Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Probus in NZ
Combined Probus Club of Hutt - the first 25 years
The Combined Probus Club of Hutt is a flourishing and extremely active Club.
The current membership is 147 with an additional 14 Social members, who like to keep in touch through Newsletters and other notices.
Over 1,100 photos, all entered into albums with events and members named, give easy access to the history of the Club. 5 members of the Club have been honoured with Life Membership recognizing the significant contribution that each has made to the club.
The Speaker coordinators have organised a very balanced programme of excellent Speakers. Monthly “Life and Times” speakers are always a highlight and give a great indication of the diversity, backgrounds, careers and interests of our members.
Club Outings have been a main feature of our Club and these have been extremely diverse. In addition to local places of interest, we have visited: Chatham Islands (twice), Rangipo Underground Power Station, Clydesdales farm (towed round the paddock on a sled drawn by the Clydesdales!) Recycling Centre, Ostrich Farm, Movie Centre, Kapiti (twice) and Mana Islands, Vineyards, Olive Groves, Life Flight Rescue Centre, NZRAF Ohakea, Police dog obedience training centre, Nga Manu, major grocery chain warehouse, a large garden railway, Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre, Vintage Aviator Museum, Alpaca Farm, Stonehenge – the list goes on!
The Club has 21 Interest groups and these, undoubtedly, add to the involvement of members. The 3 walking groups dominate the list “A walk for everyone” being the theme. There have been many trips away covering a considerable “hiking mileage” in both the North and South Islands. The most major one probably being the Queen Charlotte Sounds Track.
Other popular groups include: Music Appreciation (2) Book Group (2) Travel, Movies, Arts and Crafts (2) Lunch (3) Current Affairs Discussion, and Petanque. “Dinner for 8 on the 8th (which can involve 20 – 30 members) is a very popular group. The Gardening group has visited many significant gardens, shared Cuttings and solved various gardening problems.
A visit to an “out of town” Nursery was very popular with the
Gardening group!
The Annual Picnic, held in January and organised for many years by Bill Soeberg is legendary and a highlight of the year. Run with a theme and including fun team games, the competitions and Prize Giving are not to be missed!
Picnic Theme “At the Races” Jockeys will soon be in line waiting
for the starting gun!
Similarly, the Mid-Winter Lunch, (now focusing on Matariki), and Christmas Lunch are very well attended. Different themes with the invitation on several occasions to “dress up”.
“Alice in Wonderland” was the theme for this Mid-Winter Lunch
There have been several well supported “Club trips” involving coach travel and nights away over the years but the 48 members fortunate to go on any of the 3 trips organised by Kirby Taylor in recent years, are unlikely forget the really memorable experiences.
The “Wairarapa Experience” “Top of the South” and “Napier Experience” were all highly organised, with great attention to detail and incorporated visits to many places of interest and beauty.
Some of the 48 members who dressed appropriately for an
Art Deco themed Dinner at the Hawkes Bay Club.
This photo was the winning photo when “Active” magazine
held a photographic competition with the theme “Keeping Active
and Having Fun”
It was an extremely appropriate theme for the Combined Probus
Club of Hutt.
forever: “ACTIVE and having FUN”!
Jaye Howey
February 2024
To see the full NZ Probus 50th Anniversary Publication by PSPL:
History_Book_Final_300925__compressed.pdf
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