Past presidents: (From left) Jan Beamish, Phil Nicholson, Barney McDonald, Fraser Williams and Maxine Schumann.
Past and present members of Kyabram Probus Club celebrated the group’s 30th anniversary at a lunch at the Kyabram Club last week.
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President Barney McDonald welcomed members and special guests, including Victorian National Party leader and member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh and his wife Liz.
The honour of cutting the large anniversary cake was given to the club’s oldest member, Hilda Tottenham, who turns 100 in October.
An initiative of Rotary, Probus is an organisation for retired and semi-retired business and professional people.
The club holds monthly mid-morning meetings with guest speakers, activities, day trips and regular dining out.
During the lunch, immediate past president Jan Beamish outlined the group’s 30-year history.
She said Kyabram Probus held its first meeting at the Ky Club in May 1993, with 20 people in attendance.
The inaugural committee was led by president Jack Bond, secretary Norm Raphael and treasurer Don Brown, with Lesley Troy as vice-president.
Cake cutting: The club’s oldest member, Hilda Tottenham, who turns 100 in October, was given the honour of cutting the 30th anniversary cake. She is pictured with special guest, Victorian National Party leader and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh.
With Probus aiming to meet the needs of active retirees, regular outings have been a large part of the club’s activities over the years.
These have included visits to Sovereign Hill at Ballarat, Cranbourne’s native Royal Botanic Gardens, the Point Cook Aircraft Museum, Werribee Zoo, and a Yarra River cruise and visit to Melbourne’s Crown Casino and the MCG.
Members also enjoyed a five-day Murray River cruise from Echuca on the Proud Mary paddlesteamer.
Travelling further afield, the group made a trip to Sydney, Gosford and the Hunter Valley, attended Canberra’s spectacular Floriade Festival, visited the Flinders Ranges and Kangaroo Island, and sailed across Bass Strait to tour Tasmania.
Last year members enjoyed outings to Shepparton’s newest attractions — the Museum of Vehicle Evolution and the new lakeside Shepparton Art Museum — Kyabram Cold Storage facility, Tongala Donkey Sanctuary, Elvis exhibition at Bendigo, Echuca Beer Shed, Colbinabbin silo murals, and historic Byramine Homestead at Yarrawonga.
Two weeks ago, members made a day trip to Bendigo to visit the Buddhist temple the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion at Myers Flat and took a ride on Bendigo’s talking tourist tram.
Sound of music: Local band The Gang (from left) Garry Gardner (bass guitar), Heather Parkinson (keyboard), Carol Linford (guitar) and Jack Linford (vocals). Band members hail from Kyabram and Stanhope.
Entertainment during last week’s anniversary lunch was provided by local Kyabram/Stanhope band, The Gang, comprising Garry Gardner (bass guitar), Heather Parkinson (keyboard), Carol Linford (guitar) and Jack Linford (vocals).
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