Source: New Zealand Governor General
Kia ora tātou katoa.
On behalf of my wife, Dame Cindy Kiro, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Government House Wellington, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Probus in Aotearoa New Zealand.
I would like to begin by specifically acknowledging:
- Silvana Martignago, CEO; Michael Ransom, Chairman; and Margaret Drake, Director of Probus South Pacific
- Mr David Drake, Rotary District Probus Chairman
Kia ora koutou.
I am pleased to learn Probus groups are frequent visitors to Government House for tours of this historic site. However, a special milestone requires something slightly more grand – so I do hope this afternoon’s celebratory high tea will be one to remember.
As I gather, the origins of Probus came from acquaintances meeting on a train, sharing a desire to seek fellowship with others at a similar stage in life.
In the spirit of new acquaintances, I thought I might begin by telling you a bit about my story. Before coming to New Zealand, I lived in the UK, Kenya and the Falkland Islands.
I have a background as a seafarer and as a GP, having spent time in the merchant navy, and qualifying as a doctor in Belfast. I sailed a ketch from the UK to the Falklands and became a medical officer, which involved routine medical work, but also looking after casualty and in-patients – essentially anyone who didn’t require an operation.
Most recently, I have been working as a doctor at the Auckland City Mission, and as a locum for an isolated community on the East Coast.
My first time visiting Government House was in 2018, when I received a Winston Churchill Fellowship, which allowed me to study trauma-informed care in the UK. I never imagined I would return in a few years to live in this very house; nor could I have foreseen the many significant moments in history I would experience, while supporting my wife in her role as Governor-General.
Dame Cindy and I have the great privilege to host New Zealanders in celebration of their achievements – so to that end, I would like to congratulate Probus for reaching the significant milestone of 50 years in New Zealand.
If you look back at what New Zealand was like in 1974, it puts into perspective how momentous it is to be celebrating half a century.
Sir Denis Blundell was our Governor-General, a national public holiday commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi was held for the first time, and colour television had only just been introduced, to showcase the Christchurch Commonwealth Games.
As you are aware, it was also the year Gordon Roatz from the Kapiti Coast formed the first Probus club in the Southern Hemisphere. I’m very pleased to note this idea was a success, as Probus has grown to over 120 clubs and 10,000 members within New Zealand.
Lennon and McCartney wrote of how we “get by with a little help from our friends”, but I think we can all agree the benefits run a lot deeper than simply ‘getting by’.
There is plenty of research that correlates maintaining good friendships – particularly as we get older – to better mental and physical health outcomes.
Having good friends around us – to celebrate life’s triumphs, to commiserate when things aren’t going our way, and to create new memories with – is something in which we can all appreciate its benefits.
My sincere congratulations to Probus for enriching the lives of many New Zealanders, particularly in their later years. I hope this organisation, guided by its ethos of building connections through fun and fellowship, has many more significant milestones to come.
I look forward to hearing more about your stories this afternoon, and of your experiences as a member of Probus. I wish you all the very best for the years ahead.
Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.
