Friendship Club members were originally members of Probus, but some clubs in NZ decided to form our own organisation and left the Australian Probus organisation to form their own Friendship Clubs.
(Probus Clubs are still active in BOP – Ed.)
Now the Friendship Clubs work alongside each other, basically doing the same thing and still retaining charitable status.
In fact, we in the Bay who join Friendship, took the opportunity to align with other local clubs, so when we are organizing events, perhaps hiring a coach, or block booking an event which involves more people than there are in the club, we have wide contacts.
Plenty of events happening One of the first examples we have of this, is the Arataki Club near Bayfair.
They have booked on December 6th next, the whole of the 16th Avenue Theatre for their current Xmas show “Stepping Out”. The event is now fully booked. Friendship says it all, our members are all active retirees, who enjoy the company of other like-minded folk, we meet monthly and enjoy theatre trips, coach and train trips, cruises and local events such as ten-pin bowling, mini-golf, day-time cinema or just lunches in local cafes and with Xmas approaching, dinner in local hostelries.
Organising gets results The one big problem we all have is finding people willing to do the organising. After a lifetime of work, bringing up kids who still cling to parents in their retirement and the general struggles we all face from time to time, who wants to be organizing events for others to enjoy?
Fortunately, we all find these goodhearted souls, so if you want to come and join us and listen to local speakers, have a laugh and enjoy Friendship, please contact one of our local clubs.
By Trevor Swindles
“I write for this magazine, because of their interest in local events and their added interest in local Societies.”
