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YEAR
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KEY EVENTS
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| 1979 |
Highlights
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1980
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1981
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1982
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Highlights
- Workshop at Wilsons Prom – attended by Laurie Ford, who paddled across from Tasmania.
- Flinders Island trip – Peter Newman, Andrew Rust (Tasmania), Earle Bloomfield, Steve Weston, Steve Tremont (NSW)
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1983
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1984
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1985
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1986
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| 1987 |
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| 1988 |
AGM
Held at Mallacoota. 23 attendees
Membership
34 members (12 from Mallacoota)
Highlights
- Jan – First edition of Sea Trek (newsletter) – Earle paid for the artwork and printing of the front cover (the seagull emblem)
- VACA awarded Olegas Truchanas Canoeing award to Earle Bloomfield for the Australian Kayak Expedition to Greenland.
- Development of Larry Gray’s Pittarak
- Sea kayaking workshop at Wilson’s Prom at Tidal River organised by Malcolm and Sue Cowell
Sea Trek issues
1988 April newsletter – 2nd edition (numbered as Sea Trek 2)
1988 July newsletter (numbered as Sea Trek 3)
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1989
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AGM
Held at Port Welshpool
- “The Welshpool centre is sure to be the focus of all kinds of exciting club activities in the future. A mere two hours comfortable drive for Melbourne and within spitting distance of some of the best kayaking waters in the state, this new venue opens up a whole range of possibilities’’.
Highlights
- 10th Year of the VSKC
- Larry Gray planned trip to PNG has been expanded to become Part 1 of a 6-part documentary series ranging from PNG, Micronesia, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands off Burma, Galapagos Islands, Greenland and Venezuela.
- The club has put together a publicity flyer to promote the role of the club in Sea Kayaking.
- VSKC becomes an Incorporated Club.
Newsletters
1989 November (numbered as Sea Trek 6)
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1990
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AGM
Held at Lakes Entrance
Highlights
March instructor weekend was a Club milestone with 6 new instructors qualifying as Sea Kayak instructors.
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1991
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AGM
Held at Gunnamatta. 9/11/1991 22 members attended.
Highlights
- Plans for the year include – Basic Skills and Rolling Day on the Bay in February
- New members – Peter Newman re-joined
- April 1991 – First newsletter (No. 12) to be called Sea Trek
- Earle Bloomfield awarded Life Membership for founder of the VSKC and for his past efforts.
Newsletters
1991 January (numbered as Sea Trek 11)
1991 October (numbered as Sea Trek 14)
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1992
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Membership
66 members
Highlights
- Ricketts Point skills day
- Proficiency weekend at Gunnamatta
- Rolling sessions booked at the Heidelberg pool
- A new piece of equipment (strobe light) is very useful.
- The rolling course at the Heidelberg Pool was a great success
- Easter around the Prom report by John Stomps
Sea Trek
1992 February
1992 Issue 18
1992 May
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1993
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Membership
85 members
AGM
Held at Queenscliff
Highlights
- More rolling nights booked at the Heidelberg Pool
- Tasman Peninsula (Tasmania) Trip – Easter 1993 (in conjunction with Tasmanian Sea Canoeing Club) by Rod Cope and three other VSKC members (John Hyndman, Peter Dingle & Angus Walker
- The club has no insurance – so all trips will be an informal association of members and not an officially organised event. No insurance is because VACA cover specifically excludes sea kayaking)
- Peter Dingle wrote a letter to VSKC Secretary after the AGM day paddle expressing concerns about the number of paddlers and recommending new measures to protect the leaders, participants and the club itself.
Sea Trek
1993 Issue 19
1993 Issue 20
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| 1994 |
Highlights
- President’s Report – the club is becoming more professional. Need for a grading system of some kind
- Discussion of the need for Pod cohesion
- A proposed trip by the ADF to retrace the path of operation Rimau.
Sea Trek issues
- Sea Trek (Feb 1994)
- Sea Trek (May 1994)
- Sea Trek (Aug 1994)
- Sea Trek (Nov 1994)
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1995
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AGM
Held at Queenscliff
Highlights
Insurance policy for committee approved trips
Sea Trek
1995 Issue 21
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1996
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1997
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1998
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1999
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2000
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AGM
Held at Phillip Island
Guest speakers at 2000 AGM – Earle Bloomfield and Larry Gray
Over 70 people attended
Membership
150 members
Highlights
- Sea Proficiency Award – both introduction and assessment offered at AGM
- Code of Practice published. ‘It is a series of guidelines that state how members of the VSKC should act when participating in all facets of our sport. It is also intended to demonstrate that we are responsible members of their community and are fully aware of the risks we undertake, and illustrates that we have a code of practise to hopefully cover these situations.’
- VSKC is incorporated
- Preparation of the new Club waiver. This brings the club into line with the policies of similar clubs within Australia and overseas.
- Mention of regular Canadian Bay paddles and using these paddles to practise skills, catering to new members – led by Bill Robinson
- Earle Bloomfield moved that the concept of an information-based website for the club be investigated by the committee’ at 2000 AGM.
- Rolling nights at the Aquatic centre in Frankston. Organised by Julian Smith
- Articles by Peter Treby discussing personal injury litigation and sea kayaking. Discusses need for practical safety measures and insurance coverage against claims by both club members and third parties. Discusses increase to club subscriptions to pay for insurance.
Sea Trek
2000 Issue 37
2000 Issue 40
2000 Issue 38
2000 Issue 39
2000 Issue 40
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2001
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AGM
Held at Phillip Island
Discussion at AGM regarding creating a website.
Sea Trek
Newsletter Summer 2001/2002 (Numbered as Sea Trek 43-2)
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2002
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AGM
Held at Phillip Island
Highlights
- Mention of insurance premiums increasing
- Committee approval of the concept of an inhouse VSKC Sea proficiency award, which would enable members to be able to reach the standard required for some trips.
Sea Trek
Newsletter Summer/Autumn 2002 (numbered as Sea Trek 44-1)
Newsletter Autumn/Winter 2002 (numbered as Sea Trek 44-5)
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2003
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AGM
Held at Cowes in 2003
Highlights
- ‘Peter Costello wrestled, coerced and organised into existence our fabulous new website’
- Members complete Sea Proficiency and are now proficient to VSKC standards
- Rolling nights at Latrobe University
Sea Trek
2003 Issue 47
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2004
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AGM
- Held at Portsea in 2004
- Paul Caffyn – guest speaker
- John Basemore becomes a life member
- ‘Helicopter demonstration rescue by the Southern Peninsula Rescue Service’ at AGM
Highlights
- ‘Rolling classes go on at Frankston - thanks to Julian Smith, and Latrobe - thanks to Ian Jones’
- Red Eye paddle run by Peter Costello meeting at Sandringham next to Hampton jetty. (First time Red Eye mentioned in Sea Trek ed.)
- With the greater public access to the club via al magazine and website membership is up by 40% compared to the previous year
- Sea instructor intake
Sea Trek
2004 Issue 48
2004 Issue 51
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2005
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AGM
Held at Portsea Camp
Highlights
- VSKC has developed its own internal training scheme…. the training committee has recently developed three levels of competencies for club members…. VSKC competency levels and training – Tina Rowley. John Woollard and Terry Barry
- ‘New website courtesy of Craig Evans’
- Port Phillip Bay circumnavigation - Multi day trip starting and ending at Williamstown beach over several weekends
Sea Trek
2005 Issue 52
2005 Issue 53
2005 Issue 54
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2006
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AGM
Held at Portsea
Highlights
- Planning underway for a plaque to be created and mounted on a pedestal honouring Paul Caffyn’s legendary solo circumnavigation around mainland Australia in 1982
- ‘Cape Contourer's challenge’ by David Golightly. Describes a challenge to ‘bag’ all twenty-two capes on VSKC trips
Sea Trek
2006 issue 56
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2007
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AGM
Held at Merricks Lodge
Highlights
Safe Sea kayaking brochure developed
Sea Trek
2007 issue 58
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2008
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AGM
Held at Merricks Lodge
Over 100 members attended
Highlights
- Discussion of expanding assessor and instructor group and increasing number of Level 3 membership
- Nigel Dennis Kayaks. He has had a key role in the establishment of training and accreditation standards in the UK. Nigel will be here for a ‘Show and Tell Night’ On 29 March.
- ‘RAKE: Round Australia Kayak Expedition 25 years on’ by Phil Woodhouse. Article records the commemoration and celebration by the VSKC of the Round Australia Kayak Expedition by Paul Caffyn.
- ‘We have commenced the development of a digestible document that outlines the clubs' principles of operation. The purpose…. to provide all club members with the simple reference point covering trip etiquette, our grading system, and the club’s obligation to its members.’ Les Bognar, President's report
Sea Trek
2008 Issue 60
2008 Issue 62
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2009
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AGM
Held at Anglesea
Speaker – Sandy Robson
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2010
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AGM
Held at Anglesea
Speaker Terry Bolland
Highlights
- Robin Boundy takes over the running of the Canadian Bay paddle, taking over from Bill Robinson
- Freya Hoffmeister welcomed by the VSKC at Queenscliff when she finished her circumnavigation Australia. 15 December 2009
Sea Trek
2010 – Issue 65
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2011
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AGM and Blue Water Festival
Held at Phillip Island
Highlights
- Ginni Callahan (USA) and Axel Schoevers (Netherlands) present illustrated talk at Mordiallic and held ‘train the trainer’ day
Sea Trek
2011 Issue 68
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2012
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AGM and Blue Water Festival
Held at Phillip Island
Highlights
- Greenland paddle experts Cheri Perry and Turner Wilson from the USA came out to speak and instruct.
- Stuart Trueman spoke to club members about his history-making 16,000 km unsupported solo expedition around Australia over 18 months
- Purchase of a large-screen Mac computer with professional desktop publishing software to produce Sea Trek.
- The new version of the VSKC paddling competencies has been completed replacing the old blue VSKC log book system. Level 1, 2 & 3 competencies re-written with a clearer and more detailed explanation of the standards and conditions expected.
- Wilderness First Aid course held
Sea Trek
2011 Issue 71
2012 Issue 73
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2013
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AGM and Forum
- Held at Camp Coolamaton, Banksia Peninsula Paynesville
- Over 100 people attending
- Special guest Eddie Safarik from the Queensland SKC
- Life memberships awarded to Allan Bernardi, Peter Newman, Steve Weston and Paul Snelgrove
Highlights
- VSKC hosted international sea kayaking guru Nigel Foster in February 2013.
- ‘Nigel Foster along with his wife Kristin Nelson spent two weeks with the VSKC in Melbourne. They presented at Mordialloc Yacht club covering their more recent adventures. During subsequent days they offered a range of paddling skill classes for members and instructors.’
- 2013 Australian Sea Kayak Club’s Networking Summit’ at Snake Island
- Guidelines for Life Membership… ratified by the committee and are available on the website. It is hoped that this will provide a clear pathway and guidance for any future nominations for this very special award.
- Sandy Robson spoke about the latest leg of her remarkable journey retracing ‘Oskar Speck’. Over fifty members attended this presentation at the Mordialloc Sailing Club.
- New set of Model Rules which will came into effect automatically on November 24th, 2013.
Sea Trek
2013 Issue 76
2013 Issue 77
21013 Issue 78
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2014
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AGM
- Held at Camp Coolamaton, Banksia Peninsula, Paynesville
- Guest speakers Scott Donaldson and Jason Beechcroft
Membership
252 members
Highlights
- Second National Sea Kayak Summit
- Phil Klegg is from the UK and will be with us for a two-week period in late February 2014
- Terry Barry The History, Methodology and Limitations of The VSKC Training. Article that describes some of the clubs training history. Sea Trek 2014 Issue 81
Sea Trek
2013 Issue 78
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2015
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AGM
Held at Cape Paterson
Keynote speakers Julian Smith and Rob Mercer
Membership
232 members
Highlights
- International Paddling Instructor Visit Nick Cunliffe’s visit and training sessions were well supported by the VSKC membership. Nick’s skill sessions were valued and were regarded as some of the highest-level international paddling instruction experienced by the VSKC to date.
- The VSKC has purchased four VHF radios to improve pod communication and on water safety of member trips. Nine trip leaders were subsidised by VSKC to be trained and licensed to use the VHF radios this year.
- Trybooking system used for administrative and financial transactions
Sea Trek
2014/15 Issue 82
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2016
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AGM
Held at Cape Patterson
David Golightly awarded Life Membership
Summary
- New website built by Greg Skowronski
- VSKC Facebook group created
- Farewell ceremony for Mick MacRobb
Sea Trek
2016 Issue 88
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2017
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AGM
Held at Barwon Heads
Guest speaker Geoff Murray
Highlights
- Sandy Robson’s Germany to Australia by Kayak slide show and talk March 2017
- Review of the club’s grading system
- ‘Number of female paddlers outnumbered the males’ on a four-day paddle to East Snake Island over Easter with 24 paddlers.
Sea Trek
2017 Issue 89
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2018
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AGM
Held at Barwon Heads
Life Membership awarded to Terry Barry and Peter Costello
Highlights
- Club begins assessment using new grading model using Paddle Australia awards. Sea Skills, Intro to Sea Skills, Sea Leader, Sea Instructor.
- Internal to VSKC, Sea Kayak Basics made a new member requirement.
Sea Trek
2018 Issue 92
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2019
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AGM
Held at Barwon Heads
Guest speaker Shaan Gresser
Membership
206 Members
Highlights
- Introduction to Sea Skills and Sea Skills assessments
Sea Trek
2020 Issue 95
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2020
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AGM
Held via Zoom. No Blue Water Festival due to COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on movement and gatherings
Membership
173 members
Male 72% and Female 28%
Summary
- Early 2020 Paddle Australia assessments continue with Intro to Sea Skills, Sea Skills and Sea Leader certificates awarded
- March 2020 onwards: Covid-19 pandemic. Restrictions on movement and gathering numbers lead to cancelling paddling trips and social gatherings intermittently throughout 2020.
- Committee meets via zoom conferencing
- New website was launched on 15 November 2020
- Updated trip guidelines published
- ‘Vale Robin Boundy’ Club members share their memories of Robin Boundy
- ‘Vale Steve Weston’ Paul Snelgrove remembers one of the club’s original members
Sea Trek
2020 Issue 95
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2021
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AGM
Held via Zoom. No Blue Water Festival due to COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on movement and gatherings.
Life membership awarded to Tina Evertze and John Evertze
Membership
197 Members
Summary
- 2021 COVID impacts; 111 lockdown days and 5 km limitations to most members, lots of cancelled trips.
- Ex gratia payments offered to members in previous and current year in recognition of limited club activities on offer.
- On-line chats and presentations during the lockdown.
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2022
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AGM
Held via Zoom
Blue Water Festival held at Barwon Heads
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| 2023 |
AGM
Held via Zoom
Membership
207 members at Sept 30
Summary
- Member Protection Policy introduced
- Vale Steve Collins
- Pizza at the Prom weekend event
- Paddlefest at Merricks
- A "Leader of the Most Trips" award introduced
- Westernport paddles continued throughout the season
- Multiple pool rolling events took place
- Trip report: 188 paddle events and 35 training events
- Operational expenses reviewed & reasonable cash reserves determined
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| 2024 |
AGM Held via Zoom
Membership
223 members at Sept 30
Summary
- Pizza at the Prom weekend event
- Spring Paddlefest at Barwon Heads
- Westernport paddles continue
- Twenty pool rolling sessions held
- A total of 179 trips run
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