In late 1999, Malcolm Oakley, John Thompson and John Richards, all members of the Rotary Club of Frankston, were discussing their imminent retirements and what they should do in their changed lifestyles.
Malcolm Oakley, John Thompson and John Richards in 2013.
One of the possibilities they had seen was to join a Probus Club in order to have social activities with like minded people. After further consideration, they decided to set up a new Probus club and so approached the Board of the Rotary Club of Frankston to sponsor a new club as Probus clubs have to be set up under the auspices of a Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club of Frankston agreed and so the process was commenced by contacting Probus South Pacific for the formal requirements and producing a letter to be sent to prospective members, a flyer to be placed in shops etc as well as advertising in the local papers . Copies of the letter and flyer follow.
These initiatives resulted in 40 people attending the interest meeting at the RSL on 4 April 2000 (there were several apologies from interested people as well). It was decided to go ahead with the formation of the Probus Club of Frankston Heights and Malcolm Oakley was elected the first President.
The first official meeting was held on Tuesday 18 April 2000 in the Simpson Room of the Frankston RSL and the rest as they say is history! A copy of the first Newsletter follows.
From these modest beginnings, the Club has now, in 2013, grown to 160 members plus a waiting list and has 28 regular activities. This does not include other activities which have now ceased over the years.
Now read on for details of what our club is about.