CollinsPlus
E-news
Edition 3. April
2005.
Editor: Barbara Collins
You can send news at any time to The
Editor. A reminder email will be sent out a little while before each edition is
due. So please keep the newsletter in mind whenever anything happens in your
family that you would like to tell everyone about!
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All about ……. Cathy Zoch |
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Website
News
Have you had a look around in the
CollinsPlus website recently? The address is www.collinsplus.com.
The Family Tree has been updated as of April 2005. See Collins
Family Tree. Sophie has been added to the tree as the wife of Andrew Teres.
See Teres Family below.
Whose bios are new on the website this month? Cathy Zoch (nee Collins). Cathy is also the featured family member in this newsletter. Now we just need Jessica and John’s bios and this generation of Zochs will be complete! In 2005, I’m hoping to fill in all the missing bio links.
Updating your bios! If you already have your biography on the website, check and see if you would like to add anything to it. Just send me the addition and any photos you would like to include.
Family
Tree contacts
Peter Deacon
Help – I’ve lost Peter. After his shift of home and
career, emails to him are bouncing back. If anyone has any way of contacting
Peter, please make contact.
Go to Collins
Family in CollinsPlus
Website
Social Events
Last Family Lunch (and Judy’s 50th and Renato birthday too!)
Last lunch was at Con’s place on 20th
March. It served 2 other purposes as well as being a family get together.
It was Judy’s 50th birthday AND Renato’s
43rd birthday. Judy and Renato cooked up a storm and treated the
family, and some special friends, to a great BBQ. The weather was spectacular
and it was great to see everybody there. Elise had a birthday coming up on the
weekend after the event and she was invited to help cut the birthday cake.
Check out some more
pictures here.
Next Family Lunch
Sunday 26th June. Pop the date
in your diary now and suggestions for a venue are very welcome!
Easter Sunday
Con, Judy, Renato, Bear and
Barbara trooped off to have Easter Sunday lunch with Bridget at Gregory Lodge.
Because Bridget’s room now faces out on a courtyard with a BBQ and sailcloth,
we were able to set ourselves up there for a lovely Easter lunch. Here is
Bridget enjoying a pre lunch shandy and
click here for more pictures:
Con Collins
Con is ground zero man and patron of this website. Go to Con
Collins page in CollinsPlus website.
Con has
had a suspicious sample taken from his back on 6/4/05 and will find
out in a week if it is a melanoma. Other than that, he says he has is just
spending his time bowling and enjoying his Foxtel.
Bridget Collins
Bridget (nee Lennon) is wife of Con Collins.
Bridget’s
new room at Gregory Lodge Nursing Home is lovely. She has a door that opens out
onto a peaceful courtyard which is her “backyard”. She seems to enjoy sitting
quietly at times just looking out into the courtyard. It’s the only room with
this configuration so thanks to Judy for campaigning for so long to make sure
Bridget got it. Click here for pictures of her room.
Barbara Collins
Paul Teres is partner to Barbara Collins, firstborn daughter
of Con Collins. Go to Teres
Family in CollinsPlus Website.
Barbara has been flat out like a lizard
working on things pictorial for both the newsletter and CD keepsakes for Paul’s
60th and Judy’s 50th. Add in Andrew and Sophie’s wedding,
Easter, Avon and keeping fit and Barbara is wondering how on earth she ever
worked full time!
Graham Collins
Graham is the only son of Con Collins. Go to Graham
Collins page in CollinsPlus website.
Graham took part and won a golf tournament called 'Survival'. It's
held over three days. He has been trying to win this for about 20 Years. It’s a
weekend at Yarrawonga and they play up a bit, hence the name 'Survival'. Funny
thing though, this is the first year that he didn’t do the handicapping!
Darcy Collins
(Darcy is the fourth born son of Graham Collins who is first born son of Con Collins and Joelle Collins nee Curie)
Darcy has been on a 10 day school excursion to Central Australia.
Carly Collins
(Carly is the only
daughter of Graham Collins who is first born son of Con Collins)
Carly’s life is never dull! This month,
she has had her car stolen – and found. She reports “And about my car, well,
here's the story!!! Dad noticed my car gone on Saturday morning, and as I was
at Phillip Island with a friend, he thought I had driven my car, and that’s why
my car wasn't there. But when I told him we took my friend Lainie’s car, he
noticed the shattered glass in the gutter and realised my car must have been
stolen! I couldn't believe it! Luckily I do have insurance. We made the claims
and police reports, and then get a call from the police on Saturday night,
telling me they found my car dumped with another VN Commodore, at the
Mooroolbark Community Centre! (which is about 25mins from our place). It’s
being assessed on Monday. I've got a cool little rental car to drive in the
meantime. It’s a new Corolla Ascent!
(Carly sent further news on her
car “Hey, they didn’t steal anything from my car!!! I was really surprised
about
that! Thought at least my stereo
would be gone!! So clearly they just took it for a joy ride. There were only a
few minor things inside the car to be fixed, plus the broken window and under
the steering wheel where they hot wired it. We still haven’t heard back from
the guys doing the mechanical check! They said it didn't look like there would
be much mechanical damage, so it really shouldn't be too long before I get it
back -hopefully!!)
I also got a new job at a fitness
equipment company, and I am working as a sales consultant. They also do
personal training there, so I’m hoping I can work my way into that side of
things once I've been there a while! I’m just happy that I finally got a job in
the fitness industry!
Wade Collins
(Wade is the third son of
Graham Collins who is first son of Con Collins)
Wade has settled in
at uni*. He says that he is a little bit too settled at times but he’s trying
to keep up!
He’s also playing
footy for Aquinas U/19s. The season starts on the 16/4 and he can’t wait!
*Wade is doing a
Batchelor of Commerce, majoring in Sports Management, at Deakin.
Tyson Collins
(Tyson is the second son of Graham Collins who is first son of Con
Collins)
Tyson says that his
new job is going great, a lot better than what he thought it would be -
challenging but pretty cruisy with a lot of ownership in the role which he
loves. He’s really enjoying it.
Footy is going well
with Round 1 last weekend at Mitcham Football Ground against East Burwood.
(Tyson reports that he survived the first game – just. He got knocked out for a
couple of seconds, got a really sore jaw, and got hit in the nose - which is a
bit swollen now - in another incident. On Saturday night he was sick as a dog,
probably with delayed concussion. However, he is feeling OK today (9/4) and is
ready to do it all over again next Saturday.)
His investment property
is all organised now and all he has to worry about it paying for it! However,
being the first in his group of friends to be a property investor, Tyson thinks
a few of his mates might be inspired to follow suite! Click here to see Tyson’s investment property!
Brenton Collins
(Brenton is the first son of
Graham Collins who is first son of Con Collins)
Brenton says that he
is playing competition pool again. He was going to sit this year out, but the club
asked if he could come and help out the 2nd Division Team. They have tempted
him back by paying his registration fees, weekly fees and provided him with
free drinks each week. It's already four weeks into the season and the team is
in 5th spot. His first game will be this week (beginning 4/4). He is hoping he
can help get them into the finals (Top 4).
Driving fine update:
In February, Brenton
reported that three members of his family received speeding fines and that he
had to run them through his safe driving program. A little bird had reported
that Brenton has now also received a speeding fine. Brenton, Brenton, Brenton –
time to take your own safe driving course?????
Good news
Brenton cooked tea
for the family recently - a Carbonara pasta dish. Reports are that it tasted
great, and that everyone survived.
The Bill Collins Family
Bill Collins was the only brother of Con Collins. Kath is Bill’s wife. Go to Bill Collins page for more information on this family.
Aunty Kath has caught us up on the news
from the Bill Collins family:
The sad news of the death of Holy Father
brought back memories for Aunty Kath as it was only a year ago (7th April 04)
that she had the privilege of meeting him. She was sad but also glad, as I’m
sure we all are, that his suffering has come to an end. She says “What a gift
it was for me to be there on 7th April last year. Amazing. He sure taught
us many things, including the ability to cope with suffering and dying with
dignity. Imagine being in Italy this week. It is interesting watching the
Vatican - I can recall the streets nearby as you turn into the Vatican
area. There was so much I did not see it would be great to go back if I
could be on a rocket and get there in a few hours!!!
Rebecca may be doing 'Pubs U.K.' Since
she is just 18 she was told in the interview they actually prefer girls a
little older, however, it may come to pass this coming June. Pubs U.K., as I
understand it, is where one travels from Australia, all paid for etc. prior to
leaving and the person is placed in a pub in U.K. You stay at that pub for
3 months and receive your board and food and pay (which is not a huge amount).
This extends for 3 months and, if she goes, Rebecca wishes to extend her travel
with the money she has earned and perhaps have a look at Greek Isles. She
is ever so keen to pop across to France for a weekend as she is doing French in
her university course. A girl with whom she went to Genazzano will be in U.K.
at that time, and also another lady we know will be in London in
July. This lady is a delightful woman with a great sense of humour
and it is great to know she would look up Rebecca. A woman with whom
Michaela went to school in N.Z. lives in London and they are trying to make
contact. It is all so interesting and different. As kids we travelled from the
country to Melbourne* and thought it was a big deal.
Marg had a little shoulder surgery after a
fall in 'kinder' but she is O.K. and with the time off including the Easter
break and the school holidays, she will be back on track.
*Aunty Kath lived in Wycheproof, Victoria, when she was growing up.
The Zoch Family
Catherine Zoch is the 4th girl in the Con and Bridget
Collins Family. She is married to John Zoch. Go to Zoch Family
page.
Cathy has not really enjoyed her torn
Achilles adventure. Having your leg in plaster when you are a busy mum and
valued employee is not easy. Luckily, Cathy’s family – John, Jessica and Elise
– have been extremely helpful, but will be happy when everything is back to
normal. For the last few weeks, she has been in a special ‘boot’ which means
she can move around more now with the aid of crutches. You’ll see he in the
pictures of the Family Get together/birthday on 20/3.
Cathy, however, did not allow this to deter
her from going on an annual camping trip to Tocumwal with a group of other
families - although she was also very glad to come home again.
Elise says the holiday at Easter was great fun! She says “We only went swimming on the Saturday and Sunday! The water was freezing but I still went in and if I didn't, all my friends would splash me or throw me in anyway.
On Sunday we went to the market and it was stinking hot - 32°C!!!!
The boat was there but I didn't go on. I did go on the donut and 100metres down we went over a wake (wave) and I fell off!
It was fun at night time because I stayed with my friends and I stayed awake on Saturday night until 2:30am and got my present off Jess. So yeah that was fun!!
I got into the Backstage Crew. That works all the lights and sounds for the production! So I'm happy about that.
I'm going away with my girlfriend to Phillip Island so that should be lots of fun too. I think we’re staying at the same place Graham goes to at Christmas. We might go see the Penguin Parade and that will be cute.”
Jessica will be in her school play again this year. She has
been caste in the role of the mother of the Lost Boys. Last year, she shone in
the dual role of Mother/Aunt Petunia. Can’t wait to see the new production!
Jessica has also picked up a job at a Video Ezy store and is looking forward to
earning some money in an environment she loves!
The Cabrera Family
Judith
(nee Collins) is married to Renato Cabrera. Go to Cabrera
Family page.
Judi and Renato would like to thank
everyone for making their birthday celebration a great day. They had a
wonderful time and loved seeing all the family together. They want to
thank everybody for their wonderful gifts.
Judy has two mornings
of permanent casual work at Bil Lo - aside from any other casual work she
might get - and it's 6am to 10am
Tuesdays and Thursdays. She does not know what has hit her having to get up at
5am in the morning, but she loves the shift because she has the rest of the day
to do other things.
Renato started his new job (same employers
though) and he is loving it. It is a sort of promotion looking after two
very exclusive buildings. He was brought in as the best man for the job, where
he is in charge and mainly only does caretaking/maintenance. He is loving
it so far and they are rapt with his ability which is why they picked him in
the first place.
Judy says “We had a great night out at our
friend’s place who most of you would know - Angie and Max, together with other
friends, Mary and Ross. It was a formal dinner party which turned into one of
Max's trivia music nights. It's the best fun. We went on into the wee hours of
3.30am in the morning. Aside from that just been to the movies and out
for dinner.
Now that we've been on our holiday to South
Australia, got over our Wedding Anniversary of 5 years, celebrated our
birthdays and over indulged at Easter. We are just sitting back
and not doing much for the time being.”
The McManus Family
Ellen (Helen) McManus nee Lennon was Bridget’s eldest sister. Margaret
Martin, Kevin McManus and Patricia Young are children of Ellen and Pat McManus.
Go to McManus
Family Page.
Margaret
Martin (nee McManus)
Margaret
recently visited Cath O'Brien in Kyabram and she gave Margaret me a copy of her
parent's wedding photo. See below. Cath said her Dad, Michael O’Brien, came on the
ship Manuka in 1912. It was a New Zealand ship and maybe it docked in Auckland
and he came by another ship to Australia.
Taken
on 19/10/1927 at St Monica’s, Moonee Ponds, Melbourne. Peter
O’Brien, Catherine Mulhall, Mike O’Brien, Annie Mulhall
Margaret
is also in contact with a cousin on the McManus side of the family, Peter
Dowling. He is providing her with a lot of information for the McManus family
tree and keeping her very busy!
Kevin McManus
Kevin has
finally received Nanny Lennon's birth certificate from Ireland. (That’s
Helen and Bridget’s Mum). She was born as we knew on 14th June 1895. The
certificate mentions her father as Sylvester Brien and her mother as formerly
Margaret Hughes. Perhaps the ‘O'Brien’ was just used in Australia. (See
Margaret’s reference to O’Brien family in previous paragraphs).
Kevin
says that there is not a lot happening at the moment at his place but with
three kids at uni the house seems to be open night and day!
Patricia
Young nee McManus
Patricia has been married to
Marshall Young for 23 years and they have three sons.
Patricia teaches French and
History in a Catholic Secondary College in the South East of Melbourne and has
coincidentally taught Max Gough some history in 2004. Marshall works at a
Council in the South East and has always enjoyed being involved in the boys
sporting pursuits. Patricia promises to send some pictures in the near future.
The Teres Family
Paul Teres is
partner to Barbara Collins, daughter of Con Collins. Go to Teres Family
page.
On March
19th, Paul’s son, Andrew, married Sophie Lloyd at St John’s Church
in Toorak.
It was a perfect
day with the weather in the mid 20s and no wind. The church, as you can see by
the pictures, was candle lit and oozed with tradition, making a picturesque
backdrop for photos. The reception was held at the Kooyong Tennis Centre where
the two families and their friends helped Sophie and Andrew celebrate their
union. The setting, food and wine, speeches and general ambience all made for a
memorable evening. Noteworthy memories were the Bridal Rumba, the groom’s socks
(Hawthorn of course) and Andrew gently removing the garter from his bride’s leg
before tossing it into the group of eligible bachelors. (Male version of
tossing the bridal bouquet).
Andrew’s
grandmother, Pauline, made the trip, with Paul, down from Queensland and really
enjoyed her time at the wedding.
Click here to view some of the pictures from the
wedding.
Lisa Teres has changed her job and
her address. She has moved from the Mordialloc area to East Kew so she is now
much closer to the rest of the family. She has also commenced a new job as a
specialist recruitment officer – specifically in the accountancy area.
Each newsletter, there is a featured family
member. This month, the featured CollinsPlus member is Cathy Zoch. She is
the fifth and youngest child (4th daughter) of Con Collins.
Cathy Zoch (nee Collins) 26 September 1964
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Carly Collins
Only daughter of Graham Collins who is only son of Con
Collins.
Carly
is doing a Personal Training course at Box Hill Institute of TAFE.
CARLY'S APRIL
HEALTH TIP
GUIDELINES TO A VERY HEALTHY
LIFE
1.
Become "fat" conscious. Try and limit fat consumption at all times.
2. Eat 7 pieces of fruit and vegetables a day.
3. Ensure 30 grams of fibre is consumed daily. Eating 7
fruit/vegetables a day will give 20 grams, and a cereal and one sandwich will
give 30 grams all up.
4. 30 grams of fibre will ensure sufficient anti-oxidants are
consumed to counteract the effects of free radicals, which are associated with
ageing, heart disease and cancer.
5. Try to include protein in your diet as much as you can, as this
gives your stomach a full feeling, therefore you will not feel the need to eat
or snack as often.
6. If cooking with oil, use olive oil. Studies have shown that
nationalities that cook with olive oil (Greeks and Italians) have a lower
incidence of heart disease.
7. Drink 6 glasses of water a day.
8. Take 500 mgs of Vitamin C and 400 mgs of Vitamin E daily.
9. Eat 2 red meat dishes per week and at least 1 fish meal per week.
If these guidelines are followed, along with regular exercise, you
will be leading a very healthy life!! There is no need for crash diets or
starving yourself, as this only leads to health problems in the future. Such as
the "Plateau Effect" and the "Yo-Yo Syndrome". More on
those next time!
Happy birthday to: Mary Gough (nee
Collins).
Click here for
your a birthday card - 
What type of employee are you? (Maybe not
so funny!!!!). Click here.
Try this optical
illusion – it’s really good. Thanks Graham.
These
are supposed to be real answers to real questions. The questions, about
Australia, are from potential visitors. I’ve been told they were posted on an
Australian Tourism Website and the answers are the actual responses by the
website officials, who obviously have a sense of humour.
All websites featured in this newsletter are archived on the Links Page of the CollinsPlus site for future reference.
The
Puzzle Factory
Full of all sorts of colourful puzzles
and games! Get your mind working by visiting this site.
So you are going to need about a million
dollars – that’s $1,000,000 (in today’s dollars) to retire as a couple in basic
comfort. I can hear you say “What!!!!” So if you missed the article on this,
see last month’s newsletter. Go to Cool Links.
Easy
money! Want some?
I’ve come across a website where you fill
in surveys and get paid! I’ve been with them for a couple of years now so can
vouch for their authenticity. They just send you an email when a survey comes
up where you might be a potential consumer. You answer a few questions to
determine your eligibility. Even if you don’t qualify to do the survey, you get
$1 credited to your account. Most surveys are worth between $3 and $5. Doesn’t
sound much? It only takes you a few minutes and the dollars mount up. You can
use the money you earn for movie tickets (that’s what I’ve used mine on to
date), petrol, other bits and pieces or have it put directly in to your bank
account. If you are interested, I will send you the information and you can
have a read and see if it’s something you would like to do.
More money for nothing!
In one year you could have
an extra $2500 (made up of your $1000 and the $1500 the government will GIVE
you) in your super by saving only $20 a week. By the time you are 60, that
$2500 will be worth about $40,000.
And all you have done is save $20 a
week for ONE year
now.
If you do it for more than
one year, you will have a LOT more money of course.
This supposes that you are about 20, earn
less than $28,000 a year and are prepared to put an extra $1000 into
superannuation in one financial year – but you can still gain, even if you are
earning up to $58,000 –read the article below!)
Do you earn $58,000 or less a year? Did you
know the government might give you up to $1500 a year – directly into your
superannuation (helps towards saving that $1,000,000 you’ll need in
retirement!). How? Well, read this. It’s on the Australian Taxation Department
website. http://www.ato.gov.au/print.asp?doc=/content/42616.htm
Congratulations this month to ….
ü Judy Cabrera nee Collins on turning 50
ü Renato Cabrera on his promotion
üAndrew (Teres) and Sophie on their
recent marriage
üBridget
on her cool new room
üLisa (Teres) on her new digs in Kew East
üLisa
(Teres) on her new specialist recruitment job
üCarly
Collins on her new job in the fitness industry
üGraham
Collins on winning the Survival Golf Tournament
üJessica
(Zoch) for being caste in her school play
Passing on
this newsletter
Pass this newsletter on to people in your family who have not seen it yet. They
might like to become involved as well. All they need to do is email and say
they would like to be on the site, and they will be sent information. If you
want to send this newsletter to an extended family member, this is how you can
do it.
- Go to File in the Toolbar
- Go to Send to
- Go to Send – link by email (or similar wording)
An email will come up with the link in it and you just have to put in the email
address of the person you want to send it to!