PORT MACQUARIE/HASTINGS NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2015
President: Nicola Herbert
Vice President: Keith Reichenbach
Treasurer: Erica De Carlo
Secretary: Sandra Banks
Public Officer: Erica De Carlo
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Committee Members:
Wanda Bainbrigge 6584 2337
John Banks
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Teresa Iwinska
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Joye Lavis
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Trevor Read
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John Urquhart
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NEXT MEETING: 10TH FEBRUARY
Our speaker for the next meeting will be Lauren Howard, Travel Centre Manager, Helloworld, who will speak
about changes in the travel industry, the Helloworld business, advantages of using a travel agent, pitfalls of the
internet and will answer questions about destinations and the best way of getting there.
The "Getting to Know You" personality this month will be Ann Cross.
NSW LIBERALS & NATIONALS TO EXTEND VITAL PENSIONERS AND SENIORS
CONCESSIONS (NSW)
A re-elected NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will offer further protections for NSW pensioners
and seniors by extending the commitment to fund concessions that were cut in the Federal Budget, NSW
Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Ageing John Ajaka announced last month. The concessions were
withdrawn by the Commonwealth in its Budget, prompting the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government
to cover the shortfall for 12 months. This State Government support will be extended by a further three
years should the NSW Liberals & Nationals win the March election - a $343 million commitment.
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"The only way to have a friend is to be one." Ralph Waldo Emerson
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CHRISTMAS PARTY AT PORT CITY BOWLING CLUB
We celebrated our Christmas Party at the Port City Bowling Club on Tuesday 9th December. We were
supplied with a splendid Christmas Roast with champagne, orange juice and wine, along with a huge
amount of fun and laughter. Kevin Grime won the "best-dressed" male, and Vivienne Howell, the "bestdressed" female. The "lucky door" prize - which was located under a seat, was won by Keith Dawson
who wasn't even there! The prize was under his vacant chair, and it was decided, quite appropriately, that
he should be presented with the present at a later date. It was lovely to see so many members remaining
after the meal for a chat - it had absolutely nothing to do with the left-over wine!
The photo shows our members in good spirits........................
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POOL PARTY IN BONNY HILLS
Teresa and John kindly hosted a pool party with a "surfie" theme on January 21st at their home in Bonny
Hills. The day dawned a lot drier than the previous one, thanks to the prayers and "cosmic ordering" of
many of the participants and over 30 members gathered for a fun afternoon. The prizes for most suitably
attired went to Nicola and Trevor - (maybe the prizes should have been for "most outrageous") but my
personal favourite was Erica who stunned the party with her wonderful T shirt. A great afternoon ensued
with some members swimming and all taking part in a surfing quiz. There was a prize for the best
rhyming poem which was voted to be this:
I lay on the sand and looked at the sea, and thought to myself how great it would be
To surge thought the waves on a surfboard so fine, and catch me a surfer and make him all mine!
Congratulations to Ann Cross, Mara and Noel Goodall, Freda Harrison and Trevor Read.
A photograph of the happy group is shown below:
WHAT IS A GRANDPARENT?
(Taken from papers written by a class of 8-year-olds)
Grandparents are a lady and a man who have no little children of their own. They like other people's.
A grandfather is a man, and a grandmother is a lady!
Grandparents don't have to do anything except be there when we come to see them…
They are so old they shouldn't play hard or run.
It is good if they drive us to the shops and give us money.
When they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars.
They show us and talk to us about the colours of the flowers and also why we shouldn't step on 'cracks.'
They don't say, 'Hurry up.'
Usually grandmothers are fat but not too fat to tie your shoes.
They wear glasses and funny underwear.
They can take their teeth and gums out.
They have to answer questions like 'Why isn't God married?' and 'How come dogs chase cats?'
When they read to us, they don't skip. They don't mind if we ask for the same story over again.
Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don't have television because they are the
only grownups who like to spend time with us.
They know we should have a snack time before bed time, and they say prayers with us and kiss us even
when we've acted bad.
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GROAN OF THE MONTH
A man was telling his neighbour, 'I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it's
state of the art. It's perfect.'
'Really,' answered the neighbour. 'What kind is it?'
'Twelve thirty.'
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A BIG THANK YOU
A big thank you to Anne Jackson and James McAdam who kindly organised a BBQ Breakfast at
McInherney Park on 13th January as a trial run for an annual event in future years. It was great to catch
up with so many members after the Christmas period and it was unanimously agreed that it should be
continued. The photos below show the hungry breakfasters in action!
WHO IS THIS?
JOKE OF THE MONTH
A couple are both having problems remembering things. During a check-up, the doctor tells them that
they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember ..
Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. "Want anything while I'm in the
kitchen?" he asks.
"Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?"
"Sure."
"Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?" she asks.
"No, I can remember it."
"Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so as not to forget it?"
He says, "I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries."
"I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, write it down?" she pleads.
Irritated, he says, "I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and
whipped cream - I got it, for goodness sake!"
Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, the old man returns from the kitchen and hands
his wife a plate of bacon and eggs. She stares at the plate for a moment.
"Where's my toast?"
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RECIPE OF THE MONTH
YO-YO BISCUITS OR MELTING MOMENTS (you may choose what you wish to call them!)
This is a really old recipe and hence is in imperial measurements which I did not wish to alter.
Ingredients:
6 ozs butter
2 ozs icing sugar
5 ozs flour
3 ozs custard powder
Method:
Cream butter and sugar, sift flour and custard powder three times, and add to butter and sugar. Make
small balls and press with a fork. Bake in a moderate oven until light brown, When cold join with this
filling: One tablespoon butter, a few drops of milk and three tablespoons icing sugar. Mix butter and
milk, then icing sugar and flavour with vanilla if required.
.
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TIP OF THE MONTH (this may not be a regular feature, but I couldn't go past this one!)
One of the big problems with fridges and freezers is this – when they’re turned off and closed up, even for
a couple of days, there’s a big chance of ending up with mould and odours. Here’s what to do – turn off
the fridge the day before and when it’s been wiped out hang a couple of TEA BAGS, (yes tea bags!), in
the fridge and close the door up tight. The reason for this little trick of the trade is that tea bags soak up
any moisture left in the fridge. If the door is left propped open, there is a chance of both damaging the
door seal and putting unnecessary pressure on the hinges.
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If you know of any member who may be unwell, please let anyone on the Committee know. It is
important that we offer support if one of our members is unwell and let them know we are thinking of
them. If anyone is in need of a helping hand to do a small job, again, let a Committee member know. We
can also arrange for transport to and from meetings if anyone is unable to make their own arrangements.
And if anyone is celebrating a big "0" birthday - again, please let a Committee member know.
We are now accepting advertisements for the March Newsletter. Anyone interested should send their
advert to me at [email protected] - the cost is $5 for 40 words and $10 if accompanied by a
photograph.
Nicola Herbert - Editor/President