Club History
Members of Beltana are rightly proud of their club. Overseen by the beauty of Mount Wellington and bordering the Derwent River, our three immaculate greens, our delightful gardens, and our excellent clubhouse give members and visitors much pleasure.
It is a moot point when Beltana’s anniversaries should actually be celebrated, whether it be from its embryonic stage in November 1965 or at the time of the public meeting in 1969, or indeed when its clubhouse was opened in October 1970 whilst the club was in its bowling infancy.
Official records show that the inaugural meeting took place at the Uniting Church Hall in Lindisfarne on Wednesday 17 November 1965.
The Minutes show that six people attended, with an apology from Frank Newman. The six gentlemen whose names appear on a club Honour Board as founding members are:-
- Tom Bingham
- Jack Hay
- Harold Jacobson
- Alan Tibbs
- Jack Tilley
- Ralph Scaife
Forty-four people gathered at the CWA Hall in Lindisfarne on 20 February 1969 to establish a club administrative arm directed to achieve the goal of a clubhouse and green. Jack Hay and Ray Wilson officially promoted the club as ‘Beltana‘ and this was followed by the election of officers. Tom Bingham was installed as President, Jack Tilley Secretary and John Webster his offsider. Ray Wilson was elected First Vice-President and the Second Vice- President was Neville Richard. Alan Tibbs became Treasurer.
In May 1970 the tender of Snow Morgan for the Clubhouse construction was accepted. Snow celebrated his 100th birthday at the club in 2019. What a fantastic moment – to celebrate his birthday in the club he constructed.
Almost five years after ‘The Big Six’ met in 1965, Beltana’s home became a reality. A new club era was beginning and one can only wonder about the sense of pride felt by our founders on this historic occasion on 10 October 1970. A search of the records did not produce an account of the official opening of the green or of the Clubhouse which was opened by the then Patron, the late Alec McKay.