Probus Club’s 30th birthday

“I am really honoured to be part of the 30th anniversary,” current, first year president Peter Proussalis told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.

“We are looking forward to the big anniversary and expect at least 50 people to attend.”

The day’s program will begin with a 10.00am meeting, with business as usual, plus life membership to Alf Smale.

Special presentations by Past Rotary District Governor Bernie Bott will then be made to the three remaining foundation members, Bruce Neal, Alf Smale and Bill Monahan who will jointly cut the special cake to mark 30 years. 

In his first report as the inaugural Probus Club of Yarrawonga Mulwala President, (the now late)  John Grant explained the background to the club’s establishment.

“Following extensive investigations by the Rotary Club of Yarrawonga/Mulwala into the feasibility of forming a Probus Club in this area, an Interest Meeting was held at Mulwala Services Club on the 8th November 1989, chaired by Rotary President Barry Johnson. The splendid attendance at this meeting was a tribute to the hard work and dedication of Rotarian Bob Ward. The meeting was addressed by the President of the Probus Club of Cobram, Frank Gearing, who explained the aims and objectives of the Probus movement.”

The comprehensive four-page report by Mr Grant included a list of all activities undertaken by members with a highlight being the trip to Melbourne to see ‘The Phantom of the Opera’.

“There were 39 foundation members and we have had up to 90,” Mr Smale said last week. “We were lucky to have such a good inaugural president in John Grant.

“We are the oldest of the four Probus clubs in Yarrawonga/Mulwala.”

Mr Ward was also spoken in glowing terms by Life Member Mr Neal who described Mr Ward as “highly respected and regarded whose accolades were recorded (in the Yarrawonga Chronicle) this year and was an active founding members of this original Probus club”.

“At the inaugural meeting on November 8, 1989 30 of the club’s 39 members attended and nine of the members lodged appropriate apologies,” Mr Neal said.

“We introduced the concept of each member having to give a five-to 10 minute diatribe of his past lifestyle. This enabled other members who were or knew other members in similar activities to get together in friendship more quickly.” 

Last week the three foundation members and current president spoke fondly of the club’s activities over the three decades.

The original committee comprised: President John Grant, Vice President Bruce Forge, Secretary Phillip Gruchy, Treasurer John Wilson and Committee Frank Dodd, Perc Hayes, Eric Mortlock, Max Toole. 

Probus originated in the United Kingdom in 1965 with the first Probus clubs in the South Pacific region being in New Zealand in 1974 and Hunters Hill in Australia, in 1976.

Probus is world-wide with clubs in at least 22 countries. There are 175,000 members in the Australia/South Pacific area.