The Continuing Story of Forresters Beach Probus Club
By Club Historian and Founding President John Ramsay
The Club’s purpose is set out in the acronym – COAST - Combined
Organisation Actively Socialising Together.
This
objective has been observed particularly due to the efforts of the
numerous Committee and Sub Committee members and the support provided
by members to their efforts.
 In
September 2004 Max Taylor (left) (then
Treasurer of The Entrance Rotary Club) and Joy Taylor after consulting
Ross Paddon, President of the Club, asked Judy and John Ramsay whether
they would be prepared to launch a new combined (male and female
membership) Probus Club based at Forresters Beach.
 Judy
(left) had
an association with Rotary for over 20 years. John,(picture at top of
page) a member of
Terrigal Probus Club, had recently resigned after three years as
Secretary of that Club which was a male only. Both agreed to be
Convenors of a new club. Their belief was that there was a need for a
mixed club as the majority of existing Central Coast Clubs were single
gender (almost exclusively male) and with an aged membership. New
arrivals on the Coast and residents retiring found these Clubs did not
meet their needs.
Judy and John recognised that a mixed gender
club, which both husband and wife could join, would provide an
opportunity to meet new friends and develop a rewarding social life.
They saw the target market area as newly retired or semi retired
people, whether married or single, living on the coastal strip or its
hinterland.
Judy devised the club motto COAST as detailed above.
 The
Convenor group was Ross Paddon, Joy and Max Taylor (right) and Judy and
John
Ramsay. Ross, proprietor of The Forresters Beach Resort, offered its
premises as a home free of charge. Its ambience was seen as a distinct
plus.
Marketing of potential members commenced. Newspapers,
radio and letter drops were used. A great deal of effort was made to
contact people known to the Ramsays and individuals were asked to
inform their own friends.
An Information Meeting to ascertain
the degree of interest in forming the new Club was set down for Tuesday
9th November, 2004 at the Forresters Beach Resort.
 Looking
for a
younger image for the club, John asked Bev and Murray Walsh (left) to
pose for a
picture in the Central Coast Advocate and to act as Program Managers.
Many
enquiries and a flow on of awareness to potential members resulted from
an article and photo in the “Central Coast Advocate”. It brought a
flood of phone enquiries which were answered by Judy who became known
as “The Voice at the end of the phone about the Coast Club”
For
the Information Meeting 165 “Information Packs” were prepared and on
the day 240 people attended and 100 who were unable to attend
registered their interest. All were sent information.
Recognising
the competing commitments of the Christmas/School Holiday period the
Club’s Inaugural Meeting was set for Tuesday 8th February, 2005. The
Entrance Rotary Club had agreed to Sponsor the new Probus Club.
At the Information Meeting 106 people submitted an application for
membership.
To
maintain enthusiasm and to develop membership further a Christmas Party
was held at the Resort in December and 175 attended. Bev and Murray
Walsh, robed as Santa and Mrs Claus, distributed sweets to all.
Beginnings
Year 2005
Year 2006
Year 2007
Year 2008
Year 2009
Year 2010 |
