Page 131 - Friendships Through the Years

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The 14 annual Christmas luncheon was again at the Country Club at Healesville
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(R.A.C.V.). on 16 December. The cost was $25.50 per head plus $4 each for the 28 who
utilized McKenzies Coach. Twenty three travelled in their own cars, a total of 51.
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The annual general meeting was held on 13 March 1997 at the Athenaeum
Theatre. President Clive agreed to hold office for only nine months, following the
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suggestion by Graeme Kenyon at the meeting on 9 May 1996 that the annual general
meeting date be altered from July to March to coincide with the election of officers and
committee in March each year. The Club’s rules were legally altered at the September
1996 meeting and accepted by the Registrar of Incorporated Associations in February
1997.
The shorter term for Clive meant that there was no car trip, no visit to the Yarra
Glen races and the City walk also missed out in his shortened year. Of course Clive also
didn’t have as many outings or speakers either.
Once again neither the Minutes nor newsletter indicated whether a team was
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entered in the 14 annual Probus bowling tournament. However, once again, Geoff and
Brian checked their records and came up with the following two teams: George Sank,
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Max Rees, George Newman and Brian Walsh were the number one rink. The 2 rink was
Stan Dowie, Pat Wilkinson, Geoff Paul and Graeme Kenyon. (Again, there was no
indication of success or failure, however, if they had been successful it is pretty certain
the newsletter would have trumpeted the news.)
As mentioned earlier, Keith McLennan and Lex Lillie also didn’t quite see out the
twelve months presidential term, but for different reasons from Clive.
Treasurer, Bert Milgate, reported a credit balance of $1,147.75, an improvement
of almost $200 on the previous year. After Clive’s nine months in office, the
membership was down to 53. His year commenced at 60, he inducted 4 new members,
but there were 6 resignations and 5 deaths.
Past President Clive Winnett inducted Fred Harding as President for 1997/1998,
and at the conclusion of the annual general meeting, Rona Frogley and Cath Hill gave a
violin and piano recital of popular tunes from the musicals, ably assisted by the strong
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and tuneful voice of George Sank. Sadly, Clive Winnett passed away on Monday 28
December 1998, he had been in ill health for a number of months. There were a very
large number of people at the Funeral service at the Lilydale Crematorium, conducted by
our member, Rev. Donald McLean. Many Lilydale Probus Club members attended, and,
as Clive had been a Lilydale identity since soon after World War II, conducting a
pharmacy in the main street, he had made a number of friends locally, who paid tribute to
him. (Author’s note. I had the opportunity to speak to Glenys Winnett some time after
Clive’s death, and she told me that Clive was always determined, when he first took
office, to bring the Constitution (or Rules, as we have, being an Incorporated club) up to
date and in line with our requirements. He certainly put a lot of work into ensuring that
this was accomplished and, I, as the first Public Officer, had first hand experience of that,
with my initial knowledge of the Rules and Statement of Purposes, and we got together
on numerous occasions to get it right. She also said that he considered his other main
achievement was his suggestion that a “Contact Book”, with the names and phone
numbers of relatives &/or friends of all members who could be contacted in case of
accident.)