BERKELEY VALE PROBUS CLUB INC.

Minutes of General Meeting held 17 June 2019, Tasman Room

  Mingara Recreation Club, Mingara Drive, Tumbi Umbi.

1. President Judy opened meeting at 10.00 am reminding members to sign membership form for insurance purposes and turn off mobiles or turn down sound.
2. Apologies: Bruce Carpenter, Bill Clark, Ann Cooke, Catherine Devenish, Pam Dobson, Keith Gillespie, Helen Lewin, Helen potter, Ray Potter, Gillian Sloane, Ann Wood, Helen Yates John Muir arrived around 11am.
3. New Guests: Allan House, Susan Davies, Ben Wilson, Judy Wilson, Savi Kander, Kris Kander, Wendy Antyppas introduced themselves.
4. Confirmation of minutes of meeting of 20 May 2019 seconded Sue Baker
5. Correspondence In: Copies of Active Retirees received
6. Correspondence Out:  Nil
7. Induction of new members:  Margaret Morrison
8. Committee Member Reports:

• Treasurers Report: Receipts $1735.00, Expenditure $1936.15, Closing Balance $7688.12
• Welfare Report: Gillian has been in contact with those she knows are unwell
• Membership Report: 89 paid members, 59 in attendance, 13 apologies, 6 visitors and 4 new applications.
• Activities: 19/6: Picnic at Toowoon Bay; 27/6 Newcastle Tram Tour; 12/7 Coffee morning at Ken Duncan Gallery; 18/7 Mystery Tour -catch Sydney train, but not going to Sydney; 23/7 Bush Christmas in July at Buttai Barn; 3/8 Strictly Ballroom at Laycock Theatre; 9/8 coffee morning at Yoga Café “Jeans for Genes Day”, gold coin donation; 13/8 Birthday lunch at Ocean View Restaurant Blue Bay
  • Tours – no report
  • Camera Group Report: A small group had a good look at modern urban architecture in Sydney. Well worth going down to Sydney for a wander around. Next trip on 1 July is to Newcastle waterfront 
  • Ambassador: No report
• Guest Speaker Report: Today’s guest speaker is Greg Tunn on Surf Lifesaving on Central Coast. July will be Riding for the Disabled; August – Humour in Aged Care

1. General Business: nil
2. Break for morning tea 
3. Guest Speaker- Stories on Saving Lives
   Greg Tunn is the author of “Surf Lifesaving on the Central Coast”. He came from Tocumwal and was transferred to the Central Coast in 1981. He taught at Kanwal Public School for 15 years. As research for his book he visited all 16 clubs on the coast interviewing members to get a history of each club. The book covers the history of the area, how the clubs were formed as well as anecdotes from people he met. The local council provides surf lifesavers during the week, but the lifesaving clubs provide patrols on the weekends. The bigger clubs have rosters, but often members of smaller clubs are on every weekend. Anybody can become involved, don’t have to be super fit and young. They also need people as radio operators, fund raisers etc. The first club on the Central coast was Ocean Beach which was formed in 1922. This was followed in 1925 by The Entrance and Terrigal.  Women were not allowed to be lifesavers until 1980. They could only be involved in fund raising. During WWII women trained as lifesavers and manned the patrols, however at the end of the war they were no longer allowed to be lifesavers. In 2017 the surviving women were finally awarded their bronze medals in life saving. Now there are often more women than men in the clubs.
   In 1929 came Avoca, the largest club on the Coast and the most successful, and Killcare. Some of the beach at Killcare is part of Bouddi National Park. In 1938 these 5 clubs founded the Central Coast Branch. McMasters was formed in 1945, Wamberal in 1950. In 1954 came Toowoon Bay which has a group of ladies, “The Buttercups” who swim every morning, and The Lakes. The Lakes is situated at the top end of Budgewoi to take advantage of a natural water supply. It owns a group of shops in Toukley and the rent provides funds for the club. In 1957 Shelley Beach and North Avoca were formed. North Avoca was formed because it took too long for patrols from Avoca to get there. In 1959 Umina was formed by a group of guys who were thrown out of Ocean Beach Club so decided to start their own club.   Soldiers Beach was also formed in the same year. It was the first beach in Australia to try rubber duckies. In 1963 Copacabana was formed and in 1977 the last club, The Entrance was formed. The clubhouse was built solely by volunteers. Many of the clubs were set up by people form Sydney
   The central Coast clubs have saved many lives over the years and were involved in introducing rubber duckies, jet rescue boats, helicopters, International tours, Lifesaving magazine and rookies into the surf lifesaving movement. Nippers on the Central Coast are wholly supported by the Masonic Lodge
   Greg concluded by saying it is very worthwhile getting involved in the clubs. They all have restaurants and coffee shops and are worth a visit. 
4. Next Committee Meeting 24 June 2019 at 10a.m. 
5. Next meeting 15 July 2019 at 10a.m. will be back in the Bowls Room 
6. Meeting closed at 11.55 am