This History records the starting of a financial investment idea that was to become what is now a ‘Leisure Club’ owned by the members.
BRIGHTON BAYSIDE LIFE ACTIVITIES CLUB
The story goes that in 1971 the first Early Planning for Retirement Group was formed.
The driving force for the formation of a financial advisory group was Stuart Morris who had the position of, ‘Superannuation Executive of the State Electricity Commission’.
Many of the men due to retire at the SEC, though in receipt of generous superannuation benefits, were too ill equipped to understand and manage the benefits due to them, and furthermore had no enthusiasm for life ahead of them in retirement. The usual plan after retirement was to use their superannuation on an overseas trip, and what was left was to keep them in some form of income, with very little planning for the next 10 years or so.
It was with this background that Stuart Morris decided after his own retirement that advice was needed for educating the future retirees in:
EARLY PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT
The inaugural and follow on meetings in Camberwell were held in October and November 1971. Within a few months membership stood at 450.
In the years between 1971 and 1981 some 30 groups were encouraged to take on membership of EARLY PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT, and Stuart Morris became the first executive director of the group.
BBLAC NOTES ON FORMATION in 1997
The Initial meeting and discussions re the formation of a branch in the Bayside area, with the assistance of the renamed Life Planning Foundation of Australia Director John Vial, and his brother Russell, was held at the Queen Street office in Feb 1995.
There was discussion concerning candidates to be approached with the intention of inviting them to an interest meeting.
Meetings were held with Geoff Oscar, Brian Lanyon, Russell Vial and 3 head office representatives between 1996 and 1997. The first interest meeting was held at Brian Lanyon’s home with 9 people and 3 representatives from head office on 29th April 1997.
The opening night was set for 2nd September 1997 at the Brighton Town Hall with some 230 people in attendance. Interest was comforting as 58 people signed up on the first night and an extra 60 showed interest in membership, which was 125 by the time of our first Committee Meeting, and 10 Activities were listed in our first newsletter.
Geoff was a driving force in drawing up a Certificate of Incorporation with LPFA and formulating local rules for the Brighton Bayside Life Activities Club, setting our Club on a good footing for the future members. Now after some 24 years BBLAC under Life Activities Clubs Victoria, has a membership in the vicinity of 300 who enjoy the 30 activities that are run by the dedicated convenors.
MERGER WITH BENTLAIGH LIFE ACTIVITIES CLUB
In 2018, the Bentleigh Life activies Club merged with BBLAC, broadening the membership coverage area which had already included many members from Glen eira suburbs.
| SEPTEMBER 1997 INAUGURAL COMMITTEE |
| PRESIDENT |
Geoff Oscar |
|
COMMITTEE |
Franceen Kenny |
| VICE PRESIDENT |
Elaine Miller |
|
COMMITTEE |
Dianne Seator |
| SECRETARY |
Russ Vial |
|
COMMITTEE |
Kay Kent |
| TREASURER |
Ken Brown |
|
COMMITTEE |
Raywyn Opie |
| MEMBERSHIP |
Zandra Eccles |
|
COMMITTEE |
Peter Tate |
| |
|
|
COMMITTEE |
Cr. Jill Mckiggan |
| Presidents 1997 to 2022 |
| 1997 – 1999 |
Geoff Oscar |
| 1999 – 2001 |
Russ Vial |
| 2001 – 2002 |
Malcolm Eppingstall |
| 2002 – 2002 |
Ruth Pentalow |
| 2002 – 2004 |
Don Thorne |
| 2004 – 2006 |
Brenda Todd |
| 2006 – 2007 |
Ginny Roberts |
| 2007 – 2009 |
Helene Redding |
| 2009 – 2010 |
Robert Geary |
| 2010 – 2011 |
Jocelyn Wood |
| 2011 – 2012 |
Tom Short |
| 2012 – 2014 |
Ian Sadler |
| 2014 – 2016 |
Ann Sullivan |
| 2016 – 2017 |
Chris Wallace |
| 2017 – 2018 |
Prudence Vernall |
| 2018 - 2019 |
Brenda Todd |
| 2019 - 2020 |
Chris Wallace |
| 2020-2022 |
Graham Bull |
Our club motto has always been "COME AND ENJOY THE FRIENDLY CLUB"
Compiled by Russ Vial
