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Food for Thought: • The Committee has received some comments

from members, particularly new members, in regard to seating at meetings. I know we all like to sit with our friends however when someone is seeking a seat we should not turn them away. The Greensborough Branch has a reputation as a friendly and cooperative branch and we should endeavour to make everyone feel welcome.

• A lack of males at some Branch activities has

led to recent discussions on whether we should have a ‘Men Only’ activity. We have discussed this at Committee level and feel that there should not be activities for one gender alone.

There is a Mens Discussion Group called OM:NI (Older Men New Ideas). This group meets on Tuesday afternoons at Greensbor-ough RSL and members may be interested in this group. I have placed some pamphlets on each table describing what OMNI has to offer.

Regards. Bob Goodyear, President

Dear Members, January Branch Meetings: Some NSA Branches do not conduct January meetings and this prompted me to ask members at our last Branch meeting if they wished to continue having meetings in January. The answer was an overwhelming “Yes”; therefore Greensborough will continue the practice of holding January Branch meetings. For you information, we did have 100+ members attend our January meeting! Activities: The activities for 2013 have been carefully planned to provide value for money and cater for a variety of interests - we hope members will try them out. However I must remind members that when placing their name on any activity list they need to pay a deposit to confirm their booking. This practice is especially important for our extended trips listed below: • 2013:

Murray River Cruise - $100.00/pp deposit when booking. Final payment by 30 April.

Merimbula/Sapphire Coast (6 days) - $200 deposit by 30 April. Final payment by 31 July.

• 2014:

Flinders Ranges (7 days) - $50.00 deposit upon booking.

If you book for a certain activity and then you are unable to attend, please alert Peter Oaten or me.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Page President’s Report 1 Management Committee (2011/2012) 2 Next Branch Meeting details Get Well Message Branch Email / Website / Mailing Address Coffee / Lunch / Dinner / Walking Clubs 3 Branch / COBA Activities 4 Birthday Greetings 70th Birthday Celebrations Born in the 50s & 60s 5 NSA, Melbourne — Tuesday Talks Treasurer’s Report 6 Love to Sing? Bunnings Eltham Garden Workshop Notice Board 7 Advertisers 8

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Greensborough Branch Newsletter Branch No. 100133 Incorporation No. A0044936A

February 2013 - Edition No. 2 Editor - Marlene Goodyear

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Management Committee 2011/2012

President/Activities Offi-cer/Zone 121 Delegate Bob Goodyear 9435 2529 Vice President/Activities Officer Peter Oaten 9434 6795 Treasurer Lorraine Oaten 9434 6795 Secretary / Newsletter Editor Marlene Goodyear 9435 2529 Email: r.m.goodyear@bigpond.com Publicity Officer/Branch Meeting Manager David Hewett 9459 0653 Email: dfhewett01@bigpond.com Communications/Asst. Membership Officer Peter Maw 9401 6717 Membership Officer/Zone 121 Dep Delegate Ken Pickett 9435 0076 Fundraising Officer John Brook 9432 1695 Asst. Fundraising Officer/Craft Books Coordinator Lois Williams 9435 4552 Speakers Sub-Committee

Bob & Marlene Goodyear, Gaylynn Pinniger, Jim Kindness 9469 4469 Welfare Officer Judy Harvey 9401 6752 Door Attendants/Registration Lynne Maw 9401 6717

Barbara Crosling 9435 5020

NON-COMMITTEE POSITIONS: Speakers Gifts/Door Prizes Coordinator Gaylynn Pinniger 9458 2603 Book Exchange Coordinator Yvonne Schaller 9432 3001

Next Branch Meeting Tuesday 19 March 2013

6.40 pm start (doors open at 6.00 pm for dinner)

Speaker:

Wendy Drowley Heidelberg Theatre Company

Topic:

“Costume Collection from the Heidelberg Theatre Company”

To members who are unwell or recuperating,

your friends at the Greensborough Branch are thinking of you and send best wishes for a

speedy recovery.

(If you know of any member who is unwell, please contact our Welfare

Officer, Judy Harvey, on Tel: 9401 6752 or email: judyh43@tpg.com.au

Greensborough Branch Email Address: greensboroughnationalseniors@gmail.com

Greensborough Branch Website: www.greensboroughnationalseniors.com.au

Mailing Address: Box 838, Macleod Post Office, Macleod 3085

Greensborough Branch Email, Website, Mail

Branch members may be interested to know that the Heidelberg Theatre

Company’s 2013 season commences with the production of

“The Dresser” (21 February - 9 March)

HTC is located at 36 Turnham Ave,

Rosanna

Bookings can me made at htc.org.au or the Box Office on 9457 4117

An Arab Sheik was admitted to hospital for heart sur-gery, but prior to the surgery the doctors needed to obtain blood in case the need arose. As the gentleman had a rare type of blood, it couldn't be found locally, so the call went out. Finally a Scotsman was located who had a similar blood type. The Scot willingly donated his blood for the Arab. After the surgery the Arab sent the Scotsman as ap-preciation for giving his blood, a new BMW, diamonds & a large sum of money. A couple of weeks later the Arab had to go through an emergency corrective surgery. His doctor telephoned the Scotsman who was more than happy to donate his blood again. After the second surgery the Arab sent the Scotsman a thank-you card and a box of Quality Street chocolates. The Scotsman was shocked. He phoned the Arab and asked him: "I thought you would be generous again, with a BMW, diamonds & money, but you only gave me a thank-you card and a box of Quality Street." To this the Arab replied: "Aye, laddie, but I now have Scottish blood in ma veins."

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Friday 1 March - 7.00 pm

Toti’s Bistro European (Italian & Greek) style bistro & bar 46-48 Beetham Parade Rosanna (Melway Ref: 32A1) (Fully Licensed, or BYO Wine — corkage $6.00/bottle) Tel: 9455 0180 Contact: Lynne & Harry Morris Tel: 9434 3329 RSVP: Mon 25 February

DINNER CLUB

Thu 14 March - 12.00 noon

Post Office Café Hurstbridge 794 Main Road Hurstbridge (Melway Ref: 185 K8/9)

Tel: 9718 2911 Contact: Margaret Lloyd - Tel: 9404 3393 RSVP: Thu 7 March

LUNCH CLUB

Walking Club

Walkers meet at 9.30 am

1st Tuesday of the month: Kalparrin (opp. Skateboard rink).

2nd & 3rd Tuesday of the month: Henry Street end of Greensborough Memorial Park.

Last Tuesday of the month: Bottom Car Park, Lower Plenty Hotel, Main Road, Lower Plenty.

Exception to the above routine:

Branch meeting days - when the group walk on Wednesdays at Greensborough Memorial Park.

Confused??? … Contact Coordinator: Ken Pickett - Tel: 9435 0076

Low Impact Walking Club

NOT UP TO HILLS?

Walkers meet Tuesdays at 9.30 am at Willinda Park Athletics Track, end of Nell Street, Greensborough (except on Branch meeting days when the group walk on Wednesdays).

On the last Tuesday of the month the group meet at 9.30 am at the Lower Car Park, Lower Plenty Hotel for a gentle walk.

Coordinator: Margaret Lloyd - Tel: 9404 3393

Wed 6 March - 10.00 am

Cooper’s Settlement Café Bundoora Park 1069 Plenty Road Bundoora

Tel: 8470 8170 Coordinator: Gaylynn Pinniger - Tel: 9458 2603

COFFEE CLUB

LUNCH CLUB & DINNER CLUB PATRONS NB: Please book with the contact person/s listed as numbers need to be confirmed with the various restaurants. If you are unable to attend on the night, please phone the contact person/s listed, or the restaurant, (leaving your name) so that others will know not to wait for you before ordering.

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Branch & COBA Activities:

Reminder to members: A deposit of $20/pp is now required when placing your name on an activity list. Activities planned for 2013: Wed 27 February: Film Luncheon at Balwyn Palace Theatre. Film: “Anna Karenina” (Set in late 19th century Russia high society, the aristo-crat Anna Karenina enters into a life-changing affair with the affluent Count Vronsky.) Starring Keira Knightley, Jude Law and Aaron Taylor- Johnson. Cost: $15.00/pp. Own transport. Meet in foyer at 10.45 am, film commences at 11.00 am. Thu 28 March: Blue Lotus Watergarden, Yarra Junction incl bus, morning tea/lunch at Upper Yarra RSL. Time: 9.00-5.00 pm. Cost: $46.00/pp (40+) Wed 17 April: Melbourne Water Treatment Plant incl bus, morning tea/ 2-hour coach tour of Western Treatment Plant/3-course lunch at Wer-ribee Tigers Clubhouse. Time: 9.00-4.30 pm. Cost: $45.00/pp (COBA) Fri 24-Mon27 May: Murray River Cruise & SA Discovery Tour incl coach travel to Murray Bridge incl picnic lunch, 2 night fully inclusive Murray River cruise, 1 night Naracoorte Cost: $1299/pp. $1808/single supp. (COBA) Wed 29 May: Queenscliff day trip Thu 27 June: HMAS Cerberus Tue 23 July: Puffing Billy Train ride incl 2-course lunch at Stamford Hotel (COBA) Wed 28 August: Mystery Bus Tour Sun 1-Fri 6 September: 6-day Merimbula trip (COBA) Wed 2 October: Tesselaar’s Tulip Festival October: Seniors Week Concert (to be con-firmed) Fri 22 November: Warrook Cattle Farm

Thu 5 December: William Angliss College Café 3-course Lunch (own transport) (maximum of 150 persons) (COBA) Tue 10 December: Branch Christmas Dinner Dance

Pithy Sayings……….. The first piece of luggage on the carousel never belongs to anyone. ~ George Roberts

A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kickboxing. ~ Emo Philips I have kleptomania, but when it gets bad, I take something for it. ~ Robert Benchley

HAPPY BIRHTDAY PETER! Peter Maw, our Communications Officer, celebrated his 70th Birthday on Saturday 9 February at Plenty Valley Retirement Village with relatives & friends.

His wife, Lynne (pictured) also has her birthday on the same day, but we’re not telling her age!

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The following message was received from Robyn Edlond who has set up the websites listed below

To National Seniors Greensborough Branch: I am writing to tell you about 2 exciting websites that I am confident will be of interest to many of your members. All of your members born in the 1950s, 40s, 30s and 20s will enjoy visiting the websites as they were created just for them. The response to both the Born in the Fifties and Born in the Forties and the younger years before websites since they were launched has been fantastic. What makes these websites so interesting and lots of fun are the many com-ments posted from our visitors as they make great reading. I am sure your members will enjoy a visit to both websites and join in the fun of contributing a comment on their favourite page. One of the most visited pages is A Walk Down Memory lane where visitors leave comments with memories from their childhood. The memories already posted make great reading as they tell a story of growing up in the 1950's, 40's, 30's and even 20's, a time very different to today. Take some time to read through all these great comments which bring back memories of listen-ing to the radio of an evening before TV, playing with all the other children in the street only coming home when it got dark, the fun of cracker night and lots more. Some of the other pages available are Hobbies and Interests, Family, Working, Retired, Cars, Holidays and Pets which all have interesting comments to read. The Community Notices section offers a Buy, Sells and Swap page as well as a page to post Personal Notices. If someone is feeling a little grumpy about a topic they can leave a comment on the Feeling Grumpy page or have a general chat on the Coffee Shop page. The Hint, Tips and Useful Links pages have a treasure trove of information and are continually being updated. A Sudoku and Crossword puzzle change daily and a Noticeboard is available on both websites to post the details of upcoming events to let everyone know what is happening. I invite you to visit both Born in the Fifties and Born in the Forties to see what is available. There is no membership required, no cost involved as they are just fun easy to use websites for older Australians.

www.borninthefifties.com.au www.bornintheforties.com.au

Come and try the interesting and informative free one hour talks on 4th Tuesday of the month at 10.15am – 11.15am at Melbourne NSA office, Block Court, Level 2, 290 Collins Street (take Lift 4 near Hunt Leather. All welcome. Come at 9.45am for morning tea! The talks then commence at 10.15am. PROGRAM: 26 February — 10.15 – 11.15am: Luke Martin from the Metro Trains Community Education Unit will talk to us about Rail Safety for Seniors. 26 March — 10.15 – 11.15am: Mark Travill from Plum Communications will talk about the Smart Approach to Smart Meters. Please phone our office on 9650 6144 for more details, or to make a booking.

Tuesday Talks - 2013 NSA Melbourne Office

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TREASURER’S REPORT Lorraine Oaten

Bunnings hold a Garden Workshop in their Eltham store and members are invited to attend. The workshop is held on 1st Thursday of every month — 10am until 12.00 noon — and is run by their horticulture expert, Linda. There is free morning tea. The topics are interesting and informative, with guest speakers and everyone has a lot of fun. Bookings are required, for catering purposes, and anyone interested in going along should contact: Helen Philp - Activities Organiser on Tel: 9430 0100.

Garden Workshop - Bunnings Eltham

Balance as at 01/01/2013 $9,461.95 Plus Income: Attendance $309.70 Membership $40.00 Blue Lotus Water Gardens $100.00 Melb Water T'ment Plant $110.00 Cuckoo Xmas Lunch $72.00 Raffle $138.00 Total: $769.70 Less Expenditure: Gossip Printing $59.60 Printer cartridges $93.02 Xmas Dinner expenses $49.55 Cuckoo Refunds $110.00 Xmas Dinner refunds $70.00 Donation Mens Shed $100.00 Donation NSA Foundation Trust $200.00 NSA Q'land Membership $40.00 Door prizes & Speakers Gift $21.00 Total: ($743.17) Balance as at 31/01/2013 $9,488.48

Every Monday (except during school holidays) a small group of singers get together for some singing & socialising at the Macleod YMCA from 11.00 to 11.45 am. We sing a variety of songs — musical show tunes, folk songs, old favourites, spirituals, modern, even in Italian! Every 4 to 6 weeks we visit nursing homes (voluntarily) to share these songs with the residents. If this sounds like something you would enjoy, please come along. We welcome everyone (especially men). We are a fun group who enjoy a song and a laugh. For more information: please phone Nikki on 9431 3212.

LOVE TO SING? “We need you!”

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NOTICE BOARD

Are you interested in knitting children’s

garments or maybe toys?

Member, Brita Daly, collects knitted children’s garments/toys. If you no longer knit, but have unused wool at home, Brita would be happy to take this off your hands as she can give this to her knitters. Items can be collected at Branch meetings, or you can contact Brita on Tel: 9435 2816. (Don’t forget you can always borrow one of the knitting books from the Craft Book Exchange!)

Are you planning to visit Thailand?

Member, Marg Wood - Tel: 9438 4219, is a regular visitor to Thailand and would be happy to advise you on: • The best shopping places? • Where to buy tailor-made suits” • Pitfalls for tourists? • The wonderful, exciting experiences

you can have? A must visit is to Kanchanaburi (the Thai Burma railway, the Bridge on the River Kwai, tigers living with the monks, elephant rides & beautiful scenery). Do not pre-book a tour from Australia for Kanchanaburi - you can do so much better if you deal directly with a local travel agent.

The Fred Hollows Foundation uses second-hand spectacles and sunglasses to improve the sight of people in deprived communities in our Far North & Australian Islands. You can assist by bringing along no-longer-used specs/sunglasses. Cases for specs/sunglasses are also needed. Member, Lorraine Callow, will be happy to collect them at Branch meetings.

Spectacles & Sunglasses

BOOK EXCHANGE & CRAFT BOOK EXCHANGE

We operate a Free Book Exchange on Branch Meeting days. We ask only that you return the books to the Branch when you have finished

reading them so that other members may have the opportunity to borrow the books.

(Tables are set up at the rear of the function room.)

Coordinators for this activity are: Yvonne Schaller — Book Exchange

Lois Williams — Knitting/Craft Patterns

Members, please bring along your unwanted books.

BANYULE MEN’S SHED

Do you know men with spare time and skills to share? Men who enjoy tinkering with tools or getting their hands dirty in the garden?

Well, the Banyule Men’s Shed is looking to recruit men to volunteer and be part of the shed.

At the shed, you’re free to work on your own projects or help others work on community projects.

To get involved or find out more Call 9450 2000 or drop in any Monday 1.00 - 3.00 pm Cnr St Hellier & Edwin Streets, Heidelberg Heights

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ADVERTISERS

Diamond Valley Echocardiography

Echocardiography services are now available at 1185 Main Road, ELTHAM (2 doors from Home Hardware)

For appointments - Tel: 9431 1244 (On site car parking)

All Doctors Referrals are accepted Bulk Billing available

Beautiful Palm Cove, Qld

Beach Front Resort Fantastic Large 2-Bedroom, Fully Furnished Ground Floor Apartment available for rent

Located in quiet area at rear of resort Fenced Patio next to beautiful Lagoon Pool

All you could want within easy walking distance

For more information - Tel: (03) 9431 0914 or visit - www.palmcoveaccom.com.au

Web: www.cmdelectrical.com.au Email: enquiry@cmdelectrical.com.au

REC: 19388 ABN: 18 146 227 974

Tel: 1300 125 994 to talk with a real person 24/7 - No message bank!!! All types of electrical work - domestic, commercial, industrial. Fully insured. Certificates of Electrical Safety provided. Call for a free quote. Reasonable rates & fast prompt service. No job too small.

JOHN KELLY

Manufacturer & Restorer of Fine Furniture

Ph: 0408 406 921

www.johnkellywoodcarver.com.

Garage Doors & Electric Openers

*REPAIRS *SERVICE *SALES

Remote control your existing or new Garage Door Roll-A-Door Tilt-A-Door Panelift

Over 30 years experience in the industry

Contact: Tony Ross Mob: 0438 342 122 / After Hrs: 9434 2122

Home Maintenance Services

• Security doors, fly screens rewired, locks fixed • Sliding doors repaired, sticking doors unstuck • Doors handles & locks fixed, dead locks fitted • Light globes, smoke alarm batteries replaced • Leaking tap washers, water filters replaced • Houses taken care of while away • Shopping done - accompanied if required • Anything else you can think of ???

All jobs quoted - no payment required until work completed

Contact: Roy Simpson Tel: 9434 7694 / Mob: 0417 529 501