Cluster 9’s First-Ever Open Day

13 Jan 2026

On 1 October 2025, Cluster 9 made history by creating and hosting the first-ever Cluster Open Day.

The event was supported by eight clubs: Crows Nest, Cremorne, Mosman, Neutral Bay, Northbridge, North Sydney, Waverton, and Wollstonecraft.

It is true what they say: “Opportunity is the size of a gnat as it comes towards you, and the size of a double-decker bus as it goes past you.”

The journey began three months before the event, with little more than an idea and a group of enthusiastic, can-do Cluster representatives. By 1 October, the event had attracted 121 registrations from potential new Probus members.

The event was energised from the start with the music Born to Be Alive—because they are!

They retire from work, not life, and the goal was to show attendees how they could fill the gaps in their lives and social calendars.

The guest speaker, Paul Kearney, was specifically chosen for his energy and his content—songs from the 60s.

It was amazing how many of the words people could recall, and before long some were up dancing and reminiscing to the familiar sounds of The Beatles, The Animals, and The Hollies, to name a few.

Apart from nine registrations, all event registrations were linked to clubs offering a “special invitation” to attend a meeting—that is 112 potential new members.

Imagine having the “problem” of receiving over 20 referrals for potential membership to a club, because this is exactly what happened to a couple of the clubs in the Cluster.

For those clubs struggling to attract new members, this may be part of the answer.

Each club had its own table at the event, and attendees were encouraged to “visit the tables.”

They were enticed with luscious cakes and welcoming volunteers who answered questions about their clubs and, of course, encouraged attendees to “come along to the next Probus Club meeting.”

October was already an exciting month as Probus Month, with many activities to celebrate.

For the clubs in Cluster 9, there was the added bonus of visitors attending meetings with the potential to become new members.