaling company and moved to Launceston. 

Meanderer

Ian Reid and his wife were among the second group of tourists to visit china following the relaxation of restrictions imposed during the Cultural Revolution. The appointed guides had done their homework on the passengers and knew a great deal about their background. The group was taken to visit communes where English and music were being taught. These subjects had been banned for several years. They were also taken to a hospital to view a serious operation where the anaesthetic being used was acupuncture.

Lectures were given on the evil deeds of the Gang of Four, the Great Wall had many fewer people, and the clay warriors were in the early stages of excavation. They returned in 1012 and the changes were very marked. The dress had become more colourful instead of the standard khaki or blue, there were many more modern buildings, and the photographs showed a very large increase in motor vehicle traffic. Ian has vivid memories of the different foods, and noted that the modern cuisine has a marked American influence.

Digital Photography Presentation:

No digital photography presentation due to the AGM.

SPEAKERS 25^th FEBRUARY 2014

Guest Speaker

Our guest speaker Lillian Wong was introduced by Peter Anderson. Lillian came from Malaysia in 1970 and to Tasmania 10 years ago. She is with the Australian Stroke Foundation, and spoke to us about being “Strokesafe”. Stroke is lack of oxygen to the brain and may be caused by a blocked artery or by a burst artery. It is important to be aware of the symptoms of stroke which requires emergency treatment even though some symptoms may disappear after about twenty four hours. Symptoms include facial alteration, behaviour out of character, loss of arm function, and speech slurring. The faster treatment is given the more likely is a full recovery, time is critical and treatment should commence within 4 to 5 hours to reduce the impact. Stroke affects not only the victim by reduced mobility and difficulty with daily activities, but also affects relationships and family, and there are significant emotional consequences to deal with. It is Australia’s biggest killer and 1 in 6 people will have a stroke in their lifetime. The risk can be reduced by attention to lifestyle choices such as smoking, weight, and exercise. Cards were made available with helpful information and the acronym FAST, standing for face arms, speech, and time. Chris Cohen proposed the vote of thanks and presented a bottle of Tasmanian wine.

Man Behind the Badge.

John Archer was born at Dilston and attended the Dilston State School before transferring to Mowbray and continuing to the Launceston Technical School. He was interested in cricket and was a member of a premiership team. He joined his father in farming at Dilston, then at Moltema on 170 acres with 60 cows. Farming continued at Deloraine with 300 cows on 1000 acres, and also the interest in cricket with membership of the State team in 1966. On to Smithton, and an increase to1000 cows. John is married to Sally and they have four children including one son who took over the farm when john retired. John’s interests include family history, Tasmanian history, and playing bridge.

Meanderer

No Meanderer.

Digital Photography Presentation:

Graham Woolley took us on a “Walk Through Assisi with My Camera”. Assisi is an ancient walled town in Italy, famous as the birthplace of St Francis in whose memory a Basilica is maintained in the town. There was much damage done by an earthquake but the restoration has been very good. There are many frescoes throughout the town in many out of the way places. Check your insurance before tackling the spiral staircase in the castle!

NOTE: SCROLL TO END TO SEE  PREVIOUS  SPEAKERS.....

TITLE OF ADDRESS:

The History of the Launceston Horticultural Society. Circa 1838

Name:   James (Jim) ANDERSON

 Jim is a former President of the Society

Brief Synopsis : 

The Launceston Horticultural Society was founded in July 1838.

It is believed to be the oldest continuously functioning Horticultural Society in the world outside the United Kingdom.

Jim undertook a Certificate in Horticulture Course at TAFE in 1976. He joined the Launceston Horticultural Society in 1977 and the Royal Horticultural Society in the same year.

In 1978, he visited the Royal Horticultural Society in Great Coats Lane, London, and used their library to research assignments and return them to TAFE.

He visited Hampton Court where he found that his wife’s aunt wrote the history of the Gardens of Hampton Court.

He also visited Kew and Wisley Gardens several times, flower shows at Great Coats Lane and the Chelsea Flower Show.

Name:   Mr David Maynard,

Subject:  Beneath the Tamar [26 July 2011]

Brief Synopsis of presentation (This will be used for our monthly Bulletin)

David will present information on the challenges and rewards of diving in the Tamar estuary. The presentation will cover some basic principles of diving, underwater photographic equipment and underwater photography.

Occupation: Lecturer ( Maritime College)

Position:

Profile/Interests:  (50/100 words)

David Maynard is a lecturer with the Australian Maritime College, researching and teaching responsible fishing practices and fishing gear selectivity. David’s interests are varied but fall into three areas. Firstly, improving fishing gears and methods to reduce the bycatch of non-target species. Secondly, community engagement activities that increase the communities understanding and importance of our coastal and marine environments, and finally, discovering the diversity of fish and invertebrates around Tasmania. David is fortunate to spend considerable time at sea teaching and conducting fisheries research so there is always something new to scavenge from amongst the catch. David is also a keen diver and has been lucky enough to pick up some underwater photography skills. The old saying ’a picture speaks a thousand words’ is so true and David has been fortunate enough to have his underwater photography exhibited and turned into a book. The greatest reward for David has been the opportunity to show the community the diverse and amazing life that exists just below the water surface – a place that isn’t accessed or understood by most people.

TITLE OF ADDRESS:

Feeding a Hungry World

Having been asked to teach students about their traditional food plants of Papua New Guinea 40 years ago, I have spent the time since then collating information on the amazing diversity of edible plants of the world.  Many of these plants have very high nutritional value, suit local environments and have been overlooked or very poorly documented.  At this stage I have the world’s most comprehensive database on over 23,600 edible plant species for every location on planet earth.  In very recent times there has been an amazing paradigm shift towards these plants to address the chronic malnutrition and hunger worldwide and the emerging famine as water, fuel, and other food input resources start to decline.

Rotary International are assisting in getting this information back to farmers in poorer tropical locations through a series of attractive publications.

 SPEAKERS 25^th OCTOBER 2011

Guest Speaker

Paul Richards introduced Mr. Don Wing who was a partner in the law firm of Clark and Gee for many years. He was State President of the Liberal Party and concurrently and Alderman of the city council, being Mayor from 1983 to 1987. He was elected to the Legislative Council in 1982 and served as President for many years before resigning a couple of years before he retired in May of this year. Life in retirement has been just as busy as it was formally, but he now enjoys the freedom to decide what he does and when. He was pleased at his farewell dinner, that members of organisations for which he had been patron, such as the Launceston City Band, and the Launceston Male Choir, provided part of the entertainment. Local issues such as the silting of the Tamar, hospital funding, Gorge flow, and street beautification, still occupy much of his time. One pleasing success has been the decision of Australia Post to return to the building still known as the post office, and he is actively pursuing the imbalance of Professors and Associate Professors at the Launceston campus of the University of Tasmania with a view to its correction. He has accepted bord membership of two not-for-profit organisations. For some light relief he appeared in the recent production of “Oliver”, and has been a builder’s labourer during renovations to the family farm. If life continues to be as busy in the next few years he is contemplating retiring from retirement!

The Man Behind the Badge

Keith Adkins was born and educated in Launceston and spent the earlier years of his working life in the family tyre business. In his early twenties he married a girl from England and they had two sons. They took the children to England to meet their relatives, and then followed a five month trip through England, Europe, and Africa which Keith regards as one of the highlights of his life. After finishing with the tyre business he expanded his hobby of bookbinding and took up academic studies from which he gained a Doctorate of Philosophy, specialising in local history. He is now active in his spare time with the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, and Holy Trinity Church

Members Meanderings

John Walker meandered through the many lives of country people who, having come to town to pursue a High School education, then proceeded to high office in the Education Department and other agencies. From Goshen came Dwight Brown who became head of the Hobart Matriculation College, from Weldborough came John himself who was the first headmaster of Riverside High School and later Launceston College, from Branxholm came Ed Bonser who became Regional Director of Education, from Ringarooma Ken Acton became Director of Education, and Dick Whitford who became a Professor at the University of Columbia after a brilliant career in Tasmanian eduction. And there were many more who contributed markedly to the furtherance of education in Tasmania. There must be something in the country air.

Name:   Mr Robin Frith,

Subject:  Plans  for a barrage on the Tamar for silt control 

Brief Synopsis of presentation (This will be used for our monthly Bulletin)

Robin will present a vision for the development of the Tamar Valley that not only solves the silt problem, but provides the potential for a major economic boost to the Region.

Occupation: Retired IT Industry CEO/engineer

Position:

Profile/Interests:  (50/100 words)

Robin was born and educated in Launceston before heading to the US after graduating in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tasmania.

After a 45 year career in the Information Technology (Computer) industry in Boston, Perth and Sydney, he returned to Launceston in 2005 in retirement.

In addition to playing tennis; dog and bush walking; house renovating and authoring a book, his passion over the last 5 years has been developing a strategic plan for the Tamar Valley that not only solves the silt problem, but provides a major economic boost to the Region.

 SPEAKERS 22 November 2011

Guest Speaker

Our guest speaker Robin Frith was introduced by Barry Waining and he told us about a proposal for a barrage across the Tamar River to ameliorate the silt problem in the upper reaches, which is causing considerable public concern and little action at any government level. The idea was born during a trip on the river at low tide when he decided to research the problem. A local group has been meeting regularly over several years and has not only studied the several reports which have been produced, but extended their study to the whole Tamar catchment. The options available include, 1, do nothing, which is the present state, 2, casual dredging, which has been tried for several tears previously, 3, major periodic dredging, and, 4, Tamar Lake concept, which presently envisages a barrage at Point Rapid near Rowella. The barrage would prevent tidal flow upstream and the consequent mixing of saline with the silt laden fresh water which causes the silt to flocculate and settle. It would be 650 metres long with a 500 metre spillway, two locks for pleasure and larger commercial craft, power station with low head turbines producing 1.4 megawatts, a fish ladder, and level control gates. It would create a fresh water lake with 405 gigalitres volume, significant flood mitigation, and economic benefits estimated at $M71, at an estimated cost of $M120. A pre-feasibility study is currently under way. The number of questions testified to the interest of the members. Ted Pedley moved the vote of thanks and presented a strawberry tree pen. 

The Man Behind the Badge

Chris Cohen told us he had led a conservative life. He was born in Launceston and educated at Scotch College, with which he kept an association by playing football with the Old Scotch team for ten years, and the Launceston Matriculation College. An early influence was Ted Pedley, one of our members and previous land surveyor. Chris became articled to his father in the days before university courses were available and became a surveyor. He joined a mapping firm in WA and spent time in the northwest of that state doing photogrammetry. On return to Tasmania he did similar work for the HEC on the early stages of the Lake Pedder power project. “Exciting times for a young guy.” In 1974 he returned to his father’s practice where he remained as employee, partner, and manager until retirement. In the same year he married and lived at Longford initially doing up an old cottage to live in, and enjoying a brief stage career with the Muddy Plains Players. During his time as a surveyor Chris has seen major changes in the profession, from chain and theodolite through distance measuring equipment to global positioning systems. Chris and his wife have three adult children pursuing varied careers, and he now spends his time reading, dreaming, fishing, and exploring Australia.

Members Meanderings

Lindsay Ranson spent some four and a half years at the Dewcrisp vegetable dehydrating plant at Scotsdale and he told us something of the plant history. The plant was established in 1942 to provide dried vegetables for the armed services and was closed in 1946 with a year’s supply of product available. The plant was reopened by local men Don McLellan and Bert Farquhar with Basil Warner as manage retaining the business name, and was later taken over by Kraft. The plant was the largest employer in the town, particularly of women, and many of the towns champion football team were at the plant. The plant is now closed and the other timber based industries have also closed leaving the community with little industrial base, and Lindsay feels this may be the way of the future for many small towns.

Background:

Began schooling in 1938 at West Launceston Primary and went on to the Launceston Technical High from 1947 to 1950. Worked in the Shepherd family bakery business till 1974 before taking a position with the railways. Since retiring as a clerk from Tasrail in 1991, began genealogical research into the family origins which also triggered a keen interest in the history of Launceston. Competetive sailing also became a passionate interest.

Honoured with Life Membership of the Northern Tasmanian Camera Club in 2009, having joined in 1959 and later serving as both Vice President and President over many years.

The emergence of digital photography has enabled the building of an extensive private collection of historical images that have been computer enhanced using Photoshop.

My wife Betty and I now live happily in the Glenara Lakes Retirement Village at Youngtown. 

Subject: Some historical Buildings of Launceston and environs: Digital Presentation

Members Meanderings

John Walker gave us some reminiscences from the 70’s when he was Principal of the Launceston College and was requested by Education Department to meet a lady from Queensland who turned out to be the wife of a future Governor-General of Australia Sir Zelman Cowen. The meeting resulted in an invitation to visit Queensland and advise them in relation to the College system operating in Tasmania.

 SPEAKERS 21^thFEBRUARY 2012

Guest Speaker

Our own member Ivan James was introduced by Stan Merry and he told us of his involvement with the Yawo people in Republic of Malawi. Malawi is a landlocked area some one and a half times the size of Tasmania with a population over sixteen million comprised of ten ethnic groups, and is one of the most densely populated and least developed countries in the world. The Yawo people make up thirteen and a half percent of the population and are Moslems in a predominately Christian country. They are a matrilineal society and rely on subsistence agriculture for their food. Maize is the principle crop, supplemented with vegetables, and due to the subtropical climate of alternating wet and dry seasons of equal length there can be only one crop each year. If the rain fails or is late, the result is hunger and starvation. The aim of the NGO [non government organisation] is to improve health [high incidence of HIV/AIDS, malaria, typhoid, diarrhoea, plague, and other diseases], education [especially literacy], rural development to improve the range of crops, eradication of poverty, promotion of gender equality, and promote global partnership for development, while respecting the culture and traditions of the people and avoid destabilising a community by inappropriate development. The vote of thanks was proposed, and presentation of the strawberry tree pen was made, by Hans Bosman   

Members Meanderings

Paul Richards meandered through some of the challenges he has undertaken in his active retirement, including a deepening interest in the arts fostered by a visit to Montmartre in Paris. He then gave us some detail in relation to the Japanese art of Gyotaku which is the art of taking impressions onto paper of prized fish catch, using a direct and an indirect method, with some examples. He also spoke of the tanning of fish skins with wattle bark, and the curing of the skins with borax, again with some examples. Fish skin is the second strongest leather and is used to make wallets, handbags, and hats among other things.

SPEAKERS 20^th MARCH 2012

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Guest Speaker

 Our guest speaker was Sarah Lloyd whose speciality is natural history, and who was introduced by Elvin Fist. Her subject was Tasmanian eukarotes i.e. fungi. Many fungi are edible and others, which may resemble those closely, are toxic so it pays to be careful. There are many different shapes and sizes and a wide variety of colours as was illustrated by the excellent series of photographs, all taken in Tasmania by the speaker. The genus includes truffles which often have a strong pungent flavour, and slime moulds. Propagation is by spores which can be wind borne in addition to being carried by hosts. Fungi provide an important food source for small native animals and provide habitat for flies, snails, and invertebrates. Donald Wall moved the vote af thanks and presented the speaker with a strawberry tree pen.

Members Meanderings

Jim Anderson meandered through a “Law Office in the Early Forties” when he started work as a junior office boy with Shields Heritage, with office hours 9.00am till 6.00pm weekdays plus 9.00am till noon on Saturday. The first job in winter was to cut wood and set the fires in the partners’ offices. For running messages and errands he supplied his own bicycle and the firm reimbursed half the cost of tyres, nothing for wear and tear on the bike. Writing was done with either pen and ink, or with pencil. Worn out pen nibs were exchanged for new ones, and the stub of a pencil had to be returned to obtain a new one. The philosophy of one of the partners was “Always overcharge your friends as they are not likely to complain”. As senior office boy he graduated to serving notices to quit and divorce papers which on one occasion earned him a punch in the face. Study and training, and presumably hard work, led him to become the senior partner by the time he left the firm.

SPEAKERS 24^th APRIL 2012

Digital Photography Presentation

Brian Lister showed us some images from a festival in Tara in Queensland which is held every second year. Camel racing, sand sculptures, mediaeval warriors, stilt walkers, and a kite festival! Great fun!

Guest Speaker

John Dent was introduced by Ted Pedley and he told us of  “Archaeological Activities Around Launceston”. Yorktown was established in 1804 and was largely abandoned by 1809. It was the fourth settlement established in Australia and is the only one which had not been built over in later years which makes it important in that the remnants of the settlement are available for study. Remains of some fifty sites have been recorded, and state fund were made available for a dig which has been planned and executed by university PhD students with assistance from the local historical society. Three sites, Government House, Riley’s cottage, and a soldiers hut have been studied and many artefacts have been recovered and catalogued, including 3500 nails. An area nearer Launceston at Strathroy has been surveyed, and remains of buildings uncovered, but no excavations have been done as yet. This was the site of Kerry Lodge Probation Station which housed up to 60 convicts. All of these sites predate the establishment of Port Arthur. A report is being prepared for submission to obtain funds for a dig. Chris Cohen moved the vote of thanks and presented John with a strawberry tree pen on our behalf.

Man Behind the Badge

Our new member Max Boyd told us some things about his life but ran out of time to finish. He attended Wellington Square Primary School and then on to the Junior Technical School which occupied the buildings vacated by Wellington Square school which closed. After completion of school he worked in Jackson’s Lock and Brass Works and found he was not allowed to leave as he had been “manpowered” which allowed the government to direct the workforce where it wished. Work in a butter factory followed where expertise in cream testing and football was gained. His eighteenth birthday came as the war ended so he was not enlisted in any of the services. Various jobs on the mainland, including working in the largest wool store in the Southern Hemisphere, and a car manufacturing plant in Geelong, were undertaken in company with his brother. We will have to wait to hear more.

Members Meanderings

John Paull told us about “Being Prepared! The Role of the Guardianship and Administration Board of Tasmania in your life”. He urged everyone to make a will to make life easier for those left behind, and to prevent the state from taking large lumps from the estate. He also urged us to nominate a guardian or guardians to make decisions regarding health care and lifestyle in the event of becoming incapacitated. A guardian is bound to carry out your instructions in relation to treatment, or refusal of it, lifestyle, and disposal of remains so that it is your own end of life choices that are followed, provided of course that you have made them known. A Power of Attorney under Tasmanian law does not extend to medical decisions and is usually restricted to estate matters.

SPEAKERS 22^nd May 2012

Guest Speaker

Retired Brigadier Andrew Nicolic was introduced by Stan Payne and he gave us an outline of his life and career before commenting on Australia’s strategic position and its defence. He was born overseas but came to Australia at a young age and joined the army at seventeen where he graduated from Portsea Officer Training School and had a career spanning thirty one years. He then became a senior public servant in Canberra dealing with policy assessment for the Minister for the Army. He had tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and accumulated over one thousand parachute jumps. He claims he used to be eight inches taller, and now needs new knees.

Australia is the only country to occupy a continent and to have no land borders. We have 6 people per square mile compared to the world average of 117, and we are the most urbanised of all the countries. We have much the same land area as the continental United States with the US having thirteen times the population. Our strategic alliance with the US has led to the deployment of 2500 marines in the NT. Twenty five percent of our population was born overseas and sixty five percent have a parent or grandparent born overseas. Our national culture started at Gallipoli, and it has been much influenced by settlers from other cultures. We ask much more of our defence personnel today than in the past, with more emphasis on a peacekeeping role. Ken Briggs thanked the speaker and presented a strawberry tree pen on our behalf.

Meanderer

Graham Woolley meandered across the Batman Bridge and explained to us that the distinctive style and design of the bridge was dictated by the geology of the site, with the western bank of the river having solid rock for the foundations while the eastern bank had clays and sediments with very low load bearing capacity or stability. He showed images of the borehole results and of the bridge components including the massive anchorages for the supporting cables.

SPEAKERS 26^th June 2012

Guest Speaker

 Brian Mathews introduced our own member Paul Richards who was born in Sydney and educated at the RMIT and later John Hopkins University in the USA, and who was a specialist in radiology in Launceston for many years. Paul did not tell us of his career but chose one of his early interests of caverneering in Tasmania as his topic. The Mole Creek karst system houses the well known Maracoopa and King Solomon caves as well as some 300 other caves. The Northern Caverneering Club was formed about 1946 and the members explored many of the caves, spending up to seven hours underground with illumination provided by acetylene lamps on their helmet, fuelled by carbide. They had made their own light ladders which could be joined together for drops up to 300 feet. Being completely dark, normal flashlight photography was not practical and club members devised a system of long exposure with moving light to obtain some phenomenal images of the remarkable formations within the caves. Paul was thanked by Stan Payne and as our traditional gift to our speakers are produced by Paul, another appropriate gift was tendered which Paul promised to render due appreciation.

Man Behind the Badge

No speaker.

Meanderer

Ken Briggs, assisted by his wife Marie showing the images, meandered through Paris, France, on a Segway which is a two wheel transport device controlled by body movements. Lean forward to go, lean back to stop, and lean sideways to turn. The wheels are not fore and aft as on a bicycle, but side by side. The images of some of Paris’s major attractions were very good but I’m sure the attention was firmly fixed on the intrepid duo on the Segway’s.

Digital Photography Presentation

Rod Oliver showed a series of images of Targa Tasmania, thrills, spills and classic cars. The cars were many and varied, all in sparkling condition before the event, some not so afterwards, and some fences needed repair.

SPEAKERS 24^th July 2012

Guest Speaker

Barry Brimfield was introduced by Paul Richards and he told us of the journey of the Tasmanian aborigines from the dawn of civilisation in Africa 200,000 years ago. The first arrival in Australia was about 60,000 years ago. The sea level was some sixty metres lower than it is today and Tasmania was a peninsula thus making land travel possible and Tasmania was settled about 40,000 years ago by the Palowa people. The first arrivals were followed some 17,000 years later by three different groups from the Grampians, Gipsland, and Mount Gambier, and these groups displaced the original settlers who retired to the south west of the peninsula. When the sea level rose Tasmania became an island and those people who stayed on what became Flinders Island became isolated and with little in the way of sustainable resources became extinct. The Tamanian groups were also isolated from the mainland. With end of the ice-age Tasmania’s climate changed and the Midlands which had previously been a desolate area became a prolific hunting area. The history of the groups has been inferred from work done by Launceston man John Taylor who used the lists of words collected by early Europeans and a knowledge of linguistics to formulate his theory. Barry was thanked by Brian Mathews and presented with a strawberry tree pen on our behalf.  

Man Behind the Badge

Robin Smith was born and educated in England and spent many years after graduation as a medical missionary in Tanganyika and Tanzania. His children were born in Africa and it was the need to ensure good secondary education for them that led to a return to England. He found it too crowded there ,and as he had worked with many Australians in Africa he came out here and settled in Newstead. He has had an association with the Maritime College as a medical officer on their research and training vessels as well as having a private practice.

Meanderer

Elvin Fist told us about “The Outliers”, a book by Malcolm Bradwell which analyses the prerequisites for success in many fields. An Outlier is a person or group which is outstanding in a chosen field. The date of birth of the Americans who made their millions in the industrial expansion of the United States was important as they were in the right place at the right time. Hard work and practice [ a figure of 10,000 hours of practice was mentioned] are usually more important than ability. Genius alone is not sufficient, there must also be opportunity, and culture is important. Final words “If you want to know more, read the book”

Digital Photography Presentation

David Harvey  showed us an edited version of a video he shot in the New Guinea Highlands some years ago.  A woman belonging to one tribe had been killed in a traffic accident by a vehicle driven by a man from another tribe and several hundred representatives from each tribe gathered at the local sports ground to “discuss” the matter, and agree on the compensation payment, in pigs. Lots of posturing and noise.

SPEAKERS 23 AUGUST 2012

Digital Photography Presentation:  

We all know that the camera does not lie, but Rod Oliver showed us with a little skill and the computer program Photoshop, the printed results can be markedly different to the original shot. Distracting background can be removed and separate shots can be combined into one, you may not even have been there but you can be in the photograph!

Guest Speaker

Elvin Fist introduced our guest speaker, Dr Jane Deeth, who, among other activities, is curator of the Glover Prize offered for Tasmanian landscape. John Glover came to Evandale in 1831 and is recognised as the father of Australian landscape painting. He was a consummate draughtsman and teacher of drawing, and a contemporary of Constable and turner in England. In 2003 the people of Evandale decided to arrange exhibitions of landscape paintings and offer a prize, and also erect a statue of Glover in Evandale. The prize committee does not ask artists to copy Glover but to enlarge on his ideas. There are five codes to viewing art, being, 1 representation, 2 imagining alternative worlds, 3 telling stories, 4 expression and emotional space, and 5 formalist abstraction.

Contemporary landscape asks questions, similar to conversation, and introduced ambiguity to move us outside our comfort zone, with the only limitation being the artist’s imagination. The talk was illustrated with images of Glover works and some of the contemporary works submitted for the prize. Ivan James thanked the speaker on our behalf, and presented a strawberry tree pen.    

Man Behind the Badge

Leigh Jones was born and educated in Launceston and after finishing school became an apprentice compositor with “The Examiner”. He has been actively involve in community organizations, including Apex, Veteran Car Club, and is a Past District Governor of Lions. He has several vintage cars including a 1926 Humber and a 1951 Bentley. In retirement he actively gardens, spoils a King Charles spaniel, and assists at the National Automobile Museum Tasmania. His advice is “to enjoy life and laugh often”.

Meanderer

John Bowen meandered through “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Globalisation”, postulating that although the word is new the practice of “capital cruising the world looking for cheap labour” has been going on since shortly after the start of the industrial revolution. Manchester gave its name to a complete range of materials but now produces little if any. Manufacturing is rapidly moving to India and China, leaving the developed countries more reliant on service industry.

SPEAKERS 25 September 2012

Digital Photography Presentation:  

Brian Lister showed us some images taken during a recent cruise through the Greek islands on a 129,000 tonne liner with 4300 passengers on board. The Roman ruins, some dating from 500 BC, indicated what must have been magnificent buildings, with one amphitheatre holding 25,000 people.

Guest Speaker

Ken Briggs introduced Narelle Byatt who told us what a stroke is, the effects it has, how to prevent one, and what to do if one occurs. The immediate effects include slurred speech, reduced physical mobility, memory loss, and these may be followed by emotional and psychological changes with depression being common. Major recovery takes 18 months to 2 years and full recovery may never occur. Stroke is the second biggest killer with over 12,000 deaths each year. One in six people will have a stroke of which 20% will be under 55 years of age. A major cause of stroke is high blood pressure and some life style factors such as smoking and obesity contribute. Many strokes are preventable. We all filled out a quick quiz to ascertain our vulnerability, and we have enough wallet cards for all members with the reminders for Face, Arms, Speech and Time. The window of opportunity for treatment is 4.5 to 5 hours. Darryl Chellis moved the vote of thanks to the speaker and presented a strawberry tree pen.

Man Behind the Badge  No speaker.

Meanderer

John Morris meandered through something of the history of the Launceston General Hospital which celebrates one hundred years of existence next year. When established it was called a tench, believed to short for penitentiary, and was regards by patients as the first stop on the way to the cemetery. The first purpose built facility was on the site known as the “old hospital” , vacated for the “new hospital” thirty years ago. The discovery of germs [bacteria] led to asepsis and a surge in recoveries, and this was boosted dramatically with the use of anaesthesia. Some great surgeons have been involved with the hospital, including Drs Ramsay and Craig, and it has become one of the leading regional hospitals in Australia.

 SPEAKERS 23^rd OCTOBER 2012

Digital Photography Presentation:  

John Shepherd showed us some views of old buildings in Launceston with the images dating from the 1860’s to the 1940’s. Some of the buildings have been removed, eg the Mechanics Institute where the current library now stands, and some have been extended with varying degrees of sympathy. Most of those remaining still retain their distinguishing features.

Guest Speaker

Our guest speaker was Peter Manchester who was born on a boat moored opposite the Tamar Yacht Clubhouse. In the absence of the scheduled member he introduced himself. Trevallyn Primary, LJTS and Queechy High School were followed by Tas. Uni. where he studied geology. His hobby of photography led to a stint of ten years as President of the Australian Photography Society. Peter told about the uniqueness of the geology of the Tamar Valley where many features are the only examples in the southern hemisphere. Our state is more aligned to Antarctica than mainland Australia, the main rocks being dolerite and sandstone. The First Basin is at the junction of three faults, and the faults are visible between the rock faces which have moved. The Beaconsfield gold mine has clean uncontaminated ore. Launceston was once tropical, and there is an old lake shore with sand and gravel exposed in Abel’s Hill Road. Peter has written a book “Created from Chaos”, and has spent recent years conducting geo-tours, of which he has done 96 over an 11 year period, and he believes that this area of tourism should be extended. John Bowen moved the vote of thanks to the speaker and promised on behalf of the club that a strawberry tree pen and certificate would be delivered to him.

Man Behind the Badge  No speaker.

Meanderer

 President John Wright meandered through some early childhood memories, with his grandmother, a Queen Victoria look-a-like who died at 89, being the earliest. Family births, deaths, and marriages were recorded in the family bible. Real memorise began at about six and relate to WW2. Having been bombed out from home, he was moved to the Lake District in August 1940, got a watch for Christmas, and was sent to  boarding school at the age of six. Later he was at an all girls school “Rodin” but was too young to appreciate the situation. At the age of ten he returned south in time for the doodle-bugs and V2’s, and the victory parade.

 SPEAKERS 27th NOVEMBER 2012

Digital Photography Presentation:  

Rod Oliver showed us some images from the Huntsman Lake outing on the Sunday preceding our meeting. A very pleasant day, good weather, excellent facilities, but no fish!

Guest Speaker

.Our own member John Paull was introduced by Chris Cohen and John lead us on a walk from Hobart to Launceston with Dr Pugh in 1836. Dr Pugh had arrived by ship to Hobart but did not find work in his chosen profession so went to Sydney where a similar situation led to a return to Hobart. He had kept a diary during his voyage, and continued to record his movements and impressions during a walk to Launceston which he had decided to do. A 6 am start on the first day, and 18 miles before breakfast, set a fast pace which dwindled somewhat as the journey progressed. The Derwent River was crossed by oared ferry at Austin’s Ferry, and in a 14 hour day he and his companion covered 39 miles. They stayed at the London Inn, now Tedworth Hall, and reached Oatlands for lunch before proceeding to Antill Ponds, which was half way. At Ross, Mona Vale, he stayed at the calendar house which has 4 storeys, 12 doors, 52 rooms, and 365 windows. The trip slowed considerably due to the hospitality offered by Midlands graziers, and it was 4 weeks before he reached Launceston, the last part from Longford by horse. He there renewed acquaintance with a fellow passenger on the boat from England, and his proposal of marriage was accepted. He set up a successful medical practice, and was the first surgeon in the Southern Hemisphere to use an anaesthetic during an operation. John was thanked on our behalf by John Morris and presented with the traditional strawberry tree pen.

Man Behind the Badge  No speaker.

Meanderer

Bill Dabner meandered back to Canungra , the jungle warfare training camp in Queensland, with different impressions from three visits. The first was as a young and junior officer full of vitality, not minding the straw palliasse and blankets in tent accommodation, and revelling in the obstacle course. The second visit provided hut accommodation, and a Vietnam village for the specialised training required at the time, still with a tough obstacle course. The third as a Company Commander, with the facilities much further improved and with the obstacle course looking even harder until the presence of TV cameras brought out vital energy reserves.  

 SPEAKERS 22nd JANUARY 2013

Digital Photography Presentation: 

No presentation.

Guest Speaker

Due to the withdrawal of the scheduled speaker one of our own members John Bowen was introduced by Paul Richards and John told us about some of his adventures in Irian Jaya in a talk entitled “PHHT, or Chocolate Chip Ice Cream”. Irian Jaya is the western end of the island of Papua-New Guinea and was part of the Dutch East Indies prior to WW2. It was retained by the Dutch when Indonesia was formed in 1950, but in 1969 became a province of Indonesia John was part of an Australian aid team assessing the water supply prospects for ten towns in the province. Bureaucratic ambivalence and army hostility posed many problems including being “confined to barracks” over night in one town and escorted to the airport by one zealous army officer plus troops next morning. The “PHHT” was the sound of a bullet going past too close for comfort which had been fired by an Indonesian soldier who claimed to be shooting at a bird, and the chocolate chip ice cream was Australian, ”Paull’s”, served at lunch at Tembakapura which is near the top of a mountain in the central highlands and one of the most inaccessible placed on the globe. Chris Cohen moved the vote of thanks and was presented with a bottle of wine in lieu of the traditional pen.

Man Behind the Badge  No speaker.

Meanderer

Barry Waining graduated from the University of Sydney as a mechanical engineer and during his career he sent some time as Comeng representative in New York dealing with double-decker passenger carriages for trains, and designing machinery for coal fired power stations including that for the largest power station in Australia. He became the managing director for a Japanese company and is still consulted by them from time to time. He has been associated with the demonstration plant for clean coal energy production at Callide which became operational on 15^th December last. The technology uses oxygen to burn pulverised coal resulting in much cleaner exhaust gas. The carbon dioxide gas in the exhaust is collected, pressurised into liquid form and then sequestered in natural gas wells for permanent disposal.    

Annual General Meeting

 President John Wright chaired the Annual General meeting after adjourning the General Meeting. The Treasurers report was circulated to members and adopted. It showed a reasonable positive balance, so much so that the committee recommended that the club subscription and entry fee remained the same and this was agreed to. The club committee for the coming year is:-

President                                                             Donald Wall

Vice President and President Elect                     Hans Bosman

Secretary                                                             Brian Mathews

Treasurer                                                             John Roberts

Guest Speakers                                                   Chris Cohen

Membership                                                       Don Bryan

Visits and Entertainment                                   Leigh Jones

Welfare                                                              John Bye

Bulletin                                                              John Bowen

Liaison                                                               vacant

Historian                                                            Elvis Fist

Lindsay Ranson was re-appointed as Auditor.

Digital Photography Presentation:  

Brian Lister showed us some views of Lord Howe Island – lush, green vegetation, steep mountains to climb, and a crashed catalina from WW2!

Guest Speaker

A recent visit by the history group to the old Charles Street school brought back memories for Stan Payne, one of our members, who was a lecturer at the school when it wasa Teachers College. Stan told us of the events leading to a very significant meeting in Room 13 at the college in 1965 with the then Federal Minister for Education, Senator John Gorton, which eventually led to the establishment of the College of Advanced Education and the State Institute of Technology in Launceston. The college at Charles Street was becoming crowed with the training of male teachers in addition to the previous female only student body, and was outdated for its purpose. Stan was the secretary of a group of educators who initially had to fight off attempts to take the college to Hobart, and then to consider the impact of changes in the field of education which were emanating from Canberra where the Federal Government was showing a much increased interest. The group arranged a meeting with the Federal Minister to take place at the College, in Room 13, and their arguments were so persuasive that the new college was established in the grounds of Brooks High School in the following year.

Man Behind the Badge  .

Bert Sundstrup was born in Kingaroy, Queensland, famous for peanuts, and the home for many families of migrants from Scandinavia. His father was a medical practitioner and Bert followed into that profession after schooling in Sydney and graduation from Sydney University in 1968. He went to the Royal Hobart Hospital and married while there. He then came to Launceston in private practice at Mowbray, and later specialised in the treatment of cancer as the head of the Peter McCallum Clinic. A major factor influencing his decision to stay in Launceston was the civic pride demonstrated by its citizens. He set up a vineyard as a recreational activity and this became a full time occupation on retirement.

Meanderer

No meanderer due to the AGM

.

 SPEAKERS 26th FEBUARY 2013

Digital Photography Presentation:  

Graham Woolley showed us some beautiful views of early morning at Arthur’s Lake, including the necessary start to a good day at the lake – a good breakfast!

Guest Speaker

Don Bryan introduced Stephanie Payne from the Australian Red Cross, who told us something of the thirty different continuing programmes run in Tasmania by the organisation and dealing with vulnerable people. This work is in addition to the emergency response to disasters with which we are more familiar. These include, breakfast in schools for children who don’t get one at home, early youth “look after your mates” advice and help with alcohol and drugs, coking and budgeting skill for single mothers, asylum seekers assistance, re-uniting people after emergency situations, mentoring of disadvantaged people in relation to housing, telechat phone call to potentially lonely people early in the morning to check their condition, meal deliveries, retail outlets with new and donated goods to provide funds, and “mates” programme which is Federally funded and includes visits to elderly people in homes who otherwise may not be visited. Most of these programmes are carried out by volunteers and it is Stephanie’s task to co-ordinate the volunteers in the community visitor scheme. John Bye moved the vote of thanks and presented a strawberry tree pen.

Man Behind the Badge  No speaker.

Meanderer

Don Bryan meanderered through the many changes that have occurred in the practice of his profession of dentistry since he graduated in1961. Fluoridation of water supplies at the rate of 1 ppm started at Beaconsfield in 1958 and Launceston in 1960, and this led to a marked reduction in dental decay. High speed dental drills and reclining chairs have improved client comfort. Modern chairs cost of the order of $85.000. Composite resins have replaced amalgam and other filling materials, including gold, and there is now a choice of three anaesthetics. Sterilisation was by boiling water and is now superheated steam. National registration has replaced State registration. Implants pegged into the bone are now feasible. Five dental schools have increased to nine and there are now 20,000 dentists in Australia.

SPEAKERS 23^rd APRIL 2013

Guest Speaker- Mr John Ali -

Hans Bosman introduced our guest speaker, Mr John Ali, from the Migrant Resource Centre in Launceston. The centre provides assistance to migrants in the areas of humanitarian services, individual support, community development, cross culture awareness training, and immigration assistance and training. In Launceston we have people from North and South Sudan [now two different countries] Liberia, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Eretria, Iran, Iraq, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Migrants choose to leave their country and come to Australia, but refugees may not have that choice. Several different programmes are offered including help for the victims of torture, reunification of families torn apart, and cultural advice as to what is acceptable here. In essence the aim is to help migrants to help themselves. Leigh Jones thanked the speaker on our behalf and presented him with a bottle of Tasmanian wine.

Man Behind the Badge.

Terry Childs has spent over forty years in Rotary and was a member of the committee chaired by Alan Abbott which led to the establishment of our Probus club. He was born and raised at Old Beach, attending a one teacher school before Hobart High School. He successfully completed a teacher studentship and was appointed to Launceston high School and later the Junior Technical School. His first appointment as headmaster was to King Island, followed by Devonport and then Riverside high schools. This was followed by a period in administration, and he retired in 1985. The major changes he noted were the increase in the school leaving age to 16, and the establishment of senior colleges. In retirement he has been on the executive body of the National Trust and Franklin House, and busy with many other community bodies.

Meanderer

David Harvey dedicated his meandering to his wife whom he said has put up with a lot of silly things he has done! He became interested in sailing, starting with dinghies and graduating to a trailer-sailer. He told us of one particular trip which included high winds, dragged anchor at midnight, heavy rain, and being mistaken for not very popular hippies. Are those were the days!

Digital Photography Presentation: 

Ian Reid showed us some images from Cambodia including some of Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world dating from the twelfth century. Several other temples featured, all imposing structures and dating from the eighth century. More modern were the fried spiders and spiders in brandy!

 SPEAKERS 26^th MARCH 2013

President                                                             Donald Wall

Vice President and President Elect                     Hans Bosman

Secretary                                                             Brian Mathews

Treasurer                                                             John Roberts

Guest Speakers                                                   Chris Cohen

Membership                                                       Don Bryan

Visits and Entertainment                                   Leigh Jones

Welfare                                                              John Bye

Bulletin                                                              John Bowen

Liaison                                                               vacant

Historian                                                            Elvis Fist

Lindsay Ranson was re-appointed as Auditor.

Digital Photography Presentation:  

Brian Lister showed us some views of Lord Howe Island – lush, green vegetation, steep mountains to climb, and a crashed catalina from WW2!

Guest Speaker

A recent visit by the history group to the old Charles Street school brought back memories for Stan Payne, one of our members, who was a lecturer at the school when it wasa Teachers College. Stan told us of the events leading to a very significant meeting in Room 13 at the college in 1965 with the then Federal Minister for Education, Senator John Gorton, which eventually led to the establishment of the College of Advanced Education and the State Institute of Technology in Launceston. The college at Charles Street was becoming crowed with the training of male teachers in addition to the previous female only student body, and was outdated for its purpose. Stan was the secretary of a group of educators who initially had to fight off attempts to take the college to Hobart, and then to consider the impact of changes in the field of education which were emanating from Canberra where the Federal Government was showing a much increased interest. The group arranged a meeting with the Federal Minister to take place at the College, in Room 13, and their arguments were so persuasive that the new college was established in the grounds of Brooks High School in the following year.

Man Behind the Badge  .

Bert Sundstrup was born in Kingaroy, Queensland, famous for peanuts, and the home for many families of migrants from Scandinavia. His father was a medical practitioner and Bert followed into that profession after schooling in Sydney and graduation from Sydney University in 1968. He went to the Royal Hobart Hospital and married while there. He then came to Launceston in private practice at Mowbray, and later specialised in the treatment of cancer as the head of the Peter McCallum Clinic. A major factor influencing his decision to stay in Launceston was the civic pride demonstrated by its citizens. He set up a vineyard as a recreational activity and this became a full time occupation on retirement.

Meanderer

No meanderer due to the AGM

.

 SPEAKERS 23^rd APRIL 2013

Guest Speaker- Esther Dobbyn

Robin Smith introduced our guest speaker, Esther Dobbyn from the Kings Meadows Health Centre, who encouraged us to “Stay on Your Feet”. In 2011 1530 people over 75 died from falls, and falls are the leading cause of hospitalisation. However falls are not inevitable and the best method of avoiding them is to stay physically active. Sometimes a fracture will cause a fall, other times the fall causes the fracture, so bone density is a factor. The two requirements are, 1, exercise, and 2, sufficient levels of vitamin D to maintain bone density. Weight bearing exercises also help to improve bone density, and there is a need to improve balance. While it is not possible to make people ‘fall proof’ it is possible to reduce the risk. With the willing help of Past President Ted Pedley, Esther demonstrated some of the tests for sight discrimination, tactile sensitivity, and balance. Fall prevention classes are available at the Centre. Darryl Chellis moved the vote of thanks and presented a bottle of Tasmanian wine to our speaker.

Man Behind the Badge.

John Henderson arrived in Tasmania 21 years ago. He was born in Lismore on a dairy farm. His father was a teacher at one man schools in country NSW. He attended Agricultural College and later worked in Agricultural Research Stations, and the Agricultural Bank in Bathurst, before being appointed Senior Rural Officer in NSW. He was the officer in charge of polling stations during elections, and has been a part time quarantine officer in Tasmania. John has had a lifelong interest in brass instrument music, playing in brass bands, and is an accomplished jazz trumpeter.

Meanderer

Stan Merry meandered through an aviation experience in 1951 when he flew to England in company with Charles Smith to study diesel-electric locomotives which were planned to be introduced to the state government railways. Launceston to Melbourne was by DC3 and then Convair to Sydney. The aircraft for the overseas flights was a Constellation and they used the same aircraft for the entire journey, at times waiting longer at stopovers for the plane to be repaired. The plane landed at Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, and Rome. During some layovers they were taken on bus tours, including a visit to the pyramids in Egypt. The journey took 87 hours with flying time of 39 hours compared to the flying time of 22 hours today.

Digital Photography Presentation:

John Shepherd showed us some images of the C.H.Smith building in lower Charles Street which has been neglected for some years but which is now in the process of being developed into a retail and residential centre. As part of the development an archaeological dig has been conducted and we were shown some of the artefacts that were recovered, buttons, boots, bottles, and clay pots.

SPEAKERS July 2013 

Guest Speaker

Jim Anderson introduced his son Peter who told about the evolution of medical facilities in the United Arab Emirates over five decades of economic boom. The UAE is comprised of seven Emirates and only twenty percent of the population being locals and eighty percent expatriates, with ten percent being European. The population in 2010 was over eight million, growing from 85,000 in 1963. The first hospital with 157 beds was opened in 1951 and there has been a successional of further facilities at regular intervals each being larger and more complex than before. The Cleveland clinic was started in 2012 and is not yet operational. It is significantly larger and more complex than the worlds’ tallest building, having 7000 rooms, and is to be opened in 2015. Peter is in charge of the laboratories for the clinic and is in the process of organising the laboratories from scratch, including staff, instruments, and other equipment. He also has the responsibility of arranging accreditation and devising documentation for what will be a largely paperless process.

Man Behind the Badge.

Brian Wiggins was born in Birmingham, England and spent many years in the British army, serving in Korea, Malaya, Egypt, and Cyprus. He recalled a camel race in Egypt between a camel and an armoured car – the camel won! He married and resigned from the army only to join the Australian army in England. After service in Vietnam he left in 1970 and became a company doctor resuscitating failing companies. He came to Tasmania to a small farm at forth and has now retired from that.

Meanderer

Chris Cohen meandered through the time he had spent as a surveyor with the HEC measuring the deformation of dams of all types. The measurements are done to ensure the safety of the dams by giving early warning of any significant movement. The measurements are taken continuously during the first filling of the reservoir and repeated at about six-monthly intervals using a variety of instruments including plumb bobs, inclinators, and theodolites.

Digital Photography Presentation:

David Harvey presented a video of “Fine Dining in PNG” made from excerpts from the videos he had taken while working in PNG on a church aid programme in the early nineties. While the food preparation and hygiene were completely different, the appreciation of the diners appeared to be as genuine as for our local interest group, indeed Paul Richards entered into the spirit of the occasion to announce the next local experience.

lick to add text, images, and other content

Guest Speaker

Our guest speaker was Scott Millen, proprietor of Tullochs Auctions, who was introduced by Keith Adkins. Scott began by saying he was comfortable in the presence of antiques! His interest in antiques began from involvement in restoring old houses in the 1980’s, and developed with his acquisition of Tullochs Auctions in 1986. Auctions were then held in a pavilion at the showgrounds but this meant a shutdown each year for several weeks and the move was made to the current premises. The industry is interesting but heavily regulated as other peoples’ money is involved.  A memorable auction of Tasmanian colonial furniture was held at the Casino, which attracted international attention and lead to a little old table from his home being sold for $76,000, later resold for $7.000. Antiques from Tasmania are among the rarest in the world. Coins have been a very good investment with prices being determined by the grade of the piece. A 1930 penny proof can be worth $1.5 million going down to $15,000. Ivan James moved the vote of thanks and presented a bottle of Tasmanian wine.

Man Behind the Badge.

Peter Anderson used an interview questionnaire to prompt his memory. First memory, playing on the waterfront at Battery Point in Hobart in the early forties. What did his parents teach him? “If you wanted something you had to work for it.” The first job was as an apprentice surveyor, and he remained one for his whole career. He loved being a surveyor and worked in many places, including Savage River mine establishment, Canberra water supply, and Mt. Newman railway, among others. His biggest regret is not being a jazz musician. The hardest thing was being away from home for extended periods, and the thing that makes him laugh the most is being in the company of grumpy old men!

Meanderer

Brian Mathews meandered through the path taken by Rolls-Royce in the production of aero engine, from the first outright refusal to the stage where fifty precent of the airliners of today have RR engines fitted. The refusal to have anything to do with aircraft was as a result of Rolls being killed in an aircraft crash. The companies’ resources were devoted to the design and production of a very successful armoured car, but by 1916 an engine named the Eagle was being produced for aircraft. In 1929, Supermarine won the Schneider Trophy with an aircraft powered by RR, and a development of that aircraft became the RR Merlin engined Spitfire. The Manchester bomber was modified and refitted with Merlin engines and became the Lancaster. The American Mustang fighter was not a good aircraft until it was fitted with the Merlin engine, after which it became one of the best fighter aircraft of the war, and the engine was made under license by Packard. Royce worked with the inventor Whittle in the development of the jet engine which powered early jet fighters and also the Comet airliner. Development of the prop-jet engine followed, but the huge cost of developing the RB211 engine led to the company becoming bankrupt and being reconstituted. The RB211 engine was successful and powered the American 707 and 727 aircraft.  

Digital Photography Presentation:

Rod Oliver presented a series of images from the ABC programme “After Dark” featuring a great variety of shots from all over Australia, including some provided by Rod.

 SPEAKERS 27^th AUGUST 2013

Guest Speaker

One of our own members, Ivan James, was introduced by Ken Briggs and Ivan told us about a privately funded fish farming project in Bangladesh. The country came into existence in 1947 when the Indian subcontinent and was divided into the countries of India, largely Hindu, and Pakistan, largely Muslim, and it became the province of East Pakistan. Following a war of independence in which some 300,000 people died it became the independent state of Bangladesh. It is about twice the size of Tasmania and has a population of 164 million living on a flat alluvial plain with a tropical monsoon climate. The country is overpopulated, inefficiently governed and the people are poor, the main form of transport is the pedal powered rickshaws. A group of biologists in Brisbane formed an NGO called Symbiosis which now works in 500 villages, mainly in the north, focusing on rural development and slum ministry. In 2002 a group of Tasmanian business people decided to help a fellow Tasmanian establish a fish farm through Symbiosis, introducing a new breed of fish called tilapia. The farm now produces 1.5 million fingerlings for sale to other fish farmers, and 30 tonnes of mature fish each year.  In addition to the fish farm the NGO has programmes for sanitation and fresh water, literacy, and health. A new training centre has been established for computer studies, fisheries, motor mechanics, and hairdressing. All the programmes are designed to help rural and slum dwellers to break out of the cycle of poverty. John Wright moved a vote of thanks and presented a bottle of Tasmanian wine to Ivan.

Man Behind the Badge.

No speaker.

Meanderer

Paul Richards was encouraged to take an interest in art at LCGS, but lapsed into a life and career in science, mainly nuclear medicine, before returning to art with a vengeance after fifty years. He has taken up a wide variety of media, from stick dressing which he studied in the UK, to, as part of an Arts Degree at UTas, acid etching with colour, feather painting, pencil drawing, fine prints lino cuts, scrimshaw, and flame prints. The subjects ranged from geishas to birds, flies, fish, and others.

Digital Photography Presentation:

Rod Oliver showed us some images from the last years “Mud Run” which had some 700 competitors including 500 women. Lots of clinging black mud, and a hose down on completion. Members wishing to form a team for the next one, please see Rod.

 SPEAKERS 22nd  OCTOBER 2013

Guest Speaker

Peter Anderson introduced our guest speaker Donald Anderson who spoke to us on Eco-friendly housing with low carbon footprint. He stressed the importance of orientation relating to the sun, in Australia north wall with windows and the opposite in the northern hemisphere, and of building mass to store heat, such as concrete floor slabs, masonry walls, and chimneys. Insulation of floors, walls, and roofs, and double [or treble] glazing of windows is also important. We were shown some examples of experimental housing estates and buildings in England which are still being assessed by the Building Research Establishment. We were also shown some Neolithic buildings some 5000 years old with dry stone walls and earth insulation which used some of the principles advocated today, and a 1747 farm house now operating as a green hotel after some retro-fitting. Insulation can be applied externally to existing buildings and solar panels can now be incorporated in windows. His closing remark was “Eco housing is easy; getting people to change their lifestyle is difficult.”  John Bye moved the vote of thanks and presented Donal with a bottle of Tasmanian wine.

Man Behind the Badge.

Trevor Challen was born in WA in 1925 and hence was 14 years old when WW2 began. An elder brother was in the AIF and was captured in Cyprus. When old enough Peter joined the RAAF but was excused from air crew because of colour blindness, and he trained as an instrument technician. He was initially posted to Kalgoolie where he met the girl who later became his wife. Nine months in Darwin followed and at the close of hostilities he was sent to Sydney for demobilisation. He returned to Perth and resumed employment with his previous firm, which later became Price Waterhouse. Two years in Melbourne for training and experience were followed by three years in Perth, during which time he married and was then transferred to Tasmania.

Meanderer

Bryan Wickens meandered through the arcane and esoteric world of an army intelligence office with the attendant successes and sometimes grey areas. In Vietnam aerial photographs were not much good due to the dense jungle ground cover, and information had to be sought by ground patrols. He also gave some indication of the training in a code of conduct in captivity given to officers going on active duty to help them resist interrogation techniques, and life in the Joint Intelligence Centre in Canberra.

Digital Photography Presentation:

No presentation.

 SPEAKERS 24^th SEPTEMBER 2013

Guest Speaker Our guest speaker, Amanda Locatelli from Natural Resources Management [NRM] North, was introduced by Chris Cohen and she told us work being done in relation to the Tamar Estuary and its catchment including the Esk rivers. NRM North is a non-government, non-profit organisation devoted to advising on studies to allow science based decisions relating to natural resources. A major programme is the study of the Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers [TEER] study.  The Tamar is the longest estuary in Australia, with a tidal range of 3.5 metres, and metal contamination from mining, pollution from sewage and stormwater run-off, and introduced pest like rice grass and introduced fish. When Launceston was an active port the then Marine Board conducted a continuous dredging and silt raking programme but since the port activity has moved to Bell Bay the upper part of the estuary has naturally reverted to the condition prevailing before European settlement with a narrow channel and exposed mud flats at low tide. Several proposals have been suggested for building weirs or barrages to alleviate the problem but each has drawbacks. Studies are being undertaken to determine the practicality of reducing the number of sewage treatment plants to one, and to determine ways to improve stormwater management. Although it has its problems, by world standards the estuary is not in too bad a condition. Leigh Jones moved the vote of thanks and presented a bottle of Tasmanian wine to our speaker.

Man Behind the Badge.

John Grove is a member of a family with well over one hundred years of association with Launceston and was educated at Launceston Grammar School and later graduated in medicine at Melbourne University. He spent five years in London to earn senior qualifications, and spent time at the London blood bank and other locations in England. He returned to Launceston in 1969 and spent 42 years practicing obstetrics and gynaecology at the Queen Victoria and Launceston General Hospitals. He was a board member of the QV until its amalgamation with the LGH, and has lectured in medicine. He has now retired and is kept busy by his wife running a cat haven, producing orchids, and doing university studies.

Meanderer

No speaker.

Digital Photography Presentation:

David Harvey showed us some video clips of skiing, starting with the Ben Lomond field in the early thirties, travelling through other locations in Australia, Canada, USA, France, and Austria, and again to Ben Lomond in recent times.

NOVEMBER 2013

 SPEAKERS 26^th NOVEMBER 2013

Guest Speaker

Elvin Fist introduced Mr Malcolm White who is chairman of the Tasmanian board of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. He began by showing a short film made by a Hobart TV station of the first delivery by the service of a medical kit to the King family living at Melaleuca Inlet on the remote west coast. The service began in Queensland in the 1920’s and started in Tasmania in 1960 with the first medivac being a doctor from Queenstown. Aircraft chartered from the Tasmania Aero Club were used at first but dedicated aircraft of their own are now used. The service provides the aircraft and crew and the Tasmanian Ambulance Service provides the medical personnel. Patient shelters are now being provided at Municipal airports and the Tasmanian facilities are comparable with the best. Scholarships are offered to nurses and interns to experience the provision of outback medicine, and a schools programme is run to teach children about the service. RFDS is now moving to provide primary health care by offering preventive medicine and dental care. John Paull moved the vote of thanks and presented the speaker with a bottle of Tasmanian wine.

Man Behind the Badge.

Clive Holman was born in Launceston in 1937 and was educated at the Robbins Island State School and later at Launceston Church Grammar School until 1954. His career began with the Australian and New Zealand Bank [later ANZ] for a few years until he joined Layh, Hart, Room, and Hyland, a well-known firm of accountants where his service was interrupted by National Service in the RAAF. Senior positions with Savage River Mines in Wynyard and Statewide Wholesale Distributors followed until he became secretary/manager of the Launceston Club. He was a member of Apex and Rotary International in Wynyard and continued his association with Rotary in Launceston. He is a director of many companies and public bodies, and a member of the National Trust, RACT, and the Liberal Party

Meanderer

John Ford meandered through the life of Raymond Shorthouse who invented equipment to recover tin left in mine tailings by the previous technology. He used the “vanners” to recover micron sized particles of tin from the tailings and also hired out the equipment. Renison Tin Mine improved their recovery of tin by five percent using his equipment. He had a keen sense of humour of which John gave some examples. Being unmarried he left most of his considerable fortune to the Peter McCallum Clinic. “A privilege to have known him.”  

Digital Photography Presentation:

John Shepherd showed images of the life and times of Herbert King who was a Launceston photographer and manufacturer of bicycles plus a retailer of motorcycles. He photographed many parts of Tasmania using a motorcycle and sidecar, often developing the glass negatives on site in the bush. He was the first in Tasmania to use aerial photography and won many awards for his photographic work.

SPEAKERS 28^th JANUARY 2014

Guest Speaker

Our guest speaker, Ian Routley, was introduced by John Bye and Ian Spoke about one of Rotary Down Under major programmes, which is the provision of shelter boxes to people who have been subjected to natural and other disasters which have destroyed their homes. The concept began in England in 1999 where the need for rapid response to disasters was recognised and the question was posed, ”What can we put in a box for less than five hundred pounds” to provide essential items. Each box contains a tent large enough to house an extended family, and which can withstand high winds, heavy rainfall, and extremes of temperature, plus survival gear. The survival gear includes thermal blankets and insulated ground sheets, mosquito nets in areas with malaria, means to purify water, basic hand-tool kit, a multi fuel stove, pans, utensils, bowls, mugs, and water storage containers. The boxes are stored in five locations throughout the world where they can be available at the disaster sites within 23 to 48 hours. Over 25,000 boxes were distributed after the Indonesian tsunami, and boxes have been distributed on three occasions in North Korea, and to Syrian refugees in Lebanon. On average a disaster is responded to every two weeks. Food is not included in the boxes, and agreements have been made with other aid agencies and the UN to establish a co-ordinated approach. This is “people to people help”. The vote of thanks was proposed by Darryl Chellis and a bottle of Tasmanian wine presented.  

Man Behind the Badge.

 George Prall spent 30 years as a General Practitioner in Kings Meadows after his arrival in Tasmania from the UK in 1974, and has now retired. He was born in a small village in Kent and received his medical training at Westminster hospital medical school. After a period of locum work which included being a prison medical officer in Swansea [which gave rise to some interesting and amusing anecdotes], he joined a group practice. Following a visit to our member Robin Smith in Tasmania George was persuaded to return to Tasmania and he agrees it is a very good place to be.

Meanderer

Robin Smith presented a video of highlights of his time as medical officer on a voyage to Antarctica in 2002-03 including images of icebergs, floes, helicopter flights, whales, seals, sea birds, penguins, Mawson’s hut, and brave souls skinny dipping in sea temperature of -2 degrees C.

Digital Photography Presentation:

Rod Oliver showed us some images of houses in Kew, Melbourne, which had very elaborate and imaginative Christmas lighting decorations on the buildings and in the gardens. An excellent example of night photography.