Page 142 - Friendships Through the Years

The press took a photo of all 15 Presidents on the stage, and some private cameras
were used too. The photo appeared in the Lilydale Post (as it was then) a couple of weeks
later with a suitable story of the function.
Besides Bob Shellard returning from Benalla, Past President, Arthur Geary drove
down from Bendigo. Derek Reeve-Cox, the Rotarian who formed the Club, came up from
Mornington, and three members of the Rotary Club of Lilydale, including Colin Dean
(who helped conduct the inaugural meeting as the incumbent President of Rotary)
attended.
Stan conducted the normal meeting after which our member, Donald McLean,
gave the Christmas message. This was followed by a “high morning tea” organized very
efficiently, as usual, by Jack and Aileen Coffey. President Fred thanked Secretary (past
president) George Sank for arranging the whole day, which was very successful and
enjoyed by all the members.
Near the start of this chapter, mention was made of the Club forum held at the
July 1997 meeting and that it was proposed to move that membership be increased to 70.
A notice of motion to move this was given by Secretary George Sank at the October 1997
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meeting. Eventually, at the meeting on 8 January 1998, it was moved by Martin Taylor,
seconded Alan Boak “tha t membership be increased to 75”. After lengthy discussion the
motion was put and lost. Ten voted for and 17 against; 4 members abstained from voting.
The January newsletter (edited by George Sank, who gave the original notice of
motion) stated:
“The moti on to increase the membership was a precursor to a membership drive
by the incoming President and committee. Members were not in favour on the
grounds that the Club should demonstrate an ability to reach the present ceiling
before setting a new one.”

Perusal of the membership numbers at the end of each chapter indicates that at no stage
of the Club’s history have the numbers exceeded the limits approved by the members and
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recorded in the Minutes. The Minute dated October 10 . 1992 reads:

That until such time as the committee of the Club shall recommend, and the
members, by a majority at a general meeting shall decide, the membership of the
Club be limited to 60 (sixty) members, excluding life and honorary members.
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There were two life members as at March 31 . 2000. The highest membership ever
recorded was 61 in 1994 –95 – Arthur Geary’s year. (See Chapter 13.)

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The 164 meeting of the Club on Thursday, 12 February 1998, proved to be the
Club’s last meeting at the Atheneum Theatre. We had our first meeting there on
Thursday10th June 1993. The move from the Atheneum Theatre was occasioned
following the receipt of a letter from one of the Theatre’s Directors. The Club’s
Committee of Management met and decided that our future meetings would be held at the
Lillydale Lake Community Room. President Fred Harding and President Elect Martin
Taylor were instrumental in negotiating with the Shire of Yarra Ranges representatives
for our move to the Lake.