2025 AGM
MINUTES OF MURWILLAMBUH VETS AGM
Monday 10th November 2025
Commenced – 12:20pm
1 – Apologies – Refer attached list
2 – 2024 AGM minutes posted on the website – Moved – Ian Yarroll, Seconded – Barry Cowell
3 – Presidents, Captains & Treasures 2025 reports posted on the website for review. Copies also available at each table during the AGM.
4 – President Denis O’Keefe declared all Committee positions vacant.
5 – The 2026 Vets Committee as per below;
President: Denis O’Keefe
Vice-President: Hugh Hamilton
Captain: Barry Cowell
Vice-Captain: Ian Yarroll
Treasurer: John Belshaw
Secretary: Kim Hobbs
Week of Golf Director: Ian Yarroll
Committee – Gary Fidler, Dave Carpenter, Trevor Brady, Tony Snellgrove.
6 – AGM agenda Items.
(1)– Option to play off red or white tees. Agreement was obtained for the committee to investigate and report back to the members.
(2) – Eclectic scores counted only on monthly medal days – Agreement was obtained for the committee to investigate and report back to members.
(3) – Remove the historic names (Ray Crusty Molloy, Bob Neil, Bill Renahan) from honour board games. Item not approved. Leave honour board games as is.
7 – Club General Manager Shaun Breheny addressed the meeting concerning updates including parking alterations, club improvements and what’s planned in the coming year.
8 – Greens Superintendent Brian Cox addressed the meeting with updates regarding the maintenance and improvements on the course.
9 – AGM Discussion Items.
– Explain game selections – Vice Captain Ian Yarroll explained why the games played are preprogramed and very difficult to change.
– Enquire from the meeting if different designed shirts were possible – Ian Yarroll had 3 examples to display – further investigation by the committee. Existing shirt stock will be sold at reduced prices Short sleeve shirts – $25, Long sleeve shirts – $25, including name embroidered on shirt.
10 – General Business.
Les Reynolds reminded all Vets to please fill in all divots.
Arthur Collins reminded all Vets to replace the rakes in the middle of the bunker with the handle facing the tee area.
Meeting closed at 13:05pm.
Presidents Report – 2025
Firstly, welcome to the new Club General Manager Shaun Breheny.
The Vets have had another successful year; all be it rain interrupted. Currently there are 205 members of the Murwillumbah Vets with the Monday field averaging 76 players.
Unfortunately, the NRVGA “Open Day” scheduled for late May was cancelled due to the weather however the “Week of Golf” in late July went ahead successfully with 128 participants, many commenting how they enjoy playing at Murwillumbah because the course is always in great condition and are made feel welcome. A big thank you to Vice Captain and Week of Golf Tournament Director Ian Yarroll who along with Captain Gary Fidler and Treasurer John Belshaw for the countless hours they put in running such a complex event. I would also like to thank the Volunteers who assisted with Club events over the last 12 months.
The Club’s Board of Directors have always been very supportive and inclusive of the Veterans which is very much appreciated.
I would also like to acknowledge Brian Cox and his team for always presenting the course in the best possible condition. Also big thank you to Brian, Shane and Duncan in the Pro Shop for ensuring the Vets events run smoothly as well as Terry and the Bar Staff who put up with tales of woe after we hack our way around the course!
Looking forward to the next 12 months.
1 – Continue our Monday games with a variety of competitions.
2 – Host the Open Day and Week of Golf.
3 – Maintain our membership and increase female participation.
4 – In conjunction with the Greens Committee, participate in a working bee once a month to assist in course maintenance.
As this is my first year as the Veterans President, I would like to thank the Vets Committee and members for their support. There is very little conflict within the group as we all strive to improve our game and enjoy our weekly hit.
Denis O’Keefe
President Murwillumbah Vets.
Captain’s Report 2025
This year 2025 has been successful albeit the many cancelations of local and regional competitions. This being due to weather that required difficult decisions, regionally for our open day and 4BBB Championships. As a positive we have seen average attendances on Mondays maintained at 60-80 players, men and women, all enjoying their golf. We select types of events, intermingled with, single to team, 50/50 with all singles going to Golf Connect and therefore handicapped. Golf Connect being the updated data base for handicap control maintained by GA (Golf Australia).
With the fantastic effort ably assisted by Ian Yarroll as Vice Captain, director of WofG and John Belshaw as Treasurer for the year we have managed
· To maintain our playing membership average increased.
· Monitored the results by operating the computer system by our team. Always a challenge.
· Choice ball run down optionally added to club account.
· The prize pool being maintained having equal disbursement of prize pool to tied positions.
· Running our cancelled NRVGA open day and managing 18 open day registrations from other clubs.
· Production of the Newsletter that records the Prize allocation and is directly posted to players club account via the office, thanks go to Aileen.
· Maintain the playing calendar for the year by selection where possible in consultation with the club, this has been achieved with invite to the club main match committee including. Answer the myriads of problems and issues that arise to seamlessly run and execute the matches.
· Up-grade and maintain our website. Give thanks to Ian Yarroll.
· In constant contact with the Secretary Manager, the Match staff in the Proshop and Green keepers, the Bar staff, which on your behalf I sincerely thank them.
Our biggest event of the year our Week of Golf was able to be run and again look forward to it in 2026.
A big thankyou to Ian Yarroll who is Director Week of Golf.
A reminder that all our matches are medley’s and therefore available to female players as well as males. The World Handicapping System takes care of the fact that we play on different courses in relation to Par, Index and Slope, to run matches as medley’s gender neutral. I therefore encourage ladies to join the Vets to add to the already strong contingent of female players.
In conclusion, I would like to especially thank all those who have volunteered their time to help with (match) and manage to concentrate and play golf which ultimately is for the enjoyment of all of us.
Many thanks to the team John Belshaw Ian Yarroll.
Due to ill health, I will not be standing for captain. It has been a privilege and hopefully soon I will join in the matches in 2026 and beyond and thankyou to the committee for all your support and the support to all Veteran golfers.
Gary Fidler Retiring Captain 2025
Treasurers Report 2025
Of the available 52 Mondays we were able to play 40 matches, a little down on the the 46 in 23/24. This resulted in approx 2,370 games played and the average number of players was approx 60. We have been fortunate this year to receive sponsorship from some of our local businesses amounting to $1,700, which has been distributed along with the weekly prize pool via member loyalty accounts.
We have been able to meet all our financial requirements, including the outlays for the Christmas Presentation and the away trips to Tenterfield and Glades, with a manageable deficit for the year of $2,061.
The annual Week of Golf in 2024 was a great success (surplus $5,166) however the Open Day was cancelled due to bad weather. It is timely to acknowledge and thank the members who either played in this event or assisted with marshalling on the days.
Yet another challenging year as far as the Regional Open Days with lots of cancellations and rescheduling, not to forget that our own event again was not held due to the bad weather. As per last year’s report I had funds coming in, going out, hold on or refund, it was a challenge. You will notice a figure in the Balance Sheet “Member Funds on Hand” of $275 as at 30/6/25.
As usual our accounts have been submitted to the club each month and thus made available to the clubs’ auditors for review. Our financials are included in the main club annual financial reports under Sub Clubs.
I see no reason that we would not be able to continue meeting our financial obligations in the future.
John Belshaw.
Treasurer
2024 AGM
PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2024
The last 12 months have passed uneventful. Everything ran smoothly, except for some rain affected events.
Luckily our Week of Golf had good weather for our regular visitors.
Ian Yarroll was our new director for the event, and the changes he made to the format, proved to be much easier to coordinate. Supported by John Belshaw and Gary Fidler, working as a team, not only ran a very successful tournament. But returned a very healthy profit as well. Many thanks to them for the many hours they put in for our club.
Also! I would like to thank the regular band of volunteers who turn up whenever they are needed.
A survey issued by Ian to all the participants of the Week of Golf returned a high percentage of responses. Every aspect of our club received a tick of approval, from course conditions to service inside the clubhouse.
Without creating a long list of names. I’d like to thank all involved for making the vets, but more importantly our club look so good in the eyes of our well-travelled visitors.
After attracting a small group of sponsors, we were able to increase comp day prize money. Most sponsorship funds will go towards the vets end of year breakup.
Although my job is in no way demanding, I have decided not to nominate this year. Hopefully my successor will have the cooperation I have enjoyed from the board, management and ground staff during his or her time in office.
I’d like to thank the committee I have been privileged to work with during my time as president. But I must admit, at times it was hard to keep the meetings under the hour. As I like to keep things short and simple! I’ll finish this report by thanking the vets for allowing me to do my bit for the group.
Allan Barrow – President
CAPTAIN’S REPORT 2024
This year has been successful albeit the many cancellations of local and regional competitions due to weather. These required difficult decisions regionally, for our open day twice, and nominated 4BBB Champs.
As a positive we have seen average attendances on Mondays maintained at 60-70 players, men and women, all enjoying their golf. We selected single and team events, 50/50 with all singles going to Golf Link and therefore handicapped.
Veterans’ Golf in Murwillumbah, despite the ongoing risks, is 200 + strong. The camaraderie at the Club is second to none and is the envy of many of our fellow Clubs in Northern Rivers. Our success is due to the friendly and welcoming nature of our members to visitors and a great Course on which to play.
With the fantastic effort ably assisted by Ian Yarroll as Vice Captain and John Belshaw as Treasurer for the year we have managed to:
* Maintain our playing membership average from 60 to 70 players,
* Monitored the results by operating the computer system by our team. Always a challenge.
* Weekly ball run downs distributed as a pick up. Many thanks to John Belshaw who greets you at the end of the week with the well earned prizes.
* The removal of count backs has been maintained having equal disbursement of prize pool to tied positions.
* Running our NRVGA open day and managing 16 open day registrations from other clubs even though ours was cancelled twice and reorganised. Many regional days were cancelled or rescheduled.
* Production of the Newsletter that records the Prize allocation, directly posted to players club account via the office, thanks go to Aileen.
* Maintain the playing calendar for the year by selection where possible in consultation with the club. This has been achieved with invite to the club main match committee.
* Answer the myriad of problems and issues that arise so as to seamlessly run and execute the matches.
* Up-grade and update our website. Give thanks to Ian Yarroll.
* In constant contact with the Secretary Manager, the Match staff in the Pro-shop and Green keepers, the Bar staff, which on your behalf I sincerely thank them.
Local major events this year we have managed to fill, as have the main events of the club be it championships, pro am, green renovations, inflation, floods and the like, we still work hard to present fair and equitable games of golf.
Our biggest event of the year our Week of Golf was able to be run and again look forward to it in 2025. A big thankyou to Ian Yarroll who took on the role of Director.
A reminder that all of our matches are medley’s and therefore available to female players as well as males. The World Handicapping System takes care of the fact that we play on different courses in relation to Par, Index and Slope, allowing matches to be played as medley’s, gender neutral. I therefore encourage ladies to join the Vets to add to the already strong contingent of female players.
In conclusion, I would like to especially thank all those who have volunteered their time to help which allowed us all to enjoy playing golf as Vets.
Many thanks to the team Gary Fidler, John Belshaw and Ian Yarroll.
Gary Fidler – Captain
TREASURER’S REPORT 2024
Of the available 52 Mondays we were able to play 46 matches, on a par with the 43 in 22/23. This resulted in 2963 games played and the average number of players was 64. We have been fortunate this year to receive sponsorship from some of our local businesses amounting to $3,095 and this added to the surplus from the previous year has allowed an additional $5,000 to be returned via member loyalty accounts.
We have been able to meet all our financial requirements, including the outlays for the Christmas Presentation and the away trip to Tenterfield, with a small deficit for the year of $569.76.
The annual Week of Golf in 2023 was a great success (surplus $3,732.38) however the Open Day was cancelled due to bad weather. It is timely to acknowledge and thank the members who either played in this event or assisted with marshalling on the days.
Last year I had figures for the numbers attending the regional Open Days and the total of fees collected and forwarded to the various clubs. Not so this year, what a headache it has been with cancellations from Byron Bay twice, Mullumbimby, Woodburn/Evans Head and our own day along with the 4BBB championships which we were due to host. I had funds coming in, going out, hold on or refund, it was a challenge. You will notice a figure in the Balance Sheet “Member Funds on Hand” of $1.855 as at 30/6/24. I can advise that as at writing this report that figure is down to a much more manageable $105.
As usual our accounts have been submitted to the club each month and thus made available to the clubs’ auditors for review. Our financials are included in the main club annual financial reports under Sub Clubs.
You will by now be aware of the increase in comp fees to $15, this will result in an extra $1 per player on our Monday return from the main club. I would suggest that our weekly ball rundown be increased to $5 per ball with the choice of either a ball or funds directed to your loyalty account ($50 when you reach 10 balls).
I see no reason that we would not be able to meet our financial obligations in the future.
John Belshaw – Treasurer
MINUTES OF AGM – MONDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2024
Commenced 12.38pm
Apologies: As per attached sheet
Attendance: As per attendance sheet attached
A minutes silence for Paul Walden and Alex Dempsey
2023 minutes posted on website – moved Bill Quantrill moved Kim
Vets Committee: Allan Barrow called all positions vacant
Allan Barrow stepped down as President – Denis thanked Allan
2025 Positions:
President: Denis O’Keefe
Vice President: Barry Cowell
Captain: Gary Fidler
Vice Captain: Ian Yarroll
Treasurer: John Belshaw
Secretary: Kim Hobbs
Committee: Tony Snellgrove, Trevor Brady, David Carpenter
Moved: Bill Quantrill Seconded: Ken Lowes
Treasurers Report: See attached
Captains Report: See attached
General Business
Ron Strudwick asked if 10 strokes maximum in stroke game is right…Kerry Bullen commented it is a rule of golf that can be implemented
Brian Cox spoke about improvements being made in future:
5th landing zone being levelled up and re-drained
Improvements to 15th and 16th tee areas
Ron Strudwick asked Brian if Fairway irrigation is being considered – he said no as would cost many millions
Gary Thatcher said application for car park has been withdrawn
Meeting Closed: 1pm