A Brief History

SEABROOK‑WYNYARD (AN N.T.V.G.A. Foundation Member)

This group came into being because of contact with Veterans Golf that C.W.(Jock) Stratton, a retired Burnie businessman, and Frank Matthews, a retired Hospital Administrator, had made on the Queensland Gold Coast during their winter holidays. Frank Matthews, who had a fanatical love of golf, and had once played off scratch, convinced Jock Stratton, Marc Crisp, Tom McKay and others that a Veteran Golfers Group should be formed at Seabrook and Wynyard.
On 5th June, 1979, a group was formed at a meeting at Seabrook. Those present included C.J. Chalk, A. Close, J.M. Crisp, N.W. O'Dwyer, G.S. Mayle, R.T. McKay, C.W. Stratton and C. Herbert. Jock was elected President and Clem Herbert was elected Secretary. The President of the Seabrook Golf Club, at that time, Kevin Watkinson, suggested that in order to have a worthwhile membership, Seabrook Veterans should invite retirees from Burnie and Wynyard to play at Seabrook. He cleared this with the Seabrook Board. In the meantime, on 13th November, 1979, a Veteran Golfers group was formed at Wynyard. Jack Fleming was elected President and Frank Matthews was elected Secretary. Eight others attended. A motion was passed to support the proposal to form a combined Seabrook/Wynyard Group. The first A.G.M. of the Seabrook group was held at Wynyard on 4th June, 1981 with Wynyard Veteran Golfers invited to attend. As a result, the Seabrook/Wynyard Veteran Golfers group was officially formed.

Officials elected at that meeting were:
President: Marc Crisp
Vice President: Tom McKay
Secretary/Treasurer: Frank Matthews
Committee: Bill O'Dwyer, Wal Diprose, C.J. Chalk and Howard Turner.
On 21st October, 1980, the group applied for affiliation to the A.V.G.A.
Three competitions were played each month, two at Seabrook and one at Wynyard.
Date Affiliated with the N.T.V.G.A: 9th September, 1983
Members:         106

 

First Open Tournament:            24th October, 1984 at Seabrook

Competition Day: One week Wednesday (Seabrook); one week Tuesday (Wynyard ‑ 52 weeks of the year.)

Home Courses: Seabrook 18 holes and Wynyard 9 holes.

Membership as at 31st December, 1994 was 175.

Life Members:

*Frank Matthews: at the A.G.M. January, 1989. … 8^th January, 1990.

C. W. (Jock) Stratton: at the A.G. M. January, 1994. … 1 st June, 1995

J. M. Mare Crisp: at the A.G. M. January, 1994. … January, 2006

Monty McDonald at the A.G.M. January, 1996 … February 2008.                   

Dave Young: at the A. G. M. … January, 1997.            

*Frank Matthews also received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1989 for his contribution to Golf and the community.

 Administrators Honour Roll:

Year		President	Secretary
1983‑1985		Marc Crisp	Frank Matthews
1986‑1987		George Stott	Frank Matthews
1988		Monty McDonald	Frank Matthews/Don Considine (4 mths)
1989		Monty McDonald	Frank Matthews
1990		Monty McDonald	Don Considine
1991		Colin Harper	Ken Eadie
1992		John Vivian	Ken Eadie
1993		John Vivian	Ken Eadie/Arthur Leonard
1994		Brian Poulter	Arthur Leonard
1995		Brian Poulter	Ern Gillett
1996		Ken Hampton	Arthur Leonard
1997		Ken Hampton	Ken Eadie
1998 -1999		Graeme George	Allan Jones
2000 - 2001		Dale Flint	Allan Jones
2002 - 2003		Charles Johnston	Allan Jones
2004 - 2005		Tim Barnard	Allan Jones
2006 - 2007		Ron Philpott	John Gursansky
2008-2009		Graeme Blanch	Peter Bell
2009-2010		Bob Montgomery	Peter Bell

Membership as at December 31^st 2005 = 90

Present Membership: T.B.A.

Current 2010 Committee

President: Mr. Robert R. Montgomery

Immediate Past President: Mr. Graeme Blanch

Secretary/Treasurer: Mr. Peter Bell

Vice President: Mr. Peter Hanson

Assistant Secretary/Treasurer: Mr. Ron Philpott

Patron: Mr. John Munro

Committee Members:

P.M. Matthews

T. Barnard

Mr. Ron Philpott

A. Jones

D. Forrest

D. Elphinstone

Auditor: Mr. Albert Viney

Duty Roster Coordinator: Mr. Peter Bell

NTVGA Delegates: Mr. Allan Jones and Mr. Tim Barnard.

The above text was first researched and recorded by Mr. Don Cosidine and later by Mr. Allan Jones.
We wish to thank those two gentlemen for allowing us to reproduce that work here.