The October Bairnsdale Probus meeting at Bairnsdale Bowls Club was well attended.
Planning is well underway for the 40th anniversary of Bairnsdale Probus which will be held at Riversleigh Bairnsdale on November 27.
New member Julie Cattanach was welcomed and inducted to probus by Bairnsdale president Leo Hamilton.
The profile speaker at the meeting was Peter Owen who was born in the 1940s.
He lived at Driffield where his parents were farming on 300 acres. The farm was mainly dense bush with draught horses being used.
He attended Driffield state school that had about 20 pupils with one teacher and then went to Morwell high school and then on to Melbourne Grammar where he completed his leaving certificate.
He then went onto Dookie Agricultural College. After Dookie he gained a semi trailer licence and moved to Tasmania for awhile.
He joined the Young Farmers Organisation in which he enjoyed public speaking debating and social activities.
He became president and then gained a three months sponsored trip by the Bank of New South Wales to New Zealand where he visited a number of farming properties.
He learnt to fly and purchased a half share in a Cessna180 and flew many flights for parachutists. He met his wife June from Thorpdale through Young Farmers.
He became heavily involved in farming and local organisations and was the president of United Dairy Farmers of Victoria for four years.
He had many overseas and interstate travels including dairy industry trade missions to China and the USA.
His farm was one of the most productive non-irrigation farms in Gippsland.
At age 61 he sold the farm and moved to Nungurner.
He now enjoys boating caravanning, gardening, overseas travel and Probus.
He feels privileged to have been made a life member with his wife June in 2022. With his wife June they enjoy making the Bairnsdale Probus club great fun for all members