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January

Mark Bundy gave an interesting talk on Rookwood Cemetery.  Mark is the Director of External Operations at the cemetery. This year he celebrates 30 years of service at Rookwood. He began his career as a gravedigger and now mainly focuses on burial groups and assisting to promote the historical side of Rookwood. Using videos and telling humorous anecdotes Mark gave an informative presentation of the history of this iconic cemetery of Sydney.

 

 

February

Gary Raymond is currently a Chaplain in the Police Post Trauma Support Group and a Chaplain to the NSW Ambulance. Amongst several accolades he has been awarded during his police career are the Order of Australia OAM, The Australian Police Medal, the National Medal and the NSW Police Medal.

The title of his presentation was ‘Danger was my Business’. Gary spoke to us about work he encountered while performing duties as a Rescue Police Office and a Detective. With heartfelt honesty, Gary told us about the brutality of the Anita Cobby murder and the hope that has come from that as her parents, the police community and Inner Wheel fundraisers set up and fund Grace’s Place. Grace’s Place, named after Anita Cobby’s mother Grace is a refuge in Blacktown for traumatised children and also spouses of violent crimes. He also spoke of his participation in the rescue at the Granville Train Disaster and in particular one young woman he helped and her resilience in recovery.


 
 

April

Peter Kirkwood OAM recently retired as director of Communications & Power Industries Australia Pty Ltd where he specialised in satellite communications, radio broadcast, defence electronics (radar & electronic warfare) and diagnostic medical imaging x-ray.

He is very involved in charities in his local area of Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai through Rotary, PYCY, Studio Artes (a disability organisation) and St Paul‘s Anglican Church.

Peter’s interest in other cultures led him to acquire a didgeridoo while on a business trip to Alice Springs. Several years later, Peter is a master of the digeridoo and has performed in many different bands including the Aboriginal band for Reconciliation at Uluru. His didgeridoo playing has taken him to perform across Australia and in USA, Canada and Singapore.

Peter’s talk was titled History, Making and Playing the Didgeridoo. His talk and performance of the didgeridoo was interesting and informative.
  May

We were fortunate to have the personable young Dr Taylor Harrison join us. Taylor is the Managing Director Chiropractor and the founder of Active Seniors which started in 2006. 

Taylor is passionate about care for all ages through to the elderly. He started his career focusing on Chiropractic specific to sports injuries and performance, and now incorporates Chiropractic wellness care, including exercise, nutrition and emotional well-being.

Taylor also practices what he preaches keeping active and healthy. He loves many sports, but, in particular running, cycling, tennis, soccer and touch football. He tries to fit as much exercise into his busy schedule as possible.

The exercises he showed us were simple, gentle and he assured us very effective in maintaining fitness and health. These exercises have been devised by Taylor and his team of physiologists who specialise in the prescription of exercise specifically for older adults.
 

June

Matt Murphy took us on a rollicking presentation of his light-hearted approach to A History of Rum and Drinking in Australia.

At school, Matt failed English and couldn’t see the point in learning History.

He became a fire fighter and has been serving the inner city community for 33 years. Matt is now also a part-time teacher, tolerating the attitudes of students towards History that he once shared.

He has published three books and copies of his most recent, The History of Rum, were on sale.

 

July

We were joined by Angela Vernicos, who has worked for The Hills Council as the Road Safety Officer for 27 years. She also lives in The Hills.

Angela works in the Traffic Team and deals with traffic management, parking, road safety, cycleways, roads and footpaths. Angela runs public education campaigns to highlight safety issues in the shire. 

Her informative presentation to us was about Safe Driving for Seniors and she answered many questions from our members.
 

August

Prof Maria Fiatarone Singh who is based at Sydney University. is a geriatrician whose research, clinical, and teaching career has focused on the integration of medicine, exercise physiology and nutrition as a means to improve health status and the quality of life across the lifespan.

Prof Fiatarone Singh has designed and carried out many clinical trials and studies in Australia and the USA, including large multi-centre trials of exercise and chronic disease prevention and treatment. 

Her presentation titled Brain vs Braun was very comprehensive about the role exercise plays in the aging body and brain. The need for exercise was clear and her findings are that all exercise, particularly the use of weights or resistance exercise, is a must for the elderly.
  September 

Paul Kearney gave an enjoyable presentation

on the “History of Rock & Roll” beginning in the 1950s. He shared stories about how rock and roll music started in the early 1950s, gave a brief history of the artists and played original video clips of the artists singing these popular songs.

Paul regularly presents his shows on international cruise ships around the world, Probus Clubs, Rotary clubs and retirement villages around Sydney. 

 

October 

Pam Wilson from The Hills Historical Society has lived in The Hills District for the last 60 years and has seen the changes from rural to urban. 

Since 1992 Pam has been the Secretary of The Hills District Historical Society helping to run their Museum and local history tours plus publishing several local history books. In 2000 she joined the Council's 355 Committee to establish Castle Hill Heritage Park which opened in March 2004.

Since the opening, Pam has promoted Castle Hill Park as the site of the first European Rebellion in Australia. Her presentation on the Vinegar Hill rebellion included a brief background to the Battle in Ireland, rebellion of the Irish at Castle Hill Farm, site of the Battle of Vinegar Hill and use of the name Vinegar Hill today.

 

November

Detective Sergeant Therese Honess, of the New South Wales Police Force Cybercrime Squad, gave a most informative talk on scams and traps that are often geared to older citizens. She gave examples of typical cyber-crimes and told us how to avoid being caught out. 

We were thankful that Therese was able to step in for her boss Matt Craft who was called away on Cyber crime business on the day.

Reports of online fraud can be made to the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or to local police.