Page 163 - Friendships Through the Years

was at work, during the day. It was later decided at a Committee of Management meeting
that the names be also listed on a computer when the book was finalized. There would
then be several copies printed and available, to ensure that a contact sheet was available
at every function or outing.
One of the major functions of Bert’s year was a seminar, suggested and organized
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by Martin Taylor. “Coping with Death in the Family” was the theme. It was held on 9
November at St. Patrick’s Community Hall, Lilydale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The charge
was $5 per person and a light lunch was provided. Four qualified speakers presented
appropriate and interesting segments, each of about an hour with slides and question
time. Seventy-seven persons, not all from our Club, plus 8 speakers and their assistants,
were there. It was very favourably received. Martin had been able to obtain a number of
very good sponsorships to cover the costs and he reported at the November meeting that a
profit of over $500 was made for Club funds. He thanked the many Club members and
ladies who volunteered for various tasks and helped to make the seminar a success.
Several letters were later received from members of other Clubs, thanking, and
congratulating our Club for organizing the ‘Getting your affairs in Order’ seminar.
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The 186 general meeting held at the Lillydale Lake Community Room on
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Thursday 9 December 1999, was the last meeting of the Club in the 20 Century, and it
was celebrated with gusto even if the weather decided not to be too kind for a December
day. It attracted the largest ‘total’ attendance ever at any meeting in 17 years. There were
46 members, 40 ladies and 10 visitors, a total of 96 persons. (There were 7 apologies.)
While we are discussing records, the number of actual members in attendance that
day was not a record at 46. Twice, whilst Geoff Paul was in the chair in 1995/96, there
were 48 members in attendance, in December 1995 and also in April 1996. However, the
40 ladies who were there to ‘see the Millenium out’, was easily the largest attendance of
ladies.
Geoff Paul was also in the chair when the largest number of visitors, 18, came to
the annual general meeting in July 1995. I’m not sure if it was to see Arthur Geary off or
to welcome Geoff into the job!
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Here is some more trivia. Harry Brennan presided over the meeting on 26
August 1993 when the apologies totalled 24. Everybody must have been ‘up north’ for
the last month of winter. However the attendance was reasonable with 30 members, 22
ladies and 6 visitors: total 58. If we add the 24 apologies, it comes to 82, which would
have been a record in those days. Bad luck, Harry!
But enough of statistics, anyway, they are all listed at the end of each chapter.
However back to the December meeting. Business was kept to a minimum, but Carl
Adamson took the opportunity to thank everyone in the Club on behalf of himself, and
his wife Dorothy, for their friendship and comradeship over the 17 years he has been in
the Club. Carl and Dorothy moved from Lilydale to Wheeler’s Hill, after living there for
27 years. They intend to maintain their membership and attend as many meetings as
possible in the future.
Carl is a foundation member, past president and was rewarded with Life
Membership in 1991 for his many years of service to the Club, particularly organizing
functions and speakers. It was his initiative that started the annual 5-day coach trips every
spring. There have now been nine annual coach trips to Victorian centres, South Australia
and N.S.W.