PROBUS Club of Sidney

PROBUS Club of Sidney
October, 2016 Newsletter
Volume 13: Issue 11
Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of each month at 10 am, in the Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney, BC
Join us at 10am, October 11th, to hear Caren Powell on
PRESIDENT
Jane Hall
250 656-5655
South Africa - Apartheid and Twenty Years of Freedom
VICE-PRESIDENT
Bruce Kirkpatrick
778 678-7948
PAST PRESIENT
Norah Franklin
250 655-0149
SECRETARY
Pat Duke
250 652-2007
TREASURER
Viv Harding
250 654-0414
MEMBERSHIP
Margaret Livingstone
Tony Watts
778 426-4185
SPEAKERS
Susanne Kumar
250 532-6963
Jennie Hurley
250 655-0890
EVENTS
Peter Hurley
250 655-0890
Jamie Cox
250 665-7748
NEWSLETTER
Glenn Pearce
250 656-2300
Caren Powell is the author of The Dark Side of the
Rainbow, a novel that explores apartheid, the fight for
freedom and change in South Africa, and the rise of Nelson
Mandela. She and her husband, Neil, are both 4th generation
South Africans. They lived in South Africa for forty years
during the apartheid era and the changeover to democracy,
and now live in Brentwood
Bay on Vancouver Island.
During the past twenty
years they have visited
South Africa frequently,
and wish to share their
observations. During their
presentation, they will
explain apartheid and the
different people in South
Africa, and describe the
Neil and Caren Powell
uprising and first free
elections, detailing the positives and negatives during each
of the three presidencies - Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki,
and Jacob Zuma, and give an overview of the political and
economic changes over the past twenty years.
2 President’s Posts
3 Veep’s Beeps
4 Helicopter Tour
5 Cleo’s Page
6 Financial statement, November Speakers
President’s Posts
Where has our Summer gone? The last time I looked, it was
fully in bloom and now it has run away for another year. And
what a Summer it was. We had great weather, great
sunshine, great PROBUS meetings (with some wonderful
speakers from our Speakers’ Committee - Jennie Hurley &
Suzanne Kumar)
I wasn’t at our September general meeting
as I went off on a cruise to Alaska with a friend I
introduced to you at one of our meetings in the
Spring. Rather fun to be with a retired Navy
commander who can tell you where you are
(longitude and latitude, and what force the wind
is blowing). Had a lovely time, and the sun
shone the whole time we were in Glacier Bay,
and it was gorgeous.
Margerie Glacier, huuuge!
Some 34 kms long
This is our Holland America ship “Nieuw
Amsterdam” parked, literally, in town, at
Ketchikan, Alaska. Four ships were in that day,
(2 from the Princess Line, and 2 from Holland
American), for a total of nearly 15,000 visitors
in one day---to a town with a population of only
about 11,000 people.
It’s going to be Christmas sooner than we think. Our Christmas luncheon
will be on Tuesday, December 13th, in the Bodine Hall. Please sign up at the
October or November meeting---your only two chances to do so. More
details next month.
Please remember that we will hold our Annual General Meeting (AGM)
during the general meeting on October 11th. As mentioned last month, we
will be electing officers to the Management Committee for the coming fiscal
year. Nominations closed on Sept 26th, but there is still time to volunteer for
positions on the Events, Membership, and Speakers Committees, as well as
that of Newsletter Editor(s).
See you at the October meeting.
Jane
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VEEP’S BEEPS
She had never been in a helicopter before and wasn't about to start
now. Sheila has been flying since the 1950's, in airplanes, wings
attached. Still, she found our September speaker interesting as L.
Col. Shawn Williamson described the goings on at 443 Maritime
Helicopter Squadron at the Victoria Airport.
The squadron consists of a half dozen CH-124 Sea Kings that date back a half
century and are still in service today. 443 Squadron received battle honours in
Europe in the Second World War but did not move to its base at Pat Bay north of
Victoria until the late 1980's It is headquartered in Shearwater Nova Scotia.
Today we frequently see the old birds flying above us from time to time.
And some of us got to see them up close as we toured the new 443 Squadron base
in mid September in a visit arranged by Peter and Jennie Hurley.
The Sea King is a large helecopter with a crew of four. It can be used for anti
submarine patrols, supply missions, even rescues in a pinch although it is not
designed as a rescue chopper.
Sea Kings are amphibious and can land on a rolling, pitching deck at sea, which they
do around the world wherever Canada's Navy goes.
Captain Nick, who helped us tour the new 443 facilities, quipped that his wife said he
sometimes came home smelling of oil. "No wonder," said Nick, "I've been sitting on a
helicopter seat that's 50 years old, same cushions, same padding."
The new hangers that will house Sea Kings are very spacious and barely a year old.
They hope to house new Cyclone Helicopters by 2019, as part of Canada's West
Coast defence commitment. And who's that in the middle seat in a Sea King at 443
Squadron? Why it's Sheila who, while vowing to never sit in a helicopter, has done
just that, providing it sits firmly on the ground, of course.
Ooh… and a foursome also stopped by after our PROBUS visit. We believe William
and Kate, George and Charlotte were pretty impressed too.
We had a successful meeting September 12th with nominations read and a call for
help for our Events and Speakers Committees. If you can help please step forward.
Our Annual General Meeting is October 11th.
Fall is arriving - may it be good to us.
Bruce
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443 Maritime Helicopte Squadron Tour
Following an excellent presentation to our Club by Lt. Colonel Williamson,
Commanding Officer of 443 Squadron., a large delegation of 50 club members visited
the base on Sep 16th. We were met by Capt. Nick Chayer and split into two groups, in
order to make the visit more accessible to all. The
base is currently operating with a fleet of aging but
extremely well maintained Sea King helicopters.
These aircraft are in the process of being replaced
by state of the art Sikorsky Cyclones, due for
delivery beginninning in the next couple of months.
So as to accommodate the new Cyclones, a brand
new hangar has been
constructed. The new
hangar will house up to six aircraft and the facility also
includes administrative offices and a ward room for the
squadron. On completion of the tour of the new facility
we were escorted by officers Cody and Dustan, to the
existing hangar, where the Sea Kings are currently kept
when not on a mission supporting the RCN.
Rescue lift system
We had a walk round the aircraft and were shown such
details as the mechanics for winching objects/persons
from sea level to the craft, a surround antenna,
antimissile detectors and a red box that is released in
event of a catastrophe.
We had the opportunity to board the helicopter and visit
the cockpit where we received a rudimentary lesson in
the handling of the craft. We learned that the helicopter
normally carries a crew of five including pilot, copilot, navigator, and sensor. The ‘copters have a range
of some 150nm from the base or ship of operation.
Cody and Dustan
We were then guided to the rear of the craft where
sensors such as the sonar are stowed, also
inflatable raft and life jackets for search and rescue
missions. A gun can be mounted to support ground
troops.
Tony Watts: a new recruit??
Thanks to all the personnel assisting us, we came
away from the tour with a deeper understanding
and appreciation of the work of the squadron, which
fit neatly with the earlier presentation by the C.O.
Peter Hurley and Neil Munroe
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CLEO’S PAGE
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Pub Lunch: Following the conclusion of the 443 Helicopter Squadron Tour, a small
group of members repaired to the local watering hole at Mary’s Bleue Moon Cafe for the
pub lunch. The décor with a flying motif, particularly directed to pictures of the many past
air force personnel and historic activities at the RCAF Pat Bay base, was a fitting
conclusion to the tour. The pub food was good and the discussion lively. The next Pub
Lunch will be Friday, Oct. 28, noon, at the Bistro Suisse. To register, contact Jenny at
(250) 655-0890 or [email protected].
[Jennie Hurley]
Woden’s D.O.G: We were a smallish group of nine on Sept 7th at the Bistro Suisse
where we had a fine meal and the added bonus of celebrating an important birthday of
one of our members, Audrey Henbury. Surrounding tables joined us as we sang the
familiar tune. Excellent food, great conversation and good company all ‘round! A very fun
evening was had by all! The next outing will be on Oct 5th at Sabhai Thai in Sidney.
[Margaret Livingstone & Marjorie Payne]
SPEAKERS FOR NEXT YEAR: We need your help! Brenda Hood is willing to
coordinate a committee to look after getting speakers for next year, but so far there is no
committee to coordinate. Please consider coming forward to help with this task. Our
monthly meetings are the backbone of our PROBUS Club and without volunteers to
arrange the speakers, your management committee may have to resort to singing to you;
and that is something to be avoided at all costs!! To volunteer, please contact Brenda at
[email protected], or a member of the management committee (see list on page 1).
Report on the Sunshine Lady: Helen is happy to report that she gets sunnier every day.
Her recovery from surgery in early July, has been without serious complication. She wants
members to be reminded that her job is to bring a little joy to others by sending care cards
in their times of stress. But this requires that you inform her about those in need. She has
not received much input lately. Hopefully, this is because everyone is doing well.
KITTEN ON THE KEYS
September: Don’t part with illusions. When they are gone, you may
still exist, but you have ceased to live. Mark Twain
October: LZUIMYEU MAD WFXD JFADU. RLDG CP PZR BLDY
ZYMRRDYEDE. Zsa zsa Gabor
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PROBUS CLUB OF SIDNEY
Revenue and Expenses for the year ended - August 31st, 2016
2016
2015
REVENUE
Membership Dues
GIC Interest
Events
$
9235
32
_6439
Total Revenue
$
9150
52
10458
15706
19660
5186
75
1000
29
845
500
7716
5770
76
850
70
757
500
12730
15351
20753
EXPENSES
Room Rental
Bank Charges
Speakers’ Gifts
Coffee/Food
Administration/Office
Insurance
Events
Total Expenses
Contribution to Reserve
$
_355
$
______________________________
-1093
______________________________________
RESERVE at August 31st, 2016
Beginning of the year
Contribution to Reserve
End of the Year
$
$
6117
355
6472
7210
$ _-1093
$
6117
__________________________________
__________________________________
Reviewed by P. Currie, Sept 9th, 2016
November Speakers: Margaret Horsfield and Ian Kenedy.
Margaret is an award winning author and past reporter
and producer for both BBC and CBC Radio.
Ian is widely published in many magazines on history,
travel, motorcycling, cottage living and pubs. Together, they
wrote Tofino and Clayoquot Sound: A History. This part of the British Columbia coast
is the subject of their presentation at 10 am on November 8th.
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