[originaltext] I’d like to welcome you all to our Active Outdoor Club. I’ll

I’d like to welcome you all to our Active Outdoor Club. I’ll start by telling you a little bit about the history of the club and all that it can offer and there will be a chance for you to ask questions over tea and coffee in the lobby afterwards. You’ll also be able to pick up pamphlets from the table at the back of the hall and, if you wish to purchase any of our products, Bill will serve you at the front counter.
    As most of you probably know, the club was founded by Nick Noble about 30 years ago. He thought of placing an advertisement in the local newspaper or erecting a billboard somewhere but it was the radio that he decided on to reach the most people—you know, other people who might be interested in outdoor pursuits, just basic activities like walking or tramping—anything active that could take place in some of the beautiful outdoor settings that this country has to offer.
    Nick was overwhelmed by the response he got and the club soon grew from a dozen or so friends and enthusiasts to around 200 members 20 years ago, and steadily since then to reach a membership of over 2,500 now. You don’t have to be a hardened athlete or extreme adventure—on the contrary, it’s a group that encourages friendship and fellowship through social and recreational activities. The club tries to cater for all levels of maturity and both genders—in fact, anyone who has the physical ability and a moderate level of health and fitness to participate in open-air activity on a regular basis. I think our youngest member is a 5-year-old boy and our oldest member is a 75-year-old man. Of course we have more challenging opportunities for those who are up to it but all excursions are graded according to level of difficult3, and there will always be something for those families with small children. More about that later...
    I’m sure you realize that it’s part of the focus of the club to ensure that our natural environment is kept as pristine as possible. We all have a keen interest in conservation and many of our members contribute their time, or give a monetary donation, to organizations that work to enhance and beautify our natural heritage.