Welcome to the Combined Probus Club of Belrose Inc
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
In accordance with the Constitution and Standing Resolutions, Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Combined Probus Club of Belrose Inc. shall be held at The Forest Hotel on Thursday, 13 March 2025 commencing at 11.00 am for the purpose of conducting the following business:
Agenda
- Meeting opens & President welcomes members and introduces and welcomes official guests.
- Apologies
- Minutes of last year’s AGM
- Business arising from last year’s AGM
- Correspondence (addressed to this year’s AGM)
- Presentation of the President’s Annual Report
- Presentation of the Annual Financial Statement
- Appointment of the Auditor
- Election and induction of Officers and Committee Members
- Elected President to assume position of Chairman of the meeting
- General AGM Business
- Announcement of date, place and time of next AGM
- Close of AGM
Committee Nomination Form – Click here to download
MOCCO’S MUSINGS
Musings definition – a period of reflections or thought.

Greetings All,
The silly season is done and dusted and we started the new year with our January meeting featuring two homegrown guest presenters, Phil Allan and Malcolm McLean. Phil referenced his limited edition book (five copies) focussing on his early days. Malcolm had a plethora of family history documentation going back hundreds of years and reaching back to his family’s early heritage. Both speakers were very interesting.
Meanwhile, 2025 promises lots of activities for all with VP Mike introducing some new concepts and the committee as always planning ahead. Warwick Brady has been coordinating theatrical shows with Glen Street Theatre.
You will see in this newsletter the advance notice of our Annual General Meeting and election of committee.
All positions are declared vacant, but we have nominations for all positions except Vice President and Tours and Outings. It is difficult to believe that with a membership of 140 we cannot get anyone to volunteer to take up these roles. The majority of the committee have grandchildren to look after occasionally and have other outside interests but they can still spare the short time involved in attending the committee and general meetings.
So PLEASE consider leaving that comfort zone and help your club continue to be successful through 2025.
Cheers
President Peter
Thought for the month.
Look out 2025, here we come!

Probus members were saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected death of long-term member David Walker after a brief illness. Our club was well represented at David’s funeral on 9 December.
David grew up in the small country town of Otautau in southern NZ. He was the eldest of 5 siblings. From a young age he showed a very determined streak and progressed through the local Scout Group and became a Queen’s Scout.
On leaving school, David studied extramurally while working full time and quickly completed a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and soon after became a qualified Chartered Accountant, Chartered Secretary and member (later upgraded to Fellow) of the NZ Institute of Management.
He became a Scout Leader and met Lesley who was a young Cub Leader who lived just round the corner. They married in 1967 and had two children Sallyanne and Derek.
As a young Scouting leader David was ambitious and innovative. He organised trips to climb the West Coast glaciers and go sea kayaking on Milford Sound – 50 years before sea kayaking was even a thing. He also introduced caving as another exciting outdoor activity that his Scouts could try, and he went on to organise national caving schools that Scouts travelled from all over NZ to attend. During one of these schools he successfully organised and led the evacuation of a critically ill Scout in the middle of a wild and stormy night.
In 1973 David and Lesley moved to Wellington when David was appointed General Manager of a huge NZ company called Cornish Investments which had chains of retail shops, department stores, wholesale and manufacturing divisions. The company employed hundreds of people and when it got into financial trouble, the Government passed a special act of parliament to put it into statutory management rather than let it fail. David was immediately appointed Deputy Statutory Manager – a role equivalent to Chief Executive.
Over subsequent years, David managed the various businesses and then progressively sold them off – although Lesley was not too pleased when he sold the shoe factory that had been supplying her footwear for several years!
Following this David was appointed Director General of the NZ Manufacturers Federation – a huge and significant lobby group. In this role he helped negotiate the Closer Economic Relationship agreement (CER) with Australia that would bring economic and free trade benefits to both countries for decades to come.
After a 5-year term with the Manufacturers, David’s career took another turn, and he was appointed as General Manager of Bell Gully – probably the largest law firm in NZ. In this role he managed dozens of partners and hundreds of lawyers and support staff.
While in Wellington, David had a long involvement with the Western Hutt Rotary Club and was made a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also involved with the NZ Crippled Children Society and directed Scout and Guide Gang Shows and other local theatrical productions.
In 1996 David was headhunted to lead Sydney law firm Sparke Helmore and the family packed their bags and started a new life in Frenchs Forest.
Throughout his career David showed outstanding leadership, empathy, planning skills and the ability to solve problems. He commanded respect, inspired loyalty and successfully led large and complex organisations.
David was not averse to taking the limelight and performing. He had a fine bass singing voice, could play the trumpet, organ and harmonica, and was an excellent and funny public speaker.
At the end of 1998, aged only 58, and after a 40-year working career, David retired. He could have had the option of directorships and consultancies but after a lifetime in the limelight of high-profile jobs he just wanted to step back, relinquish responsibility and relax – and this is the David many of you would have known. In retirement he enjoyed working on his stamp collection, photography, woodwork, reading, and gardening. With Lesley he travelled extensively, and they visited 47 countries.
Many will remember David’s skill on the BBQ, his enjoyment of fine whisky and wine, and his dedication to his family and friends. He was an exceptionally talented woodworker and could turn his hand to most handyman type tasks. As Lesley commented, nothing ever stayed broken for long in their house!
David was a good friend to all, a loving husband to Lesley for 57 years – and an awesome Dad to Sallyanne, Derek and Derek’s wife Fleur.
David was given a great send off at his funeral with all four of his siblings travelling from NZ to attend. Fine tributes to a great man were delivered by his son Derek and brother Noel.
Lesley Walker and Noel (David’s brother)
Wendy Matchett 16/11/1943 – 20/12/2024

Wendy Matchett was welcomed into our Probus Club at the May 2024 meeting.
With her bright and friendly personality she would have been an asset to our Club. Sadly she passed away on Friday 20th December.
Wendy and her late husband Michael lived in Belrose and their 3 children attended Mimosa Public School and Davidson High School. She was an active member of the Bush Regeneration and Year 6 Planting projects at Mimosa, under the leadership of Hastings Pawsey. She completed a certificate course in Bush Regeneration at Ryde TAFE during this time and regenerated her back yard area behind the Glenrose Shopping Centre.
The family were very actively involved for many years with the Wakehurst Rugby Club and she and Michael were regular members of St. Anthony in the Fields congregation in Terrey Hills.
Wendy was a very keen dancer and was one of Val’s Gals, a group of adult ladies at the Glenrose Dance Centre, performing in their annual concerts for many years.
Unfortunately Wendy had experienced health issues during latter years but still enjoyed enthusiastically participating in many activities at Glenaeon during her eleven years there.
Helen Miles
Past Presidents

Stroke Information

Facial weakness, arm weakness and difficulty with speech are the most common signs of stroke, but they are not the only signs. Other signs of stroke may include one, or a combination of:
- Weakness, numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg
- Difficulty speaking or understanding
- Dizziness, loss of balance or an unexplained fall
- Loss of vision, sudden blurring or decreased vision
- Headache, usually severe and abrupt onset
- Unexplained change in the pattern of headaches
- Difficulty swallowing.
The signs of stroke may occur alone or in combination and they can last a few seconds or up to 24 hours and then disappear.
View the Stroke Information website
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