DORA MELROSE – 1977

At the General Meeting of 26th October, 1977 it was resolved that Mrs. Melrose be admitted as a Life Member of the Club, moved by Ted Kendrick, seconded by Bruce Dunlop “in recognition of the contribution the Melrose family has made to the Club since its inception”.  No further comments were listed for her achievements but she was a force behind the Club from the beginning supporting her husband and family in getting our Club established. Even though her family members were no longer involved she remained very interested in our Club until her death in June 1992 and was seen as a special guest at Presentation Days, presenting the Melrose Trophy awards. Sandra Donovan wrote in UTR of August, 1992 that “Mrs. Melrose would rarely miss a race. Right up to the last season sailed from the old Club House, she would come down to the park, sit in her favourite seat and was a wealth of information on the sailing conditions and what could be expected during the afternoon. Many a Club Champion quoted her as their secret weapon.”

The following is a photo of the Melrose family and my thanks to Don for supplying same. The occasion was the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Don’s parents in September 1949 and it shows Donald, George and Eric with Dora in pride of place at the front. This was taken just 4 years after the foundation of our Club and thus some years before three of the family became Life Members.

Donald was aged 15 years and had just left school with Eric aged 13 years in his Hurlstone Agricultural High School Blazer. You may not be able to clearly see that all of the menfolk are proudly wearing the CROSC badge in their lapels. At that time Eric and Don were sailing in their first VJ “Star” which Eric sailed later followed by “Star IV” with Don building his own VJs “Star II” and “Star III”. Each of these boats won the VJ Championship in various years.