Our History
The VWGA of NSW was formed in 1950 by Mrs Ella Backhouse and Miss Kathleen Armstrong (both from Manly Club).
Mrs Backhouse became the first Association President (1950 – 1966). Our Association was the first outside England to form a Veteran Women Golfers’ Association in New South Wales, thereby becoming the “parent” body in Australia. Western Australia,
Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory and Tasmania are affiliated with the VWGA of NSW. The New South Wales Association became an incorporated Body at the Annual General Meeting in November 1995.
As our Association moves confidently forward in the 21st Century, we are delighted that our long awaited website has now come to fruition. We are well and truly keeping up with the most up to date technology in order to give our members and delegates all over New South Wales the service they so richly deserve. These ladies will be able to read all the latest news and download from our website all VWGA information they may require. Entry forms to our metropolitan events will be available at the click of a finger, as will the important country tournaments and every form we have in our office.
2020 will see us celebrate our 70th Anniversary but we should spare a thought back to the VWGA of 1950.
We aim to give you some glimpses from the past and share some extracts from our first Minute Book. There must have been an obvious need for an organisation such as ours way back then. The prime movers were prominent members of the LGU whose names are remembered in various Golf NSW and VWGA events to this day – Miss Leonora Wray, Mrs. Ella Backhouse, Mrs. Florence Stewart, Miss Kathleen Armstrong, Miss Una Clift and Miss Mabel Mackenzie.
November, 1949, saw a formation meeting held for what would become the VWGA of NSW, with 22 ladies attending. The recommended fees to be put forward to the AGM in 1950 were an entrance fee of one guinea (one pound and one shilling) and an annual fee of ten shillings and sixpence. The present annual fees of $3.00 could not be called exorbitant – an increase of $1.95 per member in more than 50 years!
The original objects of the Association were to uphold the tradition, etiquette, sportsmanship and companionship of the game and to assist in the advancement of golf for female golfers who have reached their 50th birthday. These are still contained in the current Constitution passed at the November, 1995, AGM and included in the amended version which we hope will be passed at the Special General Meeting to be held in conjunction with the AGM in November 2013
Our very first event was played at Manly GC in April, 1950, the records showing that 299 members were present. Golf and cards were played and it was a great beginning for the fledgling VWGA.
A report at the first AGM in November, 1950, stated that 512 ladies have now become members, including 46 from the country. More are joining as they become eligible. The financial report showed a credit balance of sixty-seven pounds and fourteen shillings in the Bank of New South Wales.
All equipment was stored in the homes of the Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer – in particular that of the Secretary which was really the office of the Association. Our paraphernalia was kept in most of the rooms in her house including typewriter, filing cabinet and eventually a copying machine – showing that we were keeping up with the modern technology of the time. Where would you find such dedication to-day!
When in 1997 we occupied a small section of the LGU in Brisbane Street at a peppercorn annual rental of $1,000, we considered ourselves lucky indeed to HAVE OUR OWN OFFICE at last. Unfortunately, this only lasted until 1999 as our space was needed by the LGU and was really too small for us anyway. Our next move was to the State Sports Centre Golf at Homebush and, although smaller, we enjoyed it and held our AGM that year under ideal conditions in the Function Room on the premises.
The Olympic Games in 2000 and the change of attitude in the State Government saw us again looking for premises. These were found at 193 Clarence Street, Sydney, where we remained until 2010 when the building was sold and transformed into a boutique hotel. We then found our present abode at 32 York Street, Sydney, where we hope to stay for as long as possible.
Back to technology, 1992 saw the purchase of our very first computer. Our membership records were transferred from the handwritten registers to our data base – quite an onerous task. The original computer was upgraded in 1996, leaving the first one to be used for secretarial purposes. We felt like all our Christmases had come at once. Further upgrades have taken place since then, the last and most complete being in 2012 when new desktop computers and a laptop were purchased. Windows 7 is a far cry from the original Windows 3.0 in 1992, as is having Microsoft Office 2010 software.
You have seen just a glimmer of our early days and we look forward to a still more successful VWGA of NSW in coming years. From the membership of 512 in November, 1950, we now have more than 15,000 spread across the State in 246 country clubs and 79 metropolitan clubs.
We hope you have enjoyed this microcosm of 63 years. If so please keep your eyes open for future chapters in the months to come and click on as and when they are included.
Pat Ellis
VWGA Archivist.
VWGA COUNTRY BROOCH
(Mabel Mackenzie Brooch)
AGM held on 8 November 1950 was held with object of forming a committee of 3 Vice Presidents – two Metropolitan and one Country. Miss Mabel Mackenzie (Leura) was unanimously elected as the Country Vice-President.
1951, 31 January
To promote the interest of Country Associates in the VWGA, Miss Wray proposed, and Miss Mackenzie seconded that all Country District Associations be offered an Annual Trophy subject to the following conditions: “four or more players to form a competition who must be financial members of the VWGA”.
The Sec. will write to the 12 country associations asking if this event could be placed on their tournament programme.
Seven of the twelve Country DA’s offered a trophy for competition at their Annual Tournament; seven had replied and greatly appreciated the offer.
The VWGA spoon was approved by all present – one would be forwarded to each of the CDAs. The first spoon to be competed for was won by Mrs. Thompson of Wentworth Falls GC.
1957, 20 March
VWGA Country Brooch:
A suggestion that Country Members should have a Trophy similar to the Challenge Brooch played for by Metropolitan Members.
It was pointed out that whilst the English Association who presented the Brooch intended it for all players, they perhaps did not realise the distances separating NSW Clubs which made it difficult for Country players to participate in this event. It was therefore unanimously decided that a Brooch, to be known as the VWGA Country Brooch should be played for under following conditions:
This event open to Country Members outside radius of 50 miles from Sydney.
To be played for during international period specified by the LGU, date to be set down by each Club.
18 Hole Stroke Round on Handicap. Best Nett Score to be certified to and dated by Club Delegate, or Associate Secretary, and forwarded to VWGA Hon. Secretary not later than one week after closing of international period. Entry Fee: 1/-.
The Winner – i.e., the best Card sent in will hold the Brooch for one year and receive an additional trophy. Runner-up will also receive Trophy.
Should there be a Tie or Ties, such players will be asked to play another round and return Card.
The Brooch may only be competed for in one Club, that being the player’s Home Club.
Country Members will not be eligible for participation in the Challenge Brooch event (Metropolitan).
The Hon. Sec. was instructed to have copies of these rules roneoed and distributed to all Country Delegates as soon as possible.
Miss Wray stated that she had a Brooch suitable for this trophy which she would present to the Association, if available. Failing this, the Association will arrange for purchase of suitable Brooch.
1957, 14 June
All Country Associations had been circularised re the brooch, but some Clubs had not received notice. The Secretary then suggested that, in future, direct representation should be made to the Clubs as the conduct of this event entailed extra work and expense for the Associations which really should be borne by the VWGA.
Cost of Brooch: Quotation of £11.10.0 received from Fairfax & Roberts accepted. Small silver plate on box will be inscribed “Country Brooch presented by VWGA”.
Method of arriving at winner of this event discussed. It was unanimously agreed that the method adopted be the same as the LGU International event, i.e.:
“The ultimate winners to be decided by the number of Strokes (if any) by which the Scratch Score of the Course is beaten.”
Trophy Value Country Brooch: Winner £1.10.0 and Runner Up 10/6.
1958, 19 February
At AGM President announced this innovation during 1957
Season which gave Country members an opportunity of Competing for a Brooch similar to the Challenge Brooch. Only VWGA members whose clubs are outside a radius of 50 miles from Sydney may compete the rules differing slightly from those of the Challenge Brooch owing to distance, etc.
1958, 1 August
Agreed that the Open Order value for this event be increased to £2.2.0 for the winner and £1.1.0 for Runner-Up.
1958, 12 September
Agreed that the rules covering this event should include that all lay offs must be played on current handicap.
1960, 5 August
1960 Country Brooch was won by Mrs. I. Cunningham of Temora with a tie for second place between Orange and Goulburn. Owing to floods in the Goulburn area it has not been possible for them to use their course and this result is therefore deferred at present.
1960 Country Brooch Trophy for Tie: Regarding the Tie for second place, committee agreed to give a Key-Ring Trophy to the loser as a small appreciation of the interest shown in this event and in view of the particularly bad weather conditions.
1963, 1 July
Owing to wet weather throughout the State and so many courses being closed, it was agreed that the date for playing the Country Brooch should be extended to 15 July, ordinarily the closing date would have been 30 June.
1964, 19 August
Country Brooch event now finalised, the financial return being £23.4.6, an increase of £5.5.6 over 1963.
1964, 4 December
Agreed that three trophies be given in future for Country Brooch event, First, Second and Third.
1965, 18 August
Financial Return for Country Brooch was £31.8.0.
1966, 19 August
Financial return for Country Brooch was $66.82
1967, 3 February
Agreed that, as Challenge Brooch now run in two Divisions – Silver and Bronze, a special trophy – value $2.10 be allotted to the best Silver Card in the Country Brooch event. It was not felt that country entries warranted an extra Brooch at the present time.
1974
The Country Brooch has been contested since 1957. However, following the death of Miss Mabel Mackenzie and her bequest to the Association in 1974, it was decided to honour this outstanding golfer and inaugural VWGA member, by calling it “The Mabel Mackenzie Brooch”.
Miss Mackenzie had a long and outstanding administrative career in golf. As already mentioned, she was an inaugural member of our Association and, in 1950, was elected Country Vice-President, holding this position until 1968 when she retired. She had a long history of outstanding golf and first began playing in the Dubbo Orange District at the turn of the century. As a member of Orange Golf Club, she was a prime mover in forming the Western District Association in 1927 and was its President for twenty-five years.
In 1964, she was made a Life Counsellor of the LGU, only the second person ever to gain this honour. In later years, she played at Leura and held every administrative office. In the mid-sixties, she, and the late Miss Leo Wray MBE, each held the record for the longest club membership in N.S.W. still actively playing golf.