The Club was formed as a "corporate club", meaning that
it was intended to benefit the employees of the then
Telecom Australia in its Engineering centre at Burwood. Three different
perspectives were involved in the Club's formation:
Jim McCarthy, an executive manager, had come across Toastmasters, and
was all agog about having his very own club on the premises;Gary Lane, General Manager, had been in Toastmasters, knew the
benefits, and gave corporate sponsorship to the Club. He and
his secretary joined our Club and remained members for several years;Len Newland, a middle manager and a member of Toastmasters
at Liverpool, saw opportunity for advancement within Toastmasters by starting a
new club.
Our charter dinner meeting featured guest speaker, Ken Bernard, World
Competition winning speaker.
The reins of leadership were taken up by Bill Schuberg,
another manager, who some how convinced his staff to join
en masse. They were the backbone of the club for many years.
Corporate Toastmasters Clubs have an average life of about four years;
short because of corporate changes. Our Club has been going
strong for more than twelve years now, in spite of
relocation of half the staff to Parramatta and downsizing of
the rest, and even a change of corporate name.
Today, many of our Club members are retired Telecom and
Telstra people from all levels. Others have joined because their
work and/or home locations were close and our meeting times
let them go home for dinner afterwards.
That is what we continue to offer new members: Convenient
meeting times and all the benefits of a Toastmasters Club.
In return, we need new, younger members.
Welcome.
Last updated 29 June 2008.