By Mikayla van Loon
October not only means it is a celebration of seniors but of the many number of Probus Clubs in Victoria.
Celebrating friendship, connection and good company, members of the Lilydale Probus Club gathered at Lillydale Lake for a picnic on Thursday 10 October.
Basking in the warm, spring sunshine, the gathering saw laughter and in depth conversation over shared food.
Club secretary Bill Sutherland said while those concepts form the foundations of Probus, the month of October provides an opportunity to come together but also raise awareness about the activities and purpose of the club.
“What we do during October is try and focus on things that might encourage more membership,” he said.
“When I joined, we had close to 100 members, we now only have 72 so it’s a constant battle of getting the message out there about what we do. Secondly, it’s about encouraging people to come and participate.”
Throughout the year, Probus Clubs organise get togethers, walks, lunches and weekends away trying to give every member an option to join in.
“On a regular basis we have activities and it might be just something like going for a walk and then to a cafe,” Mr Sutherland said.
“It’s a connection that a person can have with a community without it being intense. It can be social, fun, whatever they want to make it.”
President Dave Tasker said it allows people to do as much or as little as they like but also to ensure people are looked after.
“We have an almoner and an almoner is someone that, if we hear someone is sick we let them know. They also keep in touch and notice once they don’t come to meetings, so we’re looking after one another,” he said.
Mr Sutherland said something he and Mr Tasker have made an effort to do at each meeting is welcome each person, to greet them with a smile and say hello to ensure every person feels like they belong and are accepted.
“Some people might have lost a partner, and they feel they can’t do anything. So they become housebound,” Mr Sutherland said.
“So what we try to do is say ‘you don’t have to do anything spectacular just come along and enjoy our company’.”
With the support of grants from Community Bank Croydon and Ringwood East, as well as Yarra Ranges Council, Mr Sutherland said Lilydale Probus has been able to fund new equipment to make tasks easier but also subsidise the cost of some events to ensure people can go without the burden of money.
As a non-fundraising organisation, Probus is designed purely as a social club to give retirees a sense of belonging and connection when they disconnect from working life.
For more information about the Probus Club of Lilydale, visit lilydaleprobus.club or contact probuslilydale@outlook.com
