Saturday, January 16, 2010

Lavalla Bowling Club

LavallaBowlsClub@GMail.com

The only alterations to the following were minor e.g. :-

20100118 January 2010 Thursday 10:28
tidying up the letter including:-
Director replacing Ned Barnes
moved to chronological order where it belonged,
numbering the directors to show how many there were,
$27,000 value of extensions repeated twice, etc.
The following is copy of what was printed and placed in :-
20100125 January Tuesday
left on steering wheel of Corolla in envelope with
POB 348 on reverse
with 55c postage stamps attached:-
PO Box 348
West Pennant Hills 2125

25 January 2010 Tuesday

Mr Peter Vidilini,
101 Winders Pl
Tweed Heads South 2486

Good morning Peter,

19 January 2009 letter
containing most of the following was posted to
Mr Trevor L Lord
32 Latona St
WINSTON HILLS 2153.

The anly additions were around about the end of the letter
re building labelled "Lavala" at 2 Rifle Range Rd today.

I have not received a response from Trevor
and copy of email to Trevor's wife
was returned undelivered.

The letter is self explanatory.

We are all getting on in life and
I felt the matters should be resolved
particularly when Brother Allman said
the wording was OK &
should be sent to Marist Brothers
Sydney Administration for their records.

Lavalla members I was in contact with
are no longer able to be contacted
with the exception of you
who is the only remaining person I am aware of that
could pass eyes over this wording
to convince me it is OK to send to Marist Brothers.

If you are able to help this will be appreciated.

Lavalla is missed because
from 1967 I found it a great place to
drop in to for a yarn with people
who seemed to think along the same lines as I did.

Regards,
John Beer
who came to CBC Bank Baulkham Hills 20 March 1967
& selected Lavalla Bowling Club
as the most appropriate club to join
after which I introduced people including
Elliots from Parramatta where
Bob called the card evenings for awhile
after I had to work
in country areas of NSW
Qld & Northern Territory
from where I
returned in 1978 when I rejoined Lavalla.

Regards,
John Beer.

Good Afternoon Trevor,

Re : LAVALLA BOWLING CLUB LTD
(changed name to Winston Hills Bowling & Recreation Club Ltd)

Words have been put together to record in chronological order the pertinent events of above.

Initially they were recorded on old computer
which has crashed causing it to be no longer accessable.

Fortunately printed copies were held
which have now been re-typed
and printed in this copy to you.

20060226 the then printed copies
were posted to Brother Allman
who felt they were appropriate and
should be sent to Marist Bros Drummoyne.

Copies were also sent to you for your approval
& I think you said they
were ok to be sent to Marist Brothers.

Brother Allman has since
passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage
(20090910 SMH Monday Pg 18).

The person I had most contact with re Lavalla
was Peter Vidilini who stated
he has no interest in viewing the history but
if it was approved by Brother Allman
and Trevor Lord then
it should be OK to forward it to
Marist Brothers Sydney Administration
PO Box 138
Drummoyne 1470.

If you have the time
would you like to look at the wording
and make any amendments
/ additions needed ?

Even though you
may have seen them back about 2006,
now that they have been re-typed
we want to make sure the wording is OK
before passing them on to
Marist Bros Sydney Administration.

Your early advices will be most welcome.

Regards,

John
PO Box 348
West Pennant Hills 2125
lavallabowlsclub@gmail.com
http://www.lavallaclub.blogspot.com/

1907 / 1908 George Malouf was born
1934 George Malouf was awarded Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery at University of Sydney
1940s Browns Hall became Soldiers Welfare Hut after which catholics bought the hall & formed Lidcombe Catholic Workmens Club.
1947 Catholic Workmens Club Lidcombe became a licensed club (18,500 members 2005 when it was known as something like Dooleys Catholic Club Lidcombe)

19480329 N Graham Malouf was born son of Dr Naaman George Malouf
1962 approx at request of Catholic Priest Catholic Club opened approximately 50 metres South West of Pendle Hill Station where foundation members included Boris Govorko member number 13 debentures were raised to buy land & build.
Names of club varied from Catholic Club Pendle Hill, Cumberland Catholic Club, members met to approve Cumberland Community Club name,
Memories of Lavalla Bowling Club Ltd (LBC) :-
It has been suggested a record be put together because nothing could be located in any history books or library info or Marist Bros Old Boys info.
1960s Brother Jack / John Allman from Marist Bros Westmead was involved
Five people including Peter Vidilini met to discuss:-
formation of a licensed club for old boys of Parramatta Marist Bros High School and Marist Bros Rugby League Football Club.
Court said it had to be a sporting club to get a a license.

19641013 Lavalla Bowling Club Limited was incorporated.

Peter Vidilini said early directors included Peter Vidilini .

Debentures were raised including from Peter Vidilini who was Debenture Holder #2 or #3.

Land corner of 223 Windsor Rd & 2 Rifle Range Rd Northmead was purchased from the Buckingham sisters for $130,000.
Subtotal $130,000 outlaid
Two bowling greens $24,838,
Subtotal $154,838 outlaid
carpark & Clubhouse $281,179 were erected.
Subtotal $436,017 outlaid
People involved included those numbered 1-7 below :-
1. Dr George Malouf from Dr Joe's Hunter St Parramatta who introduced many Lebanese people.
2. Marist Bros Football Club members.

1965 1st AGM LBC

1966 May Commencement of Lavalla Bowling Club was announced to the public.

3. Joe Keegan Marist Old Boy from Catholic Church welcomed people as they entered Lavalla Bowlng Club bar.

4. Jack Boyle (father of Fr John Boyle who in 1991-2000 was Dean of St Patricks Cathedral Parramatta & in 2009-2010 is Parish Priest of St Bernadettes Castle Hill Catholic Church)

Only Catholics could vote and members had to play bowls.

1966 2nd AGM LBC

1967 March John joined later becoming Social Secretary & introduced Elliot family from North Parramatta where many associates were introduced and

Bob Elliot called games in the auditorium mainly playing of cards.

5. Peter G Rapp Hardware Store owner Windsor Rd Northmead was Secretary & Licensee.

1967 3rd AGM LBC .

1968 4th AGM LBC

1969 5th AGM LBC

1970 6th AGM LBC

1971 7th AGM LBC

1972 N Graham Malouf began praticing as a doctor (medical practitioner)

1972 8th AGM LBC

1973 9th AGM LBC

1974 10th AGM LBC

19741225 Cyclone Tracy recked Darwin

19750120 John appointed Manager CBC Darwin

19751013 Naaman George Malouf died age 67 at Parramatta District Hospital late of North Parramatta
19751014 SMH born 1907 / 1908.

LBC President George Malouf replaced by Ned Barnes.

19760724 Peter Graeme Rappeneker age 39 of Northmead died
19760726 SMH believed to be from a heart attack.

1977 approximately the Board decided to borrow money to pay for $27,000 extention of the bar westward to create more area for patrons in that area of the clubhouse.

Some members were alarmed the board made this decision which blew borrowings above what they thought the club could afford.

19771219 John appointed Auditor NSW based in Sydney

6. Roy Hennessey replaced Ned Barnes as Chairman

19800223 $27,000 extensions opened by
Directors :-
1. John Nolan,
2. Reg Banham,
3. Peter Barlow,
4. Ned Barnes,
5. Pat Donnellan,
6. Paul Littlefield,
7. Alfred (Jim) Milgate,
8. Ron ORourke,
9. Secretary Frank Bolton.

19800630 :-
loss $5,816
after
interest $27,331
$285,000 borrowings

7. Peter Vidilini was Bowls Secretary for awhile

1980 costs curtailments if these were maintained & wages for club administration were cut out club could have survived through early adoption of entry via side door direct to bar where person in charge of the bar was only staff member no need to have built board room office etc.

Unfortunately the tight control of costs was not maintained and this is where costs exceeded income causing mounting financial problems.

19800707 S Hawkesworth issued receipt $5 entrance fee

19800909 Frank G Bolton signed letter for John to be interviewed as new member (re-joined following absence when working away including in country NSW, Queensland & Northern Territory)

19810216 Peter J Barlow signed receipt $20 sub

19810630 net loss $30,781 after interest $35,005 $340k borrowings

19811020 John Bede Nolan President signed 19810630 report saying extraordinary meeting 19811116 delete reference Marist Bros John signed proxy for Peter Barlow to vote in favour of proposal

19811116 20:00 Extra Ordinary Gen Meeting of Lavalla Bowling Club Ltd (LBC) at Lavalla Bowling Club premises to change Constitution re classes of membership & deleting Marist Bros & adding that non catholics could be received as full members who had full voting rights

1981 Directors 1. Ronald ORourke, 2. Reg Banham, 3. Peter Barlow, 4. Ned Barnes, 5. Paul Littlefield, 6. Frank Bolton Secretary

19810528 Patrick Michael Donnellan Secretary

19810604 John Bede Nolan President wrote to members saying $27,000 extensions prior to June 1980 have not produced patronage expected
19811123 20:00 AGM John Bede Nolan President

1981-2 Chairman & President John Bede Nolan

1981-2 Directors :=-
1. Brian James Munro,
2. Patrick Michael Donnellan,
3. Alfred Thomas Millgate,
4. Edward Joseph Barnes

19820112 The Mercury Newspaper Parramatta had photo of Lavalla women runners up in Division 2 Pennants including Joy Bolton & Olive Banham

1982 January action taken by Board to increase activity

1982 January Graham Hulme appointed Secretary Manager

1982 Extraordinary General Meeting Of LBC there be 9 directors

19820630 net loss $32,555 after interest $47,626 $348,374 owing

19820817 Mercury Advertised Lavalla Bowling Club movies Mondays family nights Fridays with bistro 18:00

19820909 Malouf George Tradian Malouf death notice 19820908 died age 80 late of Narrabeen (this is not the George Malouf who was 1 of Lavalla's founders)

19820914 20:00 AGM Bowls Secretary Kevin Roberts

19821019 Mercury stated 500 members incl 300 active bowlers

19821129 19:00 meeting to decide sale of land in subdivision turn downstairs into restaurant & front grass into carpark

19821217 RBT introduced .08 CPA limit imposed

19830630 loss $85,727 after $52,735 int $479,131 owing

19830715 Brian Larkin President wrote to members saying .05 causing trading problems and asking each member to provide $200 interest free debenture

Trevor Lord said there was a person with surname Crowe from original Woolpack Hotel who helped Lavalla

1983 bank changed from Westpac to ANZ Parramatta in search of lower interest

19840207 Brian Larkin called extraordinary GM Monday
19840312 to change name to WHBRC & delete Catholic from Memorandum & Articles of Association
approaches to Parramatta Junior RLeague Club, Parramatta Leagues Club, & BAULKHAM HILLS BULLS RLFC FAILED TO MATERIALISE

19840312 LBC changed name to WHBRC

1984March Winston Hills Sports Club (WHSC) offered 5 board seats to merge with WHBRC

19840630 loss $89,153 after int $88,530 $549,044 owing

19840910 Jack Nelson Secretary signed 19840630 report admin wages reduced by $16,000

19841016 20th AGM Winston Hills Bowling & Recreation Club (WHBRC) AGM
DA for sale of land behind the club dragged on finally approved by Land & Enviro Court but Council still put up minor objections which cost WHBRC dearly

19850607 Maureen Quinn Secretary signed letter Extra Ord GM 19850711 to delete catholic education in consitiution

19850630 loss $98,842 $88,530 interest $479,131 owing

19851008 Trevor Lord President signed report
loss increased by $9,689
bar trade up $6,954
catering loss $8,824 following Fri nights becoming kids nights previously bistro nights
thanks to :-
Maureen Quinn retired Secretary,
Noel Roberts Bar Manager from early 1981,
Brian Fletcher,
Larry Cunningham

When Director drove past LBC lights were on 2 directors were serving free grog

19851119 21st AGM WHBRC

19850712 death 19850715 death notice Ernest Joseph Barnes age 76 late of Parramatta

1985 after 19850630 settlement in land sold for $494,000

Police identified person stealing money he was repaying it where was it being credited?

19860530 Jack Boyle died age 69 late of Dundas
19860531 SMH
19861028 one of the original founders of Lavalla

19860630
loss $20,049 after
interest $28,002
$143,347 owing
report signed by directors
Trevor Lord Pres
&
RBruce Bell
only 3% of 1500 members using club regularly
amalgamation 1983 hasnt worked

22nd AGM WHBRC
Trevor L Lord Secretary Thu Fri bistros ceased due to lack of support.

Thanks to :-
Board members
Bob Hall retired from Poker Machines Director to pursue new venture,
1. Brian Larkin,
2. Stephen Bartley,
3. RBruce Bell President,
4. Peter Leppenen,
5. Ian Morrison,
Members Jack OKeefe,
Val Lovegrove,
Brian Munro,
Jack Nelson,
John Alderson,
Mark Thompson

19870630 loss $76,037
after
$16,349 interest
$205,825 owing

19871016 report signed by
RBruce Bell
&
Peter Leppenen
stating $17,042 cash deficiency
where takings were not banked
disco expenses $12,500
Directors :-
1. RBruce Bell Pres,
2. Peter Leppenen Treasurer since 1985,
3. Kevin J Thomas,
4. John Morgan,
5. John Casey,
6. Bruce Cronin,

19870630 Report Auditors stated
irregularities in banking
were drawn to directors attention
normal control procedures not maintained

People no longer visiting club included Peter Vidilini

During 2nd last year Winston Hills Sports Club supplied all the directors but they did not last so Trevor Lord was asked to return and form new board (3 directors did bar duties non gratis Brian Munro ran the bar on Saturdays 10am to 13:00) T Lord was on alarm call out many times attended club with police then went to work in pharmacy Pat Lord assisted Sunday mornings esky honesty bar on green did not work

New board members could not be obtained so called for special resolution to sell property & repay money

19871028 Barry Wilton Secretary called AGM to cease trading

19880122 to 19880421 revenue records including receipt book were mislaid.

19880627 General Meeting approved sell land and improvements

19871124 23rd AGM WHBRC debentuires 12%

1988-0630 loss $76,459 after $30,728 interest $278,240 owing

19880630 :-
$30,729 int paid
wages $82,792
$76,459 loss when WHBRC ceased operations as a licensed club and proceeded to realise its assets

board members
1. Doug Gibson,
2. Geoffrey Murray,
3. Kevin Roberts,
4. Ronald Kesby.

The only people prepared to run the club were
1. T Lord
2. Brian Larkin
&
3. Mr D J Thompson so could not continue.

One board members marriage nearly failed when husband spent too much time at the club

Help had been sought from
NSW Bowling Assn Club Advisory Committee,
NSW Registered Clubs Assn (name changed to Clubs NSW),
other clubs
(e.g. Secretary Manager of The Entrance Bowling Club
where we visited and visit was returned to our Club)

19890215 received President's Report stating board instructed solicitors to float Winston Hills Sporting Club Ltd with constitution similar to WHBRC

19881224 settlement sale of bowls club house and land to Parramatta Salvation Army $1.68m

1989 Winston Hills Sporting Club established

19890306 AGM WHBRC held at Northmead Bowling & Recreation Club (NBRC)

19890630 profit $62,928 after $25,089 interest paid

1989 interest rate 19% could have been final death blow after RBT .08 then .05 & lack of public transport

19891123 Winston Hills Sporting Club incorporated with 5 subscribers

19891212 20:00 :-
Trevor Lord opened Extraordinary GM WHBRC
held at NBRC
to wind up voluntarily
Brian Larkin Treasurer reported on finances
retiring board members included
1. DJ Thompson Secretary,
2. Bradley Thompson Finance,
3. Claud Thompson Promotions,
4. Jeanette Murray,
5. James Hollis-Watts,
6. William Wilson,
7. Raymond Smith,
Auditors Priestly & Morris,
20:30 meeting closed with free drinks & supper

19891219 WHBRC closes bar

50% to Winston Hills Sporting Club Ltd about $750,000

50% to qualifying clubs where members have joined $750,000:-
including

Northmead Bowling Club $551,450

Fishing Club $

Hills District Bowling Club Baulkham Hiills $

$6,000 for each member to club of their choice

Toongabbie Bowling Club $

WPH Sports Club received $0 because it was claimed to be ineligible even through 2 members went there including Jo
people who joined WPHBC were not able to have pro rata share of membership dollars go to WPHBC because it was claimed WPHBC did not qualify as it was located outside the qualifying area

History of Northmead Bowls Club can be seen on their website where it says in
1989 it welcomed members from Winston Hills Bowling Club who injected $551,450 into Northmead Bowling Club.

Lavalla history of Marist Brothers can be located on a Lavalla website.

19931111 death of Brian James Munro age 67 late of Northmead

19931227 death of Ronald Francis ORourke late of Summer Hill formerly Ashfield is not the Lavalla Director of 1981

19970815 death of Joseph Benedict Keegan age 80 Ex Serv Complex Ballina

20011223 death of Patrick Michael Donnellan age 75 late of Telopea Guildford Merrylands

20020920 death of John Bede Nolan late of Baulkham Hills

20030721 Joy (Joyce Veronica) Malouf age 82 died late of Parramatta 20030722 SMH. 20110626 Sunday 19:00 on 2GB Dr N Graham Malouf said his mother died an agonising death unable to breathe

20030904 death of Alfred Thomas Millgate late of Northmead age 82

20050930 on cnr 223 Windsor Rd and 2 Rifle Range Rd is unit building labelled Lavala

20050930 to the right of 2 Rifle Range Rd where Lavalla Bowls Club was in Rifle Range Rd is unit building it is assumed this is lower block sold 1985 by Lavalla Bowling Club which had by then changed name to WHBRC ?

Google Satellite image of 2 Rifle Range Rd seems to show that units on block sold in 1985 plus units now where Lavalla Club House & greens were are similar so did Salvation Army buy both 1985 land and clubhouse land & incorporate such into the one combined unit developments labelled "Lavala" ?

20050930 1967 trees that were on Lavalla Bowling Club's footpath are still there (like small pine trees not tall branching out horizontally as well as vertically)

20051026 words on Lavalla Bowling Club compiled by Jo with discussions / emails Trevor & Pat Lord 20051026 email from Trevor / Pat Lord indicates there was no one else to run the club so there was no alternative other than to close.

20080329 was the 60th birthday of Dr N Graham Malouf
son of Dr Naaman George Malouf
who can be heard from 5pm to 8pm each Sunday on 2GB.

It has been suggested maybe a name for
Lavalla Bowling Club could have been
Catholic Sports Club which may have attracted more people wanting to join a club that had the same aims of the
Lavalla Bowls Club when it was first formed?

If Brother Allman created a similar operation in Brisbane & it is still operating OK could this suggest there was a problem with the way Lavalla was managed / controlled ?

It seems the latter years of the club there was severe lack of people willing to run the club on a proper basis.

It was a pity the club failed when the sale of the spare land cleared the majority of the debt but some have suggested there seemed to have beeen massive mismanagement toward the last period of the club's operations.

Some claim that the original aims of the club changed so much that the original reason for the club to exist no longer remained.

Some people tend to to be afraid to be a director of a club that is in difficulty due to increasing legal obligations of each director
e.g. if trading whilst insolvent.

Some people may wonder why is this history being re-visited
now it is thought this has been explained earlier where
no record could be found
of Lavalla Bowling Club
and Brother Allman said in 2006
after seeing what had been recorded
that he thought it should be
printed and
sent to
NSW's Sydney Administration of Marist Brothers.

Re death notice :-
20100621 approx
Vidilini John Northmead :-
20100625 Fri 20:53 Peter Vidilini was phoned
0061 7 5523 0623
101 Winders Pl Tweed Heads Sth 2486
John Vidilini was cousin of
Peter
from John
Lavalla Bowling Club