1st March Meeting

At 10am, before the start of our normal fortnightly meeting a representative of the guard's union will make a short presentation about the union's fears regarding the removal of guards from passenger trains on the CityRail Network. This talk was due to take place at an earlier meeting but was unfortunately postponed.

Bus Trip:

Also prior to the meeting bus tickets for our trip to Flemington Market on the 25th March will go on sale. These tickets are only $10 each and the bus fills up quickly so make sure you buy them early.

Computer Tuition:

There is a vacancy for computer tuition on Monday morning; if you are interested book it before it goes.

As Usual:

Naturally all the usual goodies such as a cup of tea, biscuits, raffle tickets and the trade table will be available before the meeting. For those that don't know the raffle tickets are only 3 for $1 with three prizes of $10 in cash for the lucky winners.

Come and support your club. If you are new to the area then you are more than welcome to come along and find out about the many regular activities the club provides. Be sure to check the 'Activities' page for more details.

Club Members in the News

A couple of club members have been in the news recently.

Joyce Webb appeared in 'The Senior' newspaper receiving her Life Membership at the Christmas Lunch held in December last year. Joyce has performed many roles with the club over the years but is currently the welfare officer keeping an eye on our sick members making sure they are not forgotten.

For 17 years Jackie Gibson was the club's secretary. She recently appeared in The Advertiser receiving a bouquet of flowers and a well deserved Certificate of Appreciation from grateful members. All the good work she had performed for club members over nearly two decades will be appreciated for years to come. Jackie will continue serving the club as assistant secretary.

24th February - Walking Group

The next walk on the Friday 24th February is a new one made possible by the inclusion of the light rail in the Pensioner Excursion ticket.

The Dapto Seniors' walking group will catch the light rail at Central Railway Station after a short morning tea break and travel to the Rozelle Bay Tram Stop.

We will follow the route outlined below enjoying the views of the bay and the ANZAC Bridge as we make our way to finish at either the Wentworth Park or the Fish Market tram stop. A decision about this will be made on the day. You can bring your own lunch or purchase something along the way (perhaps at the fish markets?).

The distance of the walk is about 3 Km.

View Rozelle to Wentworth Park in a larger map

As usual the group will meet in the Dapto Railway Station waiting room at about 7.40am to catch the 7.55am Sydney train. If you are late we will be in the second carriage. Please join us, you will be made very welcome.

10th February - Walking Group

The next walk on the 10th February is an old favourite walking from Watsons Bay to South Head with a short additional stroll over to the Gap and the Dunbar memorial.

We will get a ferry from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay and return either by ferry or bus depending on circumstances. Food is available at Watsons Bay (for example Doyle's famous fish and chips) or you can take your own lunch.

As usual the group will meet at Dapto Railway Station waiting room at 7.40am to catch the 7.55 Sydney train.

View Watson's Bay to South Head in a larger map

The walk on the 24th February will be along the shores of Rozelle and Blackwattle Bay. Look out for more details nearer the date.

2nd February Meeting

Special Talk

At our meeting on the 2nd February we will be having a talk by a representative of the CityRail guard's union, explaining the union's fears about the removal of guards from the trains. The talk will commence at about 10am before the meeting starts so come a bit earlier than usual. The regular meeting will commence at 10.30 am.

Pre Meeting Activities

All the usual activities will be happening before the meeting including:

• Pay your annual subscription (still only $12) to our Membership co-ordinator Brian.
• Sale of raffle tickets - three tickets for $1 for a chance to win three prizes of $10 each.
• Purchase bus tickets for our trip to the Museum of Sydney and their special exhibition about surfing in the 50s, 60s & 70s. Only three seats left for what should be an interesting and fun day out in good company - only $15.
• Jackie will be taking bookings for the new musical An Officer and a Gentleman coming to Sydney in the middle of the year.
• You can pay an instalment or make a booking for our holiday to Macksville in April, still only $790 all inclusive and NO single supplement. See Shirley.
• The trade table will be set up as usual full of bargains - from books to clothes to knick knacks, tapes, DVDs, plants and much, much more. Well worth a look.
• Don't forget to get your tea or coffee and biscuits from Wally and Duncan.

Copies of the petition about the state government's cancellation of the lifts at Unanderra Railway Station will be available at the back of the hall on the signing-in table. You may recall these were mentioned during the review of incoming correspondence at the last meeting.

Our regular weekly events are now all back in full swing, if you are new to our club then get a copy of the newsletter from the signing-in table for details of days and organiser contact details. A list of the current activities can be found under the 'Activities' tab above. Reports will be given at the meeting by organisers of the walks, Heart Moves (gentle aerobics)and the Bus Trip giving details of future plans.

AGM Presentation

At our AGM on the 19th January 2012 Jackie stepped down from the position of club secretary after 17 years in the job. Her skills and knowledge are not lost to the club because she remains an active member of the committee as Assistant Secretary.

At the end of the meeting the club's president presented Jackie with a bouquet and a certificate acknowledging the enormous amount of work Jackie had done for the club over the years

27th January - Walking Group

The Dapto Seniors' walking group's first walk of 2012 will be on Friday 27th January along the Kokoda Memorial Walkway at Rhodes. It is a fairly flat, easy walk of about 2.75Km in total.

The walk follows the Parramatta River through Rhodes Park and memorials along the walk denote events that occurred on the notorious Kokoda track in Papua New Guinea in World War 2 when Australian Troops inflicted the first defeat on the invading Japanese army.

At the end of the walk we will cut back to Rhodes shopping centre where we will have lunch in the food court of the local mall (though you are welcome to bring your own lunch if you prefer) before catching a train back to Sydney and home.

As usual we will meet at Dapto Station in the waiting room at 7.40am to catch the 7.55am Sydney train. If you are late we will be downstairs in the second carriage. See you then.

View Kokoda Track Walk in a larger map

New Leader Needed

The Walking Group needs a new leader. After years of sterling effort Ron can no longer lead the group. Until a new leader(s) is/are found then the group will continue on an ad hoc basis. Please consider giving up one day a fortnight it really is a lot of fun.

First Meeting for 2012

It's nearly time! Don't forget that 19th January 2012 is the date of our first meeting and AGM.

The meeting will be held in the hall in Heininger House on the highway right in the centre of Dapto at 10.30am but you are encouraged to come early for a cup of tea, a chance to buy a raffle ticket for one of our three $10 prizes, browse the bargains available on the trade table and, most importantly on this occasion, to pay your annual membership subscription.

This year membership is still only $12. If you did not get an envelope from the secretary either at the last meeting or the Christmas lunch then you can print out your own on a C6 envelope using our template. To download the form click here

Looking forward to seeing you there, why not bring a friend?

The Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The meeting will commence with a short AGM where all committee positions are declared vacant and elections held.

Please support your club by volunteering for one of the many roles available, either on the committee or in a subsidiary position, your help even in the kitchen before a meeting is much appreciated and an example of one of the many ways you can help keeping our club running smoothly.

Do you have an idea for a group activity, a games night or something else members would enjoy? Don't be afraid to come forward with your ideas.

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