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Centenary Year Celebrations

The flagship event of the North Adelaide Golf Club Centenary year celebrations was a gala dinner held at Adelaide's then-premier venue, the ballroom of the Hyatt Hotel.
More than 350 dignitaries, SAGA officials, other golf club executive officers, members, family and friends attended and the social pages of the Sunday Mail were filled with pictures and commentary about the event.
A Souvenir Program was presented to every person in attendance.

The table setting at the Centenary Year Celebration Dinner was a credit to the Club and the Hyatt Hotel.

Crisp white linen adorned the candlelit tables and the silverware sparkled.

Every chair enjoyed a luxuriant cover complete with elaborate bow tied at the back.

The centrepiece on the tables comprised a real putter (thank you Pete's Golf Store), resting against a flagstick - the number on the flagstick was the table number - which was in a kidney shaped 'green' complete with hole and golf ball. 

Centenary Year Souvenir Program Testimonial to William Pope

The research into the early years of golf in Adelaide and the North Adelaide Golf Club, in particular, shows that one man, Mr. William Pope, had more to do with the establishment of a golf club based in the north parklands of Adelaide than any other person.
This is Clarrie Bell's testimonial to William Pope.

'FATHER' OF NORTH ADELAIDE GOLF CLUB.

Founder of North Adelaide Golf Club, Mr William Pope established a private golf club in 1890 playing on a nine hole course at Montefiore Park, North Adelaide. Mr Pope had wide private and public administrative experience and knew that the future of his golf club would be assured when a management 'partnership' was negotiated with the Trustees of the Parklands, the Adelaide City Council. Lord Mayor Lewis Cohen officially opened the new 18 hole Municipal Golf Links on 13 August 1923.

Born on 27 August 1846 at Somerset, England, William Pope came to Australia in 1862 and for a while engaged in farming pursuits. He soon turned his attention to the law, and entered the office of Mr. H.W. Parker, solicitor, of Adelaide, which was established in the early 1850s. He served his articles, and was called to the bar in 1877. On the death of Mr. Parker, Mr. Pope carried on the business alone until he was joined by the Hon. Charles Mann, then Attorney-General.

When Mr. Mann became Crown Solicitor, he was replaced by a brother, Mr. Thomas Pope and the firm assumed the title of W. & T. Pope, Solicitors.

The family owned the old Kent Hughes Estate of Avenel Gardens until it was subdivided in the 1890s.

William Pope lived a full and varied life and is best considered in its pieces.

Business. In 1914 Mr. Thomas Pope went to England, and Mr. L.W. Dawe and Dr. Donald Kerr, entered the firm, which was also joined by Major Mellor upon his return from the war. Mr Pope was a distinguished and honoured member of the legal profession.

Secular. He was one of the most active laymen of the Anglican Church in South Australia, and was a member of many departmental committees, to which his legal knowledge made him invaluable.

From 1880 until the time of his death he represented St. Peter's Robe, in the Synod. For many years representation in Synod was on a financial basis, and Mr Pope was an ardent supporter of the movement to transform it to the present system - on the communicants basis.

Prior to the appointment of Dr. Kennion, the Anglican bishops had been appointed on the initiative of the crown. A committee was chosen to deal with the new procedure and Mr. Pope was mainly responsible for the legal work that had to be done.

He was one of the original members of the building committee which was responsible under Bishop Short, for the creation of St. Peter's Cathedral, and on its consecration in 1878 was one of the 12 original wardens appointed by the Bishop. In addition to other church interests,

Mr. Pope was secretary to the wardens of St Peter's Cathedral, chairman of the Church of England Endowment Society and a member of the North Road Cemetery Committee.

Mr. Pope presented the church with a house on Pennington Terrace as a residence for the presenter of the cathedral.

Masonic Lodge. Mr Pope's Masonic Career was a notable one. He was initiated on April 3, 1888 in the Duke of Leinster Lodge No. 363, LC. In 1893 he was elected to the board of trustees of the Alfred Masonic Hall and became chairman on the death of Sir James Boucaut. In 1898 he was installed worshipful master of the Duke of Leinster Lodge and the Mark Lodge, and king of the Royal Arch Chapter. In the same year he became a Knight Templar and was chosen Eminent Preceptor in June 1905.

Mr Pope had also taken the eighteenth degree in the Percy Rose Croix in April 1900 and was installed as Most Wise Sovereign on October 3, 1905. He was appointed Provincial Sub Prior in 1908 on the occasion of the visit to England of the Provincial Prior (the late Sir James Boucout).

Sport. Mr Pope took a great interest in various sports and was president of the North Adelaide Golf Club from its inception. He was also one time president of the Adelaide Hunt Club.

The Advertiser Obituary Column on Thursday 30 August 1923 claimed that South Australia has lost one of her oldest and most respected citizens and a distinguished and honoured member of the legal profession by the death of Mr William Pope.

Mr. Pope who was twice married, leaves a widow, who was Miss Alison Drew, a relative of the Rt.Hon. W.E. Gladstone. There are three sisters, one brother (M. Thomas Pope, in England), and two nephews (Mr. L.W. Dawe and Dr. Kerr).

- Clarrie Bell

Centenary Year Lady Mayoress's Trophy

The Lady Mayoress's Trophy is an annual event that has been contested at North Adelaide since the 1980's.

It is an open event and is well supported by club members and visitors.

The Lady Mayoress, Mrs. Kathy Harbison, was a member of the North Adelaide Golf Club and it was unique to have the patron of the event playing in the competition.

Centenary Year Lord Mayor's Trophy

The Lord Mayor's Trophy is an annual event that has been contested at North Adelaide since the 1950's.

The Lord Mayor's Trophy began as an event that was included in the Vardon series. It remains an open event that is well supported by NAGC members but in the years leading up to the Club's Centenary Year, the number of visitors of all standards were steadily decreasing.

In 2004, promotion of the Lord Mayor's Trophy competition was extensive and the field of players far exceeded numbers for the previous 20 years.

The Lord Mayor, the Right Honourable Mr. Michael Harbison, was present to open the day and awarded the prizes at the end of play.

 

Centenary Year Christmas Mixed Event

The 2004 Christmas Mixed Event was a gala day of fun, food, liquid refreshments and golf.

Members arrived at the golf course from 7:00am to enjoy a full cooked breakfast - sausages, bacon, eggs, tomato, mushroom and onion - with plentiful supplies of champagne and orange juice.

A selection of beers and soft drinks were available according to preference.

Centenary Year Presentation Luncheon

The 2004 Presentation Luncheon was another sold-out event in the Club's Centenary Year program.

Secretary / Manager, Geoff Duthie, was noted for his aptitude in acquiring meaningful and impressive trophies for the winners of the year's competitions. In the Centenary Year it was unanimous that he had exceeded all of his previous efforts.

Centenary Year Memorabilia Cocktail Evening

A novel event held during the Centenary Year was the memorabilia and cocktail evening.

Members were invited to bring historical items of interest to display, describe and discus with those in attendance. Committee member, Gary Taylor offered to mix a variety of cocktails for members to try during the evening.

Centenary Year Member's Golf Day

The Ladies Committee of the North Adelaide Golf Club volunteered to organise and run a special golf day for members - The Centenary Year Member's Golf Day.

The event represented the first occasion on which the Club was able to hold a 'shot-gun' start on the South Course and use the recently refurbished Function Room for a gourmet lunch after the golf.

Centenary Year AGM President's Report

President’s Report

In the first instance I wish to record my pride and immense satisfaction in the support from members, family, friends and past associates of our Club for the various Centenary Year functions. Briefly, the Centenary Year events comprised:-

May 2004 - Centenary Year Lord Mayor’s / Lady Mayoress’ Trophy

Both events attracted exceptional participation rates and were enormously successful. The support from the Club Patron, Lord Mayor of Adelaide, the Right Honourable Michael Harbison, was spontaneous and generous.

July 2004 - North Adelaide Golf Club Centenary Year Celebration Dinner

The flagship event for our Centenary Year needed to be prestigious and befit a hundredth birthday celebration; it needed to have status and be recognised by other golf clubs as well as the community generally; it needed to have an element of formality to mark the occasion and most of all, it needed to be affordable and accessible to all Club members.

The dinner was held in the main ballroom of the Hyatt Hotel, Adelaide’s premier social venue and was attended by 350 members and guests including the Club Patron’s representative, Councillor Peter Darley, numerous SAGA officials and executives from other Adelaide / country golf clubs. The décor was spectacular - every table had a centrepiece depicting a putting green complete with flag stick, putter and ball. The menu and service were first class.

We were fortunate to have Mr. Kevin Naughton, an Adelaide radio identity, as the Master of Ceremonies and his relaxed professionalism ensured the formalities proceeded with all due ceremony but remained in touch with North Adelaide membership. Following an entertaining reminisce by Mrs. Glad Hogg and Mr. Clarrie Bell, specially struck Club Championship medals were presented to every men’s and Ladies’ Club Champion in attendance. In addition, Centenary Year Service Plaques were awarded to Club President’s, Club Captain’s and Secretaries and a wall plaque was presented to the Ladies’ President and Ladies’ Captain acknowledging the contribution of the Associate Members. Finally, Mr. Darley presented a City of Adelaide ‘Certificate of Congratulations’ to the Club.

The social activities continued until a very late hour.

The consensus was that the Celebration Dinner was the greatest Club event in a hundred years and set a standard for the Club to aspire to in the next hundred years!!

October 2004 - Centenary Year Golf Day

Many thanks to the Ladies’ Sub-Committee for organising, promoting and running the Club’s commemorative golf day in the Centenary Year. Over 100 members and friends enjoyed a wonderful day’s golf and socialising. Another very successful event.

November 2004 - Centenary Year Presentation Luncheon

Mr. Kevin Naughton returned to MC this popular event held in the Golf Course Function Room. There were many humorous and imaginative acceptance speeches as well as some heartfelt moments. The Presentation Luncheon is always a memorable time.

December 2004 - Centenary Year Major Raffle

The profile of the events that the Club held enabled us to secure a number of major sponsors who willingly donated prizes of significant value which were used for a Club fundraising raffle. Members willingly supported the ticket sales effort and it was a sizable contribution to Club revenues. Most of the Centenary Year events were able to be subsidised either in ticket pricing or by catering / refreshment rewards as a consequence of the funds from the raffle.

February 2005 - Centenary Year Memorabilia Cocktail Hour

A very enjoyable evening of sharing stories and interesting golfing memorabilia. Catering was very traditional Australian however the special cocktails were a treat for everyone. It seemed appropriate that the concluding item in the Club’s Centenary Year focused attention on the times and people of eras past.

Overall, the calendar of events for the Club’s Centenary Year was an ambitious goal for a sports club of our size. The Management Committee is to be congratulated on their untiring efforts to ensure every function was properly organised and successful. My personal thanks to Vice-Captain Mike Sarson and Gary Taylor for their inspired contributions to the Celebration Dinner. To the rest of the Committee, the Ladies’ Committee and other Club members who so willingly assisted at every opportunity, thank you very much indeed.

Finally, I wish to most sincerely thank every Club member who supported any of the Centenary Year functions – your goodwill and encouragement has made this Club successful for one hundred years. Thank you.

Eric McCalden
President 

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