"On Wednesday, February 12 about 30 turned up at Dock Library, Docklands for the launch of Bearbrass Probus for active retirees. Sponsor was Rotary Central Melbourne. It’s the city’s first new Probus since 2011, and District’s first Probus since 2016.
By half-time Bearbrass had signed on 15 members with about five more in absentia. President is Dr Winsome Roberts, originally a social anthropologist and lately at Melbourne University in social and community analysis. Treasurer is Michael Brophy, ex-Deloitte consulting. The launch was chaired by Probus ex-national director and treasurer Robert Renshaw of Glen Waverley RC (D9810). Melbourne Sunrise Probus president Jill Tabart came as a goodwill visitor. Sunrise is also based at the Dock.
Typically, Probus clubs grow rapidly by word of mouth after formation. D9800 now has 90 Probus clubs with 7,100 members, compared with 65 Rotary clubs and 2200 members.
Nationally since last April, 49 Probus clubs have launched with close to 60 targeted by end-March. But a swathe of clubs founded 30-40 years ago have aged. Australasian membership of Probus is down from 175,000 in 2011-12 to 124,000 this year (current Australian Rotary members, 27,000). The Probus decline has slowed after vigorous marketing by Parramatta headquarters.
Marketing of the Bearbrass launch had difficulty accessing the towers where many retirees live. Blitzing groups and individuals with emails triggers the ‘spam’ factor and even getting flyers on to community noticeboards is tricky. Facebook marketing was ineffective. But in the final days letterboxing of 650 flyers in North Melbourne and Port Melbourne generated the club’s president and treasurer. Otherwise, the launch might have struggled.
Robert Renshaw this year also launched Clarinda Probus (January 23) and Keysborough Probus (February 6). Robert has launched ten Probus clubs since 2016. Another Melbourne club, Armadale, started February 7, and Warrigal & District Probus launches March 16 and Mornington Beach on March 26."
