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Welcome to the Melbourne Bearbrass Probus Club
Our club vision : Melbourne Bearbrass Probus is an active, engaging, member-driven group who come together to undertake a wide variety of enriching and enjoyable social activities and outings, which enhance their experiences and interests, whilst enjoying the fellowship of an expanding, diverse, network of friends.

President Mel’s Welcome

For first timers, welcome to the Melbourne Bearbrass Probus website and welcome back to regular viewers. What an unbelievable roller coaster ride we find ourselves on, but at least there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel! (Pic left: Pam, grandson Lenny and Mel)

We have plenty happening and plenty planned. We are adopting a "two bob each way" approach to event planning allowing for events such as the Christmas function to be face to face but also considering an alternative approach should that not be possible. Will the Melbourne Cup event be face to face or Zoom based? Who knows? Best to keep checking the website and your emails as the situation clarifies.

If you are not currently a member of the club, please feel free to browse the content of this site and learn a little more about what we are and what we do. Should you want to make personal contact go to the “Contact Us “ tab above or if you would like to submit an application to join, go to the “How to join us” tab also above.

Picnic celebrates end of lockdown

Seventeen members and partners celebrated end-of-lockdown with a splendid picnic in Docklands Park. The dawn had broken with showers but our meteorologist and secretary Sue gave iron-clad assurance that picnic was safe to go ahead by noon. Old and new friends gathered laden with victuals in a curious park setting at the edge of a dense bank of fir trees. The sun came out, all was right with the world. Helen and Bruce brought a large grey mutt whom we believe is named Fido and who was on his best behaviour and manners throughout, a credit to his owners. Our law-abiding members split into two more or less impervious groups to suit Dan’s 15-only-group edict. The rear end of the city skyline made an attractive and unusual backdrop. We all went home convinced that being social animals is a good thing, once you get the hang of it after near-interminable lockdowns.

Yet another Trivia quiz a triumph

Bearbrass trivia maestros put on another excellent evening on Saturday evening October 23. There was again a roll-up of 21 avid contestants on 14 screens for a quiz organised by our finest intellects Sue and Jim. Winner was our Welshpool wizz Spike, a length ahead of Ray and Gaylene followed by Marg and her lesser half Tony. The 60 questions were just right in terms of ease/difficulty and winners did well to get more than half right including by guesswork. The regular quizzes have not only given us a mental workout but the chance to get to know each other better in a respectful and polite way (sort of).

Famous author visits Writers Group

Our Writers Group was privileged on October 21 on Zoom to welcome barrister Paul Quinn, author of newly released historical novel The Venetian Crusader, to discuss successful publication of a historical novel set in Venice around 1220. His publisher is Cambridge UK-based Pegasus, with access to the huge UK and European market. Paul's most remarkable story was about how he had swamped publishers with his manuscript.getting nothing but rejections and worse, no response at all. One day Pegasus called asking, a little impatiently, "what did you think of our offer?" "What offer?" "We emailed it to you a fortnight ago." Paul found it in his Junk email box. Paul came to us via our member Robyn, herself a historic novelist (not quite yet published), and whose two friends Marie and Lydia from her historical novel writing group (external to Bearbrass) came as visitors to hear Paul.Our notes from his talk are filed here under "Read More".

General Meeting speaker October 12

What a colorful and enjoyable talk we had on Japanese social customs!
Stephen Peterson had us enthralled with his first hand knowledge of Japanese daily life and etiquette, with riveting pics as well. Many of us have visited Japan but only in Western-style Japanese contexts. Stephen lived there for years to such immersion that his kids emerged with zero knowledge of English. Here’s a few of his pics.

Tokyo at night - the city transforms completely

Cherry blossom time -- citizens follow the arrival of the cherry blossoms from south to north of the country like we follow the progress of a cold front

Dressing up time - Japanese loving dressing up and role playing. There are city and village festivals by the hundreds - and be sure to book ahead or you won't get accommodation!

For those that missed it the reording can be found here
Topic: October General Meeting
Start Time : Oct 12, 2021 09:56 AM

Meeting Recording:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/lpl8kWLGpr31mFALXIHdg-l0qJvMuMD5znJDxKSod1-tUx9_SdZ-fp_Ya09aHf5p.RztFaQ2-rTj_1BPE

No riots during Naughtiest Trivia Quiz*

The Naughty Trivia Quiz of Saturday Sept 18 passed without incident or VicPol needing to intrude or arrest any of the 24 attendees on morals charges. We were pleased that everyone eventually got into the Kahoot system OK, with some novice IT users like President Mel and Pam finally managing the feat.

The winner was Renaissance man Spike Sparkes who kept ahead of the pack almost throughout. Maybe he was self-administering a “jigger” which Question 19 alerted us to the meaning, an electric prod used on cattle, race-horses and AirBNB visitors to Docklands towers.

In second place was Terry O’K and her consort Dan and falling into third was Jim & Karin D. As you can see from the winners’ podium, Spike cracked 42 questions – and so did Jim & Karin. Obviously Spike’s speediness on answers gave him the edge via Kahoot’s relentless timing.

The first half questions were such benign stuff as the capitals of Tonga and Yemen (Sanaa and Nuku'alofa respectively) and Australia’s first Prime Minister (E. Barton). The temperature then rose with questions about Victorian Parliament’s mace disappearing in 1891 (by rumor, to a Little Lonsdale Street brothel) and VicPol Police Commissioner Thomas Blamey’s badge being found in a similar bawdy-house 34 years later. Our quizmasters caught most responders out with next question, namely did Blamey have a watertight alibi for being elsewhere at the time. (Answer, yes).

In the modern era nothing beats the saga of Malcolm Fraser losing his pants in Memphis and this was closely examined. Incidentally Malcolm never thanked or acknowledged the kindly bellboy who lent him his own pants, and Malcolm never returned them or paid for them or tipped the bellboy one cent. There were also questions on what Tourist Minister John Brown used his desk for.

Federal Parliament sex frolics from 50-100 years ago were closely examined -- although there is no shortage of current examples we judiciously refrained from more current examples.

US Presidential peccadillos were paraded, from Roosevelt to Johnson to Clinton to Trump. In deference to Democrat-friendly members we left Joe Biden out. Osama bin Laden’s domestic household arrangements proved of interest, as he had five wives simultaneously whereas our male Bearbrass members tend to acquire them consecutively.

All round, a thrilling evening with a repeat likely but not definitely for October 2.

This report contains one deliberate error.

Great meeting, great speaker

Tuesday’s monthly meeting involved an excellent speaker and a good attendance of nearly 30. Mark Cochrane-Holley from the economic strategy department of Melbourne City Council spoke on the disastrous impact of Covid on the city, which will soon become the most locked-down city in the world, ahead of Buenos Aires.

Mark said this recession will largely be a central city recession, with Melbourne CBD bearing the brunt.

This recession is forecast to be sharper and deeper than any observed since Australia has collected consistent economic data.

The city’s economy will be about $23.5 billion – or 22 per cent - smaller and with a cumulative reduction of up to $110 billion in municipal output compared to pre-COVID estimates over the next five years.

Over five years, there will be up to 79,000 fewer jobs than pre-COVID forecasts as an annual average, he said.

President Mel than announced club event planning in the run up to Christmas:

Footy tipping contest for the grand final with a Zoom “pleasant Friday afternoon” catch up on the Friday before the grand final to discuss the footy or anything else over a few drinks (thanks to the Wine Group for being happy to combine this with their regular get together)
A sweep for the Melbourne Cup and a face to face or Zoom catchup for a few champagnes and fascinators whilst we watch the cup
A Christmas party on evening of Tuesday 14^th December, hopefully face to face.

PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR THESE EVENTS ON YOUR EMAILS AND THE WEBSITE.

Please look at all communication channels, FB, website, email to keep on top of all the events that are happening (because there is a lot!!).

Tony advised sadly that our long-awaited Moulin Rouge show for 24 on September 29 has been cancelled by the theatre. Our $3000 booking will be refunded to members soon via Treasurer Mike.

Member guilty of murder (or maybe manslaughter)

Seventeen brassy Bearbrass-ians and friends investigated the slaughter of fictional Hamstead’s Mayor Westcott on September 12. There were clues aplenty but our thicker members focused on illicit relationships and incest rather than a stone bust of Mr Westcott which dealt the fatal blow. The culprit, journalist Paula Puffleworth played by one of our nameless members, was castigated by the nasty Slade O’Slick as a liar, b—h, and s—t but others believed her cock and bull tale anyway.
Members costumed up brilliantly, especially Spike as medico with excellent surgery background; Jim as gaolbird Freddy Sharp, Jan as Dorothy Vanderburg in lurid pink flapper rigout, and Cliff as butler John Johnston. Debra had a tall orange hat/ostrich plume and showed an uncanny resemblance to Homer’s Marj Simpson. Secretary Sue came as vamp Skye Sharp but no-one noticed she was in costume J
Coral-lee excelled at defeating Murphy’s Law on the technology and will be nominated in the next Honor’s List as AC (Companion of the Order) plus AO for her initiative and enterprise getting this elaborate show on the road. Coral-lee thanks all attendees for attendance and rig-outs.

Cracker of a film critics’ night

Our movie maven Susan Bower set up a terrific movie discussion theme (Zoom, Sept 8) with ten Bearbrass movie fans evaluating two films Capote and Infamous that came out in the same year 2006 about the same subject – how novelist Truman Capote came to write his epochal fact/fiction work In Cold Blood. The novel in turn was about two drifters who brutally murdered a Kansas farming family in 1959. Truman Capote, an effeminate exhibitionist but a great writer, seized on the tale and spent years relating to murderer Perry Smith in Smith’s condemned-man’s cell. The conflict of interest between Capote as novelist/fact-fiction writer and Capote as a genuine friend, lover ? and confidante of the murderer made for two subtle and engrossing films.

Our group was split on everything including which was the best film and why, and whether Seymour Hoffman did a better job in the lead role in Capote, than Toby Jones in Infamous. The actors playing the murderer Perry were also dissected as plausible or over-acting their part. Was he too gentrified and empathetic in Capote, and was his true nature more as his sister described him in Infamous, as willing to kill anyone if he was in the mood?

The character Truman Capote was also anatomised by our group. “Nasty and narcissisistic” was the consensus. Susan helped us acknowledge the directorial techniques including, in Infamous, the start in glowing colors and gradual diminution of tones to dark shades as the murderers’ execution neared.

Neil B. remarked that Capote’s work In Cold Blood was on the syllabus when he was in Canadian education realms and he had thoroughly endorsed the decision.

Whatever, the film Capote cost $US7m and grossed $US50m, but Infamous cost $US13m and grossed only $US2.5m, Susan noted. Moral: don’t be second to hit the audience, especially if your rival has the most recognisable title (“Capote”). (Susan’s take: “Neil who pointed out that the possible reason Capote was the more successful film because well, the title gave the subject matter away. There’s only one Capote and several Infamous people. Wish I’d have said it though.”)

Pics Below: Left to right - the real Truman Capote, Toby Jones' version (Infamous); Seymour Hoffman version (Capote).

The vexed remaining after our chat was “What the hell was Gwyneth Paltrow doing playing a torch singer in the opening of Infamous that seemed to have nothing to do with the plot?

Susan was congratulated on her great topic selection, her inspired carriage of the discussion and her expert insights into the films.

(Linda R. missed the group portrait above by a whisker). IF this story libels anyone present, we recommend lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson who has good connections.

Would Bearbrass members lie to you?

Coral-lee and Russell Keep’s 6pm Trivia hour on Zoom on Saturday August 21 involved no trivia quiz but was still so exciting that it ran for 105 minutes not the scheduled 60.

Our 13 members and pals who showed up were a lucky number. That’s because we had super fun working out liars and truth-tellers in Would I Lie To You which occupied the whole session.

The Keeps messaged us afterwards, “We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
It was as though we were all in our lounge room, laughing and talking over each other, trying to get a word in. Much appreciated amid the dreary lockdown landscape.”

In terms of bare-faced lies our President Mel excelled with a fantasy of his great great grandfather Mr MELville striking it rich with big nuggets at Bendigo 1853 and being relieved of the proceeds by a con-man friend. The (in)tangible legacy of the fraud remains in the shape of MELville Road, Brunswick.

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