April’s guest speaker was Nev Jones, founder of Tamborine Mountain Psychology.
Nev is prominent in community well-being initiatives and was recognised with a Scenic Rim Business Excellence Award in Health and Wellbeing for supporting the community.
Previously Nev had a 20 year career with the Australian Army as an Intelligence Officer including tours in Timor Leste, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Nev founded Halcyon Woodcraft, a social enterprise delivering free, wellbeing focused, hand tool woodworking workshops to veterans, first responders and people with disabilities. This promotes craft and nature based therapy.
In 2024, Nev was awarded a Churchill Fellowship permitting him to pursue the enterprise’s aims, travelling to meet stakeholders in Japan, USA, and Europe. This informed his psychology practice evolving Halcyon Woodcraft.
Nev illustrated his presentation with slides and examples from his experience including ‘biophilia’, our connection with the natural world.
Probus Personality
Stalwart Tony Gillett was recognised with a 10 Year membership badge. Tony joined Probus to connect with Tamborine Mountain community moving from Brisbane in 2016.
Tony threw himself into Probus including the Golf Group and for eight years, Skeptics Group Convenor where STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) topics are discussed over coffee at St Bernards Hotel.
It’s a sea change from Tony’s profession as government architect and building contractor design manager.
Career highlights include Brisbane Domestic Terminal and lead architect for ATO high rise offices in Townsville and Brisbane.
As design manager for a large national contractor he delivered Queensland Government Correctional Centres, retail and residential projects plus Brisbane Magistrate’s Court. Tony considers Design Liaison for Brisbane’s Kurilpa Pedestrian Bridge linking the City to West End, combining advanced structural engineering with architectural and civic design a particular standout.
Tony work life culminated at a specialist consultancy identifying and treating water supply systems contaminated with Legionella bacteria.
Meetings
Probus meets on the third Wednesday 10am to 12noon each month less December at Vonda Youngman Community Centre.
We offer connection, community and friendship to retired and semi retired men.
If you are interested email membership@tmprobus.au.
