Tuesday 10 November 2026
S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (17:50): Recently, Probus South Pacific celebrated its 50th anniversary, and Marion Probus is not far behind. I know that a club such as this continues because successive generations value the connection it brings. That connection becomes particularly important as people move into retirement and a different stage of life.
For so many people, work has provided a large part of their social life for decades. You see the same people every day, you have shared interests and responsibilities, and there is a natural rhythm to those relationships. When you retire, that can change quite quickly, and that is where clubs like Probus make such an important contribution. They provide a reason to get together, but it is about more than simply filling a morning, it is about maintaining friendships and building new ones. I think sometimes we underestimate how important that is.
So today I would like to acknowledge those members who established the Marion club and those who have kept it going through the decades, including the presidents, secretaries, committee members, editors, volunteers and all the members who have contributed along the way. I would like to particularly thank the current committee for the work they continue to do to ensure that Marion Probus continues to be a place where people can meet, remain active, maintain friendships and stay connected to their community.
