Our meeting on Monday, 2nd December 2024, was attended by 19 members. We began by thanking Bev Lee for her work behind the scenes, which helped me run the program and keep our website updated with meeting notes and the newsletter. She was presented with a jar of jam. A group photo taken by Bev last month, inscribed with the words “U3A Australian Shares 2024,” was distributed to all members.
We discussed scams and fraud, which are particularly concerning over the Christmas period. It is essential to be extremely careful and avoid clicking on links such as “Enter here” or similar wording. The MyGov website is being upgraded, and you should not access it through any links in emails. Instead, go to your stored login page and enter the site in the usual way. Email notifications from MyGov may be scams. Scammers can also raid letterboxes, obtaining full names from correspondence with companies like Link Marketing or Computer Share, and use your Holder Identification Number (HIN) to open bank accounts elsewhere. Most HIN numbers now display only the last four digits as a precaution. To protect against this, ensure you clear your mailbox daily after each postal delivery.
We reviewed the Bendigo Watch List, which I created based on your selections in February across 11 sectors. The list showed a 2% increase in total holding value. Handouts were provided with values as of last Friday. I returned original selection sheets to about six members where names were included. Some selections were unnamed, so those sheets could not be returned.
Margaret J was the winner for “Long Term” selections, with PME showing a $13,162 increase. She received a jar of jam. Les received the wooden spoon for his AGE selection. For the “Real Time Trading” sheet, Les was the winner with a final holding of $14,819 for PME and was also awarded a jar of jam. Peter M will receive his wooden spoon in due course.
We discussed scams and fraud, which are particularly concerning over the Christmas period. It is essential to be extremely careful and avoid clicking on links such as “Enter here” or similar wording. The MyGov website is being upgraded, and you should not access it through any links in emails. Instead, go to your stored login page and enter the site in the usual way. Email notifications from MyGov may be scams. Scammers can also raid letterboxes, obtaining full names from correspondence with companies like Link Marketing or Computer Share, and use your Holder Identification Number (HIN) to open bank accounts elsewhere. Most HIN numbers now display only the last four digits as a precaution. To protect against this, ensure you clear your mailbox daily after each postal delivery.
We reviewed the Bendigo Watch List, which I created based on your selections in February across 11 sectors. The list showed a 2% increase in total holding value. Handouts were provided with values as of last Friday. I returned original selection sheets to about six members where names were included. Some selections were unnamed, so those sheets could not be returned.
Margaret J was the winner for “Long Term” selections, with PME showing a $13,162 increase. She received a jar of jam. Les received the wooden spoon for his AGE selection. For the “Real Time Trading” sheet, Les was the winner with a final holding of $14,819 for PME and was also awarded a jar of jam. Peter M will receive his wooden spoon in due course.
During the mid-afternoon break, we enjoyed shop-bought fruit cake. Although it tasted good and was moist, it fell apart easily.
Graeme had the best performance on the “Short Term Monthly” sheet, finishing with $21,386 for SLC, earning him a jar of jam. Margaret W’s selection of DRO performed poorly over the last four months, earning her the wooden spoon.
Graeme had the best performance on the “Short Term Monthly” sheet, finishing with $21,386 for SLC, earning him a jar of jam. Margaret W’s selection of DRO performed poorly over the last four months, earning her the wooden spoon.
Les and Graeme were awarded gold medals for achieving the highest totals across any of the three sheets. Brent and Colin received silver medals for their holdings, which were in the $15,000 range. Bronze medals went to Margaret J and Neville for holdings in the $13,000 range.
Thanks to Wende for taking photos of the awards throughout the meeting.
Registration for 2025 courses will begin at 9:30 am on Wednesday, 15th January 2025.
Our first meeting of the year will be at 2:00 pm on Monday, 3rd February 2025. Please prepare three selections for review so I can update the spreadsheets. A reminder email will be sent out the Thursday before the meeting, including a list of the top ASX 200 stocks to help guide your selections.
The meeting closed early at 3:15 pm. I hope to have a guest speaker in March to discuss bonds as a form of investing.
Have happy and safe Christmas, and may the new year bring much joy.
Malcolm Sanders
Convenor, Australian Shares and Stock Market
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 0408 194 469
Registration for 2025 courses will begin at 9:30 am on Wednesday, 15th January 2025.
Our first meeting of the year will be at 2:00 pm on Monday, 3rd February 2025. Please prepare three selections for review so I can update the spreadsheets. A reminder email will be sent out the Thursday before the meeting, including a list of the top ASX 200 stocks to help guide your selections.
The meeting closed early at 3:15 pm. I hope to have a guest speaker in March to discuss bonds as a form of investing.
Have happy and safe Christmas, and may the new year bring much joy.
Malcolm Sanders
Convenor, Australian Shares and Stock Market
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 0408 194 469
