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.
I trust that everyone had a happy Christmas and a safe and enjoyable new year. Even though December/January is traditionally a quiet time for many Probus clubs, Bearbrass is back to full steam ahead!
Between Christmas and New Year, we had our now annual Picnic in the Park, attended by over 30 members and friends, the musical Anastasia at the Regent Theatre was well attended and the hardy group who will be doing a 5 day walk on the Surf Coast in March have been meeting for training sessions.
In addition, the walking, wine tasting, book club, Sunday lunch, coffee and Mahjong groups are all active in January. A nascent Photography group also kicks off later this month.
2025 was a wonderful year for our club and 2026 looks to be even bigger and better, based on the events already scheduled
Bearbrass Probus is a warm and welcoming club and if you are interested in coming to an event or two, to “try us out”, reach out to our friendly membership officer, Bill on 0409 436 177 or fill out a no obligation membership application form via the website.
As always, we appreciate the financial support of the City of Melbourne.
I trust that 2026 brings good health and happiness to all our members and their families.
We have a sensational speaker for our upcoming monthly meeting – Neil O’Keefe, telling his best stories from his 17 years as Labor MHR for Burke, 1984-2001. These include up-close-and-personal stories about his mates Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, which have never made it into history and political memoirs.
Neil for reasons of factional misfortune never became a minister (only a shadow minister). But he did become a key backroom player in the committee work leading to fundamental changes to Australian life.
For us at Bearbrass, Neil will not get into heavy politics. Instead, he’ll unload on all the quirky, crazy, personal stuff that goes on in Parliament House behind the scenes and can be too hot to even get into the gutter press.
This will be a talk you’ll tell your grandchildren about! Come along, have fun with Neil and don’t miss this meeting for quids!
Pics: Neil takes an interest in hydroponic fodder: Thumbs up for Neil the traveler
Although we tend to forget that the first major settlement of Melbourne began where the ships anchored offshore at Williamstown, the early wharves have been repeatedly renovated, operated as the centre for Victorian shipbuilding and, until more recently, acted as the mooring site for the iconic ocean protection ship, Sea Shepherd.
When our group took the train journey to visit the Maritime Museum, a short walk from the railway station, few expected to meet in such a huge open building – big enough to build ocean-going ships inside, surprise?
Perhaps less surprisingly in retrospect, as the launching point into the gold rush, the area was the site for the first Melbourne morgue, recently expensively restored and open for sight-seeing.
Equally fascinating were the numerous ship parts, from compasses and windlasses to winches and even a model of the time-ball tower for setting ship’s chronometers
Members were struck by the cramped conditions of the full-size models of the prison cells aboard the prison hulks that were anchored off Point Gellibrand before Pentridge was built. They certainly suggested that men were a lot shorter in the 1800s.
The Museum as an historical site provided an engrossing experience which was highlighted by our incredibly knowledgeable and articulate guide, Michael who left us all hungry for a very tasty lunch over the road at the Customs House Hotel.
Eight members and guests recently attended the fabulous musical, Anastasia, at the magnificent Regent Theatre. The music, sets and costumes were wonderful and sent us back in time to 19th century Paris and St Petersburgh. All in all, a great afternoon followed by a little social refreshment on a very hot day.
About 30 members and friends enjoyed the ultimate relaxation after Christmas with our traditional picnic by the Yarra. It’s the fourth time we’ve gathered around Yarra’s Edge at the Lorimer St park, and it seems nicer every time.
The weather was perfect, the dappled shade a treat, the views up and down the Yarra splendid, and the ambience like a French impressionist painting.
Our hosts did a valiant job seizing three tables by mid-morning and the main table groaned with fine food provided by all of us. We got the chance to converse at leisure, getting to know new friends and catching up with old ones.
As one member put it, picnics are great because the ambience is quiet, the outdoors beats indoors, and no-one’s wallet get hurt. Looking forward to our next one!
It was a cloudy and mild day, which was good for walking. Nine of us briefly toured some of the lesser known museums and galleries in the CBD.
We visited the Rialto and saw the old hydraulic (water powered) cranes and stopped briefly at heritage dunnies on Flinders Lane!
The ceilings at the ANZ Gothic Bank museum were a particular delight as was the massive dome at the former Commercial Bank of Australia chamber in Collins St.
The City Library had an amazing photo display and the Koorie Heritage Trust art prize exhibition was also an eye opener. Finally, we saw the City Gallery in town hall and the wonderful Shot Tower museum in Melbourne Central.
…and then of course the mandatory coffee stop to recuperate and compare notes at Mr Tulk in the State Library.
The gathering of over 60 per cent of our members for pre-lunch drinks anticipated the success of the Bearbrass Christmas Party at The Emerald Hotel in South Melbourne.
As members seated themselves, grasping their numbered tickets in anticipation of the door prizes, it became clear that this would be a heavy afternoon of food preparation and service for the courteous and hard-working staff – to whom we offer our thanks and appreciation.
Following a delicious main course and distribution of terrific door prizes [thanks to Sheryl for her preparation], members changed seats to widen their social experience and extend the scope of the burgeoning sense of fellowship.
By the time dessert arrived, the noise of happy conversation had risen dramatically and the breadth of conversation had extended beyond social nicety to include the sharing of past experiences and the anticipation of potential future sharing opportunities.
If Christmas is a time of celebration, then the fun and fellowship displayed at this year’s function has offered a clear expression of the event and the Club’s success.
Seizing the opportunity to taste an international range of red, white, sparkling and fortified wines this year, the wine group visited wineries and met monthly to taste and discuss many wines that we would never have known without our meetings.
In February, we tasted sparkling whites from around the world before travelling to Rutherglen in the irrigation area of Victoria to hear the histories of the reds and whites on site at local wineries. Staying ‘local’ in May, we tasted six wines from the Tahbilk range before shifting to international comparisons in June.
Faced with grapes that many of us had never met, we compared three pairs of “interesting and different” wines: a Piquepoul and an Assyrtiko, 2 whites from the Clare Valley but with origins in the Languedoc region of France; a Dolcetto d’Alba and a Barbera d’Alba from Piemonte, one of the 20 regions of Italy, and a Cinsault and a Pinotage from South Africa. Wow! What a challenge!
In June, we faced another experience. Shifting south, we met with 6 Spanish wines: 2 Alberinos from Galicia and 4 Tempranillos from La Rioja. By now the group recognized the breadth of tastes available in Australia and washing the glasses after each meeting had shifted from a chore to extended discussion so that the selection of lighter ‘locals’ reds - one white for variety and a Shiraz from the Yarra Valley in July provoked in intensive inquiry.
Across the second half of the year, we considered our preferences for red or white, for sparkling and fortified, for interstate differences and for the subtleties of blending. By October, we had assessed the merits of Marsannes from Northern Rhône and Heathcote and of Grenaches from Manchuela in Spain, from Barossa Valley, the Grampians, and McLaren Vale
As some confirmed red wine drinkers had discovered whites that they enjoyed, others had ‘converted to red’. Previously unrecognised similarities and differences had been discovered. The value of staff as advisors in some wine stores had been acknowledged and the Bearbrass wine group had come to realise the value of their discussions in educating both their palates and their understanding of the history and geography that led to their pleasure in drinking quality wines.
The President welcomed two new members to their first meeting, Solange R and Cathy W. This month is also a very popular month for birthdays, because five members including Gail B, Pierre and Kerrie M, Richard N and John M are all November babies!
An important announcement was the opening of nominations for the management committee for 2026/27. Any interested parties should either contact Secretary Mel G or look out for an email with the nomination form attached.
The President also described the many and varied events that Events Planner Jill deA has organised up until July 2026, all based on ideas provided by members. She then went on to summarise the feedback provided in the annual club member survey. It was the most successful response ever, with 77% of members responding. The results are important for the ongoing running of the club.
After a well-earned tea break it was over to the main attraction.
Bill McAuley, who was a Press Photographer for over 40 years kept us captivated with his images of well-known people including Paul McCartney, Lionel Rose, Frank Sinatra and dozens of others, all supported by the back story as to how the picture came to be taken and some snippets about the individuals themselves. The National Gallery features nine of his portraits. All in all, the presentation finished too soon!
As always, after closing the meeting we all headed off to an enjoyable lunch at TAP831.
When Frederick Sargood built a 15-room mansion on 26 acres in the former bushland north of Brighton which became the outskirts of Elsternwick, and named it Rippon Lea after his mother, Emma Rippon, it is unlikely that he could have envisioned his family home becoming one of the most famous Victorian-era properties in Australia.
Bearbrass members listened in wonder as we toured the now-33 room mansion with its original self-sustaining underground watering system, its purpose-dredged lake and waterfall, indoor toilets and evidence of its original electrical system.
As guides Sara and Helen led us through the spectacular bedrooms, Hollywood-influenced dining room, gardens and swimming baths, we learned of Sargood’s gold-rush inspired soft goods business success, the property’s sale and extension by Benjamin Nathan (founder of Maples Furniture stores – “… right near your door”), its subsequent purchase by a business consortium under Tommy Bent (politician after whom Bentleigh is named) and its final transfer to the National Trust.
Most National Trust properties are historically interesting but Rippon Lea, under a wonderful blue-sky day, was a real surprise; the guides were as proud as they were interested in sharing their knowledge and the rich tapestry woven from business success through the Victorian era of Melbourne’s growth was an absolute delight for all to share.
As the clock struck six on a blustery evening in an elite South Melbourne apartment block, the foyer slowly filled with a motley mix of aged men and women. From white sports coats (but no carnations) and a mix of stylish upmarket women’s dress, the group grew slowly towards its expected mid-twenty until the final male and his American guest arrived.
The group shifted excitedly to the building’s board room for capapes, sparkling wine and catch-up conversation until it was muted by the moment of choosing table groups for evening meal. Guess-who’s-coming-to-dinner began with a selection of couples per room and then the remaining singles were allocated to repeated rounds of applause. The 40 per cent of males, almost inevitably accompanying the female partners, joined the shift towards the lifts, leaving their unwashed glasses in the sink to be attended to later.
From room to room the meals and wines were enthusiastically imbibed as conversations added sparkle to the evening. From the advantages of late entry into real-estate business to the thrill of writing famous films or the challenge of penning publishable poetry, discussion raged through dinner and into the evening.
Thanks to Sandy M, Susan B and Pam G (pictured) for being magnificent hostesses and making their wonderful apartments available for the evening.
The mahjong group now meets at The Wharf Hotel fortnightly and, happily, we are growing in numbers.
Welcome to the group Jules Tand Rose M.
We are in our second year of playing now and more experienced members are now feeling pretty comfortable with complicated hands such as Five Odd Honours, Windy Chows and Wriggly Snake, all the time having a good catch up and connecting with friends.
We welcome beginners into the group so please contact Sue H if you are interested in joining.
“The Power of Geography” by Tim Marshall was the first non-fiction title for our recent Book Club meeting and it did not disappoint. We were all so involved in the discussion that we lost track of time and had to carry the discussion over to lunch nearby. With books, there is always more to say!
Several members met and dined at the Wharf hotel before gathering for an afternoon of creativity and craft.
Member Spike brought along a shirt, keen to learn the art of sewing on a button. With Sue’s patient and thorough guidance, Spike soon mastered the technique and left brimming with new knowledge.
Meanwhile, several members brought out their knitting needles—no doubt inspired by the chilly weather. A large bundle of cosy winter woollies is well underway that will be packed up to send to the Cottage by the Sea in October.
Member Spike brought along a shirt, keen to learn the art of sewing on a button. With Sue’s patient and thorough guidance, Spike soon mastered the technique and left brimming with new knowledge.
Meanwhile, several members brought out their knitting needles—no doubt inspired by the chilly weather. A large bundle of cosy winter woollies is well underway that will be packed up to send to the Cottage by the Sea in October.
Indifferent weather and wind did not discourage our intrepid group of 18 members who travelled to Warrnambool early this month. Members came by road and rail, staying in a range of accommodation options along Pertobe Rd. Each day started with a walk to the sea wall followed by coffee and an outing. Warrnambool and its surrounds has much to offer: galleries, Flagtaff Hill Maritime Village, the Fletcher Jines complex, mineral baths, Tower Hill and Port Fairy being some of the member destinations. Shared evening meals were a great opportunity for catching up and lots of laughs. Our fourth annual club get away did not disappoint. Where to next year? Watch this space.
Members took a one hour ten minute train from Southern Cross Station to Geelong. Eleven members and one guest walked through the Botanic Garden to the Library café for coffee and cake before visiting the Geelong Art Gallery. Julie Fragar won the 2025 Archibald Prize with her portrait Flagship Mother Multiverse of artist Justene Williams. Members shared mixed opinions over lunch but agreed the Geelong Regional Art Gallery is an excellent venue.
Sunday Roasts continue to be very popular events, attracting up to 25 Bearbrass members and guests, on the third Sunday of each month, to share a lunch at a local hotel. The venues are chosen based on first hand recommendations, proximity to public transport, pricing, and the opportunity for everyone to pay separately for their meal and beverages.
While most venues are in, or around the inner Melbourne area, recently a large group ventured to regional Victoria. This was one of the more popular lunches, with members meeting at Southern Cross station and catching a V-line train to New Gisborne to enjoy a magnificent meal at The Barringo Restaurant.
With its Grand Renaissance style exterior that has overlooked Melbourne down Collins Street since its completion in 1862, the Old Treasury Building has remained an iconic landmark for most of the city’s history. As well as exploring the original gold vaults where gold bullion was stored during the gold rush era, we were treated to a feast of historical documents and artefacts. A particularly fascinating room held a marvellous twin photographic display permitting a direct comparison of Melbourne of circa 1880 with Melbourne in 1990. We visited areas of the building inaccessible to the general public, including the Executive Council Chamber. This historic room is where the Governor of Victoria has met for over 160 years to sign legislation into law. Thanks to our fantastic guide Jackie, who really brought Melbourne’s past alive for us!
Ten members and guests took part in an hour of tenpin bowling. Everyone enjoyed a mix of friendly competition and laughter. Several players celebrated “strikes,” while a few gutter balls brought smiles and encouragement from the group. The atmosphere was lively, with plenty of socialising before we wrapped up with a relaxed lunch at Mojo Jojo Café in The District.
912 Collins Street
Docklands, VIC 3008
Australia