Page 122 - Friendships Through the Years

his recollections were extremely interesting. Local identity, Phillip Herry, Musician, Poet
and Reciter spoke on “The Art of Recitation.” Prue Lovell, Manager of Advertising with
the Transport Accident Commission, told us all about the T.A.C. That evoked a number
of questions from those who have paid car insurance for years.
Two of our members spoke. Alister MacGregor on “Tonga” and Jack Kellaher –
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“Some observations of a travelling man.” Tragically, Jack died on 6 July 1996. He
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talked to us only 23 days earlier on 13 June.
The monthly outings included a coach trip to the Grand Ridge Brewery at Mirboo
North, where the 40 who attended had lunch, and sampled and bought some of their
product. We also went to an Emu Farm, where a number bought Emu Oil. In February
1996 there was a trip to Werribee Park and a tour of the Zoo. In March we went to
Government House, then to the Melbourne Cricket Club where all the ground’s facilities
were shown to the members by one of the M.C.C. guides, followed by lunch at the
ground. In May there was a visit to the Woolshed at Ballarat, including lunch there. They
were all well attended outings.
One of the Club’s more successful coach trips (and they have all been good) was
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the 6 annual trip to Griffith, N.S.W. Panorama Coaches driver John, left Lilydale on
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Monday 23 October 1995. The trip had an unfortunate commencement as, at the first
morning tea/coffee break at Bonnie Doon, Alex Graham’s wife, Stella, tripped and fell
coming out of the Café and fractured her kneecap. John, our driver, made good time, via.
Benalla and Wangaratta to the Albury Base Hospital, where she was admitted and next
day transferred to a hospital in Melbourne. Alex, of course, remained with her, so our
numbers were reduced to 39. We were booked into a very good motel, the Griffith Motor
Inn.
The next three days covered a tour of the town and district, an orange orchard,
Rice Display Centre and a Rice farm. A visit to Narrandera, Darlington Point where we
saw a unique metal artwork display by one Ron Clarke, the Proprietor, who was quite a
character. Then there was another rice farm, a citrus packing shed and the final visit of
the tour was to a magnificent garden at “Belle Amour” on the outskirts of Griffith for an
inspection and afternoon tea. We came home on the Friday, via Jerilderie, Finley, (lunch
at Shepparton) and Seymour.
Harry Brennan, at the next meeting in November, thanked Carl Adamson and
President Geoff and his wife, Joyce, for all their efforts in making it such a successful
trip. It was Panorama Coaches first visit to Griffith and it was a learning experience for
them
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Seventy-eight persons attended the 13 annual Christmas luncheon, back again at
the R.A.C.V Country Club, Healesville. The members voted nearly unanimously in
March to return to the R.A.C.V., although the Snooty Fox, Olinda, the previous
December was quite good, but without the views that the wonderful lounge at Healesville
offers. The cost was $23 per head.
There are no records in either the Minutes or the newsletters of attendance at what
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would have been the 13 annual bowls tournament at Heathmont Bowling Club in March
1996. However an amount of delving by Brian Walsh and Geoff Paul discovered that two
Lilydale teams participated. Stan Dowie, Geoff Paul, Pat Wilkinson and Brian Walsh
were the number one team, whilst Max Rees, George Newman and Graeme Kenyon were
in the other team. Brian and Geoff delved deeply but not far enough to discover who the