Page 153 - Friendships Through the Years

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Another unusual outing was a luncheon on 30 June at the Market Street Tavern,
Nunawading. Twenty-four attended, enjoying a quality meal, but, courtesy of the Herald-
Sun “Split the Bill scheme”, they only paid half the cost.
The September meeting was a mystery coach excursion “somewhere”. It
eventually turned out that the coach took 42 members to Yarra Junction, Warburton and
the Upper Yarra Dam. Prizes were awarded for guessing where the trip would finish up.
Neville Meaby guessed correctly and then had to give a report at the October meeting on
what went on. Neville obviously enjoyed it.
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Just as the 1998 car trip was marred by the death of Gerald Frogley, so was the 8
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annual coach trip to the Glenara Motel, Lakes Entrance from 12 to 16 of October,
1998, which had been organized by Ron Hand. This was because, as mentioned earlier in
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this chapter, Ron’s wife, Margaret, died suddenly on 6 October, and, of course, Ron had
to withdraw. Fortunately our Treasurer, Jack Cockcroft, ably filled in for Ron on the trip,
and acted as an excellent M.C., and organizer.
There were trips to Nowa Nowa to see wood sculptures and gemstones; Wyanda
Park Winery and Restaurant (lovely meal of “Flathead tails and salad”) and then the
return to Lakes Entrance on a Lake Cruiser – the Corque. We had a full day tour of the
Lakes area, Bruthen and Metung; and on the final day there was a trip to Paynesville on
the Thunderbird catamaran.

The Motel Proprietor, Matt, organised a type of “Happy Hour” on the four nights
before dinner (not as long as the car trip happy hours but still good fun) and the motel
meals were quite good. All told, it was a very enjoyable trip. Those newer members
experiencing such a trip for the first time really enjoyed it. At the November meeting,
Bert Hanson thanked Ron Hand for his preliminary planning, and Jack Cockcroft for such
a successful coach trip.
Two of the other outings were to Castlemaine and to the new Imax Theatre,
Carlton, with the Big Screen. Thirty-eight attended, travelling in by train and tram. They
saw The Elephant Family for a cost of only $9.50.
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However the other two trips in Martin’s year were the highlights. On 26
November there was a coach trip (using McKenzie’s coaches) to Alexandra where we
inspected Lloyd Gould’s Sawmill, followed by a picnic lunch in the Rotary Park at
Alexandra, then we inspected Lloyd Gould’s garden and home in Marysville. Forty-four
attended.

Three months later, McKenzie’s coach again took us to Marysville, firstly to the
Acheron Way to Lloyd Gould’s Marysville sawmill, where we watched the trees being
felled and stripped. We were fortunate to be able to see the tree fellers in action as
coaches are never allowed in the area, but it’s not what you know but who you know.
Owen Egan, who was in charge of the Marysville Police Station, for a number of
years, before retirement and knew Lloyd Gould very well, did the organization of the two
trips. We also visited the Steavenson Falls and had lunch at the well-known and popular
Marysville Bakery. It was certainly one of the better and more interesting of the trips that
the Club has undertaken.