The ladies committee would like to extend a big hello to all members. We feel really blessed that we have the E-news to help us communicate with old and new members of Rossdale golf club. It is comforting to know that there are still committed staff and volunteers keeping our club together for when it is safe for all to return, hopefully to get back to normal. We’re sure it will be a “new normal” but knowing the strength of the Rossdale membership our club will regroup, our ideals and friendships will help us to bounce back to some normalcy.
Talking about groups leads us to introduce our 10th longest serving member in Trish Stillman. Trish as many of you will be aware is the leader of a clan of Stillmans, the whole family contributing in some way to Rossdale over some 50 years.
Her friend Anne Kidd decided to attend a clinic supervised by the Club Pro Laurie McConnell. As her ex husband Grant was already involved with the Colts Minor Pennant she decided to give it a try. Trish joined the club 20/9/84 on a handicap of 36 and slowly but surely worked her way to a best of 15. She recalls her first playing group as Jean McDonald, Joan Bradbury Flint and Jane Chapman(Penny Wongs’ mother). Along the journey as well as playing Pennant and Interclub she collected many a trophy including,
C grade champion
B grade champion
May May plate
Secretary cup
Easter trophy
Sunday cup
President trophy
Medallist of the year
Best Par
Best Stableford
Nett Gross
Don Nairn trophy along with Travis Stillman ,Geoff and Bernadette Terrell.
A number of Mixed Ambrose with family Betty Montgomery and Gwen Beer.
She proudly acknowledges winning a Mixed Matchplay Championship beating 7 men on the way! She is also in the elite group as having a hole-in-one on the 3rd at Rossdale. The Lady Captain was Pam Barwick and the Lady President was Kath McLaughlin. Trish went on to become the Lady President for the years 1998-2000, initiating the arrangements for the mystery knitters for the Ozanam House Charity which still is an ongoing concern today.
Trish has been involved in many behind the scenes activities across the club running Pennant fundraising dinners and social committee gala days. She fondly recalls the Tuesday Boys seafood dinners when everyone knew that it was time to dance when Betty and George Montgomery started to boogie!
Her concert days kicking up her heels with Jean McDonald, Min Bowman, Estelle Fallander and Selma Caffyn where something invariably went wrong still brings happy memories. Always on board for golfing trips away with the girls to Shepparton, Kyneton, Cobram and many Murray River courses.
As mentioned Trish is the matriarch of the Stillman clan, with 3 boys all participating, playing and contributing in many ways to the Rossdale culture. She can still be seen now with the grandchildren playing in the Friday Twilight comp. Her contribution was recognised by Bill Greig with a special award of a “V C Medal” for outstanding services to membership!.
Congrats Trish on 36 years, we will all look out for you and your “clan” on Friday dinner nights when all is back on track for Rossdales thriving Social Events.
