PROBUS SEMINAR ~ OCTOBER 1997

                                                                         (COLAC HERALD REPORTS)

A near capaity attendance of 310 Probus members have enrolled for Monday's annual seminar to be held in Colac. This will include delegates fromsome 59 clubs throughout the district. A Civic reception for the 60 guests will be hosted by the Colac Otway Shire at the RSL Hall on Sunday evening abd the Mayor, Cr John Kennett will officially open the seminar on Monday Morning

                             PROBUS A GREAT SUCCESS IN COLAC

 

 

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  MESSAGE FROM THE CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN                          

On October 20th 1997, Trinity College Hall Colac will be invaded by over 300 Probus members from District 9780. District 9780 covers South West Victoria from Geelong in the East to Millicent South Australia in the west and as far north as Swan Hill.

Each Year Probus holds it's Annual Conference within the area. At the Annual Conference held at Maryborough in 1995 Colac was nominated as the host Club for this year's seminar.

There are three Probus Clubs in Colac with a total membership of around 350 members. The first Probus club to be formed in Colac was called the Probus Club of Colac . It was formed with male members only in August 1985 and has a present membership of 120. The Ladies Probus Club of Colac was formed in April 1987 and has a present membership of 120.The Colac Otway Probus Club was formed in October 1994 and has a present membership of 110.

A committee was formed from the three clubs in July 1996 to arrange the running of the seminar. With such a large influx of people to the city, the task of organising such a functionhas been no small feat.Many hours of meetings have taken place to make sure we present Colac as a worthy host and I am sure the effort will be rewardedon the day.

We have set a very interesting and entertaining agenda. with three very high profile speakers being Pam Cuthbertson, David Marriner and Roy Knudson who will speak on a broad range of subjects.

The Colac Visitor Information centre have been very supportive towards our requirements and will be in attendance with a display along with a woodwork display of Otway Blackwood.

What is Probusds? = Probus is an organisation sponsored by Rotary entirely for fellowship and friendshipwith no allegiance to political or religous parties. Probus governing bodyid the Probus Centre South Paific Inc.hich is for the purposw to encourage and assist Probus Clubs and their requirements.

The world's first Probus Club was founded in Caterham, United Kingdom in 1966 by a man named Harold Blanchard. The first Australian Probus Club was formed by Peter German of the Rotary Club of Hunter's Hill. New South Wales on February 3, 1976.

Probus Club membership is open to both males and females over the age of 60 years and consists of retired professional and business people. There are 1855 Probus clubs in Australiawith approximately 155,000 members and 441 Probus Clubs in Victoria.

My commottee is grateful for the assistance we have received from the Colac Herald and the Colac Otway Shire which are providing a civic receptionfor the members who are staying overnight and also to the Returned Service's League for their help

Evan Robb

Conference Chairman