2026 Social Activity Stories
AGM/Lunch 2026
Our member’s Annual AGM and Lunch was held on Friday 7th August at the Cardiff RSL Club, with 30 members attending while 25 stayed on for lunch.
Outgoing President Barry Keen welcomed members to the AGM/Lunch and then read the Minutes of the 2025 AGM as well as the Presidents report, updating members of the activities and happenings of ComputerPals during the past year. Mention was made of the Club’s connection with the Good Things Foundation and Be Connected classes, along with the regular classes held at Club Lambton, Wallsend and Adamstown Libraries. The Get Online Week activities provided much interest, along with the Club’s Morning Teas and Guest Speakers. Barry also thanked the Committee and Tutors for their help throughout the year, along with those members who assisted them. Next were reports from the Treasurer (Grahame King), Education (Carolyn Keane) and Technical (Lindsay Threadgate in Judy Wallace’s absence). Barry then thanked those on the Committee tasked with applying for grants which played an important part in covering funds for upgrading of equipment, insurances and promotions etc.
It was then time for Returning Officer Marj Stanton to declare all committee positions vacant and called for nominations for all these positions. As both the President and Vice President had served their 4-year terms along with the Treasurer, a special clause in the Club’s constitution had to be voted on to enable them to stand for an additional 12 months if required. With no new nominations for any positions and all existing committee members re-nominated, the existing committee was duly elected.
Mention was also made of the ongoing ASCCA Photographic and Writing competitions, urging members to send in entries, with points scored not only for placegetters but also for each entry. Formalities over, it was then time to sample the culinary delights of the Club eatery and enjoy a chinwag with fellow members.
Morning Tea/General Meeting – ‘Changes to My Aged Care’
Our Morning Tea and general Meeting was held on Monday 25 th May at our ‘Headquarters’, Club Lambton.
A very pleasing attendance of 100 (including a few guests) turned up for this event, and to listen to the guest speaker, Kathy Lewis (Nova Care) talk about changes to My Aged Care which took effect in November 2025. The package ‘Home Care’ has seen a name change to ‘Support at Home’ with costs involved. Kathy highlighted the importance of obtaining a code (number) for support for each type of service from the various providers – these can be ‘saved’ for when needed. Also, it was important to note that not all types of assistance were available from all providers e.g. some provide cleaning, shopping and socialising, some provide transport, others providing showering, cleaning etc. The cost of the various services usually ranges from $15 – $25. Kathy then called for questions, with many members keen to ensure they had their own queries answered.
It was then time for morning tea to be served, along with the draw for lucky door prizes.
Barefoot Bowling Social Day Out
Our 2nd term social outing for 2026 was to Club Lambton for some ‘fun in the sun’ aka barefoot bowling.
Some 16 members turned up on a fine day, a little cooler than our previous experience. This time, due to a morning bowling competition being held, our group enjoyed lunch together with more than a few in trepidation of what lay ahead. Once tummies were content and bowls, jacks and mats were collected from the Club, members made their way out to the green and a new adventure for most. Fortunately, members Roy Adams, Warren Kreckler and a couple of others were in attendance, and as bowlers of some note were able to pass on the basics of the game to the rest, most of whom had never so much as stepped foot on a bowling green previously. Some of our members came just for the lunch and stayed on to cheer those bowling.
 And so, the bowling got under way, with 3 lanes operating, allowing 2 x pairs each lane with a couple of members observing and grabbing a few photos. Considering the lack of experience, the ‘quality’ of bowling was, for the most part at least, quite respectable. The bowling style of some members certainly created discussion, while a few bowlers in their excitement sent bowls down with the wrong bias, subsequently ending up in neighbouring lanes. After numerous ‘ends’ (not sure of the correct terminology) and the sun warming up after a rather cool and strong breezy start, it was time to pack up, with some grabbing a drink and a seat back in the Club for a discussion on what had just taken place.
Seniors Festival Morning Tea (2nd March)
As part of the NSW Seniors Festival, our Club held its own special event on Monday 2nd March at our ‘Headquarters’, Club Lambton.
Some 102 members (a Club record for a M/Tea) including a few guests turned up for this event, and to listen to the guest speakers, Mr. Ian White and Ms Judy Elias discussing their experiences with AI. Ian and Judy are members of the Northern Beaches ComputerPals Club and put together a couple of presentations highlighting some of the many and varied options
this remarkable breakthrough in technology can offer, not only in the business world but in our private lives as well. Following the presentation, morning tea was served, and this gave members a chance to ask a few questions of the guest speakers and discuss the merits (or otherwise?) of how AI might affect their daily lives. The morning was rounded out by the
lucky door prizes raffle.
Social Day Out
For our first term outing, a trip to Sydney to attend the NSW Seniors Expo was arranged for 12 March 2026.
While just four members travelled as per the attendance form, numerous other members joined the party’, travelling independently either to attend both days of the event or just on the second day to include the Seniors Concert as well as the Expo. All had an enjoyable time, with many stallholders present, offering a wide variety of lifestyle options for those visiting.