It’s hard to believe we are now into August, with only three weeks until Spring! By the time you read this you’ll probably have completed your census form.
Open House Melbourne weekend has also been and gone. I was lucky enough to secure a ticket for a tour of the beautiful ANZ Gothic Bank Museum – on the corner of Queen and Collins Street.
Our July meeting certainly stirred up memories and left many of us feeling quite nostalgic. Thank you to Jack Saunderson for sharing the story of his remarkable life, beginning with his childhood in the tiny South Australian town of Yakima. Imagine growing up without electricity, with an outside toilet and only a rainwater tank for water -meaning the family bathed just once a week. They separated their own cream, collected eggs and killed their own stock for meat. Jack attended a one- teacher school with only ten students. The town itself consisted of a mechanics’ hall, two churches and a corner store – none of which exists today.
Later after being called up for National Service during the Vietnam era, Jack chose to join the Air Force and continue his studies. These days he keeps remarkably busy, walking each day, going to a gym, playing bridge and volunteering with Golden Days Radio. He is living proof that age is no barrier to leading an active life, a great role model for all of us. Jack had to leave immediately after the meeting to get to his radio shift, but several members told me afterwards how much his stories reminded them of their own childhoods.
I know that our 30 minute morning tea sometimes isn’t quite long enough to fit in all the catching up – it can be quite a challenge getting everyone back to their seats by 11.am! That’s why I’m delighted we’ve continued with our sandwich lunches after the meetings. Last month 25 members stayed on and some of us did not leave until after 2pm. After all, that’s exactly what Probus is all about – friendship ,laughter, good conversation and enjoying each other’s company. Long may it continue.
Janette James President 7 August 2026
