Happenings at last week’s Meeting
Charles began the Meeting with the usual Toast and Invocation and then welcomed Deb Greenaway. He then passed the Meeting over to Mark Long as the Chair.
Mark read out the apologies and then introduced tonight’s Speaker, our new Member Peter Greenaway.
Peter’s subject was the history of Juke Boxes and his life with them.
The History:
- In 1889, in San Francisco, a form of Juke Box was developed by Louis Glass whereby the audience listened to the music via stethoscope-like tubes. They were very successful;
- In 1949 45’s were introduced and marked the beginning of the Juke Boxes that we all remember;
- In 1984 along came CD’s; and
- Todays Juke Boxes have digital music files with 1000’s of records.
Major players in the development of the Juke Box were manufacturers from other areas of the entertainment/music industry. There were some very famous names.
Juke Box? Where did its name come from?
- the word “Juke Box” is thought to have been coined by Creole speaking plantation workers (in USA) around the early 1920s;
- In Creole, "joog joint”, is a crude name for a rowdy establishment where loud music and dancing were common. Over time, music machines replaced live music, hence Joog (Juke) Box; and
- Joog is a Creole (Gullah) word meaning disorderly or rowdy.
Regarding Peter’s life with Juke Boxes and the creation of the Melbourne Juke Box Company:
- Peter’s dad was running the Albion Hotel in Kyabram, operating a radio repair shop and a lending library;
- The juke Box at the local milk bar was making a lot of money;
- The company was founded in 1950 by his father Max;
- Peter helped his dad and uncle building boxes;
- The business expanded over the 60s & 70s;
- The company had 350 Juke Boxes operating in Tarax Bars and Cafes all around Victoria;
- 1966 an encounter with the GG Sir Rowan Delacombe led to the business of hiring out the boxes;
- Juke box hiring was unheard off and initiated a new avenue of business, party hire;
- On leaving school in 1974 Peter joined the company full time;
- Married Deb who joined the company in 1980;
- Max passed in 1989 while still working;
- Peter and Deb expanded the company thru investments and joint ventures until they were employing 65 people;
- Eventually the company was independent, but a declining industry meant that it was gradually sold off from 2001; and
- Peter and Deb retired.
In 2015, under pressure from old customers, and demand from private juke box lovers Juke Box Repairs Australia was set up. He has never been busier despite trying to re-retire several times and still repairs 50-60 Units per year from all around the country.
After a brief Q and A session, Mark thanked Peter for a most interesting talk.
Mark now called for the Presidents Report.
Charles spoke of two contacts that the Club has received:
- The RC of Mornington are having a fundraiser on Wednesday 22nd October at $45 per head, to raise money for a replacement for the Ranch Motel which was accommodation for the homeless; and
- Sky Whales (ballons) will be coming to the Red Hill pavilion on Saturday 8th November. Our Club has been asked to provide a BBQ. It’s a 4:30 start for 2.5 hours and volunteers were called for.
Next, was the Secretary’s Report.
This also was a brief report noting that the Keys Register has been completed and the Asset Register is the next target.
Mark gave an update from his Directorship.
Community:
- Organisation of the Carols by Candlelight is underway; and
- The Grants process has been changed by the Shire so the Carols will be run at a loss.
Youth:
- The Club will be sponsoring student for the Science Experience;
- 2 students will be sponsored for the Science Forum;
- Mark will be contacting local schools for future collaborations;
- Dromana College have been informed of what the Club can help on; and
- We may add conditions to our sponsorships, like attending our Meetings.
Some loud-mouth spoke up about the idea of the Club conducting a Trivial Pursuit night (80’s Themed?) for the Board to ponder.
Lotto was drawn (Bob won) and Fines were levied (Joseph’s hat).
Next it was time for the Member Behind the Badge, and it was Merv’s turn.
In Summary, Merv ran through his life thus:
- Born in 1952 at the Mornington Bush Nursing Hospital;
- He had two older sisters and a younger brother;
- Dad and Mum grew apples and vegetables and raised cattle;
- Dad was 3rd generation at Red Hill and there is a road named after his grandparents;
- Went to school at Red Hill and left in year 10 to work on the farm;
- Played cricket at Main Ridge for 20+ years and football at Red Hill for 5;p
- Went to RMIT to complete a Farm Management Diploma;
- Married in 1975 and has two daughters;
- Working with Dad, grew farm to 130 acres at Red Hill and 35 acres in Dromana;
- Attended orchard seminars and applied new growing systems;
- Joined local fruit growers association and served as President and Treasurer (the later for 24 years);
- Represented southern fruit growers at the amalgamated state organisation for 6 years; and
- Gradually reduced the orchard in later years and, after 50 seasons, retires and removed all the orchard.
The Chair congratulated Merv and handed the Meeting back to Charles.
Charles thanked all attendees and reminded the Meeting that the next will be our Committees Meeting at Two Buoys. The Meeting closed at 7:50.
