LUNCH IN BRISBANE

Peter and Margaret Lewis visited Brisbane for a few days, so it was fitting to organise a lunch with Brisbane Asopians. Diane and Bill's Birthday Bear Group also joined for a great lunch at Brisbane's Swiss Restaurant "Des Alpes" at Mitchelton last Friday.

Some ASOPA CEOs met for lunch at the Swiss Restaurant "Des Alpes" in Mitchelton, Brisbane

Bill, Ann (friend), Margaret, Peter, Colin, Joe and Henry listen to the lunch specials from our wonderful host, Monique

Joe Cranean and Colin Huggins share a joke. Margaret and Peter Lewis came from Maitland to share the fun and the fine food.

Henry Bodman also came to enjoy the company. He is still fighting ongoing medical battles and is doing a good job at it.

Berowra Get-Together

From 'Dubbo' Dave on a recent Berowra get-together:

Was going to call our meet up an ASOPA Reunion but I thought that was a bit over the top.

Well the story goes like this..the three remaining 1962/1963 Asopians who still live in Sydney met at Berowra on the far northern outskirts of Australia’s biggest city ( population wise that is)

Someone once told me that Brisbane is bigger in area.

At the meetup was Rod & Cheryl Hard..Keith Ingrid & Ingrid’s mum, Libby (who proved to be a very agile senior by negotiating our precipitous steps)

Would love to say it was a beautiful Sydney summers day unfortunately it wasn’t ...It was overcast & windy..so much so that we couldn’t have the lunch outside..but we got over that.

Rod & Keith both brought lovely bottles of wine..they looked good..I had a sip of all of them..as many of you know I haven’t had any alcohol since October 2010..but my resolution for 2012 is not to whinge about it..I still love to sip at other people’s wines before the taste gets too much for me.

Topics of the day included ..what our kids were doing..Rod & Cheryl’s boy is just finishing his apprenticeship and their daughter is just starting  Year 12.

Keith & Ingrid’s boy is working in Keith’s office.

Keith is easing out of the business and doing a fair bit of work on New Guinea matters..which he is enjoying.

Keith & Ingrid are going on a cruise up and down the coast of South America in about a month’s time ...we are assured it is not of Italian origin and doesn’t carry 4000 people.

We had a very amicable and friendly discussion on New Guinea and Australian politics..not like the old days when we would chuck plates at each other..oh the joys of being young.

A highlight of the day was when somebody murmured under their breath “ukulele” well that’s all it took and before you could say “Hank Williams” Elissa and I flashed our ukes and before the horrified guests could escape they  copped a blast of “You are my Sunshine” and the late great Leadbelly favourite “Midnight Special”.

Still can’t work it out but the party finished soon after that  .

Dave from Dubbo

Ukulelelele... Elissa and Dave - Yodlelelele

A Sunday Gathering in Fig Tree Pocket

On Sunday, local Asopians and their spouses  we were invited to lunch at Henry and Janelle's home in Fig Tree Pocket, a leafy suburb of Brisbane. 

Lots to talk about when we get together

Unfortunately, we didn't get a shot of everyone who attended. Here is (L to R) Colin, Josephine, Joseph, Ros, Denis and Bob sitting under the umbrella as it was extremely hot on Sunday.

Henry and Janelle have a lovely garden

Henry and Janelle have a tropical garden. They have both been sick too. Henry has been treated for cancer and Janelle has just had an operation. We couldn't believe they didn't cancel the lunch. Luckily their daughter together with friends Lucy and Geoff got everything organised in the kitchen.

Ros and Diane cool off at the pool

It was lovely to cool off near the pool, we should have taken our togs. I am sitting with Ros who has also been very ill with throat cancer and the aggressive treatment since we last got together. 

It is so sad to hear of our friends getting ill. Since our first reunion of ASOPA students back in 2002, we have lost  friends and many have been ill. The joys of growing old. 

However, we did enjoy relaxing by the pool with friends and partaking of a delicious seafood lunch and a glass or two of wine.

1962-63 Reunion Sydney 2010 Cont.

The festivities continued on Saturday night. The Sydney team had organised an excellent dinner cruise on Sydney harbour.

Bob, Janelle, Rod and Henry waiting to board at Darling Harbour

There was lot of reminiscing going on during the meal.

Peter and Wendy

Rod enjoys a glass of red

Henry and Bob in great spirit

Margaret, Diane, Bill B and Colin B.

On Sunday morning, some gathered at Chowder Bay for morning tea

Bob, Keith and Les

Bill W

Bill B and Lorraine

Rod, Lorraine and Warwick

Rod and David

Photos by Ian McLean

A great time was had by all

1962-63 Reunion Sydney 2010

Finally some pictures from the recent Sydney Reunion.

Les, Colin, Ian and Rod at the Meet and Greet on Friday night

Henry, Janell and Keith at the Meet and Greet on Friday night

Wendy, Margaret and Diane, Friday night

Ingrid and Bill W at the Oaks

A pleasant Saturday lunch meeting under the big Oak tree

Janelle and Lorraine, Saturday lunch

More pictures to follow of the Saturday night cruise and Sunday brunch 

A visit from the Hunter Valley

A couple of weeks ago Peter and Margaret Lewis who live in the Hunter Valley came up to Brisbane for a few days. We organised a lunch at Cleveland to meet up.

F.L.T.R. Josephine Arnold, Bill Bohlen, Colin Huggins (1962/63), Dick Arnold (1960/61), Peter Lewis (1962/63) and Margaret Lewis. Diane Bohlen (1962/63) took the picture.