Leading the club are Julie Mitchell, now in her second term as president, Cathy Williams as secretary and Jenny Weeks as treasurer ― three local women keeping Rochester Probus running smoothly.
Traditionally, the club aimed to alternate between male and female presidents ― but Cathy said having people willing to take on the roles was more important than gender.
“It doesn't matter whether it’s women or men. You just need someone to lead the group effectively,” she said.
The committee is focused on keeping the club vibrant and ensuring it remains a meaningful social lifeline for older members of the community.
“For some, they don’t have a lot of social contact out in the world,” Cathy said.
“They aren't able to get out as readily as they used to.”
The club has also drawn in a number of male farmers, who Cathy said had found real value in the social connection ― particularly as traditional rural get-togethers such as clearing sales and auctions shifted increasingly to online platforms.
“It’s filling a gap that’s been made for them, but not by them,” she said.
Each month, members come together to catch up, enjoy a range of activities, and hear from an interesting guest speaker.
“An important part is that the group is not about fundraising, people can just enjoy themselves,” Cathy said.
The club is keen to attract new members ― and everyone is welcome.
“We encourage everyone to come,” Cathy said.
“Some people may decide it’s not for them. But that’s their choice as well.”
For Probus, the all-female committee is less about gender and more about having people willing to keep the club moving forward.
This year, three women were the ones willing to do it.
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