During the 2010/11 Year the Committee comprised the following members;

The average attendance at General Meetings during the year was 64, compared with 66 in the previous year.

Our ladies joined us on five occasions.

We inducted five new members, and our active membership at the end of the year was 83. In addition we have nine non-active members.

We record with sadness the passing during the year of Don Ferguson, Leslie Meincke, Wal Cooper, Kelvin McCallum, Tom Grunsell, Cec Prees, Keith Murdoch. Two members resigned for personal reasons.

During the year three of the Club Standing Resolutions were revised and a new one added. The Club has now a total of 20 Standing Resolutions.

The Committee undertook a Risk Analysis of the Club Activities and as a result formalised a Risk Assessment and Privacy Policy based on the procedures which have been in place in the Club since it was formed. As part of this Policy it was agreed on an ongoing basis to draw member’s attention four times a year to the Exits and Safety Features of the Epping Presbyterian Hall.

Following an approach from the Macquarie University Centre for Cognitive Science a number of members agreed to take part in a research project to evaluate the ability of long-term married couples/partners to recall shared events and remember together. At this point no feedback has been provided by the University.

The ANZAC Meeting, which was held in the Epping Presbyterian Church because of an upgrade of the church hall, was particularly memorable because three members, Gordon Lidgett, Ken Morris and George Clissold, gave personal accounts of their war experiences.

Brian Hartshorne provided an excellent programme of speakers throughout the year:

• Tom Richmond – Ginger Meggs and Nostalgia
• Johnny Pace – Putting Humour to Work
• Harold Dews – His Lifetime Experiences of the Film Industry
• Julie Evans – Sydney Federation Harbour Trust
• Michael Fahey – The Baggy Green
• Jim Matterson – Toastmasters International
• Peter Hutton – Sargent William Baker, marine soldier from the first fleet
• Gregory Blaxell – History of the Upper Reaches of the Parramatta River
• Marcelle Tanner OAM – Bubbles the Clown
• Paul Barclay – History of Our Calendar

Former and current outings organisers Wal Gallagher and John Peters offered us a good variety of social and sightseeing opportunities:

• Kurrajong Radio Museum
• Lady Eucumbene Cruise on the Georges River
• Vaucluse House
• Justice and Peace Museum and Parliament House
• Lunch at Auntie Molly’s at Morisset
• Jewish Museum
• Annual BBQ/Picnic at Rhodes Kakoda Memorial Track
• Hawkesbury Riverboat Postman Cruise
• Lunch in Manly
• Club Annual Christmas Meeting and Morning Tea
• Luna Park tour

The annual BBQ/Picnic was very successful and it is resolved to have two such occasions in 2011.

A new format was adopted for the Christmas Meeting and Morning Tea which included a Christmas Reflection led by Peter Boase. This was very well received by the membership.

In addition Wal Gallagher organised three outings to the Chester Street Theatre

John Egarr provided a varied programme of walks which was enjoyed by all those who have taken part.

• Watson Bay to Dover Heights
• Centennial Park
• Dee Why to Manly
• Bondi to Coogee
• Manly Wharf to North Head
• Coogee to Maroubra Beach
• Spit Bridge to Manly
• Manly Dam
• Sculptures by the Sea at Bondi

John has now completed three years as Walks Convenor and we record our special thanks to him for a job well done as he now moves to the Vice Presidents role. Joseph Corte will take over from April 2011.

It is with sadness we recall the death of Wal Cooper during the year. Wal had been our Public Officer and Tours Convenor for many years.

When he was unable to carry on his duties a Tours Convenor Wal Gallagher took over and has since very ably managed the Club Tours

39 members went to Wangaratta and 38 members to Leeton and the Riverina. Both tours were very successful and enjoyed by all participants.

Wal also organised a survey amongst members as to their aspirations with regard to tours offered by the Club. The survey was completed by the majority of members and is now being used as a basis for re-focussing the tours policy. Four tours are planned in 2011.

Our Welfare Officer Ray Palmer constantly kept in touch with those of our members who no longer active. He has been a continuing support to members and their families who have been sick and has reported back to the Committee and General Meetings on a regular basis.

We thank him again for his generous and unstinting support of all who have been sick and bereaved.

Dennis Druce selected a stimulating variety of films for the Film Club which has met on the fourth Tuesday of each month. On average, 10 members have enjoyed each other’s company to see a film followed by lunch near the cinema.

On your behalf we record our appreciation of the work that has quietly been done by a number of our members:

On behalf of us all, thanks to our President John Mortimer for his leadership through another enjoyable and successful year and also to Hugh Knight for his careful management of our finances.