Karin Soster was chairperson for this week's club meeting. Charles joined via Zoom.
Guests included Gary, and our guest speaker Colin Smith with his partner Jill Kavanagh.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
Kingston Service Clubs Network Meeting and Community and Women of the Year Awards
Grant and Kellie attended the Kingston Service Clubs Network meeting on Monday 13 October. One topic included nominations for the 2026 Kingston Community Awards and Kingston Women of the Year Awards, which recognise and celebrate those who contribute, give back, inspire, and positively impact the lives of others.
Further information is available on the Kingston website; https://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/council/news/latest-news/kingston-awards. Nominations close on 2 November 2025.
BMC AGM
Karin reminded members of the upcoming club AGM on Wednesday 26 November. Members are invited to submit nominations for club officer positions for 2026-2027 and two directorships for 2026-2028. Positions that need filling include:
President 2026-2027
Vice President 2026-2027
President Elect 2026-2027
Treasurer 2026-2027
Secretary 2026-2027
2 directors 2026-2028 (2 year term)
Details of the AGM appear on the club website under Events. An agenda for the AGM will be issued closer to the meeting. Nominations should be submitted to the club secretary by email - karinsoster@gmail.com. Nominations close COB 5pm Friday 21 November 2025.
GUEST SPEAKER - Colin Smith - Author and historian
Club members heard a fantastic presentation from Colin Smith, a retired primary and special school teacher. Colin is an author and a historian who has written four books - the first of which took over twenty five years to produce before it was published in 2013, and which was the centre of Colin's topic today - Merric Boyd and Murrumbeena - The Life of an Artist in a Time and a Place. We learnt Merric Boyd was born in St Kilda in 1888, and after unsuccessful attempts at other professions, he discovered his talents as a potter and sculptor. He moved to Murrumbeena in 1913 when his parents purchased a house for Merric that included a studio for his artwork. Murrumbeena was a newish south eastern outer suburb that was favoured by many residents in the legal and medical professions including Dr John Springthorpe, a leading Australian physician, who the family sought to treat Merric's epilepsy. Other family members purchased property either next door to Merric or nearby and where the Boyd families enjoyed an idyllic family lifestyle with shared interests and support. Colin's presentation included many slides of Merric's life, his artwork, family and extended family, including the subdivision of Murrumbeena as it progressed through the years. Other family members are also artists, and Colin touched briefly to display their artwork, in particular, the work of Merric's very talented younger brother, Theodore Penleigh, whose life was tragically cut short following a car accident at the age of 33. Merric was the father of five children, all noted artists, and died at the age of 71. It is fortunate much of Merric's pottery and sculptures is now housed in the National Gallery of Victoria. Other books written by Colin include Life and Art of Lucy Boyd, the Life and Art of Penleigh Boyd, and his most recent book - A Murrumbeena Scrapbook - all available from Beaumaris Books. Thank you Colin for your very informative talk - a peek into the lives and times of the Boyds - Australia's most famous family of artists. .
NOTE: Colin Smith, Historian Merric Boyd & Murrumbeena Website HERE (Ed)
ROSTERS
The club meeting and market rosters were announced before the meeting was closed by Grant.
As a footnote, the following message was received from Colin on October 22nd.....
"I wanted to send you an image of your platter getting its first work out. Thank you and your Rotary for it.I also wanted to say that Jill and I really enjoyed meeting your group, and I enjoyed speaking to your members. Such an interesting and experienced group of people. As I said at the talk, so much life experience in one room. If you added up all those years ...
I also give talks on the great Australian artists, Penleigh Boyd (Merric's brother), and would be happy to do so if you so wished.
Best wishes from myself and Jill"