-Probus-GroupNews – Upper Blue Mountains Probus Club

Posts – Our Speakers

1st March 2024 – Adjunct Professor Rod Stowe

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR ROD STOWE PSM, FRSN Career summary Rod Stowe formally retired from the NSW Public Service in November 2018 following a distinguished career spanning 41 years. Over this period, Rod spent 30 years in the Fair Trading/Consumer Affairs portfolio where he held various positions, including six years as Commissioner for Fair Trading.Read More...click heading for more

2nd February 2024 – Kate Cameron – “The Women of the Bounty”

“The Women of the Bounty” Kate Cameron’s career as a teacher, teacher educator and author has been devoted to teaching and learning about all kinds of history. Kate has visited historical sites around the world, however one of her favourite places is quite close to home. While the outline of Norfolk Island’s history is generallyRead More...click heading for more

1st December 2023 – Bill Avery

Bill Avery is a retired business executive. He is also the pioneer of the Federation track, a 3,000km bushwalking route from Sydney to Adelaide via Melbourne. He was a member of the inaugural Great North Walk from Sydney to Newcastle in 1988, the Sydney Coastal Walk in 2008 and the Sydney Harbour and Coastal WalkRead More...click heading for more

3rd November – Faye Yarroll – Cochlear Implant Awareness Network

Details to come ...click heading for more

6th October – Aubtin Namdar – President of Blue Mountains Musical Society

Aubtin is an experienced educator and musician with a knack for all things technical, and a deep passion for Arts in the community. With a Bachelor of Music (music Education) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, he is currently Head Teacher Creative and Performing Arts at Glenmore Park High School. Away from the classroom, AubtinRead More...click heading for more

1st September – Gail Searle – Cancer Wellness

Gail will speak on all programs and services Cancer wellness has to offer Gail is married with two girls and four grandchildren. She worked for the police department prior to having her children then worked at Franklins until the company folded and she started with Cancer Wellness Support. Gail has been managing the Penrith Op-ShopRead More...click heading for more

4th August 2023 – UBM Probus Members Tell All

Five of our Members will each give a short talk on varied subjects ...click heading for more

7th July 2023 – Tony Milne & Shelagh Simpson NSW Health- Aged Care Asssessment Team

Tony Milne is an ACAT Team Leader and Occupational Therapist and Shelagh Simpson is Social Worker Tony and Shelagh will talk on, and guide us through, ACAT – MY Aged Care-Registration-Assessment-Home Care packages etc There will be printed material available to take home and reflect upon...click heading for more

26th May 2023 – Chris D’Arcy – Search Dogs Sydney

Search Dogs Sydney Inc are a specialist team with specially trained canines to find “live” and “deceased” humans. Whether that be lost in the bush, natural or man made disasters, single or mass casualty events, our qualified Search Technicians and their canines will be available 24/7 Chris will be bringing his dog ‘Boof’ ...click heading for more

5th May 2023 – Professor Richard Buckland – All things Cyber

Richard is Professor in CyberCrime Cyberwar and Cyberterror at the School of Computer Science and Engineering UNSW, Visiting Professor in Educational Design at the National University of Malaysia UKM, and Grand Challenge Visiting Professor in CyberSecurity at Taylors University. He was Director of Professional Education and Chair of the Academic Board of the Australian ComputerRead More...click heading for more

April 2023 – Western Sydney Airport Community Engagement Team (Held 31st March due to Easter)

The Western Sydney International Airport community engagement team will visit to provide a project update focusing on the construction of Sydney’s new airport, the job opportunities the project is bringing, and the economic benefit the airport will have on the region. ...click heading for more

March 2023 – Annette Blake – Innkeeper

Annette has always had a passion for travel and exploring new ideas. During her time living in London, she wondered how she could make money from travel. In the end, the higher wages of ‘normal’ jobs won and that paid for her passion for several years abroad, and continued when she returned to Australia.Read More...click heading for more

February 2023 – Des Barrett – Sydney Observatory: A Very Short Introduction.

Between 1972 and 1975, Des studied science and the history and philosophy of science at the University of NSW. His postgraduate work, in the history and philosophy of science, was undertaken at Sydney University and the University of NSW. In 1982, he joined the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (Powerhouse Museum), Sydney, where heRead More...click heading for more

December 2022 – Jennifer Boyall – Principal of Katoomba High School

Mrs Jennifer Boyall Jennifer has been the Principal of Katoomba High School for past thirteen years ...click heading for more

November 2022 – Yuri Bolton – Ghost Town of Newnes: Past and Present

Yuri will talk about the latest book he co-authored (as part of the Bushexplorers). The book, Ghost Town of Newnes: Past and Present, is about the social history of this fascinating place. Yuri Bolotin is a wilderness explorer, author and environmentalist with over 30 years of experience in the Australian Bush. He regularly leads andRead More...click heading for more

October 2022 – Rev Dr Tom Plaizier -“The Place of Laughter in Tough Times”

Tom was born in Holland and migrated to Australia when 16 years old. He worked in metallurgy until he joined the Methodist Ministry (later Uniting Church) in 1960. He and his wife Bev worked for 4 years as fraternal workers in Fiji with the Indian population. He has a variety of interests including 6 languages,Read More...click heading for more

September 2022 – Paul Eastment – Fun with Trivia

Paul Eastment Blue Mountains Trivia Master and entertainer will entertain with the history of Trivia in Australia and will stretch the brains of all in attendance with a round or two of Trivia with prizes.The Trivia rounds will see Paul burst into song.It will be a morning filled with fun and laughter. ...click heading for more

August 2022 – Jodie Rollason & Gailene Keen – Mountain Youth Services

Jodie and Gailene will speak about current issues around teen Mental health and the significance for the youth of the mountains and how MYST is addressing these issues for young people in the community Gailene Keen – Mountain Youth Services Team – 30 yrs experience in Fundraising and Marketing for not for profit sector.Helped establishRead More...click heading for more

July 2022 – Peter Carroll – African Safari – Excitement on Steroids !

A quick tour of African habitat and wildlife (even some humans) as seen through the camera lens, with anecdotes of the excitement of going on safari in this fascinating land...click heading for more

June 2022 – Marie Palmer – Cockatoo Island: Heart of the Harbour

Marie retired in 2003 after a career in corporate administration. Travel around Australia, Europe, South America and Antarctica followed. Then Marie looked for volunteer work that would utilise her skills and provide plenty of people contact. Volunteering for the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, Marie visits groups to talk about the Harbour Trust sites, helps toRead More...click heading for more