Our guest speaker on Tuesday, 27 February will be Dr Scott Bell GP.

In 2007, Scott embarked on a three month trip with Sea Shepherd, on their ship the Steve Irwin to interact with the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean.

He says this experience, and the company of the folk onboard the ship helped to fine-tune his views and attitudes towards marine conservation, broaden his understanding of the  global climate emergency, and his future role in the world of activism.

Scott’s 31 year professional life as a medical practitioner encompassed a variety of General Practice work, both as an owner/operator of a private practice, a two year stint with the RAN, 7 years as State Director of the RACGP training program, time on remote Aboriginal communities, and seven years in Tasmania as a locum for all rural practitioners.

In retirement, Scott has focused his energy on a 760 acre property in the northeast , obtained a conservation covenant, developed a close relationship with Save the Tasmanian Devil program, become an owner/builder again, spent much time in a variety of volunteer roles (Wildcare, TFS, Landcare. etc) and developed interests and skills in  the environmental and conservation world.

Our speaker on Tuesday, 23 January 2024 is mine geologist, Andrew Millen.

Andrew was born in Launceston and went to East Launceston Public School followed by Launceston Church Grammar School where I first discovered my interest in mines. Here is his story:

“I went for a school excursion to Beaconsfield. I walked around and just wanted to go through and look at everything underground. I finished school in 1995 and moved to UTAS where I finished my science degree majoring in Geology.

In 2000, I moved to WA to start my life in the mining industry as an open pit Mine Geologist/Field Geologist.

In 2001 I went for a job as a geologist working in the oil industry which took me to America. It was very interesting, but I knew I always wanted to stay in the mines. I started in Indonesia before coming back to Melbourne with a consultancy followed by backpacking for a year and a half.

At the end of my backpacking journey, I spent an amazing year gold mining in Mongolia, followed by jobs in Turkey, China, and  Argentina.”

Andrew now lives in Launceston, having taken over the family business.

Our speaker on Tuesday, 28 November is Marion Sargent. Her presentation will cover the history of the Cataract Gorge since 1804. Writers have waxed lyrical about its beauty, but access was limited until the paths and bridges gradually opened the area for all to see. A Victorian pleasure garden emerged from the swampy area of the First Basin.

Marion is passionate about history and loves researching. After working as a librarian with the State Library of Tasmania for 26 years, she retired in December 2014. She has been president of the Launceston Historical Society since 2012, edits the Newsletter, maintains the Facebook and website pages, and co-ordinates and writes for the ‘Our History’ articles in The Sunday Examiner. In addition, Marion has contributed historical articles and essays for publication in books and journals on a variety of topics. She is also involved with other volunteer organisations relating to history, libraries, books, and cycling.

(Photo: The Examiner)

Our speaker on Tuesday, 24 October is the Business Leader of the Launceston’s Inveresk and UTAS Stadium, Robert Groenewegen.

Robert is a Life Member of the Footscray Football Club, having played with them from 1978 to 1987. He moved to Launceston in 1990 and worked for the Launceston City Council and played for North Launceston Football Club.

He became Inveresk Precinct Manager in 2001 and assisted in establishing the York Park and Inveresk Precinct Authority. His is awaiting transfer to Stadiums Tasmania later this year.

York Park (UTAS Stadium) is celebrating 100 years as an Australian Rules Football Ground in 2023. Over the last 25 years the ground has been redeveloped from a local venue into a 20,000-person stadium.

To accommodate a new Tasmanian AFL Team, $130m has been allocated to upgrade the venue further and maintain its AFL Standards. This will include upgraded changed rooms, improved seating, and patron amenities.

Our speaker on Tuesday, 26 September, is a Launceston-based Nuclear Medicine Scientist, medical researcher, historian, and past club president, Paul A.C. Richards AM. Paul holds a Master of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University in Radiation Sciences.

He will address us on his research spanning 55 years as a Nuclear Medicine Scientist on iodine deficiency in Tasmania and his work internationally.

Tasmania is recognised globally as a mildly iodine-deficient state of Australia and has grappled with iodine deficiency from early settlement in the 1830s until 2009, when a mandatory prophylactic measure, iodised salt, was added to bread in Australia and New Zealand.

Paul was a Rotary Foundation recipient in 1973 and Sir Robert Menzies Scholar of the Year in 1978. He has studied and undertaken research in the UK, USA, Sweden, and Japan. He is currently the Secretary/Treasurer of the LGH Historical Committee and Curator of Arts at the Launceston General Hospital. Paul is also a member of The Launceston Historical Society (LHS) and the Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society (TAHS).

Paul is the convenor/founder of the TAHS “IN THE AIR” Aviation Seminar, successfully held just two weeks ago at the Launceston Church Grammar School. He has published several scientific articles and recently published his trilogy on iodine deficiency. Later this year, Paul will publish a history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service -Tasmanian Section 1960-2023, his 36^th book.

Over the years, Paul has given several talks on nuclear medicine, local history, art, and his books, and he continues his research as an Honorary Associate Researcher at the University of Tasmania.

In 2015, Paul was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his major research in radiation sciences and community work in establishing Spurr Wing Inc. and the Cancer Information Support Service in the early 1980s when he was president of the West Launceston Rotary Club.

Our speaker on Tuesday, 18 April is Launceston-based surveyor and historian John Dent OAM. John will outline the difficulties of farming and surviving in the 1800s. A number of recent archaeological digs in the area have brought some new understanding of life as a settler at Rowella.

Rowella, on the banks of the West Tamar, was one of the earliest European settlement areas north of Launceston. It was part of the first settlement at York Town and with some of the best land on the Tamar River was soon divided up in large parcels for settlers. The area was a long way from any other settlement and with no roads the river became the only means of contact. Some of the settlers flourished and others did not.

John is currently President of The West Tamar Historical Society, the Launceston History Centre and the Tasmanian Family History Society (Launceston) and is a member of Launceston Historical Society (LHS), and the Friends of The Launceston Mechanics Institute.  John is the convenor/founder of the LHS Archaeology Group. He has published many articles, written chapters for books, and given talks on many aspects of northern Tasmanian history.  He is a registered land surveyor in private practice and he has used his surveying skills to uncover many aspects of our earliest history. John was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia in 1996 and is co-president of the Rotary Club of Launceston.

Sunset photo by Bruce Frankombe (2020)

Two former volunteer lighthouse keepers on Maatsuyker Island, Kate and Bruce Frankcombe, who served on Maatsuyker Island in 2014 and 2019-20, were guest speakers at the Probus meeting in February.

The lighthouse was completed in 1891 and was the last Tasmanian lighthouse to be automated. Kate and Bruce were the only people on the island.

After being accepted as volunteers, they received training as radio operators, weather monitors, and first aiders.

Kate and Bruce were only permitted to take 750 kg of personal effects and food; hence dehydrated food was necessary. They were reliant on radio contact for safety and weather reporting. The scenery and wildlife were spectacular, but the weather was often cold and wet. Mould was a significant problem in the buildings, and the machinery and the grounds had to be maintained daily.

Ross Millar: 26 March 2023