Gwandalan Bowling & Recreation Club
1960-1963
Assets were transferred to new club known as “Gwandalan Bowling Club” at inaugural meeting 4.5.1963.
To become a licensed club a Notice of Motion was put forward to transfer the assets of the club at the Annual General Meeting held on 1.6.1966 to a new club “Gwandalan Bowling Club”. This was done on advice from solicitor Mr Bob Higgins.
The reasons stated in view of the lack of formality in club procedure and records eg. Nomination and acceptance of members and dates, the correct keeping records, to wind up the club and form a completely new club, the Notice of Motion was carried.
The licence was applied for at court on 23.4.1968 and was granted September 1968. The club opened and traded as licenced club on Saturday 14th September 1968.
To adhere to the Companies Act, the club became known as “Gwandalan Bowling Club Ltd” in 1972.
All above information is supplied in the original minute book supplied by Ern (Curly) Collins.
Debentures bought by members in 1963-1965 were in 5 pound units for 3 years at 4% on maturity, this was known as 1st Green Debenture. A special General Meeting in January 1967 floated debentures at $10.00 @ 6% for 3 years, this was to facilitate the purchase of land adjoining he club for a car park.
Gwandalan Bowling Club
Gwandalan, NSW
Hon. Pres. J. MacPherson
Hon. Sec. M. O. McDonald
18th. November, 1964.
Dear Member,
The Committee of the Gwandalan Bowling Club wished to advise excellent progress over the past few months with membership steadily approaching the total necessary for affiliation and Licence.
Preliminary negotiations in both the above directions are under way together with the future Club House Bowling Green and last but not least a constant supply of water.
It is anticipated that by Christmas the membership problem will be solved and it is to ensure this that we enclose a Nomination Form in the hope that some friend can be “persuaded” to join.
Enclose also is a copy of the Club’s Constitution and members are advised at this juncture to ignore reference to the Newcastle District Bowling Association.
Yours sincerely,
M.O. McDonald.
Hon. Secretary.
Now that the clubhouse was in position, one toilet was donated by President Jim MacPherson and two more by the Superintendent of the National Fitness Camp, Roy McGregor. Other essentials: timber by Jack Richmond, cement for foundations by E. Collins, and piers for a tank stand by Mike Collins were all donated. The ladies purchased an urn, teapots and cups and saucers, and a building committee was formed to repair guttering, hopper windows and weatherboarding which had been slightly damaged in the removal. Noel Hunt had the job of plugging no less than 52 holes in the floor, and an indoor bowls mat was donated by Vic Mills.
About this time the Wyong Shire Council pointed out a clause in the lease agreement requiring a sum of 500 pounds to be spent each year on improvements, but this was waived for the first year as far more than that amount had already been spent.
Christmas 1963 was celebrated with a giant working bee with all members busy scraping, cleaning and painting, and the old hall began to take on an important role in the community. By March 1964 every Saturday evening became a “games night” where we played darts, draughts and indoor bowls.
In June 1964 the Gwandalan P & C Association asked permission to hold a children’s party in the clubhouse. This bought quite a lot of opposition from the top executives but was over-ruled by a majority vote, and resulted in the resignation of the President. Jim MacPherson took over the Presidency and Ray Birrell was elected Secretary. At the first A.G.M. in June 1964, Jim MacPherson was re-elected as President.
By September 1964 the club as fairly financial, the bank balance having risen to 500 pounds so the Management Committee “let their hair down” and ordered 10 folding tables from Sebels of Newcastle, which were collected and delivered to the Clubhouse by Vic Mills in time for the October holiday weekend. This was the first big social event and it really went with a bang – it was not only BYO but BYO table and chair too.
Christmas 1964 saw festivities in full swing with a Boxing Day dance and New Years Eve revels. The hall was decorated and filled to capacity and as the committee had ruled that no beer in kegs should be permitted for fear of infringing the licensing laws, the dance floor was lined with eskys containing enough food and drink to feed the five thousand (almost).
First priority in the New Year was to apply to the Shire for pan service – no more digging holes, and a great relief to members who had almost got friendly with a five foot black snake who popped its’ head out from time to time.
In March 1965 Massey Bros was given the contract to construct a green to the N.S.W.B.A. specifications at an agreed cost of 3352 pounds to be paid by monthly instalments. The existing building had to be shifted to its final position fronting Gamban Road, which was done by Cox Bros at a cost of 200 pounds.
Now the big problem was water. Mr Len Jeans who was known locally as a water diviner was contacted, and after a few tries found an underground stream. Brisbane Water boys were working in the area at the time and they were good enough to bring in their equipment and drill three large holes. When the water finally came through it was very brackish and after analysis found to contain too much salt. In later years a dam was dug and lined and the Gwandalan Fire Brigade filled it with 2000 gallons of fresh water. When that had settled and was tested it was found to contain a level of 400 parts per million salt, and was considered quite satisfactory.
At Easter 1965 the ladies ran a “roaring twenties” night which was a riotous success and raised quite a considerable amount for the building fund. The second A.G.M. in June 1965 saw a big increase in members present. Jim MacPherson was again re-elected President and Malcolm MacDonald of “Hard Yak” Winbin Cres took over as Honorary Secretary.
At the juncture it was decided that to call for “1st Green Debentures” in 5 pound units to carry 4% interest maturing in 3 years. Secretary Mal designed the debenture certificates and by 1965 when decimal currency came in the total of $10 units taken out were in the region of $4,900.
Now that construction of the green had commenced, the ground had to be fumigated and gassed, which cost another 170 pounds. Club members Norm Gillroy who was Parks Superintendent in the Sydney suburb of Burwood gave a report on the various methods of grassing and turfing of bowling greens. He supervised the purchase of grass which was brought up from Sydney by Roy Dent and the members set to work, sprigging and teasing the grass cuttings which had to be planted quickly to avoid drying out. It was back-breaking work and carried out willingly by a gang of about 20 men, women and even children, amid good humoured joking and endless cups of tea provided by the ladies.
In July 1966 the green was nearly ready and Ernie Birrell was appointed Greenkeeper. The membership limit was fixed for 140 men and 70 ladies for the time being. The big aim now was to become affiliated with the New South Wales Bowling Association but as our green was not yet playable both Catherine Hill Bay and Halekulani Clubs invited members to join them. Wyong Bowling Club offered their greens for coaching on Sunday mornings but several members took advantage of the Halekulani offer and went along for initial tuition. Eventually Noel Hunt took on the coaching of our members when our own green finally came into operation.
August 1966 was the important day when affiliation with N.S.W.B.A. and the C.C.D. district was approved, and the commitments paid. The ladies had to form their own club as demanded by the N.S.W Women’s Bowling Association and proceeded to elect their own officers. Mable Richmond was re-elected as President, Belle Holland as Secretary and Peg MacPherson as Treasurer. One interesting edict from N.S.W.B.A. was that the title should be Gwandalan WOMENS Club, (not ladies). Although they now had to operate as a separate club with their own bank account every new member must first be accepted by the men’s club. From this date onwards all records are now inscribed on separate honours boards in the clubhouse.
The Women’s Club had an official opening day with State representation in the form of the State President, Bea Vincent, and the clubhouse was filled with players from all clubs in the district and the catering for the day was done by the members of the Women’s Club social committee.
Response to the debenture program was improving and the management committee decided to increase the interest payable from 4% to 6% and plans and specifications were implemented for alterations and extensions to the clubhouse.
Finally on December 1966 came the official opening of the green, and photos are available showing President Jim MacPherson and Ladies President Mable Richmond rolling the first bowls on the Gwandalan Bowling green.
Everyone was sadden in August whilst on holiday at his daughters’ home in Lismore, by the death of Jack Richmond, local builder, management committee member and tireless worker for the club in the early days. At this stage Mal McDonald acting Hon. Sec. found it inconvenient while living in Sydney, and reluctantly handed in his resignation, and the position was taken by Len Amber.
At a special general meeting in January 1967 a second debenture issue was floated, and the interest increased to 6% retrospective, maturing in 3 years. This was necessary for the purchase of land adjoining the club for car park facilities, and a further loan for $2,000 was taken out with the Rural Bank.
Now to apply for a liquor licence. Solicitor Bruce O’Sullivan, a Gwandalan landowner, agreed to act for the club and President Jim MacPherson, as prospective licensee had repeated consultations in Newcastle to acquaint himself with details required by the licensing court. Then calamity befell, Jim was feeling unwell and asked for the management committee meeting of Friday September 1st to be temporarily adjourned, and on Sunday, two days later died suddenly at his home in Noamunga Cres. This plunged the club into a predicament as the application had been lodged in the President’s name. Consequently a special general meeting as hurriedly convened and a ballot for the election of a new President resulted in favour of Senior Vice President H.J. (Dick) Peacock, and the new application for a liquor licence was re-registered in the name of the Hon. Sec. Len Amber.
The Court hearing was set down for March 28th 1968. The official notice was displayed in a prominent position in the clubhouse and members were requested to attend the court on this day. About 20 members went along to the hearing. The Hon.Sec. was subjected to a harrowing cross questioning but neither the Treasurer (Curly) or the President (Dick) were called upon. The judge was insistent that the licence was purely for a bowling club and not a club within a club. He was assured this was solely a bowling club and a conditional licence was approved with the final full licence being granted in September 1968. This led to the appointment of a permanent Sec/Manager and Len Ambler was employed on a retaining fee of $10 per week, which increased to $60 per week plus expenses, when trading commenced.
The next concern was poker machines. Ten machines were acquired – 5 x 10c and 5 x 5c and a loan for their purchase was taken out via promissory notes to the value of $8000 with Club Distributors Pty Ltd.
With the start of competitive events, the first “8” pin was won in August 1968 in a pairs game by E. Birrell and R. (Bob) Anderson, and the following month twelve ladies from the new Doyalson-Wyee Club were invited to use our green for coaching prior to their own affiliation. At this stage our membership was permitted to be increased to 200 full men members and 100 ladies and 75 social members.
The club opened for trading as a fully licensed Bowling Club on Saturday, 14th September 1968. The executives had drawn up a roster of committee members willing to serve at the bar and prices were decided to be the same as that operating at the nearest local hotels. Two free beer tickets were presented to all members and friends entering the club after 5pm. The original cold room as purchased from the old Gosford R.S.L. and was completely dismantled by Len, Dick and Curly and brought to Gwandalan by District President Jack Patemen on his own truck. Previously Len Ambler and Curly Collins had attended several sessions at Bateau Bay Club (who had just commenced trading themselves) to acquaint themselves with bar management and cool room control etc. and then re-assembled the cool room themselves with the help of several members. Newcastle South Leagues Club were very helpful, giving us a temperite, glass washer and glass racks, at the suggestion of Bobby Bugden, well know footballers whose family were Gwandalan residents at the time.
In November 1968 the Women’s Club President Mabel Richmond and Secretary Bee Collins were invited to the Management Committee meeting to discuss the question of catering for club occasions. For many years after this the ladies willingly carried out their obligations to the club, serving at afternoon teas on bowling days and acting as hostesses at all official days.
In December 1968 the green was officially named “The James MacPherson Green” and Peg MacPherson together with her family were present at the opening ceremony and the function afterwards.
In February 1969 a disastrous fire completely destroyed a house at Summerland Point. The family lost all their possessions and the bowling club ran a benefit night with the proceeds being handed to the official community committee set up to handle the community assistance fund.