Winter 2020 Lake View from the Deck EDITORIAL - NEW EDITOR(S) WANTED Jamie Kew We have indeed been blessed with wonderful weather the jug. On a more sombre note, many of us are fortu- and decent water level so far this year, unfortunately, nate to survive this pandemic thus far but there those pandemic is now the next challenge. Just when we who did not. Some were scarred because of job or a thought all the stars are aligned and the boat is about business lost and worst still those who have lost their to sail, how wrong are we! Freedom, one of the most loved ones during this time. My thoughts and prayers common thing which we take for granted is now a go to them, may they find strength in times like this. privilege to many of us. There is no alternative but to Each time a rainbow appears after a thunderstorm, it adapt and change just as the wind changes. reminds me of the promise that any life is to be cher- ish. This reminds me of what Kungfu legend Bruce Lee used to say – be like water. When you are in a glass Signing off for the last time as the editor of Mudpud- adopt the shape of a glass. In a jug adopt a shape of dler. It has been a privilege. CLUB COMMUNICATIONS Albert Sailing Club, Inc www.albertsc.org.au AlbertSailing (03) 9690 2374 1 Aquatic Drive, [email protected] Albert Park Lake, For updates from the Club, follow us on Facebook or register on our website for our weekly Snippets e-mail. Did you know the Mudpuddler is also available by e-mail? If you’d prefer to receive your copy electronically, send your name and e-mail address to [email protected]. 2020-2021 ASC COMMITTEE Office Name Portfolio Commodore Cindy Tilbrook Club databases, social, strategy & representation Vice Commodore Rod Thomas Strategy, juniors & IT Rear Commodore Steve Dunn Sailing and racing Secretary Tim Falkiner Members, minutes & records Treasurer Hristina Valkanova Finance & club databases Club Captain Paul Farrell Sailing committee Committee Don McKenzie Training principal & club boat maintenance, child safety officer Tony Schalken Security/Club Access, Databases John Whelan Legal, insurances Peter Bennell Marketing & membership At the current time, the Committee is meeting online. Meetings are scheduled for the second Wednesday of each month commencing at 7.30 p.m. Members are welcome to attend on a non-voting basis. For further details, please contact the Commodore COMMODORE’S REPORT Cindy Tilbrook I commenced my last Mudpuddler report by saying Jaemie Wilson decided not to re-stand for a commit- that 2020 would be a year of great significance for tee position, and I take this opportunity to thank him sailing on Albert Park Lake, as we were moving to- for his contribution to the committee over the last few wards the Unification Vote and struggling with low years. He has agreed to retain some of his responsi- water levels in the lake. Little did I know at that time bilities so I’m sure he will continue to be an active that COVID-19 was moving towards us at a pace that club member and contributor to our club. would take the world by storm and throw challenges Mudpuddler Editor Required at us both personally and as a club such as we have never encountered before. This is the last edition of the Mudpuddler to be pro- duced by our current editor, Jamie Kew. Jamie has So I’m writing this report as the re-elected Commo- undertaken this role over the last 12 months or so, dore for the 2020-2021 year of a sailing club that isn’t even though her family is no longer actively engaged actually sailing due to the temporary closure of the in the club due to other commitments and plans. club because of the Corona Virus, having started my Thanks so much for your contribution, Jamie – you first term as Commodore of a club that wasn’t actually have maintained the high standard of our newsletter sailing due to low water levels. As the old saying goes: and we hope to see you and your family back at the “May you live in interesting times”! club in the future. Fortunately, we have seen great rains over the last few Which means: we need a new Mudpuddler editor im- months. The Lake is now full and as we progressively mediately! Help and documentation on how move out of isolation and back into sailing, we will to produce the Muddy is available, and there are hopefully see our members enjoying the full lake and many rewards in being involved in the club in this simply the pleasure of being outside and in such a way. If you wish to find out more information or be- fabulous location. And remember --- it’s easy to lieve you can help in this way, please contact me as ‘Social Distance’ on the waters of the Lake. soon as possible. Annual General Meeting Overview of the 2019-2020 Club year Thanks to all members who joined us for our first- Reports on Sailing, Racing, Training and Junior activ- ever online Annual General Meeting on May 16th. The ities are provided elsewhere in this Mudpuddler. meeting provided the opportunity for me to present a report on activities over the last year, and excerpts In terms of Strategy and External relations we’ve con- from that report are included in this article and else- tinued our liaison with Parks Victoria and other park where in the newsletter. The financial accounts were users in relation to securing an ongoing, sustainable adopted and a new Committee elected (details below). water supply and the control of the aquatic vegeta- Members took the opportunity following the conclu- tion. Parks Vic recognises the problems but faces sion of the formal part of the meeting to stay online competing interests in relation to lake water and cur- and enjoy a discussion on club activities and good fel- rently has a lack of financial resources to identify and lowship with other members. implement a permanent solution. The election of Committee saw me re-elected as Com- We are a member of the Albert Park Community modore, Rod Thomas as Vice-Commodore, Steve Sporting Tenants Association and continue to ensure Dunn as Rear Commodore, Paul Farrell as Club Cap- that the needs of lake users, as well as land-based en- tain, Tim Falkiner as Secretary, Hristina Burduja as tities, are taken into account during the discussions at Treasurer, and Peter Bennell, Don McKenzie, Tony these meetings. We also liaise with a number of other Schalken and John Whelan as General Committee external bodies/people in relation to our activities members. Thanks to those people for their willing- and to advance the cause of lake sailing and our club. ness to take on a committee position during these Social Activities challenging times, and a big welcome to Tony Schalk- September saw a successful Picnic Day for club mem- en who returns to the committee after an absence of bers and their families and friends. All enjoyed some some years. You can find a brief bio of our committee sailing, a picnic on the lawns in front of the club and members on our website under ‘The Club’ tab. some typical Picnic Day games. Our annual Trivia Night was held on October 26th and again provide to be a fun, entertaining night for all. December saw the we will most likely not have many winter members, first combined Christmas event between ASC and our winter training/junior programs, or our annual APYC, with 70 – 80 members and families from both regatta. But because our financial accounts include clubs getting together to celebrate the season and the depreciation (which doesn’t actually involve an ex- end of another sailing year. Our after-sailing BBQs penditure of cash), the draw-down on our financial continue when weather permits and good fellowship reserves will not be significant. We are fortunate to is always enjoyed on a Saturday even in the worst of have such reserves, which will enable the club to move weathers. through this pandemic and re-commence operations in a financially secure position. Unification Once operations re-commence, we will be voting on I was the facilitator for the hard-working strategy the potential unification with APYC, and the outcome group during the year, with representatives from both of this vote will have a significant impact on the club ASC and APYC (Rod Thomas, Don McKenzie, John and on sailing on the lake, whichever way the decision Whelan from ASC, Peter Naismith, Paul Taig and goes. Grant Haggett from APYC). This group has been A further challenge for the future is to see our mem- working on plans for the potential unification of both bers more engaged with the club, either sailing or clubs. With a huge amount of input from the group, simply enjoying the other aspects of our club. Let’s and some advice from an external legal firm, the work to encourage some of our non-active members group developed a proposal which they felt was desir- to come along and sail in all conditions, knowing that able and feasible. Information documents were circu- we have rescue crafts available, hot water in the lated to all members and plans were made to conduct changerooms, and good companionship at the end of th Special General Meetings of both clubs on May 16 each Saturday. 2020 to vote on whether the clubs would unify or not.