Author: OPC

Business Meeting

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Wednesday 11 October 2017: Business Meeting

Bob and John
Bob Lingwood taken by surprise when presented with a cake and flowers to mark his 99th birthday .

President, John McCandless opened the meeting by by extending a very warm welcome to Probian Bob Lingwood, on his return to the Club after hospitalisation and recuperation following a fall earlier in the year.   During his enforced absence Bob had celebrated his 99th birthday.   He was somewhat taken by surprise to be presented with a birthday cake and bouquet of flowers, but pleased nevertheless to be back among his many friends in Probus.   The main business of the meeting was to finalise arrangements for the 40th Anniversary Dinner on the 17th October, the Christmas Lunch on Wednesday 6th December and receive a closing report from the All-Ireland Rally steering committee.   During a gap in the showers those present assembled on the 1st tee for a group photo.

Mark Lusby: Old Derry

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Wednesday, 4th October 2016:  Mr Mark Lusby: Old Derry

Mark Lusby
Probus President, John McCandless thanking Mark Lusby for his talk

Using old glass plate photographs Mark gave members an illustrated talk on the city in the years during and immediately after the Second World War.  He began by showing rare aerial photos of United States army and navy installations along the Foyle. The main camp for US Servicemen was located on land now occupied by Springtown Industrial estate.   The grounds of the Beech Hill House Hotel was the site of several Quonset [Nissan] Huts, barely visible from the air among the trees.  A large Communications Centre existed where Altnagelvin Hospital now stands and Du Pont occupies the site near Lisahally Docks where Atlantic Convey escort vessels were repaired and made ready for further patrols.   Throughout the war and in the years immediately following farming was the mainstay of the local economy.  There was a thriving market for local produce with considerable quantities being exported by ship and train.   Several old photos showed scenes of activity long since gone from the city, such as “The Beast Market” outside Butcher’s Gate.  Derry’s walls are the largest ancient monument in state care and the only city walls ever to have been fortified twice.  His old photographs recorded that during the troubles access to the walls was restricted by barbed wire entanglements and sand bagged observation posts. Recent photos show how things have moved on.

 

 

Introduction to aromatherapy for Probus Ladies

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At the October meeting of Ladies’ Probus,  President Audrey Hodge informed members that an honorary member, Aimee Day, had died since the last meeting. Respects were paid to this formerly enthusiastic member.

The speaker was local aromatherapist, Fiona Curran who was a trained midwife before moving into aromatherapy full time. She informed members of the benefits of many different essential oils which members were able to sample. Fiona explained the difference in oils which may be unfamiliar to many amateurs and she explained how she would mix and then use the oils for various therapies. Many questions were answered and the thanks of the club were expressed by Val Burch.

Arrangements were confirmed for afternoon tea at the end of November, a date which marks the beginning of the twenty fifth year of Omagh & District Ladies’ Probus which was the first ladies’ club in Ireland. The next meeting on 2nd November will be the AGM and there will be a speaker from local Red Cross.

Visit to the Hill of The O’Neill

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Dungannon1
Omagh Ladies (from left, Val Burch, Audrey Hodge, Anne McBain & May Bothwell) with President of Dungannon Club, Ivy Williams and Angela from Ranfurly House. Four members of the Omagh Ladies’ Club were invited by the Dungannon Ladies’ Club to visit this historic site on Wednesday 20th September. After refreshments, a most interesting and informative tour was provided.

Malawi Memories shared with Ladies Club

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Malawi
President, Audrey Hodge; Speaker, Edwin Johnston; Anne McBain who thanked Edwin

 

At a recent meeting of Omagh and District Ladies Probus, President Audrey Hodge welcomed everyone back after the summer season and updated members on previous events including the very successful All Ireland Rally and summer outings, in addition to sharing future planned activities.
The Autumn Programme started off with an enlightening and thought provoking talk given by local man Edwin Johnston who, along with five other members from First Omagh Presbyterian Church, recently visited rural Malawi.
Club Members heard of the group’s travel there and their sharp cultural shock, starting on arrival at Lilongwe airport and continuing as they travelled by minibus on increasingly poor roads to Embangweni which was to be their home for over two weeks.
Their work was based at Louden Station Mission Area, set up by Scottish missionary Donald Fraser, which consists of a hospital, primary school, secondary schools with boarding facilities, a school for the deaf, etc.
Through his extensive picture library, Mr. Johnston gave a comprehensive flavour of life there which emphasized the poverty, challenging terrain, local superstitions, primitive resources, hygiene difficulties, teenage pregnancies and early marriage etc. which impact strongly on the lives of local people. These factors, coupled with a huge population keen to access education and hospital services, highlight the many needs of this remote region of Northern Malawi.
Amazingly, local school class sizes range from 100 to 150 children being taught, often outdoors, with few resources. The local hospital also struggles with limited equipment to provide a much-needed service to a population of over 100,000 people.
Probus club members were humbled to hear of the generosity of the local people as they cheerfully presented their visitors with prized personal possessions such as goats, chickens and vegetables. They also were left with the knowledge that although Omagh volunteers had given of their time and energy to get “hands on” in helping improve the environment of the local community in Embangweni, much still needs to be done in this region.
Anne McBain thanked Mr. Johnston, on behalf of the club, for his interesting and comprehensive talk.

 

Rotary Club President addresses Probus Ladies members

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ROTARY CLUB PRESIDENT addresses Probus Ladies members : May 2017

Omagh Ladies Probus Club members were pleased to welcome the president of Omagh Rotary Club, local man, Dr Ian Leitch, to address their meeting.

In his introduction, Ian spoke briefly about his personal and professional life, leading to his interest in and involvement with Omagh Rotary Club.

He shared the primary aim and aspirations of the first Rotary Club which originated in 1905 in Chicago by Paul P Harris and its growth to a worldwide membership of over 1.2 million.

Members were delighted to hear of the amazing support this organisation gives to a large number of charities, local, regional and worldwide, ranging from providing sensory gardens to bringing health services to Third World countries.

Ian also shared information on many of the innovative projects which are supported by the Rotary Club. These include the Jole Rider Project through which bikes are refurbished for use in Bikes 4 Africa project, Shelter Boxes and Child Vaccinations against Polio.

He was thanked by club President, Audrey Hodge