Article from Ernie Brigham
What a wonderful reason to get together! Fifty years of Probus in Australia is a milestone worth celebrating, and Seymour Probus did just that with a special birthday luncheon filled with friendship, fellowship and happy memories.
It all began in 1976, when the first Probus Club in Australia was established at Hunters Hill in Sydney. Little could those early members have imagined just how much their idea would grow. Today, Australia is home to 1,578 Probus clubs with approximately 114,000 members. In Victoria, 386 registered clubs bring together more than 90,000 members.
That is an awful lot of friendships!
Seymour Probus, formed in August 1993, celebrated this special occasion with a birthday luncheon on Thursday 22 October at the Seymour Senior Citizens Hall. Members from Broadford, Kilmore and Yea were also invited, making it a lovely opportunity for Probus friends from neighbouring towns to come together and celebrate.
A representative of the Probus Association of Victoria (PAV) and his wife, Sandy, were delighted to attend, with the representative honoured to be invited as the guest speaker.
The presentation covered the work of the Probus Association of Victoria and the guest speaker’s role as its webmaster. He explained how the website and other digital resources help keep members informed, share information and support clubs. He also spoke about his involvement with the website of his own Probus club.
Of course, computers and websites are important, but we must never lose sight of what really matters — the people behind the clubs and the friendships built along the way.
The guest speaker also had the pleasure of reading an article he had written entitled “What’s It Like to Be a Member of Probus?” It was wonderful to share these thoughts with everyone, and the warm reception was greatly appreciated.
One of the lovely things about visiting another Probus club is discovering that, although every club has its own personality, they all share the same spirit. Members enjoy getting together, organising outings, hearing interesting speakers, trying new activities and, most importantly, having a good chat and a laugh with friends.
Seymour Probus currently has 46 members, including Life Member Ron Fullerton, who was part of the original formation committee in 1993. It was particularly special to acknowledge Ron and the part he played in establishing the club all those years ago. People like Ron remind everyone that every successful club has a story, built by members who give their time, enthusiasm and friendship.
Time spent with the Seymour members was a reminder that Probus is about so much more than a monthly meeting. It gives people something to look forward to, opportunities to make new friends and the chance to share experiences with others who enjoy life just as much.
And isn’t that what everyone wants?
After 50 years, Probus continues to bring people together, creating friendships that might never have happened without that first meeting. From Hunters Hill in 1976 to clubs in towns and communities right across Australia, the idea remains beautifully simple: bring people together and enjoy life.
A big thank you went to Seymour Probus for inviting the guest speaker and Sandy to share in this special celebration. They thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone and being part of such a memorable occasion.
Happy 50th birthday, Probus Australia!
Here’s to the friendships already made, the adventures still to come, and many more years of Fun and Friendship.
Because, at the end of the day, that is what Probus is all about!
A special thank you was extended to Seymour Probus President Roger Mansbridge, Secretary Jenny Phillips and Treasurer Robyn Nutchins.
