The new Senior Citizens Club committee (from left): Sandy Till, Pauline Porter, Heather McRae (Vice President), Ian Burns (Treasurer), Cr David Rooks who chaired the meeting, Teena Burns (President), Beverley Robertson (Vice President), Liza Lee (Secretary), Lorraine Hirst, Terri Moore and Suzanne Anderson.
The club paid tribute to former member Allan Droscher who passed away on Tuesday July 4.
The Phillip Island Senior Citizens Club has entered a new era.
For the first time in its 52-year history, the club has a predominantly all female committee.
“This happened purely by accident and was not something we planned at all,” said club secretary Liza Lee.
“Now don't get me wrong here, we welcome men with open arms, and in fact we would definitely love to have more men on our committee, we just didn't have any men make themselves available to join us this year.”
Liza said the absence of men on the committee didn’t mean their male counterparts don’t make a difference.
“They do great work behind the scenes, especially on lunch days and other times as well,” she said.
“Their contribution never goes unnoticed and is always greatly appreciated. Hopefully they will want to join us on the committee in the coming years.”
Liza said over the years, the club had strongly supported women’s issues.
“We celebrate International Women's Day, Mother's Day, and let's not forget our foremothers the suffragettes, who fought for women's rights including our right to vote.
“Let's also not forget the women’s football leagues, cricketers, Socceroos, Hockeyroos and how celebrated and successful and inspirational they have become.
“So too we can inspire our younger counterparts to thrive and to achieve greatness working equally beside their male colleagues.”
Liza described the women on the committee as a “bunch intelligent adult women” who work together as a “collaborative gaggle of gals” with many friends outside the committee.
“These friendships happened both before and after joining the committee for us all.
“Here's cheers to us old girls just getting on with the job for 2023/2024 year.”
Liza said during the first year of Teena Burns’ presidency, membership had increased.
“We continue to grow as a vibrant club.”
Tribute to Club stalwart Allan Droscher
At the meeting, tribute was paid to highly respected and long time Club president Allan Droscher, who passed away on July 4.
Alan was described as “the pulse” of the Senior Citizens Club over the past decade, in his capacity as president for most of that time.
“He will be very greatly missed,” said Liza.
“And in a tribute to his legacy we are naming our kitchen Allan's Kitchen, because he was always in the kitchen during our lunches having a very sneaky cup of "water".”
