The Stawell Club is continuing to prosper as its growing member base prepare to celebrate 125 years since its formation.
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The Stawell News and Pleasant Creek Chronicle reported on the club's formation on Thursday, July 4, 1896.
"The inaugural meeting of the newly formed Stawell Club was held at the Club rooms, corner of Main and Patrick Streets, on Thursday afternoon," the article read.
"When amongst the gentlemen present were Messrs, McKellar, Murton, Irvine, Holden, McLean, Rowan, J. Sutherland, Trew, Minogue, Lewers, and Drs, Syme and Napthine".
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Since these people gathered to form the club, much has changed, including its relocation to the Star Hotel, which the club purchased in 1920.
But the Stawell Club also has a keen sense of history, in part due to the continued presence of some of its long-standing members.
James Barham has been a member since 1980 but still said, "I haven't been a member that long".
Yet alongside his friends James Stewart and David Young, who he sits with, Mr Barham is indeed a relative newcomer.
James Stewart is a member of the club and has been since 1953.
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"My father nominated me. He was a member of the club then," Mr Stewart said.
"I was travelling for the Ford Motor Company at that stage as a sales manager and would come here quite a bit. The social side of it is excellent."
Aged 99, David Young has been a member since 1960.
"I was a member of the Swan Hill Club, and joined when I left Swan Hill and bought a business in Stawell."
All three have made significant contributions to the club, with Mr Stewart and Mr Barham having both served as club president.
Mr Barham's first year as president of the club in 1994 was when women were allowed to become club members for the first time.
"I wouldn't expect the job unless they were," he said.
Ms Judy Blake would become the club's first female president in 2000.
Mr Barham stresses that others have had a profound influence on the club.
"In my time, I've seen tremendous change and I think it's entirely due to the younger board members who I think have introduced a lot of vigour," he said.
"We've had very enthusiastic people who bring a lot of new people to the club. Our membership has gone from about 80 to just on 200 in the last four or five years. There have been great improvements to the club."
Mr Stewart echoed this sentiment.
"The last few years the committee has been very hands-on and is largely responsible for a lot of the improvements," he said.
"We've also always been very happy with the enthusiasm of our stewards and we hope the one we have here is permanent, he's doing a very good job."
The club has been forced to shut at times during COVID-19.
This has deprived many members of one of their main social outlets, and immediate past president Russell James said people have been eager to return.
"For the ones who live on their own in particular it was tough," he said.
"We all missed the atmosphere and a good old yarn."
Mr James said he was pleased with the environment the club has fostered.
"Everyone is welcome. It's a very safe place for everyone to come."
Stawell Club members also expressed their gratitude to Northern Grampians Shire Council for its support and Stawell Historical Society for helping them learn more about the club's past.
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