PROBUS

There are a number of Alloura waters residents who belong to Probus clubs and are active in the running of the clubs on the Central Coast. They enjoy the fellowship at the meetings and many social functions.

PROBUS FACT SHEET 

Retirement can come too early for many people who want and are able to remain active. Probus clubs are organizations for men and women who have retired from their profession or business and want to maintain a social network with others who have similar interests. Each Probus club is sponsored by a Rotary club and meets at least once a month for fellowship and to hear guest speakers. Today, there are over 300,000 members in approximately 4,000 Probus clubs worldwide.

The involvement of a Rotary sponsoring club with a Probus club varies. Rotary clubs typically approach retired or semi-retired candidates in their community and organize the formation of a club. Once established, the club becomes an autonomous organization and its members take over leadership. Potential Probus members are not required to be past members of Rotary. Fewer than 10% of Probus members are former Rotarians.

Since 1985, the Rotary International Board has encouraged Rotary clubs to initiate projects that address the needs of a growing senior (over age 60) population. At its March, 1994 meeting, the Board reaffirmed its commitment by urging Rotarians to organize and support Probus clubs as a commended community service activity.

HISTORY

Probus clubs were first formed, as an acronym for Professional and Business, in the early 1920's in Saskatchewan, CANADA, and in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A., the latter devoted to helping people with mental retardation, physical disabilities, and autism. Because they were not restricted to retired Professional and Business leaders, and had a different objective, they are (were) not associated with our present mainstream of Probus clubs worldwide.

The name was fused into a different type of club in England, and the first non-sectarian Probus club specifically for active retirees was formed in 1966 by the Rotary Club of Caterham, England to allow retired professionals to continue to meet together for fellowship. The previous year, the Rotary Club of Welwyn Garden City, England, formed the "Campus Club" that had the same purpose. The two soon merged and flourished under the sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Bromsgrove, Birmingham, England.

In 1974, Probus expanded into New Zealand and by 1976 the idea had spread to Australia. The first Probus club for seniors in North America was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Galt in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada in 1987. Although Probus membership has its greatest concentrations in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, clubs today exist in all parts of the world, including the U.S., Belgium, India, South Africa and several other countries in Africa and Asia.

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Many of our residents are members of The Probus Club of Saratoga & District so I have allocated some space within our Alloura Waters Residents web page to post pictures and story from time to time.

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We celebrated the end of winter with a local cruise

Probus trip to Lucas Heights (ANSCO)

Probus Trip to the Radio Museum at Kurrajong

BBQ at Camp Breakaway, San Remo

After several attempts the 20 odd year old Saratoga and District Probus Club has voted to become the Combined Probus Club of Saratoga and District.  This means we are now a mixed gender Club where members can be of either male or female gender.  After several attempts to change, the vote in June was almost unanimous and we now seek membership from both women and men to join our club and enjoy the benefits of fun, friendship and fellowship in the Probus Club movement. 

 Please contact Brian Paton on 43697157, Colin Beveridge 43698878 or Alan Edwards on 43690331 for further details.