Congratulations Pauline! You did a fantastic job of herding us all around the city and returning us safely to our home stations! In light of the recent deaths of two police members, a visit to the Police Museum in Spencer Street, Melbourne seemed a fitting Probus excursion. It gave us all a chance to give a silent nod to the men and women who face danger every day and call it “their job”.
Geoff Bakes and Gary Strahan put their heads together and conspired to give us real life experiences of Missing Persons dramas. First challenge was at the DFO which we cut through on our way to the museum. Gary quickly ducked in to the mens’ leaving Beryl waiting patiently for him at the door for his return. Unbeknown to her, he stepped outside through a different doorway – and so the first Missing Persons activity began. Thankfully mobile phones played their part and it wasn’t much more than ten minutes before they were reunited and we were a cohesive group again.
Time spent in the museum was impressive. Lots of displays detailing the importance of our police force. Interactive activities were great fun, although proved some of us have the memory of gold fish when trying to complete identikit resemblance of criminals.
Some sobering moments too as we contemplated what was left of the car used in the bombing of the Russell Street Police station in 1986, and very close to home – the photos of Gary Silk and Rodney Miller – we all remembered where we were that night when the news came through of their deaths.
And then Part 2 of our Missing Persons challenges. Geoff sat waiting so patiently on his comfy seat under the larger than life paintings of police in action. He pretended to miss the call to depart for the Mail Exchange Hotel and lunch. Luckily his ever-alert wife (and a few observant Probarians) realised he was missing and a search party was sent back to the museum. Well done Brenda – a time lapse of less than ten minutes before he was found!
Lunch at the Mail Exchange Hotel was fantastic and we loved the privacy of our own dining area where great service and beautiful food choices had us all salivating.
Missing Persons challenge Part 3 – our president Gary again! Lunch completed and everyone milling around waiting to leave. We knew it was a loo visit for some, but not one of us suspected Gary of going in to the ‘Ladies’ to complete his ablutions!!! We still have no idea how he bypassed the giant “L” or indeed the many colourful pictures of women that lead to the doorway of the facilities. Full credit to the group of unknown women standing chatting to him at the hand basins – they certainly took it in their stride!
Thank you again to our two Masters of Discovery tour leaders. Janette and Pauline, as always, your careful forward planning and attention to detail meant another fantastic Big Day Out for the rest of us.
Thank you to Michele Backholer for this great report
