“The Rotary Club of Corowa believed a Men’s Probus Club in Corowa should be established and delegated Lyons Kerans and Gordon Gyles to convene a meeting of retired men,” the 91-year-old Probus foundation member told The Free Press.
“They joined shire president Keith Barber in advertising and calling a meeting for the 28th of February 1990
“The meeting was chaired by deputy president Lionel Gilham as Keith Barber was unavailable. At the meeting it was decided to form a Probus Club in Corowa, for men only. Doug Perrin was our first president,” he said.
Almost 30 years on, plans are underway to celebrate the milestone anniversary of Corowa Men’s Probus Club, for Sunday, March 22, 2020 at Corowa Golf Club, starting at 12 noon.
“I’m looking forward to it. We’re hoping to have 60 people attend, plus 10 official guests,” Jim, a driving force behind the 30th anniversary preparation - along with Rob Longmire and Alan Wilson - said.
“I think the Probus Club over the years has settled down because our membership is older, leading to a very positive atmosphere.
“Our activities are mainly based in the district. Our activities are designed for both members and their partners – dinners, lunches, talks, tourism and short trips for activities.
“The Corowa Men’s Probus Club was formed with 59 members. We’ve had very close to 250 members over the years and seven new ones this year.”
After retiring as the inventory controller with Repco in Melbourne, Jim moved from Box Hill to Corowa in 1989 and has held every position in Probus including the presidency in 1993/94 and 2017/18 and secretary from 2012 to 2015.
Visits to the Army Barracks at Seymour, a few days tour of Sydney, and early days’ talks by commercial giant with Uncle Toby’s Doug Shears and the ‘Places of Power’ address by John Fowler ranked among Jim’s highlights.
The Wahgunayh factory resulted when Doug Shears bought a 49% share of Clifford Love of Sydney and inherited the Knoor brand and later the Uncle Toby’s brand.
As Founding Chairman of the Uncle Toby’s company and subsequently as Executive Chairman of ICM Australia, Mr Shears is arguably Australia’s leading agribusinessman and the uncle Toby’s Managing Director at the time delivered a most enlightening talk to Probus according to Jim.
At that fascinating talk by Mr Fowler in 1993, Corowa Shire President at the time, Keith Barber and then Federation Festival President Shirley Nolan OAM were among the 350 attendees. A structural engineer, Mr Fowler was instrumental in the building of Canberra’s Parliament House and many other projects including major universities and BHP House in Melbourne.
Mr Perrin said he has enjoyed the last three decades of Probus “immensely because of the friendship, getting to know each other and outings”. Of being the inaugural president, the 94-year-old former builder said: “It was quite an honour. I enjoyed every minute of it.
“There have been over 250 speakers in the 30 years. Wonderful speakers (as just two examples, Messrs Shears and Fowler, but also by club members). And Jim Carter, he’s a terrific organiser.”
Corowa Men’s Probus Club’s original secretary was Laurie Suffield and Don Ellis was the treasurer.
The club has four foundation members: Doug Perrin, Jim Carter, Adrian Verbunt and Tony Upton; three Life Members: Doug Perrin, Jim Carter and Barry Simpfendorfer.
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