Probus - Bus trip to celebrate anniversary

 

Puhoi adventure
In July, Mangawhai Probus Club celebrated 20 years since the club’s formation with a bus trip to Puhoi.

The first stop was Puhoi Valley Cafe and Cheese Store where we enjoyed a cheese tasting and morning tea, and had an interesting commentary on the development of the business over the years and the cheeses they manufacture.

At the Puhoi Hall we were entertained by Bohemian dancers before going through the Bohemian Settlers Museum and Saints Peter and Paul Church. The early settlers stories and their very brave journey to the bottom of the earth to make a new life for themselves and their families was impressive – a very harsh environment when Puhoi was settled. Local Maori made the first two whares for them to live in and provided food and water in the early stages.

The Bohemian people were very much influenced by their Catholic faith so the original church was constructed soon after their arrival and is a beautiful building with obvious evidence of who the early settler families were.

The club celebratory dinner was at the Puhoi Pub. Probus president Ron Lawrence presented Margaret Haverfield with a certificate of appreciation as a foundation member of the club. Certificates will also be presented to Dallas and Pauline Toye when some of the members visit them in their new surroundings.

Concert coming up
The new Anglican Church on Molesworth Drive, Mangawhai, will host part of the Operatunity At Your Place Concert Series – From Broadway to The Westend – on September 18. The concert commences at 10am followed by a light lunch. A celebration of music theatre through the ages, great show tunes from Ivor Novello and Irving Berlin through to Andrew Lloyd Webber will feature.

The concert features tenor Derek Hill, Tizane McEvoy (star of the national tour of Pirates of Penzance), Operatunity favourite Alex Milligan, and introduces new singer Adam Thompson, all accompanied by Eli Moore.

This is a new programme and unlike those performed in Orewa or Whangarei. Tickets are $25 from Gifts & Books, Wood Street, and Bammas, The Village from August onwards.

Next meeting
Mangawhai Probus meet every third Thursday in the month at the Senior Citizens Hall, Fagan Street, Managwhai at 2pm. Next meeting is Thursday August 21. If you require transport please contact Petronella Brom (431 4700) or Beve Smith (431 5777). All visitors are welcome.

- Gaylene Lawrence

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