Twelve of the foundation members of Rochester Probus Club will make the trip to The Timber Cutter function centre at Mathoura to commemorate the organisation’s 25th anniversary on Thursday.
Almost four months after the intended celebration date, which was scheduled to coincide with the first meeting of the group (November 2, 1997), there will be more than 70 people at the celebration.
Club life members Judith White and Graeme Hyden will be among special guests at the birthday celebration.
Sixty people were at that first meeting, the inaugural president being Eric Kneebone, while Merle Carr was the first secretary, Dos Hansen the treasurer and Marj Sharp the editor of the newsletter.
Mrs Carr and Mrs Hansen will both be there for the anniversary event, along with 96-year-old Nellie Lees. She is living in Kyabram at Warramunda.
Judy O’Connor, another foundation member of the club, will also make the trip to Picnic Point for a cake cutting and the regular fellowship enjoyed by the group.
Probus, a social gathering group, has the charter of providing Fellowship, Friendship and Fun.
There are groups at Rochester, Echuca, Kyabram, Tatura and Bendigo.
Joan Jenkins, current president of the group, said that due to floods in Rochester and Mathoura the date had to be changed.
The forced re-location of several members has impacted not only on the 25th anniversary plans, but on the group’s membership.
“We had 90 members last year and that is down to about 70,” she said.
Bendigo Bank has supported the group with a grant to fund the coach for transportation to Mathoura, while Royal Flying Doctor Service volunteer Allan Benson will do a “regional pick up’’ of displaced members.
“Due to the floods there are many members in different towns,” Mrs Jenkins said.
Judy O’Connor is currently living in a Rochester caravan park as all but a handful of members were affected by the flood.
The group did manage to get back under way a month after the floods, considering it a vital social service to provide an outlet for its members.
“We had 28 on that first meeting and its been gradually growing since then. It has built up and there were 52 at the last meeting,” Mr Benson said.
The Probus club caters for retired or semi-retired people.
After the cake cutting on Thursday guest speaker, Michael Ransom from Probus South Pacific in Melbourne, will speak to the gathering and presentations to long-service members will follow.
Mrs Jenkins said, unfortunately, there was nowhere in Rochester that could cater for the event when it was being organised.
“We wanted somewhere special,” Mrs Jenkins said.
“It will be a real social connection for people to see each other.
“One lady said it might be the last time she gets to see everyone.”
Following the birthday event the club will meet for its Easter meeting on Monday, April 3.