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We had a lodge at Eildon, two in fact because our first burnt down. Members worked very hard to maintain the Eildon Lodge which was considered to be the best of any of the clubs who also had lodges. Members such as Alan Russell would drive to Eildon on a Sunday morning just to cut the grass. We had vacated that lodge after many years due to the caravan park requiring the land for expansion.
We purchased three boats for club use, two of which were bay boats and a punt for freshwater use. Through this, members gained experience and opportunity to have a boat on the bay and eventually the members built up a very good fleet of privately owned boats.
Our library had it's beginning on the way home from Eucumbene in 1963 by Les Penrose, who decided that it was what we needed in the club to learn about those areas we are likely to fish in the future. It is now very up to date in 1997 and includes many good videos.
In 1953 it was necessary to lay a new floor in the clubrooms, so volunteers went to work and whilst they were at it also put in a new plaster ceiling. About this time, a young group of budding anglers were starting to make their presence felt in the club. The left their mark - in the ceiling that is, and names like Russell, Penrose, Smart and Co. were discovered when further renovations were being done in 1978.
During 1968 a new kitchen was being built with fifty percent more room, a refrigerator, updated gas stove and hot water service. A large servery and bench replaced the peep hole between the kitchen and hall. This was considered a big project at the time.
During the next ten years much time was spent discussing an extension to the clubrooms and many sets of plans were presented to our club architect. While this was going on we were still putting up with the original outside tin toilets. Whilst attending a presentation night with the Healesville Angling Club, we were shown their new brick toilets. They kindly loaned us their plans and with some slight alterations the members and Preston council accepted them. The slab was poured in April 1973 and the toilets completed in 1974. The club was thenkful for the services fo the member Charlie Plane "The Drainer"
In 1972 the Preston Angling Club was holding the junior angling day at Edwardes Park on behalf of the Victorian Piscatorial Council with the assistance of some Melbourne clubs. Early on Sunday morning we received word that our President Cliff McCann had taken ill. While the junior day was an outstanding success for us, we also remembered it as the day Cliff retired as President due to his health. We had thirteen years with Cliff McCann as President and during this time he lifted our image to become one of the most respected angling clubs in Victoria. Bob Ford became our next President after he and Alan Russell were nominated to the position. Les Penrose remained as Secretary to help with the sudden change of President due to Cliff's retirement. We are pleased to say our club never took a step backwards due to the wealth of experience Cliff built up in his thirteen years.
In 1983 a motion to have junior angling members in the club again was defeated. The following year after intense lobbying we once again admitted junior members to the Preston Angling Club. It took thirty-seven years, but we have finally honoured Les Downey's pledge to have juniors in the club again. One of our first juniors admitted, John Penrose has now been our treasurer for the last six years. All juniors who have become seniors are a credit to the club.