Life Members 2005

Three new Life Members were inducted at the Club’s AGM held on August 7th 2005. They were William (Bill) Whalley, Barry Silverlock and Eddy Girvan.

While it may seem a little unusual to make three appointments in the one year, it’s not often that a Club is so fortunate to have such eligible people all serving at one time. To quote from the Club’s constitution:

(ii) Honorary members or honorary life Members being those Members appointed at a properly constituted Annual General Meeting in recognition of services rendered in promoting the interests and objectives of the Association;

Bill Whalley has been a member of North Coast without a break for nine years. For at least eight of those years he has served on the committee, two as Club Captain. Bill has always been available to help whenever the call went out, his face is synonymous with the early morning clean ups at our old Duathlon venues Arena Joondalup and Neerabup Business park. He’s still at it today with the blower vacuums at Honeybush Drive. In recent years Bill has cut back on his Club racing to concentrate on major races, so we don’t see him around quite as much. His pet pastime has become Ironman racing and that in itself is all consuming. He has never been short of advice and encouragement for novice Iron persons. Bill set the trend that got many people in the Club believing that completing an Ironman was possible. His form has improved dramatically over the last five or so years to the point that he must now be considered an elite age grouper. Bill remains on the committee and this year will represent North Coast as a Club Delegate on the TWA Board.
Bill is the Club’s Triathlete of the Year for season 04/05 and I know he took particular delight in posing for a group photograph with the Club’s junior Triathletes of the Year and Junior Encouragement Award winners. They in turn felt privileged to be in Bill’s company.
Bill filled all the credentials required to be appointed a Club Life Member, the Club is richer for his presence.

Barry Silverlock’s time with the Club has run parallel with Bill’s in many instances. Club member for nine years serving on the committee for seven years with one as treasurer. A legend at organizing and setting club events especially the Duathlons, always at the venue at least an hour before everyone else getting things ready. Barry developed the Club’s race handicapping formula and to this day very few can fathom its mechanics as he applied it to the Aquathlon races. He is the originator and organizer of the Club fun ride to Lancelin now in its 6th year.
It is doubtful that if in all his nine years of membership Barry has missed more than a handful of Club Duathlons or Aquathlons. A fierce competitor, Barry through hard work has become a very accomplished Triathlete at both Ironman and State Series races. He is also very generous with help and advice to any Club member on any aspect of the sport, his valuable information coming from many years of experience. Barry has continued his involvement in the Club while continuing to compete and set up a new business.
A great clubman, Barry is the very epitome of a Life Member and we are fortunate that he happened to come the way of our Club.

Eddy Girvan is another long serving member of North Coast (six years) and has never been one to take a backward step at accepting responsibility. He was Club President for two and half years and vice president for one and half years. He was race director for many years at the Club Duathlons and Aquathlons in addition to all his officiating at Triathlon Association Events. He was editor and publisher of the Club Newsletter for some years and is still a mentor and supporter extraordinaire to all juniors and new members to the Club. After a short break Eddy has again stepped in to join the Club Committee and continues to be very active in the competitive side of the sport.
No more can be said, other that in so high esteem is Eddy held by his peers that he has been voted “Club Person of the Year” on three separate occasions. Truly a remarkable Club person and a very, very worthy induction as a North Coast Life member.