Page 35 - Friendships Through the Years

Also that year the Probus Association organized the first annual golf day at the
Emerald Lake Country Club. In May 1986 Keith McLennan was the only Lilydale
member to participate in what was a quite pleasant day. But, to the best of this author’s
knowledge, there has not been another golf day, so it was the first and last annual golf
day!
There were only four outings organized in 1985-1986. They were the Fergusson’s
Winery luncheon, Winneke Dam trip, Waverley theatre movies (A Passage to India),
and a coach trip to Mt. Macedon home gardens in conjunction with the Lilydale Garden
Club. Fifty-seven people attended this trip at a cost of $10 each. Another outing was the
third annual Christmas luncheon, again to the R.A.C.V. Country Club, at Healesville. The
cost was $20 per head, all-inclusive, including McKenzies’s Coach. The attendance at
these R.A.C.V. functions rose each year. Forty-six attended in 1985.
There were four very interesting speakers in Bob Shellard’s year. Rob Heritage,
Funeral Director gave a very interesting and humorous talk on his industry. Mrs. Shirley
Wiencke – author of When the Wattles Bloom Again talked about and sold autographed
copies of her book. Mrs. Claire Howarth gave a talk, illustrated with slides, on
“Australian bases in the Antarctic” and Dr. Alan Crook, a Medical Missionary in the
1930s spoke on “Early Days in China.” Additionally,
7 Club members gave the stories of their lives and careers: John Coffey, Cedric Hordern,
Bill Warren, Bob Shellard, Maurie Barnes, George Denham and Merv Wenker.
Foundation Member, Ron Warne, tendered his resignation at the May meeting as
he and his wife Pat were leaving the district. Bob thanked Ron for his willing
participation in many capacities in the Club. Just before he resigned, Ron drove a hired
mini-bus to Mt. Macedon to supplement the coach that was used for the joint trip with the
Lilydale Garden Club, brought about because too many members of both Clubs agreed to
attend and there were too many for one bus.