Lifetime Membership - Commodore Campbell Reid

May 13, 2025

I have been asked by the BSC Management Committee to provide background information in respect to the next presentation which is the awarding of a life membership.

This is an exclusive club award that is only granted occasionally following a conclave of committee members and confirmed by white smoke.

It goes without saying that any voluntary run organisation can only be successful if it has active volunteers... and of course that success depends very much on the dedication and commitment of these volunteers.

Since its formation in 1995, the club has relied heavily on input from countless selfless members and its a testament to this input that the club recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.

The highest honour a club such as ours can award (other than an open bar tab for life) is a life membership and in this respect, I would emphasise life memberships have only been awarded on 11 occasions since 1995.

The last one was awarded in 2021 to Jeremy Arnott.

The committee feels that it is most important that we acknowledge and continue to recognise those members who have previously been awarded the clubs highest award and in this respect the committee is currently reviewing suggestions to implement the commissioning of a plaque with the names of these life members engraved upon it.

It is therefore a great privilege to stand here tonight to honour a club member who has contributed so immensely to the success of the club over many years with his unwavering commitment to the club and desire to share his passion for sailing.

I am sure you will all agree that there is no more deserving member to receive this prestigious honour than our esteemed longstanding Commodore Campbell Reid.

I would like to share some of the many highlights of Campbells contribution to the club that have been offered by numerous members.

Campbell first joined the club around 2012 and was elected a director in 2013. In 2014, he was elected as Commodore and is today our longest serving commodore.

In that time, Campbell has contributed to the governance of our club with nothing short of excellence. His positive attitude, leadership, organisation and management skills (and of course superb sailing prowess) plus an unassuming empathetic manner have made a discernible difference to the amenity of our club Campbell has overseen a huge transformation of our facilities, including the renovation of the clubhouse, a new deck and concrete pylons.

He has also been instrumental in implementing safety initiatives such as the dinghy launching pontoon, that now offers safe and injury free launching of dinghies and tenders.

Under Campbells leadership, we have spent close to $1m raised through generous member cash donations (including from Campbell), Hall Hires raffles and events all of which allowed us to improve the clubs facilities, purchase a new RIB, install new air-conditioning, and rebuild the entrance to the clubhouse.

Campbell undertook more than fundraising and governance, he was hands on, trimming trees, repairing dinghies for the sailing school, tidying up the dinghy shed, installing party lights, repairing furniture and reinstalling the rope poles in the clubhouse.

Whilst Campbell was undertaking these duties, Helen Reid also made a significant and valuable contribution to the benefit of the club on numerous occasions.

Committee members that have worked with Campbell over the past years have offered the following words to describe him:

• Thoughtful
• Selfless
• Patient
• Unassuming
• Humorous
• Courteous
• Skilful
• Smart
• Kind

Our Club Manager, David Stenhouse and life member offered the following and I quote: "Campbell has been a mentor. I would not have been able to be effective in my role if it were not for his wisdom, intelligence and his genuine dedication to our members."

As you would no doubt appreciate the role of Commodore is often the last to be fully recognised by members and tonight, we have chance redress this by this award Campbell.

Thank you,
Colin Grove
Secretary Balmain Sailing Club