Page 103 - Friendships Through the Years

Various snippets from the newsletter and the Minutes covered a variety of
subjects. For instance, the Club’s nine foundation members were to be identified with
special name badges. (Author’s note: That number is now down to six at time of writing.)
The next Probus Rendezvous for all clubs was to be held in Christchurch, New Zealand.
President Arthur reported that the President and Vice President would interview all new
membership applicants prior to their induction as members. He also asked for, and
received approval, for a banner to be purchased, the cost to be advised later. A members’
attendance record was to be placed in the foyer together with a visitor’s book as from the
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annual general meeting on 13 July 1995. Alex Graham moved that the Club obtain an
honour board to record the past officers of the Club from the date of its formation. Les
Wanstall seconded and the members agreed to have the idea costed by the committee.
They were to report back to the members in due course.
President Arthur reported that Jack Coffey, as outgoing President of the Outer
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Eastern Region Association of Probus Clubs, had presented an excellent report at the 8
annual general meeting of O.E.R. Keith McLennan advised that foundation member
Harry Box had been listed as one of the 10 longest serving members of the Melbourne
Cricket Club.
A special note in the June 1995 newsletter asked members when next in the
Atheneum Theatre, to take a look at the magnificent brass handles adorning the foyer
doors. Donated by George Sank, they were recovered from Melbourne’s historic Scott’s
Hotel in Collins Street, Melbourne.
During the year the members observed a few moments silence for the wives of
three of our members who had died during the year. Thelma Spiers, wife of Jim died in
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August 1994. Myrtle, wife of our longstanding member, Arthur Coster, died on 5
September 1994. She, with Arthur, was a very good supporter of all our functions,
outings and trips away. Sympathies were extended to our foundation President, Stan
Moser, following the death of his wife, Jean on 18th February 1995. Fortunately, Stan
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and Jean had been able to celebrate their Diamond (60 ) Wedding Anniversary two
months previously, when a number of Probus members, joined their relatives and friends
at the R.A.C.V. Country Club, to wish them well.
There were a number of anniversaries celebrated in President Arthur’s year. Fred
and Marj. Harding, George and Joan Sank, and Keith and Evelyn McLennan were three
couples who enjoyed their Golden Wedding anniversaries. Gerald and Rona Frogley had
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their 53 wedding anniversary; Alf and Vera Morgan’s anniversary was their 51 . A
birthday of note was that of Past President Bert Walker, who turned 80 in August 1994.
A motion to increase the committee to six members was moved by George Sank,
seconded by Russell Johnson, and carried by a majority of members. This motion was
eventually challenged and altered by Clive Winnett in his Presidential year, (1996-1997),
as being in contravention of the Club’s Corporate Rules of an Incorporated Association
and of the Corporate Affairs model rules. The number of Committee members was
officially increased from two (as per the model rules) to three and registered with the
Corporate Affairs Office with the appropriate payment of $30.
In 1999 in Martin Taylor’s year, the number was increased to four and again our
rules were altered officially at the Office of Fair Trading and Business Affairs -
previously the Office of Corporate Affairs.