GENERAL MEETINGS  

We meet for two hours from 10.00am on the second Tuesday of each month at the Whitehorse Civic Centre, in the Willis Room.

This comprises a brief general meeting, outlining important club matters and a summary of the most recent Management Committee meeting.

Morning tea and socialising is followed by a guest speaker or entertainer.

All are invited to a post meeting lunch at a local venue.

Immediately below are planned speakers. Further down are comments on each presentation, once presented.

 

2024 Guest Speakers/Entertainment Planned

February -Emma Barnett - Yarra River Keeper

March -ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

April - Jeremy Furness - Book Publishing Children's Books

May - Peter Koens Cardio Vascular X ray technolocy. Assisting underdeveloped countries.

June - Yvonne Poker - Gadget Girl

July - Christmas in July - no speaker.

August - The Golden  Age of Musical Comedy

September - Former Olympic swimmer, Sue Hardbottle, 1968 Olympics 

October - No speaker - BBQ lunch

November - The great Peter Smith

December - No speaker - Christmas Lunch.

 

2024 Guest Speakers/Entertainment, So far -

November 2024 -

The great Peter Smith - My Life in Radio and Television.

Courtesy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Smith_(announcer) 

Photo courtesy Club Member

Radio

Upon leaving school, Smith joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a messenger boy before progressing through the ranks to an announcer on the home service and Radio Australia. On radio in the 1960's, Smith worked with radio station 3AK as a 'good guy' and on The Greater 3UZ as it was known during the 1970's.

Television

As television was introduced into Australia, Smith performed the role of announcer and host for the weekly ABV2 television program Sports View Hit Parade, broadcast on Saturday afternoons.

October - Ken Spargo - The Accidental Author

Ken told of the difficulties getting books accepted, printed and distributed and the huge costs involved for a few cents return for the countless hours of work undertaken. Ken was very methodical with his accounting business to keep a very accurate knowledge of all that goes into writing each book. 

"Wanna-be' authors have a very hard time from the first thoughts to the final multi-proof read stories and still no success. 

Ken's talk was most humerous and many laughs were had by the large attendance at the meeting. 

Several books were on sale at the meeting and many members were searching for an autographed copy.

Photos courtesy: Neil Jenkin and Glenn Ewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September -  Former Olympic swimmer, Sue Hardbottle, 1968 Olympics

 

Photos: Chris Summers and Neil Jenkin

It was thrilling to have an Olympian as a guest speaker at our most recent general meeting.

Sue told lots of stories about her as a 17 year old going to her first Olympics. Male and female athletes werre housed in multi story buildings at the opposite ends of the complex. The girls were fenced in with barbed wire, locked gate and a security guard on the gate. There was no tv for athletes and basic accommodation was provided. She gave many backlground stories about participating in a high altitude sports meeting.

She showed her uniform - hat, blazer, shirt, skirt etc which she had kept as well as the Olympic Torch  she carrfied in the Sydney Olympic Games. Sue was quite surprised she could still fit the blazer but could not do up the buttons. She refused to try the old swimming costume, complete with its 'privacy shield.

A very interesting speaker with a touch of comedy as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the September meeting, members wore footy regalia as we celebrated the two footy tipping competitions. Lots of fun had by all.

Each meeting has a general quiz which causes great laughter - and sometimes cheating thanks to Mr Google.      Photos: Chris Summers 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August - Garry Kerr - The Golden Age of Musical Comedy

Garry presented a most interesting journery through several musical comedy films and stage shows.

My Fair Lady, Flower Drum Song, Westside Story, Carosel, Paint Your Wagon ,Oklaoma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July - No speaker -  Christmas in July, see under Festive Celebrations.

June - The May speaker, Yvonne Poker, The Gadget Girl, was a fun speaker. She had a huge display of gadgets available for dsale to the members.

A great gadget which you slide on to a tube (toothpaste or similar) and as you slide it to the top it squeezes the toothpaste out. I love them.

An umbrella hat which fits onto your head and leaves your hands free, a facial hair remover, can and bottle openers and a gadget to insert in the car door hinge to assist you to get out of the car, to a pick up stick to save you bending.

 

 

 

 

April - Our April speaker was Jerermy Furness. Amongst other things Jeremy is a publisher and author of Children's books.  Jeremy outlined how difficultit is to become a successful book publisher in Australia. Most authors either cannot get book accepted or if they do it is not profitable. The publishers want to own you and your work and this is not conducived to successful publishing. 

Jeremy outlined how doggedly he had to pursue his passion for self-publishing. He made sure the technical aspects of his books were correct, including illustrations and that the text was perfect.

Jeremy has combined his love for motorcycles - ridden from a young age (and still does) with storytelling.

The illustrations are supberb, colourfful and have great character.

Additionally, Jeremy's wife is a long term and well known illustrator. This makes them a great team.

Some of Jeremy's well-known books are -

- Barry The Bike and The Hardware Truck

- Barry The Bike and the Sidecar

Jeremy is selling these books into both America and the UK.  Quite and achievement!