Forty years after forming, the Probus Club of Deniliquin held its final meeting on Tuesday.
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Probus is an organisation with a network of clubs that provides opportunities for retirees and semi-retirees to come together to make new friends and enjoy a wide range of activities.
The club’s motto is ‘fun, friendship and fellowship’.
But like many clubs, membership has dropped steadily over the past few years.
The Deniliquin Probus Club held its inaugural meeting on March 12, 1986.
Initially for men only, wives were able to attend meetings as associates without voting power.
This changed in later years when the Deniliquin branch became a mixed Probus club.
A highlight of the local group’s activities has included travel to many concerts and outings in places like Echuca, Bendigo and Melbourne.
The club’s numbers peaked in 2009 with 116 members attending regular meetings.
This started to decline in 2017, and at its AGM earlier this year the club only had 22 financial members and was unable to form an executive committee.
The decision was made to close the club.
Tuesday’s final luncheon meeting included the presentation of long service certificates awarded.
Special guests included two retired, long-serving Probians, and representatives of the Rotary Club of Deniliquin, which has been gifted the funds held by Deniliquin probus at the time of closure.
The $2859.47 will now be used to support Rotary projects in the community.
Guests were treated to a slideshow presentation, and shared memories of the Probus club’s history and their involvement in club activities.
Probus treasurer Shirley McQueen passing on the club’s remaining funds to Rotary treasurer Tony Kew.
Beth Coffey and Jan Stanmore.
Dora and John Wilson.
(Clockwise, from front left) John Thompson, Shirley McQueen, Helen Thompson, Denise Phillips, Dawn Hetherington and Tony Kew.
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