HISTORY OF ST HELIERS BAY LADIES PROBUS CLUB             

The Probus Movement was begun in the UK by the Rotary Club of Welwyn Garden City. The name PROBUS was formed from the beginning of the two words “profession” and “business”. The original word was derived from the word proberty meaning integrity. The organisation was formed to meet the need of companionship and mental stimulation for retired professional and business men.

The Probus movement first arrived in New Zealand in 1974 when the Probus Club of Kapiti Coast was formed. The second club in Auckland was St Heliers Bay Men’s Club. Mr Tim Tomlinson of the Rotary Club of East Auckland was asked to investigate the interest of beginning a ladies Probus Club in St Heliers. As this was something with no precedent in New Zealand all information had to come from UK. Letters asking for interest were posted to wives and widows of Rotarians as well as retired business and professional women.

The inaugural meeting held on 8^th June 1982 attracted 49 ladies of whom 9 were elected as Committee members. This led to the first meeting of St Heliers Bay Ladies Probus Club on 13^th June 1982 at St Philip's Anglican Church, St Heliers Bay Road where Mrs June Gribble chaired the meeting as the first President. Lady June Blundell was invited to become a member and Patroness of the Club.

It was passed at that first meeting that membership would be limited to 60 wives and widows of St Heliers Men’s Probus Club and 20 single retired (from normal occupations) professional and business women. All prospective members had to be introduced by a member.

Three rules were accepted at the inaugural meeting-

• No competition with other organisations
• The Club shall be non-political and non-sectarian
• The Club shall not be seen to be a fund-raising organisation.

There were to be NO raffles, No fund-raising and NO big bank balances.

Whilst these rules still apply today, the ruling  "Members could bring a guest to 2 meetings per year. Guests had to pay 50c for afternoon tea," is now redundant.

10 years later, with a membership of 120, outings included a trip to the exhibition of bridal gowns at St Mary’s Cathedral in Parnell, a guided tour of Beverly McConnell’s garden in Whitford and the gannet colony at Muriwai. Whereas buses were used for transport then, car-pooling is the preferred mode of transport now - the cost of hiring a bus becoming too expensive.  Subscriptions were set at $6 in 1982, rising to $12pa in 1994 and then to $14 in 1998. In the current year, 2025, the fees are set at $50 pa. In 2000 the Club was thrilled to welcome Sir Edmund Hillary as the guest speaker.

Meetings are now held at St Heliers Presbyterian Church Johnson Hall in St Heliers Bay Road. Members are becoming more technologically literate so a data projector is used by speakers instead of the defunct overhead projector which was discarded in 1992.

During 2012/13, it was noted that the number of members had dropped to 64 with many members ageing.

In 2020/2021, in accordance with the government ruling, all meetings were cancelled because of the Covid pandemic and so club meetings were limited. The monthly newsletter continued throughout the Covid period to maintain the cohesion of the Club. Gradually as rulings were relaxed, the club was able to return to its programme of

• 1^st Tuesday of the month          - Committee meeting in the level 3 lounge at                                                                                                      Grace Joel Retirement Village
• 2^nd Tuesday of the month         -  main meeting at St Heliers Community Centre
• 3^rd Tuesday of the month          - movie morning
• 4^th  Tuesday of the month         - coffee morning
• If there is a 5^th Tuesday in the month then an outing might be arranged

At the time of writing, June 2025, the Club has 50 members with no required marital connection to St Helens Bay Men's Club although husbands of some members do belong to that club. All active retirees are welcome.

It was noted in 2012 (30 years after the inaugural meeting) that according to the members “St Heliers Ladies Probus Club has prompted many friendships, widened horizons and enriched the lives of its members. Just what the founders ordered all those years ago.”  Even though the Club has been in operation for 43 years, it has to be acknowledged that these aspects are still as important in 2025 as they were in 1982.

The Probus vision is “to stimulate thought, interests and participation at a time in life when it is easy to become complacent and self-centred.”