4 minute read
PSPL Chairman's message
Imagine a group of three or four men at morning tea at a Probus meeting, at a coffee shop, or over a few drinks, talking amongst each other. It’s socialising, though these men would not call it that. They would never call it anything.
Imagine a typical conversation…
“How did your footy team go at the weekend?”
“Hopeless, they lost again.”
“How did yours go?”
“No better than yours, the only good thing was the new young recruit played really well, but a couple of the older players are getting too old. It’s about time we invited them to join our Probus club.”
And so on, and so on, and so on…
It’s fun, and it’s social. And it’s very important.
Because men, at any age, can feel isolated. Having a chat with mates at a Probus gathering (or anywhere else, for that matter), can be some of the few friendly interactions some men have.
Some women, too. Yet, generally, women talk to each other more easily. They are much better than men talking to each other about relationships, feelings, love and pain.
Men want to be there for their mates, but often don’t know that they might be having a hard time. These conversations can be difficult. Saying something, asking something; it’s often not comfortable for men.
(Adapted from an article in Australian Golf magazine, written by Matt Cleary).
This is the real value of Probus Clubs in our community, and I am sure that it was in the minds of Rotary Club members those 50 or so years ago when they decided to set up the Probus network and encouraged people who were retired or semi-retired to join.
We talk about fun, fellowship and friendship. Very, very important. But there is an even deeper element to Probus; it’s about our well-being and health. Our Probus Clubs play a really important role in our local communities, by keeping us active and in touch with other people.
Let us also remember at this time our Probus family in New Zealand. Probus turns 50 in the South Pacific this year; the first
Club formed in our part of the world was the Kapiti Coast Probus Club, not far from Wellington. The Club is still going strong after 50 years, a testament to half a century of great leadership, and it also demonstrates how important our Probus Clubs are in our local communities.
Unfortunately, since Covid, we have seen a decline in membership of Probus throughout Australia and New Zealand. This has particularly been the case in my home state, Victoria; probably as a result of the severe lockdowns we experienced during 2020 and 2021. With more and more people leaving full time employment each year, it is vital that we continue to make our Clubs attractive to younger retirees.
The first stage of retirement is often a “honeymoon” period, where we learn to relax, take that overseas holiday, but within a short while we need to connect with new friends in our local community, develop new skills, and continue to feel that we are making a useful contribution in society. Probus offers a perfect opportunity for this, and I believe we should market our local Clubs in this way to attract new members.
The theme of this year’s Probus Month is “Celebrating Community and Companionship.” When you are planning how to celebrate in your own local Club this year, let us remember the benefits that Probus membership brings, and use this opportunity to show off the benefits of membership to our wider community.
If you are reading this and not a member of Probus yet, find your local Club through our website at www.probussouthpacific.org or call our friendly team on 1300 630 488.
