Page 139 - Friendships Through the Years

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Guest Speaker on 9 October 1997. However, he was also our second guest speaker on
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1 September 1983 when he spoke about books. He gave a most vocal address, virtually
taken from the Ten Commandments, plus comment upon books that he had written, and
several about his life. He was a most refreshing character indeed.
Other speakers were Commander Dacre Smith on “sailing ships to Australia”, The
Hon. Bob Halverson, M.H.R. on the role of the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Ron Datsan on the history of time and old clocks and Dr. Cliff Saunderson on Natural
Medicine.
Phil Herry, a Lilydale identity, has had several mentions in this History,
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entertaining our members with music and recitation. He came to the Club again on 8
January 1998, when he accompanied Dom Bucci, another long time resident of Lilydale,
on the piano. Dom has a wonderful tenor voice, and those present were thoroughly
entertained with numerous extracts from operas.
Several of our members also spoke. Bruce Woodward gave a talk on his travels in
North Pakistan, illustrated with excellent slides. Jack Cockcroft told us of Life at Ayres
Rock, before it became as popular as it now is, and the Reverend Donald McLean gave us
the Christmas Message.
The first outing of Fred’s year was a coach trip to the Mitcheltown Winery,
Nagambie. We toured the winery and bought some wine. However, a Barbecue beside the
Goulburn River, which we all shared with thousands of European Wasps highlighted the
trip. In spite of this the wine was good. We all ate together again at our next outing, when
we didn’t have to travel so far - only to the Lilydale International Club. 50 attended and
the main course was $7.
Eating together seemed to be the theme in Fred’s year, because the June and July
outings were to the Waverley Theatre where all present had basket lunches. The August
trip was a barbecue picnic at Badger’s Creek, near Healesville. September was a
luncheon at the Chirnside Park Country Club. October was a car trip to the
Rhododendron Gardens at Olinda. We inspected the area in a special coach followed by
a picnic lunch. In November there was the Lillydale Lake walk followed by a barbecue.
There was more food yet again in December.
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At the 15 annual Christmas luncheon at the Healesville R.A.C.V. Country Club
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66 attended a buffet luncheon costing $20 per head. This was held on Monday 15
December 1997. There were two innovations here. Firstly, a buffet style lunch where all
one could eat was $20. This was the first time we had moved away from table service,
but the variety of food available was excellent. Secondly, the executive in its wisdom
decided not to charge for McKenzie’s coach. This hadn’t happened before and, it is
highly unlikely to happen again, unless the Club has a big windfall from one source or
another. Sixty-six attended, 31 traveled by coach free, and 35 drove their own cars!
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The first outing of Fred’s year was the 10 annual trip to the Yarra Glen races on
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25 March 1997, twelve days after the A.G.M. At this meeting 16 people enjoyed a
picnic lunch under the trees near the top of the straight, (away from the mob) in fine
weather. ‘Someone up there’ was starting to like us after some very ordinary weather for
our earlier visits to the track.
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The 15 annual Probus bowls tournament had only one Lilydale rink represented:
Harley Brown, Geoff Paul, George Sank and Brian Walsh. No results recorded so we can
only guess there were no outstanding wins on the day.