8th July 2001

Sunday morning and it’s time to head off once again for the retiring committee’s run and lunch. Over the years we have had a variety of weather for this day, although it always falls in July. I remember not too many years back on a retiring committee’s run, we were preparing to depart from our lunch venue when we temporarily lost some of our members, but they were found, safe and sound, enjoying coffee and soaking up the sunshine on the hotel’s rooftop coffee lounge. This Sunday was your more typical July Sunday, grey skies, cool wind and the threat of rain on the horizon.

Nevertheless we all set off from Berwick in high spirits. After a leisurely drive from Beaconsfield through Upper Beaconsfield and Cockatoo we arrived in Emerald just as a light but brief shower of rain was passing through. We parked the cars around the deserted football oval and following a brief talk from our new President Peter we all agreed to meet back at the cars at 12 noon.

Fred reported that he had heard from our ex President Geoff and Gay the previous day. They were keen to hear news of the club’s AGM and gave Fred an update as to their travels. Sounds like they’re having a wonderful time.

We all headed off in the general direction of the Wombat Gully Nursery. The nursery is a popular spot on a Sunday morning. A few purchases were made by club members and stored both inside and outside the cars. After a brief look at the stalls inside the community hall we headed across the road to the coffee shop. Inside we found a nice cosy atmosphere with log fire and yummy
looking cakes asking to be eaten. With the thought of a roast lunch only half an hour away we decided to resist the temptation for cake with our coffee.

From here we almost rolled down the hill to the Paradise Hotel at Clematis. We all hurried inside as by this time light rain had set in and lunch was beckoning. Stan had kindly organised the lunch for us which was a choice of either roast beef, chicken schnitzel or whiting fillets. We were all seated on the fully enclosed balcony overlooking the hills and with the rain coming down
outside it was very warm and pleasant. We had been joined at lunch time by a few more club members and this swelled our number to about 35. It was good to see Margaret Clarence out and about again and enjoying 79th birthday celebrations with her family.

After coffee and tea and a lot more conversation, we all departed, some of us heading for home but others I’m sure setting off in search of some antique shops etc.

Our thanks go to the organisers of another successful Dandenong Valley Event. Thanks also to our new President Peter for his help in making the day run smoothly.

Dulcie & Geoff Strahan

Club cars attending
Roger Bowen 1929 Rugby
Sam & Myra Capes 1939 Chev Sedan
Kevin & Carol Clarence with Jodie & Amy 1933 Rolls Royce
Peter & Mazz Lafrank with Bert & Alma 1927 Buick Tourer
Peter & Noel Matthews 1928 Chev Tourer
Geoff & Dulcie Strahan 1926 Olsmobile Tourer
Graeme Smith 1926 Rugby Tourer
Les & Pauline Standing 1932 Austin 7 Tourer
Stan, Margaret & Corrie Snyder 1930 A Model Ford

Modern cars attending
Ron & Pam Barnett with Sam & Tim
Irwin, Bev & James Sinclair
Kel & Lynne Burgess
Rin, Marion & Cathy Ooykaas
Lindsay & Joy Tharle
Reg & Margaret Clarence
Fred & Valda Lubbe
Keith & Sheila Shugg