Historical information
On Sunday 19 December 1954 at 3.30 pm, 52 people attended the inaugural general meeting, which was held in the Catholic church hall at Theodore Street, St Albans. Slovenians at the meeting were enthused at the prospect of developing closer ties and a committee was formed to organise the next dance.
This humble beginning laid the groundwork for the establishment of the first Slovenian organisation in Melbourne, Victoria.
Significance
On 5 December 1954 the first meeting of the club’s preparatory committee was held at 36 Prentice Street, East St Kilda with 26 people in attendance. The group prepared a list of regulations and decided on the name Slovenski klub Melbourne – Slovenian Club Melbourne (SCM).
The first Minutes of the Meeting announced the club’s statement of purpose:
• to assist migrants of Slovenian origin;
• to assist assimilation to the Australian way of life;
• to help Slovenian migrants in every possible way, especially financially;
• to help Slovenian refugees in Europe, especially those who wanted to find a a new and free life in
Australia;
• to offer members and their friends healthy intellectual and physical activities in the cultural, social and sports arenas; and
• to cultivate a Slovenian cultural heritage while also making contributions to their Australian
community.
Physical description
A sepia photo of the Slovenians attending the first meeting in St. Albans, 1954
Some in attendance included: Ljubo Pirnat, Paule Postarenko, Ivan Gerbec, Tinka Verbic, Zladko Verbic, Viktor Ferfolia, Tusek, Joze Pekolj, Mrs Potocnik, Joze Potocnik, Janezic, Fanc Novina, Joze Golenko.
