For many people, retirement doesn’t signal a desire to slow down so much as a shift in how time is spent. Long-established community groups such as Probus exist for that in-between space — where people are no longer working full time but still value conversation, activity and shared interests.
Probus is an international, not-for-profit association that brings together retired and semi-retired people through locally run clubs. The name comes from PROfessional and BUSiness, reflecting its origins among people who had spent much of their lives in structured working environments. Over time, however, Probus has evolved well beyond those beginnings and today welcomes anyone no longer in full-time work who is interested in staying socially, mentally and physically active.
A local club with a long history
The Maroubra Bay Combined Probus Club has been part of the local community since it was formally registered in April 2006. The club has met in a number of venues over the years — including the Maroubra Memorial Bowling Club, South Coogee Bowling Club and Botany Council Hall — before returning to Juniors at Maroubra, where it meets today.
As a combined Probus club, Maroubra Bay includes both men and women members. Meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of each month at Juniors @ The Junction, at the corner of Haig Street and Anzac Parade, starting at 10.30am. A typical meeting includes a morning tea break followed by a guest speaker, with topics ranging widely depending on the month.
Beyond meetings, the club also organises day trips, theatre outings and occasional longer trips. Members are encouraged to participate as much or as little as they like, and there is also informal crossover with other Probus clubs in the area, allowing members to join in selected outings and events hosted elsewhere.
Where Probus fits in the wider community
Probus clubs are sponsored by Rotary, a relationship that dates back to Probus’s beginnings in the 1960s. While Rotary provides the initial sponsorship and ongoing support, each Probus club operates independently, managing its own activities and membership.
Across Australia, there are around 1,400 Probus clubs, all operating as non-political, non-sectarian social clubs. Probus does not engage in fundraising and exists solely to support connection, learning and companionship in retirement.
Membership fees are deliberately kept modest. For the Maroubra Bay club, there is a once-off joining fee of $30 and an annual fee of $60, which covers administration, insurance and venue costs.
Upcoming meeting in March
For those curious about whether Probus might be a good fit, an interest meeting for the Maroubra Junction Probus Club will be held in March.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday 10 March, at Juniors Maroubra, 946 Anzac Parade (corner of Haig Street), with arrival from 9.45am for a 10.00am start. Attendees are invited to meet current members, learn how the club operates and enjoy a free morning tea.
The meeting is open to anyone who is retired or semi-retired, whether or not they have previously been involved with Probus. People who are unable to attend on the day can still register their interest and be kept informed about future meetings.
If you’re not based in Maroubra, Probus also offers a “Find a Club” tool through its national network to help people locate nearby clubs in other suburbs.
Finding out more
For local enquiries about the Maroubra Bay Combined Probus Club, residents can contact Rex Madden on 0418 233 530.
For information about the March interest meeting or Probus more broadly, enquiries can also be directed to Ethan on 1300 630 488, or via the Probus South Pacific website.
For many members, Probus isn’t about replacing work — it’s about staying engaged with people and ideas after work ends. And for those looking to share the article with a friend or family member approaching retirement, it offers a simple answer to a common question: what comes next?
Published 10-Feb-2026
