MELBOURNE82 CLUB HISTORY
The club was formed when our mother club, Melbourne71, realised a new club would be possible from its waiting list, some prospective members having been registered for three years. A very efficient steering committee comprised of Fran Campbell, Marie Petherbridge and Peg Devenish formed the club in 4 months with 23 foundation members: Noeline Ashhurst, Yvonne Barton, Penelope Bennett, Fran Campbell, Joan Crane, Jill Cunningham, Betty Daniels, Peg Devenish, Karen Hall, Sylvia Harrison, Frances King, Ellen Martin, Sue Moore, Dorothy Moss, Irene Overton, Lois Palmer, Gladys Perry, Marie Petherbridge, Betty Ridgway, Wendy Roberts, Jean Robinson, Chresley Robson, Margaret Salmon, Shirley Slaven, Coral Smith, Helen Woodhouse, Helen Wynn.
The inaugural meeting was held on March 11th, 1982 at the reception venue, 228 Cotham Rd, Kew. Annual subscriptions were $15, lunch $15 and meeting only $3. Committee pictured above. Phyllis McDonald presented the club with a visitors book and a silver bell was presented at the first AGM by Melbourne71.
Frances King was the the first member to become a young Ionian mother and of course there were many Ionian grandmothers available for support!
1983 Started unusually when a bomb was thought to be planted outside the venue. A policeman interrupted the meeting and everyone was evacuated to the garden. The proceeds of the trading table were able to sustain members until 4pm after the bomb had been detonated.
In 1984 Coral Smith was the club’s first delegate to the Brisbane Ionian Convention. Coral Smith also appliqued our beautiful club banner.
In 1988, past president Faye Holmes, introduced our first Honorary Life Member, Phyllis McDonald.
April 1988 there was news of the first Ionian wedding of Carmel McConville.
1989 Albury/Wodonga Club, now known as our daughter club, was formed with the assistance of Denise Bowyer, Ellen Martin and June Meredith who had transferred to that area.
1991 was another milestone when two Ionian member’s children were married, Greg Bowden and Elizabeth Moyle.
1992 at our 10th birthday membership had reached our maximum of 70 and a waiting list was commenced. 1994 Heather Glindemann assisted by Anne Townsend, compiled a National Register of Ionians of over 2000 members.
1996 The Phyllis McDonald Ionian Rose was registered after Jenny Mirams and Denise Bowyer organised the propagation and sales to all Ionian Clubs. September 1996 Phyllis McDonald died. An Ionian Rose bush was planted in her memory at Fernhill Hostel where she had lived for a short time.
1998 Our meeting venue moved to Butleigh Wootten, Glenferrie Rd, Kew.
2002 Melbourne clubs coordinated the 8th Ionian Convention.
2003 Ellen Martin was awarded Life Membership.
2004 The original Melbourne club formed in 1950, disbanded with some members transferring to our club.
2005 Review of club bylaws extending membership to 100.
2006 Members attended the 9th Ionian Convention in Perth.
2010 Members attended the 10th Ionian Convention in Brisbane.
2011 The 100th Birthday of Phyllis McDonald was celebrated in remembrance at an Afternoon Tea Party. Ellen Martin died later that year.
2012 Denise Bowyer, Chresley Robson and Betty Ridgway were awarded Life Membership. A specially designed silk scarf of the Ionian Rose was given to each member to celebrate the club’s 30th birthday. Due to increasing parking restrictions it was decided to change venues to The Boulevard in Kew over looking the city.
2014 At the Adelaide Convention the Ionian Website was launched. Rosemary Oldfield (Brisbane Club) generously volunteered her expertise to develop and administrate the website with 3 other trustees, Pam Barnes (Brisbane), Jocelyn Nicholson (Adelaide83) and Heather Close (Melbourne82). 14 Melbourne82 members attended the convention.
2016 Frances King was awarded Life Membership. Our club celebrated the 70th Anniversary of Ionians at Parliament House enjoying a High Tea. Phyllis McDonald’s daughter, Diane Rex, attended.
2017 Possibly the longest serving member of any Ionian Club, Ruth Lacey died in November after 55 years of membership.
2018 Another change of venue was necessary because of redevelopment. We were fortunate to be able to move to Kooyong Tennis Club. 14 members attended the 12th Ionian Convention held in Newcastle.
2019 Jenni Fenton has arranged for further propagation of Ionian roses. A new Ionian Website was launched in June using a professional Website Agency, Webforce5 Heather Close was appointed Website Administrator with three other Website Trustees, Pam Barnes (Brisbane), Jocelyn Nicholson(Adelaide83) and Kerry Napoli (Sydney 84).
2020 The world Covid-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of most live meetings and activities for Melbourne 82 Ionians. Fortunately Zoom technology provided the opportunity to connect on virtual meetings.
2021 Covid 19 caused more lockdowns and more Zoom meetings and activities such as a virtual cocktail party, an afternoon tea party, a Can’t Wear but Can’t Throw Out Party and a Village Road Show Party. Melbourne71 club disbanded in June after 50 years. Many members have transferred to our club. The 75th Anniversary of Ionians was also celebrated on Zoom with participants from 16 clubs coordinated by the Website Trustees. The event is recorded on the All Clubs Noticeboard of the Ionian website.
2022. Our club’s 40th Birthday was celebrated with photo albums on display and a slide show of activities in previous years. 72 members attended.
2023. Nine members attended the 13th Ionian Convention in Darwin.
2024. Heather Close, Wendy Keating and Brenda Bowden were awarded Life Membership at the AGM