June Theatre Group: Great support from our members who attended the Barbirra Music Theatre production of My Fair Lady at The Round theatre, Nunawading. As always, Barbirra mounted an outstanding production with an extremely talented cast. Everyone was full of compliments for the performance. This is the fifth year we have enjoyed their annual production. And we are so fortunate as to have this excellent theatre on our doorstep.

Dine-outs: It is great to have the Dine-outs now under the leadership of husband and wife team, Dennis and Jill. And an excellent start too at Poppies restaurant, Canterbury Rd, Blackburn South. Our last visit was two years ago so it was a delight to return and to find that the service and the food were of the same high standard. A 12noon start and the last to leave were not until 2.15 so clearly everyone thoroughtly enjoyed themselves. The July Dine-out will celebrate Christmas-in-July...venue to be advised in The Bulletin.

July Meeting: The cold weather continues but the good news is that we now know how to turn on the heating in the hall when we start setting up the hall. This means the hall is warm by the time members start to arrive at 9.30! Despite the weather, 67 well-rugged up members plus three visitors attended the meeting.

Our invited speaker was Ian Whitehill, a volunteer and an ambassador for Prison Fellowship Australia and a dynamic presenter.

Ian explained the role that PFA plays in prisons around Australia. They interact with willing prisoners to give them an insight into their personalities and how this leads to criminal activities. By education and introducing prisoners to Christianity, PFA tries to give them a new direction in their lives. PFA also provides vital support for prisoners following their release, especially where prisoners do not have adequate family support in that first year after they return to the community. 

A confronting presentation but extremely insightful.

July Gardening Group: A big turn-out for the July meeting, despite the cold at Bunnings Box Hill. Peter The Gardening Guru was in fine form with plenty of advice for us now that our gardens have received some rain.

Roses - now is time to prune and treat with Lime Sulphur to prevent the dreaded black spot fungal disease. Spray the soil around the base where the fungal spores are hibernating over winter.

To early to fertilise citrus - wait for spring when the soil warms and growth starts. The problem with citrus gall wasp cannot be prevented. Unless the tree is severely affected, leave it alone. The so-called wasp traps seem to catch every other insect (some of which are beneficial) but do not prevent gall wasp attack! A waste of money.

For sick-looking indoor ferns - spray the leaves with water plus water around the base with added Seasol. For cyclamens, inside for 2-3 days and then outside for a day or two. Once they die back, plant them in a shaded spot in the garden and they will grow back each spring.

For dahlias and spider mite Peter recommends a safe alternative to herbicides by using white oil.

August meeting: The cold weather continues and it is certainly impacting attendances this year - 65 members attended with three visitors. However, we were not forgotten since 25 members sent their apologies. Of course at present we have many members on the sick list with the dreadful cold that is doing the rounds. Unfortunately it laid low our invited speaker who had to cancel due to a bad cold and laryngititis.

At the meeting the first details of Getaway '26 were announced. We will be going to Cowes for the week staying at the Amaroo Caravan Park. The full details of all the activities with costings will be advised at the September meeting but 21 members have already signed up.

Fortunately one of our members was able to step in and fill the gap with a presentation that he has delivered to other Probus Clubs and U3A but never to his own Club. The presentation discussed the serious effects that scurvy had on ships' crews as Western Europe began long ocean voyages in seach of the Spice Islands. James Lind and later, Sir Gilbert Blain were the two Royal Navy physicians who proved to the navy that citrus juice was the solution in the period 1745 to 1795. Campbell corrected the widely held misconception that James Cook was the person who was responsible for conquering scurvy in the navy.

October meeting: The webmaster was on holidays for the September meeting so there is no report for that month. 

There were only 64 at today's meeting - how many forgot to advance their clocks for daylight saving? At the meeting our latest inductee - Pam - was welcomed to the Club. Pam has many interests but to these she is adding Probus Burwood East. Welcome Pam.

Our outstanding speaker was Dr Greg Moore, past Director of what we all remember as the Burnley Agricultural College but now the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecoscience. Now retired from academia, but still very active, Dr Moore outlined the devestating effects of climate change due to global warming that are already being felt but which will be much greater unless urgent steps are taken to mitigate and reverse the effects of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the oceans. The most effective and least expensive mitigant is the preservation  and the extension of tree canopy cover. 

Whilst many countries and councils have introduced the aim of achieving 30% canopy cover, few have been able to reach this once canopy has been removed. He also discussed a new urban planning benchmark - the 3:30:300 design. This means that for human health and welfare and to reduce the urban heat island effect, everyone should be able to see 3 trees from their home, live with 30% canopy cover and live within 300 metres of treed green space. An excellent presentation from an expert in the field.