Page 81 - Friendships Through the Years

“Carl and I had to make a quick deci sion when the speaker didn’t turn up, we had
to fill the gap on the spot, and he and I both spoke. I spoke on the history of my home
town, Nimbin, and the changes from childhood until now.”
Les also wrote:
“I should pay tribute to three people who helpe d me so much during my year as
President. Firstly to my late wife, Wilma. It made such a difference having some one to
organize social occasions, and she had a great rapport with the ladies. Secondly to Arthur
Geary who was Secretary for me, and prompted me, when necessary. Thirdly to George
Sank, who was the outgoing President. He was a great adviser, and gave me the
opportunity to take the chair during my year as Vice President while he was in Indonesia
on holiday.”
(Note – Unfortunately none of the three persons mentioned are still in the Club.)
He concluded:

“I was very proud when my daughter, Dianne, and her Associate, were the Guest
Speakers on the subject of Deafness. This was not in my year”
(Author’s note, it was in Harry Brennan’s Presidential year, 1993-1994.)

We have quoted at length from his letter as it highlights the small (and sometimes major)
problems a President can run into when in office.
At the commencement of this chapter, we mentioned the Club members who spoke of
their interesting lives. However Les also had a number of knowledgeable Guest Speakers
whose stories kept the members listening and not “nodding off”! Bill Lipscombe, a
member of the Probus Club of Croydon, talked about several trips on the waterways of
England, illustrated with slides. Another guest speaker was Sergeant Brian Turton, who
spoke on the Victoria Police Road Safety unit.
th
The minutes for the 13 February 1994 meeting read: “Mr. Alfred Waldram,
delivered a delightful presentation of the Stone Age people in Irian Jaya, enjoyed by all.”
Also Dr. Bill Hardy, who is one of the few remaining Foundation members of the Rotary
Club of Lilydale, gave us a very humorous account of his career as a GP in Mt. Evelyn
since World War II. His stories of some of the “characters ” of the district, and some of
the women with large families, and his part in delivering their babies, was hilarious.
Thirty-eight people attended a visit to the Channel 9 studios in Richmond to
witness the taping of Sale of the Century and in November a coach trip to Coal Creek
historical town near Korumburra attracted 34 members. Carl Adamson commented on the
very enjoyable day visit to the “Abel Tasman”, lunch at the Stamford Hotel, Rowville. 42
attended.
Additionally, Carl Adamson expressed his disappointment with the response of
only 14 members attending the outing to the Darnum Musical Village. People from
outside the Club, whom Carl approached (taking a considerable amount of his time)
raised the number to 30, “who enjoyed the hospitality and music p rovided by the owner.”
Probably the highlight of the outings in this president’s year was one of our rare
evening functions. Carl arranged a coach trip to the Melbourne Zoo, 42 on board, leaving
Lilydale at 4 p.m. We arrived there an hour later, brought our own evening meal, ate it
whilst listening to a jazz band playing in the gardens, then walked around looking at the