One hundred members and guests have celebrated the Combined Mornington Probus Club’s 30th anniversary, with Mornington state Liberal MP Chris Crewther and Bendigo Community Bank Mount Martha director Phillip Fitzpatrick among those marking the milestone at a June 5 gala lunch at the Alexandra Park Pavilion.
Thirty years is a long time for a club to operate with continued success, popularity, and where many long-term friendships have been made. “Obviously, we are doing something right in attracting the Peninsula retirees, as we still have two active foundation members,” said president Linda Ivanovski.
In 1996, six people who were on a lengthy Probus club waiting list approached Rotary and sought sponsorship to start another club. With an adviser from the Beaumaris Rotary Club and a local reporter, they gathered at the Atrium Restaurant in Safety Beach to plan the launch. The new Probus club began with 85 members and within 12 months this number had grown to 125.
Today, its membership hovers around 110, and the club offers an extensive variety of monthly social activities: Book Club, Garden Group, Solo, Scabble, Mah-jong, Walking and Men’s Group, as well as midweek dine outs, Fine Food Fridays, Saturday and Sunday lunches, and the ever-popular monthly Happy Hour. “Our out and about functions have taken us on boat trips, theatre productions, and visits to Government House and Parliament House, to name a few,” Linda said. “In all these activities the focus is on ‘Fun, Friendship and Fellowship’.
The Combined Mornington Probus Club meets on the first Friday of every month at the Mornington Civic Bowls Club in Dunns Road, Mornington, at 9.30am. “These meetings are very social, and the agenda includes an invited thought-provoking, engaging or entertaining speaker. Morning tea is provided, there’s a door prize and raffle, and visitors are most welcome.”
For more information, Google ‘Mornington Probus’, phone the membership officer on 0491 634 456, or email the secretary at cmpcsec1@gmail.com
