Australian Model Railway Association Incorporated

50^th Anniversary Convention
Page Three

Friday Ladies Saturday Dinner Sunday Monday Conclusions

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Saturday Dinner

The main course was served up first and there was much conversation amongst the many long term and newly found friends. I had the opportunity to count the attendees at this point of which there were 58. During the break while dessert was prepared, the two guessing competitions were drawn. Tickets in the first competition had been sold in advance of the Convention itself as well as at the Convention and was well supported by the ticket sales. The first prize in this competition (A Berg's 82 class Diesel and K&M RTR Chassis) was won by Convention attendee Peter Rowan. Second prize (6 AR Kits BBW Ballast wagons) was won by G Mann. Third prize (a $100 gift voucher at Tom's Discounts) was won by Debbie Macklin, and a fourth prize (an original Jim Fainges framed drawing that was used as a Journal cover about 40 years ago) was added to the competition and won by Terry Davis.

The second guessing competition was only sold at the Convention itself and had twelve prizes. Again ticket sales were good with many people coming up to me during the day to ask how they could obtain tickets. Jim Hutchinson won a Z13 class (donated by Lloyds Model Railways), Gary Danson won a trip for two on Countrylink (donated by Mercury world travel), Ross Moar won a 5 car RUB coach set (donated by Casula Hobbies), Gus Durham won a $50 gift voucher from Kerroby models, Bruce Norton won ballast and adhesive from Chuck's Ballast Supplies, Laurie Moses won a $40 gift voucher from Punchbowl Hobby Centre, Brian Tyson won a Great Layouts video (donated by Moving Planet Productions - who had also donated sufficient videos for us to give as gifts to the clinic presenters), Marj Durham won a WAGR wagon plate (donated by WA branch) which she donated back to the convention for us to represent, it was then won by Kevan Morgan, James Mirco won a Mitre Cutter (donated by Linic Proops), Steve Rayner won a Collector Coffee Mug (donated by WA branch), and finally Angus Isley and Bruce Lovett won original Jim Fainges framed drawings.

A ridiculous number of lucky door prizes were then presented by drawing numbers corresponding to tickets hidden under the bread plates. There were seven empty seats at the tables and all of these had won lucky door prizes by the time that the first four seats that were actually occupied were selected. Ian Conway-Powles then drew the winner of his own prize competition and Marie Rayner had the $7 that she had spent on his stand earlier in the day refunded.

Tim Dunlop was then introduced and preceded to read his prepared talk about the early days. There was much laughter from the audience during his presentation and Neil saw him immediately afterwards to get the printed copy so that it could be shared with the rest of the membership. Unfortunately those who weren't at the Convention miss out on the audience response. One comment I would like to make regarding his speech is that he mentioned that they had estimated that Australia wide membership of AMRA might eventually reach 50 (a long way short of the more than 1000 members we have today). In fact the membership passed the expected 50 before the end of 1951.

After desert, we moved on to the presentations. Our six Founding members were recognised first with plaques being presented to the four who were present and arrangements made for delivery of the other two. Our Founding members who were present at the Convention were Tim Dunlop (member 0001), Ernie Dean (member 0003), Margaret Dunlop (member 0014), and Norm Read (member 0031). Not present were Rick Richardson (member 0004) and Dick Gutteridge (member 0018). While Tim was out the front collecting his plaque, he was also asked to blow out the candles on our fiftieth birthday cake, a doubly appropriate task for our number one member on the evening before his birthday.

Plaques for the 50th Anniversary Award winners were presented next. No comments were made on what they had done in order to be recognised for these awards was made as their profiles have now been published.

The certificates and gifts for those clinic presenters still present were then handed out.

Further presentations were then made. First a $75 cheque and plaque donated by Victorian branch was presented to Stephen and Marie Rayner from Meekatharra in WA for travelling the furthest to attend the Convention. Judith Butler was then presented with the special prize which we had promised would be won by one of those who placed their names on the mailing list early and helped out the planning of the Convention by returning the first survey. This was followed by presentations to those of our sponsors who were present.

The next award presented was a complete surprise to me and had me stunned and speechless. Graham called me to the front of the room and presented me with a meritorious award. I just didn't know what to say. I eventually managed to say something (don't ask me what because I don't remember).

I was so overcome by this presentation that I was not able to properly follow what happened next and had to confirm with Graham the following morning that the award that he presented to Brian Tyson was also a meritorious award. A presentation of a large basket of flowers was then presented to Denice Tyson.

A number of photos were then taken of the Convention Organizing Committee. The two teachers from Bankstown Grammar School who organized the catering for the weekend were then applauded and we moved out of our dining room to partake of coffee, after dinner mints, and birthday cake before heading home.