About Probus

What is Probus

Probus is an Association of active retirees who join together in Clubs, the basic purpose of which is to provide regular opportunities to keep their minds active, expand their interests and enjoy the fellowship of new friends.

The word Probus is an abbreviation of the words Professional and Business. Membership of Probus clubs also includes former executives of government and other organizations. It embraces, in fact, anyone who has had any significant responsibility in any field of endeavour.

The basic purpose of a PROBUS club is to provide regular meetings for those retired and semi-retired men and women who appreciate and value, in their retirement, opportunities to meet others of similar interest, enjoy hearing addresses by guest speakers and visiting places and organizations of appeal.

The activities of the clubs are directed primarily to providing fellowship and the development of acquaintance at a minimum cost to members.

Why Probus

On retirement most former executives, business and professional men and women tend to increase their interest in sport (bowling, golf, tennis, etc.) step up involvement in their favourite hobby, take a lengthy holiday, seek part-time or consulting employment or become absorbed in community activities in order to keep themselves occupied.

However, they lose contact, very quickly, with previous acquaintances even if they continue in their vocation on a part-time basis or in a consultant role. Generally, they miss greatly the intellectual stimulation, in the broader sense, provided by their previous or executive activities.

Within a short period of retirement, experience shows that the desire to meet others in similar circumstances, on a regular basis, manifests itself strongly. The experience of existing PROBUS club members is that the club’s activities do not compete with or inhibit their interest in any sporting clubs, social clubs, charity organizations, general interest groups or even service clubs (Rotary, Lions, etc.,)

PROBUS clubs are not an offshoot of Rotary. Most members of existing clubs have never been Rotarians. However, in existing clubs, wherever located, the membership includes some active Rotarians who have retired and some former Rotarians. The active Rotarians have joined the PROBUS clubs as individuals and not as representatives of their clubs.

The meaning of Fellowship in Probus

Fellowship is described as:

  • companionship, company looking for the fellowship of friendly people
  • community of interest, activity, feeling
  • a company of equals or friends
  • a friendly feeling that exists between people who have a shared interest or are doing something as a group
  • a friendly relationship marked by ready communication and mutual understanding
  • a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest(s)

Some words often associated with fellowship are:

  • bonhomie, camaraderie, collegiality, community, companionship, company, comradeship

What better way to describe the environment that Probus membership provides.

Here’s what members have said:

Probus allows us to treasure friends

We make new friends and often renew old friendships as we move from full-time work to retirement. Sometimes people when they retire find themselves at a “loose” end and Probus can help to alleviate that feeling

Many members of local service clubs join Probus when they want to wind down and just belong to an organisation purely for companionship

...keeps our minds active and expand our interests and enjoy the fellowship of new friends

The Club quickly became a part of my life and continues to be so​

I have benefited from 15 years of life full of new friends, fun and laughter, participation in many outings and activities and genuine fellowship shown by my fellow members and those of other Probus Clubs