President Taurie Lalor welcomed the 321 guests and thanked them for their support along with all the businesses and Nelson Bay Bowling Club where the event was held on October 17.

In its 16^th year, the breakfast is one of two major fundraisers the group held annually – the other being a golf day in March.

Proceeds from the breakfast amounted to more than $10,000 with all funds going towards the work the not-for-profit group’s members undertake to support breast cancer patients on the Tomaree Peninsula.

Guest speaker Sister Diana Santleben held the attention of the guests with her inspiring talk on her passion to educate refugee women living in the Newcastle area.

Sister Di, who is often called Newcastle hero, is the founder of Zara’s House at Jesmond where newly arrived refugee women and their children can connect with the local community.

Syrian, Afghani and African women learn English and develop literacy competence in their mother tongue at Zara’s House which is close to the homes of many refugee families.

The morning finished with the popular giant raffle for which tickets were also sold out.

More than 70 prizes were donated by local businesses, the community and members were up for grabs.

For more information about the Tomaree Breast Cancer Support Group phone 0431 864 778.

Send your community news to portstephens@fairfaxmedia.com.au.

On October 14, 27 members and friends of the Probus Club of Port Stephens departed Nelson Bay for a six day adventure to Yamba. 

After settling in at the Aston Motel, they enjoyed dinner at the bowling club and met two couples from other Probus clubs who joined them for the four days of touring the district.

First up on the agenda was a tour of Yamba’s beaches and township, and included a visit to Yamba Museum, a drive through the sugar cane fields to the Emu and Ostrich Farm at Tullymorgan, where all enjoyed an entertaining talk and barbecue lunch, returning to Yamba via Harwood Island.

The next day saw the group tour Woodford Island and the river town of Lawrence, boarding the car ferry before a visit to the 2NR radio museum which was packed with timeless artefacts. A demonstration by a blacksmith was followed by a delicious lunch at the Lawrence Tavern.

The next morning the coach took the group to Angourie for a walk to the beautiful fresh water blue and green pools carved out of solid rock in the backdrop of the Yuraygir National Park then onto the Scottish town of Maclean for a tour and morning tea at Botero Coffee. 

After lunch, members boarded the MV Mirigini for a two hour relaxing cruise of the mighty Clarence River, stopping at Iluka, before arriving back in Yamba.

The last day of this very busy but wet jaunt, they travelled to the Jacaranda City city of Grafton.

A highlight was a stop at the Olive Farm on Carrs Peninsula, where they were entertained by bush poet Bill Kearns who had everyone in stitches with his rendition of the senior citizens visiting the Parkes Elvis Festival.

After another short stop at Alumy Creek School, they returned to Grafton for a scrumptious lunch of prawns and chicken, before returning to Yamba for farewell dinner by the river.

Home by train and coach after a few very enjoyable days where closer and new friendships were formed with laughter and joke telling in their spare time.

Robyn Pierpoint reported that at no time did the inclement weather interfere with their enjoyment of this holiday, which epitomised the Probus motto of friendship, fellowship and fun.