On Thursday, 3 September, Royal Geelong Yacht Club celebrated the 15th Annual 50-Year Members Lunch, proudly sponsored by Tuckers Funeral and Bereavement Services.
The annual lunch is a special opportunity to recognise the members who have been part of the Club for five decades or more, bringing together generations of members to share stories, reflect on the Club’s history and celebrate the connections that have lasted a lifetime.
This year, the Club officially welcomed five new 50-Year Members: Edward Lewellin, Julia Creak, Kevin Battye, Patrick O’Brien and Vic Goy.
A total of 22 50-Year Members attended this year’s lunch, joined by three Past Commodores and two Honorary Life Members. Among the guests was 101-year-old member Jack Anderson, whose presence was a wonderful reminder of the Club’s long history and the generations of members who have helped shape it.
Honorary Life Member Tony ‘Bully’ Bull once again hosted the lunch, guiding proceedings and leading a Q&A with young RGYC sailor Will Garner. Will recently returned from Italy, where he and crew member Jack O’Brien finished second at the International Cadet World Championship, sailing alongside some of the world’s best young sailors. Tony, who was the Australian coach at the event, spoke with Will about his experience and the journey to the podium.
Immediate Past Commodore Paul Buchholz also addressed the gathering, in one of his final formal events as Commodore, reflecting on the importance of the Club’s long-standing members and the contribution they have made over many years.
RGYC Foundation Chair Jon Apted spoke about the work of the Foundation and its role in building a lasting legacy for the Club, looking ahead to how today’s members can help support RGYC for generations to come.
Representatives from Tuckers Funeral and Bereavement Services were also in attendance, with Alyson Burchell, Mark Osborne and Robyn Wood joining the celebration and continuing Tuckers’ longstanding support of the annual lunch.
The afternoon was a fitting celebration of the people who have helped make RGYC what it is today. With stories shared across generations, from a 101-year-old member to a young sailor fresh from an international podium, the lunch highlighted the remarkable continuity of our Club and the connections that endure through sailing and community.
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On Thursday, 3 September, Royal Geelong Yacht Club celebrated the 15th Annual 50-Year Members Lunch, proudly sponsored by Tuckers Funeral and Bereavement Services. The annual lunch is a special opportunity...
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