4 minute read

75th Anniversary Reunion Photo Gallery

from Soundings May 2021

by sopyc0

from Soundings May 2021 , page 35

S27

Back to the Yacht Club ~Reunion ~

The 75th Anniversary Reunion

Sunday March 21st, 2021

It’s not an afternoon tea” muttered Amanda Watson as we slaved to get the room right.

“It’s a reunion for the older members and a chance for them to have a peaceful environment that allows them to stop, sit down and have a chat while having a cup of tea”.

Well we got that wrong didn’t we?

On a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon over 200 guests packed the ballroom and the bar went off, right from the first guests arrival.

The guests were greeted by Maree Kosick, the clubs receptionist who had offered to look after the reception table in the foyer and she was assisted by members Maria Cook and Denise Weaver and in welcoming the guests. The bar opened up and was doing a steady trade with coffee and tea available from a side buffet.

The Commodore John Midolo addressed the guests briefly and M/C Bernie Kaaks continued the welcome noting that we had people coming from as far afield as Geraldton, Albany and Denmark with the closer country regions well represented.

The afternoon tea was offered from a buffet served by the staff and it was very well patronised in both the savoury and sweet sections.

But the real show was on the tables and in the panels on display. Priceless pins, trophies, irreplaceable badges and pennants. They were all there and dozens of photographs of times past. All worth their while examining and the tables were the centre of attention right from the start. Amanda had managed to find PC Merton Gray’s jacket and cap and with the addition of H28 sailor Gordon Jones’ cravat, the tailors dummy looked pretty good. Though nobody was prepared to buy the past commodore a beer.

Four big television screens held back from the 75th Anniversary Cocktail party were showing changing displays from different times and video’s that covered all aspects of the clubs past.

Amongst those gathered were the Howell, Spargo, Sampson and

Tracy Leveridge-Smith, John Wilson and John Holder John Smith and Garry Morrison

Margaret Cooper, Peta Popham and Maurice Cooper Ian Blanckensee, Wayne Marshall and Greg Andrews

Chris & Sue Blake, Debbie & Nick Zinni

Wilson families, Lorraine Ellard, Ron Greer,Terry Ings, Gill Cuss (nee Metcher) John Holder, Peta and David Locke, Lee Holst, Cherry Calcott, Betty Walsh (nee Granger), Colin and Judy Cowden, Edrick and Theresa Delfos from Geraldton, Madeleine Rennie and Len Randell, Stephen and Merril Grover, Syd. and Susanne Meyerink . Former long time staff members Lee Ayles and Margaret Howson joined the party to sit and reminisce with members.

The afternoon simply didn’t want to go away as numerous sailors began to return from the water and joined the party with the bar continuing to heave well into the early evening and it was only the threat of the centreboard results in the members bar that managed to drag the remaining crowd

Wendy Baker, Carol Spargo and Sally Harvey

into Yachties Bar for results.

Many thanks to M/C Bernie Kaaks, fellow archivist Rick Steuart and Amanda Watson who had done a great job in research and archival work as well as setting up the display. Thanks also to Garry Morrison for his general help and advice.

The Archive Retrieval Team would also like to thank Michael Ribaudo, the F&B manager and the staff of the Club for their care and attention on the day.

Please remember that we are always looking for photos, pins, badges, old trophies, in fact anything that can help us with our research in the past of the club. Please contact Maree at the club on 9364 5844 at reception during normal business hours.