A special gathering of retired and long-standing members of the NSW golf course superintendent and sports turf management community took place in Sydney last weekend in what is hoped will become an annual industry fixture. The brainchild of former Avondale Golf Club superintendent David Warwick, with help from wife Michelle and support from the NSWGCSA, nearly 60 (pictured above) gathered at the Harlequin Inn in Pyrmont last Saturday afternoon to reflect on their time in the industry and reacquaint themselves with friends and colleagues from years gone by.

A number journeyed from far and wide to attend the event, among them Peter Brown who was bestowed the 2005 AGCSA Distinguished Service Award for his 40-plus years service to the industry which included 14 years in charge at The Lakes Golf Club. Former AGCSA president Mark Couchman (ex-Cromer GC) and Board member David Scaife (ex-Bonnie Doon GC) also attended, as did current day ASTMA Board member Peter Lonergan (Coolangatta & Tweed Heads GC) and Charlie Giffard (Pacific Golf Club and one-time Royal Canberra superintendent) who both came down from the Gold Coast.

Other long-serving former superintendents included Brian ‘Hairy’ Osborne who came down from Gloucester where he was superintendent for more than 40 years. Bill Hopkinson (ex-Killara Golf Club) was also in attendance and was joined by a number of fellow NSWGCSA life members including Geoff Hatton, Martyn Black, Mark Schroder, Mal Harris, Richard Kirkby and Mark Parker. Particular mention also has to go to John Simpson and son David Simpson. Into his 80s now, John was superintendent of the former Rugby League Country Club in Camden Valley for nearly 50 years, with son David still in the industry as superintendent at Campbelltown Golf Club.  

“It was a wonderful afternoon,” reflects Warwick. “The atmosphere was simply great, with plenty of laughs and stories told and a few hatchets buried as well. It showed that the camaraderie that exists within the turf industry extends well beyond when you finish working in it. The hope is this will become an annual event where we can all get together and stay in touch and something that the other states might look at adopting as well.” A full wrap of the event will be included in the upcoming edition of Australian Turfgrass Management Journal.

Pictured middle: NSWGCSA life members (from left) Mark Parker, Mal Harris, Mark Schroder, Martyn Black, Bill Hopkinson and Richard Kirkby;

Pictured bottom: David and John Simpson