Our club was originally called "Peak Probus Havelock North"
However due to a copyright issue we now cannot use the name "Probus"
Hence we are presently called the
"Peak Combined Club of Havelock North"
in association with
Friendship New Zealand
History of the Probus Organisation
Our club was formed in Havelock North New Zealand in April 1997
The Probus Club movement was formed in the United Kingdom in 1965. The Probus movement had its beginnings in two clubs, both created by members of Rotary Club. In 1965, Fred Carnill, a member of the Welwyn Garden City Rotary Club, met other retired friends for morning coffee—mostly ex-commuters to London, with professional and business backgrounds. From this, he started a luncheon club. The Rotary Club president arranged the first meeting and 45 men attended. This club was known as ‘The Campus Club’, the name deriving from the fact that the meeting place was facing the centre of town, 'The Campus'
In May 1966 a Committee was formed with Harold Blanchard as chairman, who is seen as one of the 'Father Figures' of Probus along with James Raper. The name “Probus” was suggested by a member who took the first three letters from 'PROfessional and BUSiness'. It had the advantage that it was a Latin word from which 'probity' is derived (the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.). The Probus Club of Caterham was met with success, and became known among other Rotary Clubs with new Probus clubs being founded.
In 1974, Probus expanded into New Zealand and by 1976 the idea had spread to Australia. The first Probus club for seniors in North America was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Galt in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada in 1987. Although Probus membership has its greatest concentrations in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand,[3 groups at present], clubs today exist in all parts of the world, including the United States, Belgium, India, South Africa and several other countries in Africa and Asia.
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