THIRTY-THREE of Moruya Probus Club’s 53 members were at Moruya Golf Club on Tuesday morning to see president Max Hogno induct Max Wangemann, of Catalina, as the newest member. Max Hogno, who didn’t really tower over the new member, told him “from now on you are Little Max”. After delivering his financial report as treasurer Bruce Imrie put on his other hat as tours activities officer, detailing lunch at Bodalla Bakery on September 11 and a barbecue and games at Moruya Surf Club in October. Members had already been reminded that the annual photo competition would be judged at the September meeting. Netta Behringer told members an invitation had been received from Batemans Bay Probus Club to be with it at the Batemans Bay Cup meeting at Moruya Racecourse on September 28. She said the planned launch trip up the Clyde River had been postponed to February. Guest speaker was going to be Rohan Gleeson with the National Broadband Network as his subject but in his absence fellow-Rotarian John Sewell told something of his experiences with the NBN. First, though, he explained that Mr Gleeson along with a few other Rotarians had gone to West Wyalong to present $6000 raised by Rotary for drought relief in that area. “Those people in really bad shape because of the drought will receive either a cheque for $200 or a docket for that amount to be spent for necessities,” he said. John took members back, briefly, to the latter half of the 19 th -century when telegraphy was being introduced in Australia, with Moruya’s telegraphy office being opened in 1869, mainly associated with shipping. He passed through the early days of telephones and telegrams…he was a telegram delivery boy in Northumberland just before and during World War Two. He stepped forward to the introduction of optical fibre cable and his experience with having the NBN installed at his home. It was not without problems, he said, largely, it seemed, due to telephone connections under the floor of the house he had done himself, but he was clearly impressed by the way it worked.
