Rug up and Head Out — that’s been the mood at the Combined Probus Club of Cherrybrook this winter, with members keeping parkas, gloves and beanies within reach for a run of outings that took them from a former quarantine station turned luxury hotel to a walking track built in memory of wartime sacrifice.
The group’s visit to the old Quarantine Station, now operating as a high-end hotel on Sydney Harbour, gave members a glimpse of how much the city around them has changed.
Their guide walked them through the site’s original purpose, explaining that despite its striking harbourside setting, the conditions endured by those isolated there were harsh—a necessary measure at the time to protect the wider community from disease.
A separate trip to the Kokoda Education Centre and its walking track left a similar impression, with both stops prompting quiet reflection on what individuals had given up for the sake of others.
Back on home turf, the mood turned considerably lighter at the club’s General Meeting, where former Arnott’s employee Wendell had members in stitches recounting his years with the biscuit maker.
He turned up in a Mambo Arnott’s shirt that drew plenty of laughs and no shortage of admiration, and true to form, Arnott’s biscuits made an appearance at morning tea.
The club describes itself as a home for active or semi-retired locals keen to get out of the house, meet new people and try new things. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at the Cherrybrook Community and Cultural Centre.
Anyone interested can contact Vicki on 0417 200 351 — the club says newcomers can expect a warm welcome and plenty of good company.