Drouin Senior Citizens

The November meeting was held on Thursday, November 28, and president Bob Davidson inducted four new members into the club. We are now at full capacity of 140 members.

Guest speaker was Colin Gray a dairyfarmer from Nilma North. Unfortunately, Colin had a very bad farm accident in 2011 which left him a C5-6 Incomplete quadriplegic, which means that he was paralysed from the mid chest down.

He had no leg movement and he had no triceps or finger movement in his right arm and his right shoulder had a torn rotor cuff. His left arm was the strongest, but there was no finger movement. He said, however, that his brain is still functioning.

He was treated at the Alfred Hospital Trauma Unit and he was extremely unwell. He requires 24 hour a day care and has many ongoing disabilities, in particular, a permanent tracheostomy which requires specialised training to care for him.

To be mobile he needs an automated vehicle and it costs $35,000 for a special car to put it in. The initial financial costs for his care amounted to $550,000, and each year since then it is costing over $300,000 to care for him 24 hours a day.

His life revolves around therapies – and always will - as well as visits the Austin Hospital for tracheostomy changes as well as dieticians, dentists, podiatrists etc.

An agency manages the personal carers and nursing staff. Colin is now able to drive a specially fitted vehicle and showed a very interesting video about this and other parts of his daily life.

With the help of his wife Jenny, he still manages his farming business using a computer system and is the treasurer of his local football/netball club as well as involvement in other local committees.

He assists TRAMS (Tracheostomy Review and Management Systems) at the Alfred Hospital where he has spoken several times to professional staff about his life with a trachy.

His life is busy and he and his wife live in a great community and have wonderful friends. It was inspirational listening to Colin and made everyone think – “how would I cope in the same position ?”

The club leaders wished him well and thanked he and Jenny for coming to speak.

In mid November 41 members travelled down to the Mornington Peninsula visiting the

Dolphin Research Institute at Hastings, then to the Point Leo Estate for a tour of the impressive sculpture garden.

A picnic lunch stop at Sea Winds Park on top of Arthurs Seat was where many took the opportunity to walk to the lookouts and take in the spectacular views over the bay.

Last, but not least, was a journey in the gondolas at Arthurs Seat Eagle down to the base station and return to the summit. The weather could have been kinder, but it didn’t stop everyone from having a very successful Probus outing.

In November the garden group visited a large garden in Nilma and it was unfortunate that it was a terribly hot and windy day and it was hard to appreciate all the wonderful work that has been put into this garden.

Unusual plants along winding paths and glorious roses were everywhere. Thank goodness there was a great outdoor roofed area for the group to have lunch and a chat.

There was no Evening Dine Out in November as the club organised a pizza/trivia night instead.

Everyone that attended had a great time with good prizes for the winning table captained by Jan Younger.

The lunchtime dining group went to Newmasons in Warragul in November. All other groups were well attended with arrangements in place for individual Christmas celebrations.

The card group will have a small break until Monday, January 13, 2020 and the golfers will still be playing each Friday morning.

The club’s Christmas Lunch was held on Thursday, December 12, 2019 at the Royal Hotel in Drouin with over 90 members attending and a great time was had by all.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at the Warragul Country Club at 10am.

On Wednesday December 11 the club had a Christmas luncheon catered for by Helen Hately and staff and was followed by fine entertainment from Glen Brace .

The day was enjoyed by 50 members, guests and visitors.

At the recent committee meeting the club made a donation to the Prostate Cancer Group.

Regular daily activities continue; carpet bowls at 1pm Mondays: cards (500 ) at 1pm Monday and Thursday.

Chess is played on Mondays at 7pm.

Bingo at 10am each Wednesday and at 1pm each Friday. Visitors and all members are very welcome .

Sincere condolences go out to our immediate past president Lois Hardwick on the death of her son recently.

Drouin Senior Citizens wish all members a very happy and safe Christmas and advise that the club will be closed from December 20 until January 22, 2020. runner up; Nigel Beresford

Best PDI of the year A Grade; Linda Keagle, runner up; David Woodcock

Best PDI Image of the Year B Grade: Peter Dwyer, runner up Leonie Lewis

Best creative/experimental image of the year A grade Roger Keagle, runner up Gary Smith

Best creative experimental PDI of the year B grade: Leonie Lewis runner up Leonie Lewis

The committee and members are grateful for the sponsors that provide such wonderful and generous support for the club, its awards and major events that are important not only to the club, but to the local community and to Gippsland.

The club’s monthly competition was for photobooks. These were judged and presented by Darryl Whitaker.

Winners were: Robyn Rosenboom 1, for her photobook “Melbourne Life in Black and White” David Woodcock, 2, for his photobook “40 Years”

Before the awards presentations club members were treated to an audio visual with summer theme which Bruce Langdon, trip leader, created of the club’s recent outing to the Wilsons Promontory National Park – the southernmost point of mainland Australia.

The photos taken by club members on the day, truly captured the summer weather of the Prom landscape on the day.

The next club events: January 6, 2020 meeting and judging of monthly competition entries for stage of life; January 13, 2020 tutorial on creating audio visuals with Ruth Burleigh and Jan Burt.

Meetings are held the first Monday each month at the Mawarra Workshops. Visitors are welcome.

For further information, phone the membership Manager on 0428 891 520 or visit the club website, where images of the year entries may now be viewed. www.warragulcameraclub.org