The Shepparton Golf Club is officially 100 years old, with the club celebrating the milestone last Tuesday, April 5.
It was a day full of celebrations at the club, with a well-attended invite-only centenary lunch, including presentations of certificates to 50-year members, acknowledging the history of the club and the people involved.
Centenary Committee chair Neville Lavis said the club started preparing for the celebrations more than two years ago.
“When we realised that we were going to be 100 years old we had to start planning and work out what we were going to do,” Lavis said.
“One of the main reasons we did this (the lunch) is because we’ve got 37 members that have been members for more than 50 years, which is just awesome, it’s just sensational.
“The opportunity came along to help out the club and make this all happen, it’s been a great journey actually.”
Lavis has been a member of the club for about 35 years and said the club held an open invitation gala night alongside the invite-only lunch. He said it was important to have a lunch to acknowledge the 50-year members.
The club’s oldest member, Jaene Dainton, was there on the day to celebrate, with the 97-year-old a member of the club since 1955, marking a huge 67 years of membership.
Dainton sat with friend Greta Keenan, herself a life member of the club, with 50 years of membership.
Keenan said the club had changed considerably in the time she had been a member.
“We were associates and now we’re full membership, the club was very inclusive, there were no problems with any of that, it’s just been part of Jaene’s life and certainly mine for many years,” she said.
“They’re there in the good times and the bad.”
The day was a great success, with local dignitaries and members alike enjoying the festivities.