Probus Day in Australia and New Zealand is celebrated on October 1 each year.
Trafalgar & District Probus marked the occasion this month with a free barbecue lunch held after the general meeting.
Bob Jones and Lyn Jones (lots of Joneses in our club) organised the special event and were helped by many willing members who provided salads and desserts for the day.
The Lion’s Club generously allowed us the use of their barbecue. It was a wonderful gathering with 73 happy Probians enjoying the celebrations. The desserts were a highlight with homemade fruit salad, rolled pavlovas and sticky date puddings courtesy of Ross and Leonie Pethybridge and Bob Jones.
Guest speakers at the meeting were Torina Johnston, manager of our local Bendigo Bank in Trafalgar and Debbie Di Sisto, community investment coordinator who spoke about the work of our local branch.
We learnt that 80 per cent of the profits go back into the community, so in the last financial year $80,000 went into community programs, events and projects, a wonderful achievement and very much appreciated.
We were also educated about the many scams that seem to plague our lives these days, what to look out for and safer ways of conducting our daily lives. We should all have credit card protector sleeves in our wallets to prevent identity and private information theft. They can be used on other cards like licence and health cards also. Bendigo Bank have been great supporters of our Probus Club for many years.
This month saw 15 happy gardeners brave the cold and wet to visit the garden of Peter Petschel in Yarragon. The rain held off and we forgot about the cold as we explored this interesting garden with its great array of plants, trees, aviaries of colourful birds and all kinds of memorabilia arranged among the plants. Peter has also created his own museum of all things dairying, mementos of his working life through the years. We admired his propagation of plants, reminisced over bygone times and finished the morning with a chat over a hot cup of tea. Some went home with cuttings to try in their own garden.
The walking group met at Lake Hyland in Churchill this month. Along with a number of canine ‘Probus’ members, they completed a circuit of the lake and enjoyed a cuppa and chat in the picnic area afterwards. This is a great walk for those who have never been, as it has flat, well-maintained paths and plenty of scenery with water views and new plantings of trees and shrubs.
Some of our Probus folk were lucky enough to join WillowGrove/Hill End Seniors Club for a bus trip to Tesselaars Tulip Farm in Silvan. Margaret Parton, President of the Seniors Club and also a Probian organised a wonderful day for everyone. The weather was glorious and everyone was able to tip toe through the tulips with plenty of photo opportunities among over a million flowering bulbs. There was music, Dutch food, stalls, even clogs to try. All agreed it was a magical day and the company of new found friends from the Seniors Club made the day extra special.
Coffee mornings and dine-out were also well attended this month with 19 members gathering at Coffee Life, 14 at Gracie’s Bakery and 23 dining at Dragon Place in Morwell. These outings are a great way to get to know new friends.
So if you are interested in joining Probus this is a perfect way of getting a taste of fun, friendship and fellowship. Come along you will be made very welcome.
Phone secretary John Attwell for details on 0419 701 331.
Photo captions
- Probus members enjoying coffee at Gracie’s.
- Lining up to celebrate Probus Day with a free lunch.
- Probus members walking Lake Hyland.
- Margaret Parton, organiser of the Tesselaars bus trip.
- Celebrating Probus Day with a free barbecue lunch.
- John Attwell presenting Torina Johnston and Debbie Di Sisto from the Bendigo Bank with a Probus giftpen.
- Garden Club enjoying Peter Petschel’s garden.
- Anne, Sharley and Wendy enjoying the Tulip festival.
