Our Club was established in 1984, by a group of ex-Rotary members, to provide a social environment for retirees to meet.
Originally, it was for PROfessional and BUSiness people (hence the name) but today it is open to all retirees – and semi-retirees. It is different to Rotary in that it is not a service club and does not engage in fundraising.
History
Let’s look at the 1st decade 1984-1994.
What we know comes from Bulletin #100 March 1993 which lists Officers and Committee during that period.
Remarkably, we still have a past President from that period - Nick Elton (#9), with us and still a member. Brian Hayne was also a President (#4) and his wife Mary Hayne, remains a member. Our current co-Newsletter editor, Eric Trown was then newsletter editor for Mundaring Rotary and recalls that a Committee was formed to sponsor the formation of Mundaring Probus.
The Club was established as a men’s only club so it was similar to Rotary Clubs. These former, retired Rotary members who formed the first Officers and Committee were:
President: Norman Walsh
Vice President: John Morgan
Hon Treasurer: Norman Savage
Hon Secretary: Alan Mcleod
Committee: Fred Goodwin and Alan Jordan
No women are listed as holding any office (as per list of Office Bearers appearing in Bulletin 100)
The members met at the Octagonal Hall in Glen Forrest on 2nd Monday of every month
Co-incidentally, in 1987, women in the US were admitted to Rotary, as members following a Supreme Court challenge in the US. This may have been a catalyst for change worldwide for both Rotary and Probus Clubs
2nd decade 1994 – 2004
On Wednesday June 15, 1994 the 10th Anniversary of Mundaring Probus was celebrated with lunch at the Bothy, Sawyers Valley
The Clubs Officers and Committee comprised of
President: Doug Lyon
Vice President: Sheila Forte – President the following year
Honorary Secretary Michael Wilkinson Cox
I P P: Jack Fawcett
Hon Treasurer: David Kemp
Committee Nick Elton, Nina Fawcett
A lot of change occurred during this decade. There were three female Presidents including current Life Member, Noreen Campbell. There are Minutes available which indicate a lot of debate is happening around membership.
Husband and wife counted as one membership; there were also Honorary members – wives of deceased husbands who are able to attend Probus meetings and functions.
In July 1995 – changes to the Structure of Membership was discussed at length, so that “spouses and similar ‘accompanying persons’ could become members in their own right. This would mean that our membership would also indicate the potential numbers of attendees at any function”
At another meeting it was also noted that single members, seeking application, but with no sponsor, could be directed to a same sex Probus Club.
The debate continued. In March 1996, Minutes record that “If widows wish to become full financial members they could exercise that option. But President Joshua Van Der Merwe stated that “it may be an idea in future applications, that membership not be granted to the wife or female partner if both are alive!”
There is also a cost benefit analysis of retaining the status quo versus individual membership.
It was agreed that Committee wait and see how many members result under the new structure and a limit be based on that final outcome. However, later that year (1996) open membership to both husbands and wives is achieved – it becomes a true Combined Club. The Club also relocated to the Glen Forrest Bowling Club.
In 1997, Adoption of Constitution and incorporation of the Club was finalised. The Club becomes The Probus Club of Mundaring Inc. The Club joins Probus Centre - South Pacific Inc. (now Probus South Pacific Limited) to take advantage of its many benefits, including Public Liability Insurance. It has long been a member of PAWA (Probus Association of Western Australia).
Our Club is now a combined Club meaning it is open to both male and females. It is run by a committee of volunteers. See Committee section on left.
All Probus Clubs in Australia (and New Zealand) are affiliated with Probus South Pacific Limited (PSPL) which was established in 1974. As a member of your local Probus club you also become a member of PSPL with benefits such as a free Active Retiree e-Newsletter, eligibility for Probus travel insurance and other travel benefits.
We celebrated our 40th Birthday in June this year with a special celebration.
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