Hello everyone. This correspondent hopes that you are all well and looking forward to getting back to some normal activities after this very extensive and tiresome Iso. I’m sure that the golf club is looking more and more like a small sanctuary with exercise and great company available for our mental health and well being.
The profiles of our long standing members prove time and time again that Rossdale has had the best of foundations for the warm and friendly club that it has become today. Its time to profile our 8th longest serving member in Carrie Farrow.
Carrie joined the club 15/8/82 with the encouragement of her dear friend Gaye Waite this at a time where there was no joining fee as a big incentive! The Lady President was Kath McLaughlin and the Captain was Tina VanDrie.
At the time the ladies had a mentoring program Carrie was partnered with Lorna Steele as her protégé. Starting on a handicap of 36 she achieved her best handicap of 24 collecting a few trophies on the way including, The May May Plate, the Easter Trophy and a Sunday medal. Her name appears with Joyce Constable on an honour board at Rossdale, recalling that her favourite events were usually team events, playing alongside Di Milner, Barb Costello, Maureen Daniel and Judy Rae. Her putting prowess used to hold her in good stead to give a good show on the scorecard, she laments “not so much these days”.
Carrie caddied for the senior Pennant on many occasions but considers her involvement with the forming of the Junior Program as her most satisfying. Along with the Pro at the time, Kel Garner and Jeanette Barrett along with a lot of other volunteers they got the Junior Program up and running, proving so popular that there were 50 on the waiting list. Carrie being the strict disciplinarian introduced the Rules Committee which included the red card system to help keep the 11 and 12 year old’s in order. Going through the ranks of the Juniors were Emma Hall, future Ladies Club Champion, Mark Chapple, future Men’s Champion and former groundsman and one Andrew Noonan, who loved the Club so much he decided to stay to play as well as become the current Club General Manager.
Besides enjoying her golf Carrie is best known for her “Artsy Fartsy” side which involves knitting, quilting and organising the groups for the end of year concerts. Her first sewing experience was at school where the girls were made to make “petticoats out of parachutes”. She went on to run a successful Quilting business and her skills along with Jackie Morrison and Jan Watt are on show every year with beautiful quilts all donated for charity days and other fundraisers. Carrie along with Maureen O’Flaherty and Noelle Hartnett and the mystery knitters have contributed over 1000 knitted rugs and garments to the Ozanam House Charity over the years.
Carrie was on the Social committee along with Lois and John Vanselow to head up the many social functions and annual concerts along with Lexie Beeforth, who it seems was nearly a professional ‘hoofer’. She recalls the many rehearsal hours and opening nights along with so much laughter and fun as a highlight for many years.
Carrie has a special fondness with the Yarrabah Special development School because of her granddaughter Paige’s’ attendance. Yarrabah is the Ladies of Rossdales special charity, and they look forward every year for opportunities to fundraise for them, and it always includes 2 beautiful quilts, 1 for Yarrabah to raffle and one for Rossdale to raffle. With Carries “keep your hands busy” attitude and a wonderful social conscience for giving, has helped Rossdale to maintain a good reputation in the community over the years.
Thanks Carrie with all this spare time we look forward to seeing what wonderful creations you have in store for us, so we can get back on track for generous Fun, Friends and Fundraising.
