History_of_Armadale_Probus_Club_Inc_20200821

Armadale Probus Club Inc.

About Us

The Armadale Probus Club in Melbourne is a combined club (male and female) taking in the City of Stonnington and surrounding suburbs of Caulfield and St. Kilda. Our home is the Prahran RSL Memorial Hall in High St. Prahran. We planned to meet at 10 am on the first Friday of the month, however all face-to-face meetings were postponed under Government direction to control the spread of Coronavirus. We currently meet virtually via Zoom, and it is business as usual in the ‘new normal’.

Our History

In 2016, following a review of the Probus Clubs in the Stonnington area, it was noted that while there were several Probus Clubs in the area (e.g. Melbourne Ladies Probus and Malvern Probus Club, Melbourne Probus Club, and Toorak Men’s Probus), Probus South Pacific Ltd (PSPL) noticed that there was a pent-up demand in the Armadale area for a combined club.

Two key players in the formation of the Armadale Probus Club were John Pennicott (PSPL Ambassador) and Bruce Cameron OAM, Past President of Keilor East Probus Club and past National Probus Treasurer.

With the support of PSPL, a letter box drop was conducted where 6,000 flyers were distributed within the local area in January 2020.

This effort was led by Bruce, who turns 87 in September, and his wife Lois. They tramped the streets letterboxing 1,500 flyers each over two days. Their daughter Julie Loft and son-in-law Robert Loft also distributed 1,500 each.

ARMADALE PROBUS LAUNCH

There’s a surprising story behind the successful launch of Armadale Probus by Malvern Rotary – the sponsor of the Armadale Probus Club. After the letterbox drop, an interest meeting was held at the German Club Tivoli on 7th February 2020, and the ARMADALE PROBUS CLUB was formed.

There were 90 people at this launch meeting and 39 active retirees signed up straight away, and the Management Committee and Officers were elected. Membership is now some 60 members, with another 60 potential members when life returns to the ‘new normal’.

“I think that job will be my last Probus launch,” says Bruce – he’s previously launched 10 Probus clubs. “My ability to walk vast distances and deliver these flyers is getting limited.”

The first meeting of the Club was on March 6 at the German Club Tivoli where several necessary resolutions were passed, and it was decided for economic reasons to move the club meetings to Prahran RSL Memorial Hall.

However, by mid-March the Coronavirus pandemic was upon us and from there on all meetings were virtual meetings by Zoom, and while there were some limitations, we were successful in holding our first Annual General Meeting and passing many essential resolutions including our incorporation. We have continued our activities such as coffee chats, ‘Happy Hour’ get togethers by Zoom, and three walking groups (pairs) to maintain our exercise routines and connections.

The future?

We look forward to when the pandemic is over and we can commence an active program of meeting and outings.

Noel Tresider AM – Foundation President