By Michael Halley of Whittlesea Probus Club
2026 is momentous for the Combined Probus Club of Whittlesea – with the date heralding 25 years since the club was formed.
The Silver Anniversary will be marked with a special event to be held on 15 May at Whittlesea Bowls Club.
The Management Committee to carry the Club through the next 12 months was elected by the members attending the Annual General Meeting today.
There were two members of the current committee retiring after several years of commitment to the proactive functioning of the club.
The incoming President, Marje Gillson, was inducted by Rita Miller, a past executive who was appointed returning officer for the day. The incumbent took the Oath of Office and accepted the required paraphernalia.
The nominees for other executive positions were unopposed by the assembled members and their appointments were confirmed after they jointly took the oath of office.
2026 is even more historic because the governing body Probus South Pacific has been in operation for 50 years.
Since the first Probus Club formed in Australia in 1976, Probus has grown into a vibrant network of social clubs spanning across all states and territories of Australia, supporting more than 90,000 members across 1,300 clubs.
At its heart, Probus is about connection and community. Probus was created to ensure people had a place to connect, form friendships and enjoy life beyond work, Research consistently shows that strong social connections are closely linked to improved mental health, wellbeing and quality of life as people age. Studies have found that staying socially connected can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, which are increasingly recognised as key challenges for older Australians.
Whittlesea Probus meets on the first Monday of the months February to December and welcomes inquiries from eligible persons who are retired or not in full time employment.
