Keith Smith has kindly given us permission to include extracts from his book
History of the
Australian Chemists Golf
Association
Forward
In March 1950 twenty pharmacy golfers from Victoria and New South Wales walked the fairways of Melbourne's sandbelt for a week of golf, culminating in the first official interstate match of the Fripp Cup.
In March 1999, 152 pharmacy golfers from the four eastern seaboard states, chosen from over 200 applicants, will walk the fairways of Commonwealth, Kingston Heath, Victoria and Metropolitan to complete the Golden Anniversary 50th Carnival.
I doubt that those twenty golfers in 1950 would have envisaged the growth in the Australian Chemists Golf Association to the size and strength it is today. The story of the contribution and enjoyment of these men and of those who followed them, had to be told.
Keith Smith, one of the 'old and bold' as he likes to be known, took up the challenge. Having enjoyed over forty years of active participation, he was well placed to compile this history. Keith has put an enormous amount of time and energy into this publication, supported along the way by his charming wife, Betty. His enthusiasm is infectious and it is with enormous gratitude that I thank Keith for all his efforts.
The Sigma Co. Ltd for decades has been a regular and generous supporter of our Association. In addition to their carnival sponsorship for 1999 the company has provided significant financial support towards the publishing of this history - a sincere thank you once again Sigma.
Rod Hammond
President, Australian Chemists Golf Association.
October 1998
Acknowledgements
It is not possible for a book such as this to be accomplished by one person, so I wish to acknowledge the assistance given to me by my wife who has proof read the document and has helped me in producing a book which is better than it would have been without her input. All the following have contributed to what I hope will be an interesting read of the First Fifty Years of Our Wonderful Association.
Ron Clark, Peter Castellaro, Bruce Arnall, Keith Beckefeld, Geoff Belleville, Mick Bissaker, Len Castle, John Filgate, Paul Finnemore, George Gorey, Rod Hammond, Peter Murphy, Monty Ross, Jim Saltmarsh, Peter Scurrah, Phil Shay, Colin Trebilcock, Norm Turnbull, Terry White , Brian Wilson and Sid Wolifsen.
A special thanks to Ian Coghill and Lauren Statham who have assisted in producing the book and arranging for the presentation and printing.
Chapter 1 Overview
The birth of official pharmacy in Australia commenced when Victoria formed the first Pharmaceutical Society in Australia in 1857.At this time there were 145 Medical Practitioners and only 260 Chemists in the Colony , some who immigrated from Great Britain with pharmaceutical qualifications and the others set up their shops ,selling patent medicines, herbs, poisons, etcetera,in competition with dispensing doctors, general shopkeepers and mutual societies. Indeed they used to practice as Dentists, Opticians and any allied profession where they could make a few pence, and even were importers of Drugs ,Chemicals ,Books and Stationary from London & Paris during this early period .. Much of the early History of Pharmacy has been gazetted in the Australian Journal of Pharmacy which was first published in 1886.
The Australian Chemists Golf Club was formed prior to 1949 by a group of chemists from Victoria and N S W. Previously there were associations of Chemists playing cricket and bowls , which is pictured in the photo showing teams from Queensland and Victoria that was obtained from the Queenslander Pharmacy magazine published ,February 9th 1928. There are records found in the A.J.P dated April 1937 with teams from Queensland N.S.W and Victoria when cricket and bowls matches were played at South Melbourne ,and a Golf match at Kingston Heath. It was mentioned that these competitions were played annually, but little is known about who organised them.
The Pharmaceutical Society over the years has organised various sporting events as part of their Annual Conferences, and it has been continued in P.S.A.N.Z conferences since 1984, where the Golf was played at Royal Melbourne, and since then a day has been set aside for sporting activities for the delegates. The History of earlier Carnivals consisted of a triangular series of cricket, bowls and golf matches held in each state.
The Victorian Chemists’ Recreation Club was formed in 1898 when cricket matches were played against the Dentists. Later on in 1908 with the support of Larry and Sam Fripp from Rocke Tompsitt and Alfred Lawrence & Co , Victoria were hosts to a N.S.W. cricket team who arrived by steamship on 20th January to play a two day match at the Richmond Cricket Ground This match was organised by Mr. S. Burrows a pharmacist from Fitzroy Victoria won this first match by 251 runs. The next year,1909, a return match was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground when N.S.W. won by an innings and 92 runs. One of the competitors was Dr. Cyril J Tonkin a highly respected Pharmacist and a lecturer at the Pharmacy College for many years. At the banquet held after the match it was suggested that a challenge shield should be competed for annually and the wholesalers from both states provided Twenty Five Pounds each for a sterling silver English designed trophy surrounded by 13 discs on which the results of the matches were inscribed.
These matches continued until 1914 and due to the Great War did not recommence until 1925. The depression caused the Carnival to lapse until 1934, when cricket, bowls and golf were played annually ,until 1939 when once again it was interrupted by the War. Reports in the AJP in these years mentioned the good spirit in which these competitions were played and the social functions they fostered did much to bring the profession together. It was not uncommon to have groups of up to 100 pharmacists and allied professions attending and when you consider that travel was more arduous in those days it is obvious that the events were highly regarded. During this period Felton Grimwades and Rocke Tompsitt (Both Wholesale Chemists and Druggists.) played a football match at Scotch College which was won by the latter wholesaler. During half time prizes were given for a one mile cycle race and a 120 yard sprint the prizes being a silver watch and chain and a gun metal watch.
I have a record of Bill Timmony winning at Manly in 1935 with a score of 3 up in A grade and Cliff Gostelow 3 down in B grade so this may have been the beginning of the main C & D Day which is still held annually, in Sydney.
There was a carnival in Brisbane in 1936 when cricket and bowls was played at Victoria Park and golf at Royal Queensland ,Yeerongapilly and Brisbane Golf Clubs where 50 men and 8 ladies competed and the contingent of 140 stayed at Lennons.
The earliest cup in our possession was given to me by Greg Belleville of Melbourne on which is inscribed the following.
VICTORIAN CHEMISTS 3RD ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT VICTORIA GOLF CLUB
September 17th 1931
Canadian Foursomes won by
G W Tait and E C McLelland THE KODAK & ASPRO TROPHY
Another cup of interest passed down from Geoff Belleville’s father was one inscribed:
C & D GOLF NICHOLAS TROPHY 1935 Best H’Cap Score under 27
Won by
G. Belleville.
There are some interesting anecdotes concerning Greg Belleville, Harry Henshall, Norm Turnbull and Noel Theggie who spent a week at Barwon Heads playing golf, drinking, playing cards and on the Sunday the first three devout Catholics went to church and dragged their mate with them and told him to do whatever they did, so he would not be embarrassed. When the time came to put some money in for the collection poor Noel asked how much he should contribute and was told Two Quid as it was a poor Parish. Noel coughed up and the three devout Catholics put two bob each into the plate. Needless to say Noel Theggie being a mason was not impressed and hell broke loose on the bets of the day, on the golf course and at the poker game at night. Rumor has it that the catholics won. Like father like son so the adage goes, Geoff Belleville organised a similar competition which was held before the Carnivals the first of which was held at Kooralbyn Country Club back in 1978.
The catholic group was Geoff Belleville ,Toby Pearson, Peter Slattery and Frances Xavier O’Sullivan and the opposition were Alan Fulton ,Colin Trebilcock ,Grant Marsh and Peter Scurrah (all worthy freemasons ) I asked who had been the victors , and as spake by F X O’S “we always kick their arses in and win with the help of prayer and sanctifying grace .” The losers pay for the Saturday night’s dinner but have welshed on paying for the wine because of the expensive tastes of the winners who really only drink Penfolds 389. I think the loses are lucky because it could have been 707 or Grange and they would drink at least half of the spoils.
Apparently at this event Alan & Colin were returning back to the clubhouse in their golf cart and took a wrong turn and collided with the assistant golf pro who happened to be a lovely lady The boys however lost interest when they careered over a cliff and Colin landed on (mother’s) chest nearly breaking his ribs. After several whiskies and a visit to the doctor , who declared Alan could not play golf next day, the kindly opposition offered him two extra shots as an incentive to play, and being a good sport, he played. The protestants won by two shots. Never again was this mistake made! After the unfortunate death of Grant Marsh his place was taken by Laurie Litaze and “Mother Fulton” became too old to cope with youngsters and being retired could not afford to pay out every year. The competition continues to this day when the group take off on the Wednesday prior to the Carnival even if in Melbourne where they play at the Peninsula Golf Club. John Filgate has taken the place of Alan Fulton ,so the tradition continues.