Page 90 - Friendships Through the Years

before, when his subject was “Puffing Billy” and he accompa nied the 33 people who
enjoyed the trip. He acted as the train’s conductor, and spent an amount of time with us in
our two carriages.
Other interesting outings in Jack Coffey’s year were a coach trip to the Gourmet
Deli region in Gippsland where we sampled (and bought) meats, cheeses and smoked
trout. Forty-five people attended a visit to the Science Technology Museum and Old
Pumping Station at Spotswood. The Melbourne Water Authority’s Stream Management
and Drainage Control centre was another interesting outing.
Malcom Gray who spoke on “Improving your Memory”, Harry McDonald from
“Whelan the Wrecker, the Hon. Bob Halverson, O.B.E. Member of the Federal House of
Representatives for Casey spoke on “Parliamentary Procedures” (he was the Liberal
Party “Whip” at the time), and Clive Canning who told us the story of a “Return Flight to
England in a plane he constructed himself” were some of the interesting guest speakers.
As mentioned in the previous chapter, Arthur Geary often finished his newsletter
with a snippet called “Carl’s Corner”. The May 1993 snippet read: “A schoolgirl
answered the question “In what countries are Elephants found?” “Elephants are very
large and intelligent animals and are seldom lost!”
President Jack Coffeey’s highlights were many. In his opinion, the highlight
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among the year’s activities was “the 10 A.G.M”, celebrated by having the meeting and a
luncheon at the York on Lilydale. Excellent accommodation for both meeting and
luncheon were available. Several visitors from other Clubs attended and partook of a
splendid meal, not to mention the special birthday cake with 10 candles.” His other
highlights were the coach trip to Foster and the car trip to Moama, with special mention
for the “Happy Hour”. Jack also wrote of “Our transfer of meeting place, at the invitation
of the Management, to the Atheneum Theatre. It was a giant step forward, as far as
seating, venue, and catering were concerned.”
Up until June 1993, the Club had met at the Uniting Church Hall (briefly), until it
was pulled down around our ears! Then nine and a half years at the Senior Citizen’s
Clubrooms, in three different rooms there. First the committee room, then the billiard
room and finally into the main hall. Our Member, Russell Johnson, who was a Director of
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the Atheneum Theatre management, made a generous offer, to hold the June 10 meeting
at the Atheneum Theatre, the offer was accepted and President Jack conducted his last
full meeting in the Theatre.
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The last meeting we held at the Senior Citizen’s Clubrooms venue was on 13
May 1993, when Clive Canning, was the Guest Speaker. Mention is made in several
records that he was probably our best speaker we had had since our inception. He spoke
on his flight to England in a small plane he built himself.
The next meeting after the Atheneum General meeting was the annual general
meeting at the York on Lilydale. From that time on, we continued to meet at the Theatre
until in early 1998 we moved to the Community Centre at Lilydale Lake.
Before Jack Coffey handed over to President Elect, Harry Brennan, at the A.G.M.
on
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8 July 1993, he formally announced that the Club would vacate our venue for meetings
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at the Senior Citizens Clubrooms in Hardy Street, Lilydale. From 12 August 1993 we
would be meeting at the Atheneum Theatre, Castella Street, Lilydale, on a permanent