Every month, Probus Perth invites a speaker to address members on his or her particular field of expertise or endeavour. Below are summaries of talks given recently. Summaries of various earlier talks are to be found within the “Archives” section of the website.
—————————————————————————————-
No Man Is An Island
Bob Maumill February 2025
Bob was born in 1938 and grew up in the Fremantle area. His father worked on the wharves and was wonderful until he was drunk and then he became nasty, belting and delivering blows indiscriminately. Bob calls him a psychopath. The family (3 children and parents) lived in one room on the first floor of a boarding house in Essex Street. Bob remembers climbing out the window at 9 and going to the stables at the back of the house where the horses who pulled the milk carts were stabled. He climbed onto the back of one of the draught horses and the feeling that night has never left him. This love for horses has never left him and has played a large part in his life.
School never interested him and it was not until the family moved to Beaconsfield and one teacher, a Mrs Tupper influenced him to change his ways. He is eternally grateful to her. Friday sport when teams in factions were selected, Bob was always left out as he was hopeless at sport. However, being sent to the library for the afternoon opened up a new world of books for him. At home there was only an old Bible. He became transfixed with the stories of The Talisman, Kidnapped, Huckleberry Finn, Black Beauty and the writings of John Steinbeck.
At 15 Bob left home and had many adventures hitch hiking to all parts of Australia. He would get jobs that generally involved horses, but after some time the wander lust would come and he would just suddenly leave. One time working in a freezer at the wharf in Fremantle he sighted a Norwegian ship and managed to sign on as crew. This gave him a new outlook on the world and he travelled to many countries – regaling us with fantastic adventures and strange encounters. One story where he used his watch to pay for time with a young lady in America he was astounded when the watch was returned to him in Singapore! The young lady had purchased it back and went to a lot of effort to make sure he got it!
By luck he was asked to go on the radio. This began a life career of commentary on horses and horse racing. He met many celebrities – some friendly and some antagonistic. Sir Charles Court and John Singleton were two whom he sparred with over many years.
A shock diagnosis of cancer on the side of his face led to many operations, the loss of an eye and resulted in speech problems. However, he has bounced back and with time on his hands turned to writing. He has always been interested in WA History and set about telling a story about by-gone times and events and occurrences that have not been talked about. His book is called Letters from a Hard Country. The critics have described it as a sweeping tale of conflict, murder, action, adventure, family links, politics, romance, love and loss. A book for everyone!
Bob was certainly a very interesting and entertaining speaker.
Wendy McCallum
—————————————————————————————-
Swiss RAN OZ – How We Could Be Better Governed
Ian Stann March 2025
Ian had a message for us. He felt that our governing system needed overhauling as it had not changed in 100 years. He said all other things had progressed and changed over the years, yet we still had the same voting system. He felt the Swiss had done a better job and compared our system to that in Switzerland.
He divided his talk into three sections: The Political System: Industry and Structure and The Way of Life including Defence, Housing and Health.
With recent elections in Western Australia, Ian pointed out the 23% of the electorate had voted for minor parties and yet this had still not got them a seat in Parliament. Ian felt there should be representational and thus proportional seats allocated (proportional representation).
The Swiss have what is called Direct Democracy. All parties that receive votes are represented in the Parliament. The Prime Minister is then rotated each year with each party having a turn. With contentious issues, all the electorate is asked to vote on that issue, so everyone feels they have their say and are listened to.
Parliamentarians only get full pay while in session, otherwise they need to work to supplement their income and this gives them direct contact with the local people and thus be aware of the issues.
Since 2000 Ian felt Australia had taken the Low Road rather than the High Road. With only 43% of the votes, the Government has 80% of the seats. With 23% of votes, the minor parties end up with no seats. This is what Ian wants to change.
The second part of his speech concentrated on 5 areas. These being: 1.Information Technology, 2. Electrical and Mechanical machinery, 3. Transport, 4.Finite chemicals and 5 Medical and Pharmaceutical. Ian then listed the large world wide companies in each category who had their main office in Switzerland, whereas we had none in Australia. His plea was for the Government to concentrate on each area and entice those significant companies and executives to come to Australia. He was particularly scathing that there was not an Australian Shipping company, given that we were an island, with most of the population along the coast and shipping is the cheapest form of transport,
Unfortunately time ran out and thus no discussion ensued and questions were unable to be asked. His ideas did provoke a lot of discussion with members over lunch.
Wendy McCallum
—————————————————————————————-
Healthy Ageing Through Activity
Seniors Recreation Council of WA Inc
Martin Yates, April 2025
Martin has had a variety of occupations before this role as Project Manager and Official Photographer. He began working at the Council in 2013. He was giving lectures on information technology for seniors and soon his volunteering turned into permanent employment. The Seniors Recreation Council was established in 1992 by The Ministry of Sport and Recreation. The Main office is in Belmont. The Council has 12 branches throughout WA. Funding is obtained from The State Government, Live Lighter Health and Lottery West and most of its work is done be volunteers.
The aim of the Council is to encourage wider participation of Seniors in physical, recreational, mental and sporting activities. With this aim many programs are run in a variety of venues. Associations, clubs, Retirement Villages and Nursing Homes are among those places that have requested programs.
Programs include:
Add Life to your Years This program ran for 20 years but unfortunately since Covid has lost its funding and at present is not available.
Be Independent Be Connected offers a wide range of courses to help seniors use their computer, negotiate the internet or smart phone or any other device.
Pole Walking is a popular activity which benefits posture and is a total body work out thus giving a significant increase in health and fitness. Martin had the audience practice the pole walking movement. Great hilarity resulted as it showed some members have problems with co-ordination!
Information Days are held approximately 7 times a year and these offer a wide range of activities, associations, clubs and programs that people can join.
Live Lighter Aged Care Games are held for people in care. This is a wonderful time for the occupants with appropriate games. Scoring is done and there is a lot of fun as well as great competition.
The Main event is Have A Go Day where 15 000 + people come to join in the fun and seek information. This year is the 32nd year and will be held on Wednesday 12th November at Burswood Park. Members were encouraged to come and enjoy the day.
It was a very interesting talk and a lot of members were keen to take the pamphlets and information that Martin had brought with him. Hopefully it will spur some into action!
Wendy McCallum
—————————————————————————————-
Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoises
Jan Vance, May 2025
The Friends group works with the Recovery Team to save this unique reptile from extinction.
It was first found in 1839 and a specimen sent to London to the V & A Museum. Apart from a few being seen at that time, no others were sighted for 113 years. It was thought to have become extinct. However in 1953 two were found in Bullsbrook and this began the heroic fight to save it.
Once re-discovered 19 adults and 8 juveniles were taken to Perth Zoo. Here a dedicated team of scientists and the newly formed Friends set about a breeding and re populating the Western Swamp Tortoise.
To begin with, not much information was known as to their food supply, their reproduction and their habitat and life circle. Gradually through research these facts have been discovered.
Today the only natural habitat is in Ellenbrook Reserve. Previously they lived near the airport, but construction has ruined their habitat.
The desired habitat is a clay based stream which dries up over the summer. The tortoises aestivate during the hot months, by digging quite a deep hole into the clay which is why it has quite strong claws on its feet. The tortoises are quite small, an adult being able to fit into the palm of a man’s hand. The tortoise is able to retract its short neck and tail. The plastron or undersurface of the shell changes colour depending on the environment. By trial and error researchers discovered the food they enjoyed and the tortoises are fed a ‘porridge” ( chicken feet, rat’s tails, prawns etc) which has enabled them to grow quickly. It takes 15 years for them to reach adulthood and reproduce. Hatchlings are only the size of a 10 cent and only one laying of a couple of eggs occurs each year.
The Zoo always has a couple on display which are regularly rotated. In 2015 $1.4 million was allocated for the breeding program. Breeding has been very successful with now around 800 individuals at the Zoo. A lot of research is happening to find other suitable habitats apart from Bullsbrook. An area near Albany has been identified and so far those relocated there are doing well.
The Friends group started in 2004 and now work with the recovery team in planting appropriate vegetation to maintain the habitat. The Friends are heavily involved in education and concentrate particularly on the schools in the Bullsbrook area to emphasise that discarded plastic or other rubbish could end up in the tortoises’ area and be ingested and may kill them. Educating the children to be environmentally aware is very important to keep this extremely endangered reptile from becoming extinct.
We congratulate Jan and all those involved in their efforts to save The Western Swamp Tortoise .
Wendy McCallum
—————————————————————————————-
Don’t Tell Mum I’m a Mine Surveyor.
She thinks I am a piano player in a whore house!
Brett Grocock June 2025
Brett explained that he was not a good student at school and when he tried University he soon left. However the TAFE system proved to be a saviour for him as he enjoys learning by being hands on.
His philosophy has been to accept any opportunity that comes along. He especially enjoys adventure and travel. He has a good work ethic which was developed when he was young and assiduously searched out bottles to get the 20c reward for returning them.
After achieving his diploma Brett’s first job was in Kalgoorlie, followed by Parkes in NSW, then Tanzania near Mr Kilimanjaro after which it was Canada where the bears were a definite problem. Ghana was another interesting place seeing where slavery had occurred. Other countries were Armenia and Bulgaria, close to Iran and then Pakistan.
Brett regaled us with so many amusing and also frightening experiences that he had had in all his years of travel. The bull run in Pamplona was a highlight. By the age of 30 he decided he needed to settle down and returned to Perth. He now has a wife and two beautiful children.
He explained what a mining surveyor did. They are masters of measurement, collecting the data of the area of interest and then make a map. The engineer or architect then makes the design after which it is the surveyor’s job to ensure the plan is placed in the correct position.
The surveyor uses quite a lot of technology such as drones, GPS and laser scanners. With cameras this allows them to be accurate within 20mm. Brett told us of a mine in Canada which had been placed 25 metres incorrectly. This of course, meant mining was not being done at the optimal place.
With all his experience Brett set up his own company in Perth ‘Element Geospatial’ where he now employs 40 people.
Brett gave us a most interesting and enjoyable talk.
Wendy McCallum
—————————————————————————————-
Raising Fen Tigers – An Anthology of English Poems
John M Taylor, July 2025
John is a published author of 4 books but his talk was about poems from his book “Raising Ten Tigers.”
John was raised in England in the Fen District. He told us a little of how the Fens used to be a long ago. In the early days they stretched from East Anglia to Kings Lynn and covered 20 -30 000 square kilometres. Within the Fens there were islands where people lived. The Romans wanted to drain the area but were not successful. However in the 1600’s the Duke of Bedford brought over a Dutchman who was experienced in draining land. This draining was disastrous for those living on the islands as they made their living by fishing for eels and fish. They also used the reeds and willows for making baskets. Royalties had to be paid to the church and it is recorded that 27 000 eels were given to the monks. The livelihood for these Fen dwellers was disappearing and hence they were very upset at what was happening. They formed groups and fought like tigers to save the Fens. Hence they became known as The Fen Tigers.
The Fens today are criss crossed with drains and canals. Windmills can be seen pumping water into farm land. There are often problems with old houses built in the Fens. Some homes have sunk, others twisted. Modern homes must have very deep foundations which makes it costly to build. In the mud occasionally Roman coins and other old articles are found.
It was in this environment that John grew up and his writing is inspired by many of the characters he knew in his childhood. He has a wonderful way with words and received much acclimation for the poems which he read. Some were very sad, while others were most amusing and all portrayed vivid pictures of people and scenery described in poetry.
It was a most enjoyable morning.
Wendy McCallum
—————————————————————————————-
Defibrillators and Their Use
Steve Gibson August 2025
Steve introduces himself as a Doctor who now lectures and educates people on Resuscitation and Defibrillators.
Before talking about defibrillators Steve indicated that we needed to know some background. He said he was amazed at how little knowledge people had about resuscitation. On enquiring of the audience “Who thinks that resuscitation starts someone breathing or their heart to pump?” – quite a few hands went up. He explained that this was not the case.
After a heart attack or collapse the important thing is to keep blood being pumped around the body. This is because the brain gets damaged after 4 minutes deprivation of oxygen. Resuscitation of breathing into the mouth and putting pressure on the chest alternately just keeps the brain oxygenated and thus prevents damage.
If the heart is out of kilter then it needs an electric shock to set the pattern to return to normal.
This is where defibrillators are used.
Modern defibrillators are very user friendly. They tell the user exactly what to do. Remove clothing from chest. Take one pad, peel off the plastic and place high on right side, then other pad low on left side. Machine is then analysing the patient and will tell if a shock is needed, or if resuscitation needs to be continued. The machine will keep monitoring until an ambulance or other medical help arrives. No thought or worry is needed by the helper – just follow what the machine says. Simple!
Steve stressed that everyone should know where the defibrillator is kept and all public places should have them with ready access. Public needs to be better informed and aware of how easy they are to use and how their use will save lives. He said the cost ranged from $2000 to $5000 but he recommended a $3000 one.
Steve was very passionate about this topic and kept the audience very much involved. It was a most interesting and informative talk and those who had thought the topic uninteresting were very pleasantly surprised at how much they enjoyed and learnt about resuscitation. All felt much more confident if they were faced with a situation where a defibrillator would save a life.
Thank you Steve.
Wendy McCallum
—————————————————————————————-
The Process of Obtaining Drivers’ Licences for Seniors
Emily Leonard September 2025
Emily is the A/ Business Centre Supervisor at the Driver and Vehicle Services at the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure
DoTDirect: DoTDirect is a digital service provided by the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure that allows users to pay licences and manage details online. It offers convenience by enabling payments, updates, and renewals online, reducing the need for in-person visits or phone calls. Registration for a DoTDirect account can be completed online using a WA driver’s licence and vehicle details, or alternatively by phone or in person at a Driver and Vehicle Services centre.
Concessions: Seniors, veterans, and pensioners may be eligible for significant concessions on both driver’s licences and vehicle registrations. Depending on the type of concession card held (WA Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card, or DVA Gold Card – TPI or EDA) discounts range from 50% to full exemptions. These concessions apply to one vehicle only and do not automatically transfer when purchasing a new vehicle, requiring reapplication. Additionally, vehicles must be privately owned and not registered to a business.
Refunds: Refunds for backdated concessions are available for up to five years, provided the applicant retained ownership of the vehicle and did not claim concessions on another vehicle during that period. Proof of eligibility is required when applying for refunds. Renewals: Renewals for driver’s licences and vehicle registrations can be completed online via DoTDirect, by phone, post, or in person. Vehicle licences can be renewed for 3, 6, or 12 months, with an option for monthly direct debit available exclusively through DoTDirect.
—————————————————————————————-
Silicon Valley – Tech me to the Moon
Ian Stann, October 2025
Ian began by explaining that our brain was the Biggest Silicon Chip. The brain consists of 75% water, 15% protein and 10% lipids. Through the synapses, the brain makes thousands of connections in milliseconds.
He spoke about the transistor being discovered in 1947 by John Berdin and Walter Brittain while researching under William Shockley at Bells laboratory in USA. The silicon chip followed in1958 and has been constantly improved upon since then.
In 1980 The Silicon Chip Book by Peter Marsh was published and Ian referred to all the predictions that had been made in that book and had come to fruition today. Massive unemployment developed in the blue collar areas where robots have taken over those jobs. Now white collar workers are being superseded by AI.
Ian mentioned the work of Jay Wright Forrester, a computer engineer who further developed the software driver and the IP (internet Protocol). All these small steps kept improving the ability of the computer.
Silicon chips were developed so that a huge amount of information was able to be stored on them. Ian explained that on a 1ft square there were 15 billion transistors. Not a figure the brain can easily understand.
Silicon chips are now so much a part of life that we don’t often consider how much we rely on them for our everyday use. Practically all implements that we use have a silicon chip as its base.
Ian also touched on how the communication throughout the world relies very much on fibre cables that have been laid under the sea. This relies on a light turning on and off – again in such milliseconds it is hard to visualise.
Countries that have not developed facilities to make silicon chips have been left behind. Taiwan, China. Japan and South Korea have pretty much captured the market.
Ian was so passionate about this topic. He had so much information and it kept coming at a rapid rate. So much so I found it hard to keep up with all his ideas. My apologies if I have omitted any vital information.
Wendy McCallum
—————————————————————————————-
Bums on Seats -An unofficial History of Theatre in WA
Ron Banks November 2025
Ron Banks is very well known in Perth for his 28 years at the West Australian as the reviewer of films, theatre and music. He has travelled Australia and had many artistic jobs in other states. In retirement he has volunteered in schools and set himself to write a book. This has resulted in “Bums on Seats – An unofficial History of Theatre in WA.
He then took us down memory lane reminding us that prior to 1956 all theatre in WA was amateur. The Repertory Club had been formed in 1911, but all the actors were amateurs.
In 1948 the Capital Theatre had been the venue for the 8-night tour of The Old Vic Company with Sir Lawrence Olivier and Vivienne Leigh. They had performed School for Scandal. But the acoustics and no air conditioning had given an uncomfortable evening for the audience.
In the early 1950’s Perth formed its own Theatre Company with 4 actors. By 1956 Harold Kranz, an architect, and his wife Dorothy, an actress, decided that a theatre was needed. The Anglican Cathedral had a tennis court that was never used, and Harold persuaded the Church to let him build a theatre there. Harold designed The Playhouse Theatre and was able to get funds and thus Perth had its own theatre and enjoyed many plays. The first to be staged was Tea House of the August Moon. Edgar Metcalf was appointed director of the Play House in 1963 and was able to entice many talented actors to perform in Perth.
Ron then reminded us of many of the old characters of the theatre in Perth and the venues that developed. Names like Frank Baden-Powell with The Hole in the Wall, Max Kay with his Dinner Club, Ray Omedei with his 6 player company who were all professional actors and The Effie Crump Theatre in the Old Brisbane Hotel.
Dorothy Hewitt was remembered for her play The Man From Muckinuppin which she wrote for the Sesqui-Centenary . Other plays mentioned were The Dreamers by Jack Davis at The New Fortune Theatre, No Sugar, A Bran Nue Dae, Cloudstreet, Tourmaline and Merry Go Round in the Sea.
Ron was full of anecdotes and behind the scenes activities and problems.
It was a moist enjoyable talk and enabled a lot of reminiscing about earlier days in Perth.
Thank you, Ron.
Wendy McCallum
The Probus Club of Perth Inc. 