VetsNews July 2017 It was with great pleasure that I welcomed Jan McDade from St Michael s to the VWGA committee at our April meeting. Jan will be mainly involved in office administration on Thursday s and provide assistance to Virginnia on membership issues. President Lyn and Vice- President Virginnia enjoying the dinner at Pambula Merimbula Following comments from a number of delegates on the relevance of the blue membership cards in our technological age the committee resolved at our March meeting: To only issue blue cards to NEW members as they are actually a receipt of payment of the joining fee. No further replacement blue cards will issued for lost or damaged cards. Yearly stickers will still be issued on payment of the annual subscriptions and it was recommended that these could be adhered to either a players Golflink or Club membership card (if required as proof of membership). This measure will hopefully reduce our postage and printing costs and free up committee members to undertake other tasks. Wet weather conditions and Cart refund policy: Following the abnormal wet weather conditions at the commencement of this year and our policy on no refunds on entry fees if the course is deemed playable our event at North Ryde highlighted a problem with this policy. Following a week of torrential rain the course was deemed playable on the morning of the event but no carts were allowed. Several of our members arrived to play but due to the no cart rule were unable to compete. After discussion at our April meeting it was decided if a course is open and a player is unable to play without a cart and she produces a medical certificate (dated prior to the event) then a refund of the entry fee minus $5.00 will be given. The retention of the $5.00 is necessary to cover the cost of prizes already purchased and costed on the number of players. In 2016 we welcomed two new clubs to the association Newcastle and Brewarrina. Newcastle have already agreed to host a one-day tournament in November 2018 - a first for the Hunter region in a number of years. Unfortunately we have also lost a few country clubs, namely Binnaway, Bombala and Lake Cargellico. Membership subscriptions from clubs remaining unpaid on 30 June 2017 have been deemed unfinancial. Players from these clubs are unable to compete in VWGA tournaments and for major trophies in 2017. If your club is experiencing financial hardship please contact Virginnia at membership.vwga@bigpond.com for the committee to review your situation. Please don t just drop off our radar! A reminder when collecting fees that if a player belongs to two clubs it is only necessary to collect their VWGA subscription ($5.00 in 2018) from their home club. The home club is where a player is eligible to play in the Challenge and Mabel McKenzie Brooches and the Metropolitan and Country Championships. Vets fees for internal competitions are set by individual clubs and are paid to each club they hold membership. Thanks to the generous support of our ladies the raffle money raised at North Ryde ($381.50) and at The Coast ($341.50) has been allocated to the Northern Rivers District Association to disperse amongst the neediest clubs in their region. I am awaiting the outcome of their meeting in late July as to how the funds will be allocated and will advise in the next newsletter.
TOURNAMENTS: Unfortunately wet weather has influenced most of our games in 2017 but our intrepid ladies have turned up irrespective ready to play. A quick summary of the winners below: Unfortunately Mona Vale (17 th February) was cancelled due to flooding. >>>>> <<<<<< Sheila Carr Memorial Salver was played at North Ryde (20 th March) after torrential rain in the day s prior. The event was played as a 2 ball Ambrose and the very excited winners were Dawn Jamieson and Gail Gear (Morisset) with 69 Nett. The Coast girls retained the Ella Backhouse Salver on 24 th April. The event was a 4BBB stableford and the 2017 winners were Anne McGregor and Diana Craven with 49 points. >>>>>>>> <<<<<< Cronulla on 9 th June whilst extremely wet was once again very well supported with a capacity field of 156 players from 17 clubs. In 2017 the Marg D Elmaine Salver was played as a 4 person team stableford and was won by the mixed team of Helen Elisseou and Beth Xu (Randwick), Alison Grellis (Northbridge) and Christina Ong (The Lakes) 75 points c/b. PAMBULA MERIMBULA (13 and 14 MARCH) On Monday, a field of 128 ladies representing 31 clubs hit-off in brilliant sunshine on the beautiful meandering Pambula Merimbula course. Unfortunately the heavens opened, lightning and thunder reducing the team event to a 9 hole competition. It was decided not to award the Diamond Jubilee Salver as there was no comparison between the players and the holes played. The very surprised winners of the reduced competition were Ann Baker (Shelly Beach) and Michele Martin (Pambula Merimbula) with 23 points c/b. The storm clouds cleared on the Tuesday and 122 undaunted ladies braved the humidity and dampness underfoot in the individual stableford. Winners were: Division 1: Leanne Munt (8) (Pambula Merimbula) 37 points Division 2: Pam Geddes (24) (The Coast) 38 points Division 3: Kerri Freeman (39) (Pambula Merimbula) - 38 points. A local country group of about 15 performers provided entertainment at the dinner. Our golfers were on the floor instantly, singing and dancing to the toetapping music and generally took over the show, especially Vice President Jacky! Congratulations to Wendy Maxworthy and her committee for a well run and highly entertaining tournament. Well Done! Full 2017 tournament reports are available on our website at www.vwgansw.org.au/tournaments. Page 2
BIRTHDAYS: I was very fortunate to make a 90 th birthday presentation to a very surprised Jean Brichacek (Pambula Merimbula) during lunch on the Monday of the tournament. Jean not only played in the rain but couldn t understand what all the fuss was about! What an amazing lady! Pam Rigg (Harrington Waters Delegate) reported on the 2 nd OBE Australian Championships which were held early in April despite rain, rain and more rain! Some events were cancelled and tee-up invoked on the 5 th fairway but despite the setbacks everyone got into the spirit of the tournament! Indeed 90 year old Tony Litt commented the best three days of (his) life. Betty Andrews (Kew) retained the Ladies Scratch Championship and Elaine Findler (Wingham) was the Ladies Handicap winner. Belated 80 th birthday greetings to two very surprised Waratah ladies Hazel Skinner (left) and Beryl Haggerston who received their badges at Waratahs 2016 presentation night! Also included in the photo are Robyn Hamilton (Captain) Loraine Smith (Delegate) and Sue Oakey (President). Buladelah Golf Club recently farewelled Dot Graham with her move to Forster. Dot and her husband moved to Buladelah in 1982. They were active members of the community, passionate about the Golf Club, being made life members in 2001. Dotty commenced playing golf seriously in 1993 (at the age of 50) and won many championships. She also served on the ladies committee and the Board and was the driving force behind fundraising, catering, trivia nights and anything else that was thrown at her. Whilst she will be missed by her many friends they all agree that Forster/Tuncurry has gained a very keen golfer - an active member with a deadly short game! Buladelah also advised that Thora Ireland has reluctantly retired from golf due to ill health and a fall. In her 90s, she played her last competitive game at Buladelah in July 2016 off a handicap of 33.2. Thora began playing seriously in 1968 when the youngest of her 8 children started school. Over the years she reduced her handicap to 10 and was always competitive, her name being on the honour boards many times as Ladies Singles, Foursomes and Mixed Foursome champion. She has been a committed and active club member being the Associate President for many years. In recent years she joined Hawkes Nest and it was not unusual for her to play competition golf 3 or 4 times per week as well as encouraging new and junior members. There are many ladies who could boast Thora taught me to play, particularly if they were left handed! K Bishop (Cobram Barooga) Men s H/cap, Elaine Findler and Betty Andrews and K Madden (Merewether) Men s Scratch Page 3
CONDOLESCENCES: With deep regret Gaylene Pettit (Delegate, South West Rocks) advises of the passing of our oldest member Dorothy (Dolly) Ingram-Alt. Dolly was 103 years old and was an active golfer until the grade old age of 100. Dolly joined the VWGA in 1965 and was a financial member until 2 years ago (50 years). She maintained a keen interest in golf even after she became a resident of Gayle and Dolly in happier times the South West Rocks nursing home. When Dolly turned the century her family celebrated with a luncheon which the then VWGA president, Beverley Everett and life member Pat Ellis attended. I understand that at that time she was still playing golf regularly, playing lawn bowls and line dancing. Dolly you are a legend and will be missed greatly! Margery McWilliam OAM (Bonnie Doon) Margery was a great contributor to Women s Golf for which she was awarded an OAM. She served on WGNSW and ALGU committees and was made a Life Member in 2003. She was a past Lady President of Bonnie Doon and was made a Life Member in 2000. She participated in all Women s events at the club until 2012 (even caddying for the Grade team at the age of 84). Ella Davidson (Coonamble) Ella joined Coonamble in 1962 and was determined to be the best golfer, practising whenever she had a moment and reducing her handicap quickly to 13 - winning many veterans events throughout the Western Districts. She was also a member of Gulargambone. She eventually travelled with her daughter, Narelle Mayoh and unfortunately taught her a hard lesson by winning the A Grade championships which included being Champion of Champions at Gulargambone. At Coonamble, she won many awards but has an outstanding record of numerous foursomes championships with her daughter. Ella won the A and B grade Veterans championships and was the State winner of Mabel Mackenzie brooch in the later years of her life. She played off a handicap of 23 at 90 years of age and her final handicap (after retiring) was 34. Ella passed away at 93. In the words of her daughter, Ella will be looking down on us and still playing in golfing heaven debating the rules with God. A number of our delegates also passed away during the year and will all be sadly missed. I hope they are all getting together in that great golf course in the sky maybe debating the rules with Ella! Josie Matthews (Delegate, Albert) Janice Egan (Delegate, Glen Innes) Sharyn Egan (Delegate, Kogarah) DELEGATES PACKS: 2017 Delegates packs have been mailed to all new delegates at the end of July. These are proving very popular and if you haven t received your pack please let us know. CHALLENGE AND MABEL MACKENZIE BROOCH RESULTS The final results for the above competitions closed on 31 July and lapel pins have been forwarded to the winners in individual clubs. Both Vanna (Challenge) and Lesley (Mabel) have been diligently chasing up results to ensure that your club is represented in the overall results. If you haven t received your pins please contact us immediately! FOOD FOR THOUGHT: 2018 Divisions for weekend and weekday players Mabel Mackenzie (MM) and Country (CC) Champions: At the 2016 AGM Pam Sassella (Delegate, Queanbeyan) was concerned that in the MM and CC competitions, Page 4
there appeared to be an anomaly in the breakdown of the divisions i.e. 3 divisions for weekday members with weekend players only entitled to compete in one division and the senior veteran division winner able to come from both. She proposed that: a) as all Country members pay the same membership they should be treated equally in all events run by the VWGA. b) Members (should be) allowed to nominate as Weekday or Weekend player (for the competitions) c) Each division may be won by the player from within the division with the best score from either day. After a lengthy discussion a number of suggestions were made; Players nominate a Main Day and Secondary Day (LW) i.e. medal round preference ; Winner to be the best score over the week in each division regardless of the day (NC) The two days must be played in the same week to provide consistency of results i.e. course condition, weather etc. As Country players are the ones affected, I would like to canvas your club s opinion and take back to the committee meeting on 20 September for further discussion. Proposed changes need to be tabled at the 2017 AGM for implementation in the 2018 competition. I welcome your suggestions or comments to the Secretary, vwgansw@bigpond.com. Expressions of interest for 2019 Metropolitan (One day) and (Two-day) Country tournaments: Our 2018 Country tournament program is confirmed with two-day events at Warren (Mon 9 th and Tues 10 th April), Goulburn (Tues 29 th and Wed 30 th May), and Cootamundra (Mon 10 th and Tues 11 th September). One day outer metropolitan tournaments will be held at Gosford (Mon 23 rd July) and Newcastle (Mon 19 th November). The committee is now calling for further nominations to host a VWGA tournament in 2019. Young, Coolangatta/Tweed, Morisset and Richmond have been confirmed. The committee is considering a 3 year turn-around for metropolitan clubs to allow a greater opportunity for our members to play at a variety of courses and outside our regular Mondays. However, several of our long standing venues fit into this category. I would appreciate your feedback on this proposal. Please contact me on 0430 353 457 or lynwalker2@hotmail.com if you would like to discuss further. Expressions of interest should be forwarded to Jacky Parsons at tournaments.vwga@bigpond.com. 2017 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) Friday 11 th November 2017: Please keep the date for the AGM of the Association in your diary. The time and venue remain unchanged. The draft minutes of the 2016 AGM were circulated to delegates by email firstly and by snail mail to those without an email address and responses invited by 31 May 2017. As no responses were received the draft minutes were posted on the VWGA website and these will be brought to the 2017 AGM for approval. If you didn t receive your copy please let our Secretary Jenni know at: vwgansw@bigpond.com Due to space restrictions, I ll visit the issue of the fee increase and what members actually get for their money next issue? Many thanks to all the contributors to this issue please keep items coming with a photo if possible! Until next time happy golfing! Lyn Walker President, VWGA, 8/08/2017 Page 5