Five star outing

23 Nov 2022

During the month of October, five Probus Clubs of Bathurst collaborated to celebrate Probus Day with a Friendship High Tea at the elegant venue Keystone 1889 in Bathurst.

L-R: Petah Burns, President – Bathurst Probus Ladies’ Club, Ingrid Pearson, President – Bathurst Combined Probus Club, Bathurst Regional Council Mayor, Cr Robert Taylor, Richard Hurford, President  - Probus Club of Bathurst Inc., Marilyn Dickenson, President – Probus Club of Macquarie, Brian Hanrahan, Vice President of Probus Club of Bathurst Plains. [image: Matthew Watson, Western Advocate]

The following Probus Clubs were represented: Bathurst Probus Club, Bathurst Ladies’ Probus Club, the Probus Club of Macquarie, Bathurst Combined Probus Club, and the Probus Club of Bathurst Plains.

The Mayor of Bathurst Regional Council, Cr Robert Taylor was in attendance for the whole event. He gave a short address, acknowledging the importance of community events such as this bringing people together. He also shared fond memories of the building he knew as a Masonic Centre and dance school where he learned to tap dance.

The registration table and high tea table settings, beautifully decorated wreaths in Probus colours of ivy, Banksia roses, rosemary, and yellow daisies from members’ gardens, were supplemented by colourful Probus balloons around the room.

Members from different Probus Clubs sat together to create new friendships, and in some cases, reconnect, and have fun. The place was filled with a hum of goodwill, laughter, and applause for speakers and performers.

Bathurst Ladies’ Probus Club performed a skit of Three Little Maids from the Mikado, ably directed by Petah Burns. Paul Chapman spread his bush poetry over two segments, cleverly transforming Clancy of the Overflow into contemporary digital era verse and finishing off with poetry about his travels. The afternoon’s entertainment was concluded by classical opera arias performed by Monique Grima, Mitchell Conservatorium Concerto Award Winner 2022 – a young soprano with a promising career ahead of her.

A lucky door prize was drawn and handed to Barbara Pozza by the Mayor. Prizes for Best Probus Theme Dressed Lady went to Miriam Ledger, and Best Probus Theme Dressed Gentleman went to Michael Hardie.

There were plenty of smiles at the end of the event.

Probus Clubs of Bathurst committee members can be duly proud of what the collaboration has achieved to celebrate Probus Day 2022.