List of Presidents

From To President
1970 1971 Ray Doherty Founding President
1971 1972 Martin Haynes
1972 1973 Keith Wehl
1973 1974 Wal Bell
1974 1975 David Goodlad
1975 1976 Bob Sharland
1976 1977 Peter Middleditch
1977 1978 Warren Sheehan
1978 1979 Emil Lahm
1979 1980 Brian O`Neill
1980 1981 Lance Marshman
1981 1982 Ian Henderson
1982 1983 Clem Smith
1983 1984 Frank Archer
1984 1985 Ivan Vojlay
1985 1986 Ken Davidson
1986 1987 Mike Johnson
1987 1988 Ian Abell
1988 1989 Dennis Trafford
1989 1990 Norm Griffiths
1990 1991 Bob Pearce
1991 1992 Warren Lockett
1992 1993 Keith Wehl (second term)
1993 1994 Peter Middleditch (second term)
1994 1995 Brian O`Neill (second term)
1995 1996 Ivan Vojlay (second term)
1996 1997 Mike Johnson (second term)
1997 1998 Graeme Palframan
1998 1999 Norm Griffiths (second term)
1999 2000 David Simpson
2000 2001 Bob Beresford
2001 2002 Colin Chinner
2002 2003 Bernie Ryan
2003 2004 David Letcher
2004 2005 Allan Manning
2005 2006 Doug Evans
2006 2007 Richard Burridge
2007 2008 Paul Kaiser
2008 2009 Mike Guilmartin
2009 2010 Ian Davey
2010 2011 Peter Wendt
2011 2012 Kym Bennetts
2012 2013 Ivan Vojlay (third term)
2013 2014 Trevor Dunne
2014 2015 Max Salveson
2015 2016 Ivan Vojlay (forth term)
2016 2017 Brian Peele
2017 2018 Bob Tainsh
2018 2019 Les Burke
2019 2020 Bruce Murphy
2020 2021 Bruce Murphy
2021 2022 Gerry Phillips
LIFE MEMBERSHIP

Brian O`Neill and Keith Wehl have been awarded Life Membership by Club Members in recognition of their service to the Club over a great many years.

RAY DOHERTY MEMORIAL AWARD

Following the passing in September 2005 of Ray Doherty, the founder of the Club in Victoria, his long-time friend and co-Member Keith Wehl, suggested the Club honour Ray by establishing an Award in his name to be presented from time to time to those Members who had contributed significantly to the wellbeing of the Club. His recommendation was enthusiastically endorsed by Members.

Deservedly the first Member to be honoured in this way was Keith himself, who apart from being a dual-President almost single handedly revived the Club in the early 1990`s.  Up to that time membership was almost exclusively reserved for Executives transferred into Victoria from elsewhere, but with the propensity for Companies to cease importing staff the numbers available for membership reduced dramatically, and the Club entered a period of stagnation.  Keith addressed this by, among other things, widening the pool available for membership and re-energising its activities.  A silver water jug suitably inscribed was presented to him in 2006.

The second recipient in 2007 was Ivan Vojlay, who over a period of many years of membership had acted as Club Secretary and served two terms as President.  His effervescent personality and humour invariably played a huge part in the success of luncheons and social gatherings.  He was also very focussed on membership numbers and advancing the interests of the Club. Ivan also became the Club photographer, diligently photographing whenever there was a Midway function whether or not those photographed wanted it or not!  The Award took the form of an inscribed silver tray. [Ivan has since gone on to serve third (2012-2013) and fourth (2015-2016) terms as Club President]

Peter Middleditch as a dual President and three time Secretary – on the last occasion for a period of five years – received the third Award in December 2009 which also took the form of an inscribed silver tray.

Leslie Burke was nominated in 2019 by Keith Wehl to be the fourth recipient, as an acknowledgement of his dedicated service, the only time this has occurred, as our President, Secretary and Treasurer at the same time. Keith made the point that had Les not offered to undertake all the duties in the face of no other nominations, the Club’s future would have been uncertain. Keith’s Ray Doherty Award took the form of an inscribed ice bucket and was presented to him at the Club’s April luncheon at the Elgin Hotel in 2019.