Preston Angling Club

After a record twenty years as our President presiding over the greatest growth period in the club's history, Bob Ford retired and Kevin Turner was elected our new President. We thank Bob for the sincere dedication he has shown over those years as President. No one has worked harder on the tasks undertaken by the club than Bob Ford.

In the three years Kevin Turner has been our President we have had many new ideas from a different point of view and members are keenly participating in Port Albert competitions. Kevin introduced the concept of "fish capture records", which involves recognition for the heaviest fish of each species caught over the history of the club. Research going back to the beginning waas undertaken to find the heaviest of each species taken on club competitions. At our 1996 presentation night, members were presented with a framed certificate to acknowledge their record.

Our weekly meetings regularly record an attendance of over seventy members. Working bees to both out lodges and our hall are well attended and special bus trips for surf, freshwater and picnics are always full. Presentation nights in the form of a dinner dance have always been well attended. Kevin introduced the President's perpetual trophy in 1995 - 96, which was presented to Les Penrose by Kevin for best clubman 1995 - 96. Some fine guest speakers, long range trips, tackle auctions and novel fundraising ideas are keeping members involved in the running of the club.

Some very special achievements by club members over the years have seen life member Pat Lewton, past President of the Victorian Piscatorial Council and present President of the Metropolitan Anglers Association, be awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to angling. Three of our members on their own indertaking organised the "Save Angling In Victoria" really to Parliament House in order to help raise the profile of Victorian angler's concerns. Thanks to Regan Carr, Tom Dislakis and John Penrose. Freshwater competition champions Leo Van Exel (11 times) and Dennis Hughes (8 times) and in saltwater Charlie Ely (11 times) have been our best so far. Andrew Brandi, our first to come from junior ranks to win a championship. He won the saltwater and surf-estuary champions in the 1996 -97 season.

Angling changes ocer many years saw saltwater go from hire boats from places like St Leonards to having members private boats used in bay and Port Albert competitions. Freshwater's biggest change has been from buses (furnitre vans) to private transport. With cars becoming available after the war years it was still a long time before the furniture vans were laid to rest. There were lots of reasons, including high costs, lack of comfort, road transport regulations and cars being able to tow boats as we moved into boats on freshwater trips. Whilst you cannot stop progress, most members would agree it tore the heart out of angling. We lost the togetherness, the fun being in the back of the van, playing cards, stops at the pubs, and the mateship that goes with travelling long distances in the same vehicle. For the older members the good old days will always remain the best part of their lives with the club.

The championship points system also made a couple of changes, the first being a win 40 points, second 35 points, third 32 points, fourth 30 points then descending one point at a time after that. This replaced teh 40, 39, 38 37, etc system that prevailed before the change. This change resulted in a fairer system of reward for the participating anglers. Then instead of an aggregate of all trips on the syllabus deciding the champion, being the angler who had most total points, we changed that to the most points from a set number of trips. If there were twenty one freshwater trips for the season, it may eb the best eleven weigh-ins that count in deciding the champion. This is considered a superior system as it allows more anglers to have a chance as not everyone is able to attend every trip. this also allows for more of those anglers who are not single to win a championship. Saltwater, Estuary and Junior championships are also based on the same method.

Our 75th anniversary dinner dance was combined with the 74th trophy presentation night on August 9th, 1997. The members made it a night to remember with special guests Mrs Molly McCann and Mr and Mrs Carl Kirkwood attending, whose associations with the club traced back many years. The venue was Oakville Receptions in High Street Preston where 160 members and partners were well catered for in fine style. Our members excelled in making this special night a part of our history. Now we can look forward to that night in 2022 - our 100th anniversary.