Happy 30th birthday Lameroo

by Janet Byrne | 19 Nov 2014

Last month, Lameroo Probus Club members celebrated the 30th birthday of the Club by hosting a Friendship Day attended by one hundred people at the Lameroo Hotel. They welcomed representatives  from ten other Probus Clubs, including Loxton Men’s, Loxton Ladies’, Renmark, Berri, Red Cliffs, Tailem Bend, Murray Bridge, Mobilong, Mannum and Strathalbyn.

Home-made biscuits were served for morning and afternoon tea and cold meats and salads with pavlova for dessert were enjoyed at lunch time. The tables looked effective with the blue and yellow Probus colours predominating, together with colourful  floral centrepieces. The large birthday cake – made by Pam Steer, iced by Dymthia McNeilly and  decorated with a large Probus badge - took pride of place.

Lameroo Probus President Pam Steer welcomed local members and visitors, and Pam’s husband Graham Steer was Master of Ceremonies.

Former Lameroo Rotary President Clive Bowman opened proceedings and reflected on Lameroo today compared to Lameroo 50 years ago. He challenged those present to think about how they might encourage people with skills to do “something different” – to think of alternatives – so that rural communities can survive.

Probus member Jim Byrne, whose grandfather was one of  Lameroo’s  pioneers, presented a brief history of Lameroo, discussed the struggles of the very early years and commented that irrigation had been a “shot in the arm” for the area as the potato industry provided employment for many people.

John Ramke provided music for the National Anthem, the Probus Song, the sing-a-longs and background music during lunch. Probus member  Maxine Day gave the blessing prior to lunch.

The birthday cake ceremony took place before lunch so that cake could be shared with the afternoon guest entertainers.  Joyce Traeger (Probus member for 19 years) lit the candles, and Lorna Schulz (Probus member for 20 years) cut the cake.

The afternoon programme included a bracket of songs by the local Sing Australia group with Cathy Miegel, and other musical items were presented  by Lameroo Regional Community students Laura Baker, Bianca Day and Franco Nel.

Special local guests included Geoff Ruchs and his wife Nola, and Bob Huddleston and his wife Lee. Thirty years ago, as a Rotarian, Geoff had been the main instigator of the formation of a Probus Club in Lameroo, and Bob Huddleston had played a major role as he had been Rotary President at that time.

Between the Friendship Day’s programmed items, the room buzzed with friendly chatter and it was rated as an excellent day.