Page 60 - Friendships Through the Years

Autumn, and (2) two nights were spent in one town and two in another. The first two
nights were spent at the Grampian’s Motel, Hall’s Gap, where twelve units were
occupied. The whole party, less two couples, drove to Seacombe Manor Motor Inn, Port
Fairy where we used ten units. Jack Coffey took the party on a tour of his old “stamping
ground” – Port Fairy. Mine Host at the Motor Inn, a retired doctor, gave us a very
interesting address after dinner on the last night.
The seventh annual Christmas luncheon was again held at the R.A.C.V. Club
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Healesville on 18 December 1989 at a cost of $19- for lunch, plus $3 for those who
traveled by McKenzies Coach. 58 attended.
A couple of weeks before Christmas, a large number of members of the Club
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attended the funeral at Croydon of Harry Colquhoun, who died on 15 December 1989.
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He had been a member since 14 March 1989. (Also see the tribute that President George
Sank paid to Harry in his President’s report twelve months later – see Chapter 9.)
A variation from the previous luncheons was outlined in the October newsletter:
“Members are reminded that, contrary to previous Christmas functions, pre -lunch and
table drinks are to be paid for by the member at the time of ordering.” This was the
outcome of the meeting of the sub-committee elected to investigate venues and costs for
future Christmas luncheons, mentioned in the previous chapter.
The following notice of motion was submitted by I.P.P. Bert Walker at the
December meeting:“When a member is not able to attend meetings &/or outings, for very
good reasons, that is through prolonged illness or disability, he does not have to consider
resigning. The President invites him to become an honorary member if he so wishes.
Such members names to be kept on the mailing list and pays no dues.” However, the
motion, when put at the February 1990 meeting was defeated and an amendment moved
by Harry Box was passed instead. It read: “When a member r esigns because he is unable
to attend meetings &/or outings for very good reasons, his name is to be kept on the
mailing list.”
At the April meeting, correspondence was received from the Lilydale Elderly
Citizen’s Club advising an increase in the rental of the meeting hall. Future meetings
were to be held in the main hall and not in the billiard room.
In Lex Lillie’s year as President, there were two car trips. The third annual car
trip, this time to Bendigo, was held for the usual four nights and five days from Monday
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April 30 1990. We stayed, at the Bendigo Motor Inn, Kangaroo Flat. Eleven deposits for
that many units were paid but one late withdrawal meant only 10 units occupied, 10
couples, a total of 20. Tariff was $46.40 per unit per night, the lowest tariff that had been
charged in l3 years.
Carl Adamson gave notice in April that he would be conducting a four-night/five
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Coach trip to Canberra in October 1990. This was the first of many coach tours.
Additionally, there were some interesting outings in Lex’s presidential year. Thirty-seven
people attended a coach trip to Puckapunyal Army Camp and Museum. This was quite a
nostalgic destination, because a number of the members had spent some time there during
the war. There was also a coach trip to Lake Eildon (a full coach of 45 plus several others
in private cars) which included a cruise on the Lake and a visit to a deer park.
Carl reported upon a successful coach trip to the National Wool Museum at
Geelong on 22nd February. Jack Coffey praised the excellence of the coach and driver on