When the members of the Combined Probus Club of Ormiston met for a picnic lunch recently, they had several reasons to celebrate.
Like many community organisations, they had not been able to meet since August, and many things had happened since then. So when they recently met, it was their first meeting in 2022 which commenced their tenth year since they were first formed in 2012. Their Tenth Anniversary celebration will take place in October 2022.
Furthermore, during that lockdown period in late 2021, their treasured meeting venue had been totally renovated by the owner, Auckland Council. To avoid the risk of closure due to long-term deterioration, during the Auckland lockdown a contractor totally refurbished the exterior by replacing all rotten timberwork, attending to drainage problems, and even completely replacing the corroding roof! A final repaint for much of the exterior and interior returned the building to its former glory and it is now again available for community use.
Present at this gathering was well-known local identity and past City Councillor Bill Burrill who had been their inaugural President back in 2012. So it was a nostalgic moment when Bill, together with his wife Maggie, posed outside the renovated hall building wearing the President’s chain which he had previously worn 9 years before.
Probus Ormiston now has 50 members, but a few more members would be welcome – just send a text message to current President Mike Lowe at 021 772 478.
