Members and club president Gwenda Allgood presented a cheque worth $1000 to Rotary recently, which will go towards purchasing feed for drought affected farmers.

Ms Allgood said the funds usually went toward paying for a members-only event, but the club felt that the need of farmers was the priority.

“The ladies actually decided a couple of years ago that we would have a trading table and the money would go towards a dinner,” Ms Allgood said.

 “(Therefore) no one had to pay for the dinner.

“But because of the tragedies with the farmers, they decided to donate to them instead. 

“It is $1000, so they'll each pay for half of their dinner.”

The trading table is a way to raise funds through items the members might already have.

“Someone might have eggs or cake, books and anything that people have got that they don't want anymore,” Ms Allgood said.

“It could be anything. That’s how we make money. Sometimes we make up fifty or sixty in the morning doing that.

“We're not a profit making concern so (we do) anything that can help the less fortunate.”

The cheque was presented to the Ararat Rotary Club, which sponsors Probus.

Ms Allgood said the club also benefits the members themselves.

“A lot of the ladies are on their own so it’s really important to have this group,” she said.

“We’ve taken bus trips to see the extension at the prison and new developments – we explain what’s happening to keep them in touch and it gives them a conversation piece when their families come home.”