Thirty years ago in August 1991 the Orbost Rotary Club instigated the formation of a Probus Club in Orbost following the successful formation of these clubs elsewhere in Australia.
First begun in England in 1977 a Rotary member saw the need for a club for older or retired men in his city and a club called Cosmos was born.
A Rotary member from another city saw this need and it was decided to call the club Probus derived from the two words from ‘Professional’ and ‘Business’.
The title ‘Cosmos’ was dropped in favour of ‘Probus’ and clubs began forming around the United Kingdom all instigated by UK Rotary members.
A Rotary fellow from New Zealand visiting England was introduced to these Probus Clubs and in 1983 took the idea back to New Zealand.
IMAGE: Orbost Probus Club foundation member, Norma Leatham, life member and longest continuous serving member, Mavis Rayner, foundation member, Bet Lukies, and Nelva Baughurst, also member since year of inception. (PS)
