Preston Angling Club

In September 1949, Mr. John Connell (Jack) as editor of his journal "The Optimist" had it typed for the very first time. It grew to an eight page printed journal some months later and six copies per club were mailed to nearly every angling club in Victoria as well as angling organisations in other states. We also sent copies to New Zealand and the United States. There were problems with publishers from time to time as it was getting expensive to print and they found it hard to make it pay. When Mr. Connell was very ill Mr J. Voice, Mr L. Downey and Mr C. McCann were determined "The Optomist" would not die.. We had to honour our financial obligations to our advertisers. Mr Downey took over as editor, Mr McCann looked after the accounts and Mr. Voice the advertisers. It was not easy, but with the help of donations from other clubs and our members we managed. Each month before one of the meetings club members wrapped "The Optimist" for postage to other clubs. Alex Whitaker handled the writing of the names and addresses. This journal was respected by clubs all over Victoria and overseas and Preston can be very proud of the reputation our club enjoyed because of it.

Final header for The Optomist
Exactly twenty years later it was decided to cease publication due to rising costs and increasing financial losses. In September 1969 "The Optimist" as it was then ceased. Les Downey was editor, Ken Ely sub-editor and Cliff McCann our President. The spirit of "The Optimist" lived on and it was resurrected on a duplicator purchased by the club for use on annual reports and the syllabus etc. We have had help from editors over the years, those being Ken Ely, John Penrose and Les Penrose. At least four issues a year are currently printed mainly for distribution to our own club members. The costs were part borne by Frank O'Reilly's sports store over this period and in later years joined by Bob Ford.

When John Voice retired as president in 1959, he had been elected unopposed for twenty years. Under his leadership the club membership grew as did it's finances. John was a man's man, a strong leader and respected by all who knew him. The late Jack Connell's son-in-law Mr. Cliff McCann became president un-opposed after serving as treasurer for two years and social chairman for eight years. Cliff had the uncanny ability to involve those around him to perform at their highest level. Be it interclub cards, re-building our clubrooms or our lodge at Eildon, he was always a gentle and sincere man. During Cliff's thirteen years as President, our club saw many changes to our clubrooms.(more on that later)

Previous page
Continue.........