The 2022 Probus year full of fun, friendship and fellowship, as well as some COVID hiccups along the way, drew to a close in December with a very enjoyable Christmas dinner held at the Kings Arms Hotel in Neerim South.
The staff at the hotel had decorated the restaurant and tables in true festive spirit, and cooked us a magnificent meal, truly plentiful and delicious. Our club gifted each member with a Christmas pudding to take home. Adding to the atmosphere were about 20 lucky ticket winners who also took home boxes of chocolates and bottles of wine. There was one special winner, Carol Bourke, who took home the hamper kindly donated by Beryl Cropley.
The New Year of 2023 has begun with our first general meeting held at the beginning of January. We congratulated Ron and Lyn Jones on their 60th wedding anniversary, a wonderful milestone in their marriage. February sees Bob and Bev Jones also celebrating 60 years of marriage. We wish them all good health and many happy years ahead filled with Probus fun.
Sadly, we lost one of our much-loved members. Frank Achterdenbosch, a member since 2012. Frank had been a very active in our club taking part in numerous activities, organising caravan trips with the help of his wife Carol and also acting as our sheriff, checking on the wearing of badges and shaking the gold ingot that was his fine’s tin. Frank even filled in as Santa Claus a couple of times. He will be missed.
Our speaker this month was Mick Bourke OAM, who relived with us his trek to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano in Tanzania. The beautiful photos of the wildlife, birds, people and scenery kept us all enthralled. How wonderful to be fit enough to do the trek and manage the altitude problems that come with this climb.
The fortnightly coffee mornings continued on through the Christmas season, with a very festive morning tea held at Gracie’s Bakery in the week leading up to Christmas. We thank Gracie’s for all the festive trimmings and Sharley Smith who provided us with some extras including lucky door hampers. It was certainly a very merry gathering.
We look forward to welcoming new members in 2023 as we celebrate 30 years of Trafalgar & District Probus in March.
Come along to one of our meetings or morning teas and find out what Probus is all about. You will be made very welcome.
Phone secretary John Attwell on 0419 701 331, or any Probus member.
Photo captions
- Barbara Butterworth and Liz Bowley enjoying Christmas dinner at Neerim South.
- Kaye Brand, Terry Tabliabue and Pam Pinkerton.
- Jim and Anne Cornwell.
- Sharley Smith.
- Marge Williams and Beryl Cropley.
- Probus club member, Frank Achterdenbosch, is being remembered.
- Winners of the lucky door prizes.
- Probus walking group at Traralgon Railway Reservoir Reserve.
9. Ross Pethybridge thanking our member and guest speaker Mick Bourke OAM.
