CLUB
HISTORY
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The
Beginnings
The Year 2005/2006
The
Year 2006/2007
The
Year 2007/2008
 The
Continuing Story of
Forresters Beach Probus Club
By Club Historian and Founding President John Ramsay The Beginnings 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. The Year 2005/2006 The Inaugural Meeting on Tuesday 8th February, 2005 was attended by 195 people and there were 23 apologies. It was followed by a lunch with 150 present. Val Styles, Chair of Rotary District 9680 representing Rotary and Probus, presented the Foundation Members with a Membership Certificate and a name badge. A Committee was elected. It comprised John Ramsay as President, Terry Larke as Vice President, Rhonda Phillips as Secretary, John Phillips as Assistant Secretary, Max Taylor as Treasurer, Bev and Murray Walsh as Program Co-Ordinators, Judy Ramsay as Social Co-Ordinator, Frank Kelett as Newsletter Editor, Sue Edwards and Graham Williamson as Picnic Planners, Robin Kelett as Database Manager, Desley and Don Francis as Attendance Register Supervisors. Numerous other members undertook the responsibility for other activities. The first major social event organized by Bev and Murray Walsh was a six hour “Four Islands” cruise on the Broadwater, Hawkesbury and Pittwater on March 3. It was a great opportunity to meet fellow members. A feature of the regular monthly social calendar, a Sausage Sizzle, was begun in March. Varying Central Coast venues had been selected. The first was held on March 16 at St Johns Lookout in Katandra Reserve. Members were also advised of the speakers planned for coming monthly meetings. The first was Geoff Potter, Local Studies Librarian of Gosford Council who spoke on “The Early History of Gosford and its Pioneers”. This was designed to inform members of the background to Pioneer Park, Point Frederick where the next monthly sausage sizzle was to be held. The social whirl continued with the first ‘pub’ lunch (apart from the regular lunch following each meeting ) held at the Wallarah Bay Club on April 28 and three days later dinners at Ourimbah TAFE School of Catering restaurant on May 3 and 6,the first theatre party to see “Around the World” on May 19, a Tour of the Gosford Regional Art Gallery on May 24 and the first Dinner Dance MCed by Chris King with a 60’s theme at The Resort on May 27.  With such
a busy program the Newsletter,
edited by Frank Kelett (left), was an invaluable reference point for
Members.
The inclusion of photos taken at the various gatherings maintained
interest and developed camaraderie.Robin Kelett (left) supplemented the Newsletter with regular dispatch of e-mails. The regular and detailed communication kept Members involved and participating.  Desley and Don Francis (right) took responsibility for organizing a monthly Golf Group and it first played on May 25. Ross Paddon was made an Honorary Member. Bev and Murray Walsh were basing their planning on a Survey completed by members. The Committee adopted their suggestions by launching additional activities, with the help of the offers by Members to act as organisers in a sub committee role.
 Ellen Hayes (left) who supervised the monthly after Meeting lunch payments and soon assumed responsibility for Theatre Parties. On June 30 the first “outside the Coast” event was a train trip to Newcastle followed by a Scenic/Historical tram tour and waterfront lunch. Rain forced cancellation of an associated historical walking tour.  A
Walking Group led by Helen and Peter Thomson
(right) began on
August 1. It followed soon after the first Bush Dance held at the
Matcham Hall on July 29 and preceded another Theatre Party – to “42nd
Street” on August 11.More activity in line with the acronym!  Following the resignation of Sue Edwards and Graham Williamson, Brian Kirk (left), previously a team member assumed charge of the monthly Sausage Sizzle. September
2005 saw the launch of the Tennis Group led by Judy Ramsay (right) and
the
publication by Bev and Murray Walsh of the planned program for the 12
months of 2006. Included in it were the first long term Bus trip – to
Yarrawonga – planned for April 2006 and the first Overseas
trip – to
Vietnam - planned for October 2006. The first bus trip – to the Hunter
Valley – took place on November 29.At monthly meetings the preferable way to amend the standard Probus Constitution to allow for the future administrative framework of the ongoing and substantial Club, based on a Management Committee supported by various Sub Committee roles reporting to either a Senior or Junior Vice President, was discussed as was the desirability of setting a maximum gender percentage to ensure the Club remained a blended group. With about 65% of the membership accessing the Internet the launch in October 2005 by Frank Bunton of a very detailed and informative web site was welcomed. (Picture below shows the front page of the first issue of the web site)  The Internet also enabled Robin Kelett to advise a substantial number of the members of coming events and changes. November saw the resignation of Terry Larke, Rhonda and John Phillips. Vivienne Scott was elected as Vice President and Colleen Walker as Secretary.  The Club’s first Melbourne Cup was celebrated with a Cruise (picture left) organized by Bev and Murray Walsh. December saw 91 attend the “Christmas Sausage Sizzle” some days after 110 had been at The Resort for the Christmas Dinner Dance. Santa and Mrs Claus (masquerading as Bev and Murray Walsh) arrived just as they had in 2004. No room for Rudolph. When 2006 began, many planned events already had been circulated to Members. A lunch at the Hardys Bay Club on February 2 followed the January “Sizzle”. The Year 2006/2007 The AGM was held on 14th March, 2006 Members voted to adopt the Standard Probus Constitution suitably adapted for the likely future needs of the Club.  Murray
Walsh (left) was elected as President. The
Management
Committee elected was Geoff Barwick as Senior Vice President,
Vivienne Scott as Junior Vice President, Pippa Ball as Secretary,
Charlie Colthurst as Treasurer, Bev Walsh as Social Co-Ordinator, June
and Don Harding as Program Managers, Frank Kelett as Newsletter Editor, To leaven the formality of the month the new Club wine label, based on the Roman Emperor Probus, and researched and printed by Juerg Chresta (pictured right with Murray Walsh) was launched. Bottles of it were used as prizes at the Club’s First Anniversary Dinner Dance, held at The Resort, on March 24. There were 111 present with music by the Sydney Band “Wild Rice”. A five day visit to Huskisson between March 6 and 10 saw the Club Cabin and Caravan Group begin its part in the program. Bruce and Barbara Evans supported by Desley and Don Francis were the Conevors and 23 members joined them. The success of the Club owed much to the willingness of numerous Members who undertook Sub Committee responsibility. This was illustrated by the willingness of Desley and Don Francis to help with the Cabin and Caravan Group when they were already Attendance Register Supervisors and Organisers of the Golf Group.  A six day trip to Yarrawonga began on April 30 and was enjoyed by 48 members. (Picture left).  July
2006 saw Frank Bunton commence Computer Classes and the new “Coast
Creations Group” led by Mary Lyttleton (right) begin meeting at the
Toowoon Bay
Surf Club. The Surf Club building later also became the venue for the
new “Coast Songsters” led by John Powell and Janet Crlik. Also at the
same meeting place were the “Coast Bookworms” led by Joan Bunton. October was the first overseas tour – of Vietnam for 18 days. Bev and Murray Walsh led a party of 25. December 5 brought a lunch at the Palm Beach RSL, thanks to the ferry, (no enthusiasm for a Swimming Group) with 97 lunching. The Annual Christmas Dinner Party was held on December 15 with 148 at The Resort (Pictuer left below). The Christmas Sausage Sizzle on December 20 attracted 101. Santa (Eric Grace) also turned up with a helper (Yvonne Grace) (Picture right below)..   An article on the Club’s success was printed in the Probus Magazine of February/March 2007 and invited readers to inspect the Club Web Site. The Year 2007/2008  At
the AGM for 2007 Geoff Barwick (left) was elected to succeed Murray
Walsh as
President. The Management Committee comprised him, Vivienne Scott as
Senior Vice President, Frank Kelett as Junior Vice President, Pippa
Ball continuing as Secretary, Charlie Colthurst remaining as Treasurer,
Toni Barwick as Social Co-Ordinator, June and Don Harding once again as
Program Managers and Robin Kelett as Newsletter Editor.At the April Meeting the names of the additional 21 people accepting sub committee responsibilities and reporting to the Management Committee were announced. Membership was now over 200 with a growing waiting list. Indicative of the support for activities was 35 people joining the Cabin/Caravan Group led by Bruce and Barbara Evans for five days In Mudgee in March with 24 of them continuing on to Dubbo. May 6 was the date for the first Lawn Bowls Day (followed by a dinner) at The Diggers Club, Long Jetty (picture below left). The Second Bush Dance was held at Glengara Village’s Club House on May 26 with the “Coast Songsters” performing mid-dance (picture below right).   In June 2007 the Club’s meeting venue was changed to Tuggerah Lakes Golf Club because The Resort’s requirements and capacity were incompatible with the needs of the Club. The first meeting there saw 128 remain for lunch. Sixty four members celebrated “Christmas in July” at the Bundanoon Hotel on July 24 and 25.  Trivia officially entered the Club with the First Trivia Lunch/Afternoon at the Toowoon Bay Surf Club on Friday August 10 (picture left).  During
August the Coast Bookworms amalgamated with Coast Creations deciding
that in future both groups would meet jointly at the Toowoon Bay Surf
Club. Coast Creations had made a significant contribution to the “Wraps
with Love” project knitting a considerable quantity of blankets and
beanies (picture right). They had decided to set themselves a target of
more than 60
blankets for 2008. Between August 26 and 30 there were 64 members present at Tuncurry for the Cabin/Caravan gathering organised by Bruce and Barbara Evans. Not much knitting but plenty of golf and socialising. Another part of the Club’s development saw the first meeting of a pilot Investment Learning Group following the September meeting. To prove the versatility of their members 27 of the Coast Walkers put “To Sea” briefly, by ferry, en route to Dangar Island in the Hawkesbury River on October 2. On October 25 members attended “Oliver” at the Laycock Street Theatre with many meeting first at The Yellow Piano for dinner beforehand. The next day a Central Coast Bus Tour and Lunch provided a new look at our local area.  Theatre and history/scenery gave way to the glamour of the turf on November 26 with the Melbourne Cup lunch at The Terrigal Memorial Club. The Hat Prize was won by Annette Frischknect To the November meeting many members brought a donation of non perishable food for distribution by the Salvation Army. This followed the initial collection in 2006 suggested by Robin Kelett. Members journeyed to Sydney to attend the NSW Schools Spectacular on November 23. December was very much the month of “Claus” as the popular gentleman, who seemed to have lost weight between appearances, joined members to distribute gifts at both the Club Christmas Party/Dinner Dance held at the Tuggerah Golf Club on December 15 (bottom left) and at the Christmas Sausage Sizzle on December 19 organised by the team led by Chris and Ian Neill. The Coast Songsters joined Santa (Murray Walsh below left) at the Christmas Party and were well received although clearly less popular than the jolly visitor. They left the Sizzle to Santa and he (Eric Grace - bottom right) attempted to win the hearts of the 103 present by bringing Mrs Claus as well (left of Santa). Some of the 126 who had been receiving presents on December 15 no doubt lined up on December 19 only to be courteous to Mrs Claus (Yvonne Grace). 
 On both occasions, as they had done throughout the year, the combination of Neville Wynn’s photographs and Frank Bunton’s presentation of them immediately on the Club Web Site gave everyone in the Club a chance to recapture the fun. The vitality of the Club continued with the acronym “The Coast – Combined Organisation Actively Socialising Together” clearly true. |
