History

At this meeting, the Club’s inaugural President, Peter Kargotich, was unanimously elected President. Mr. A. McPhail was elected Vice President, Mr. Ron Brown became the Club’s First Secretary, and Mr. S. Hutchison was appointed the Club’s First Treasurer, with 13 committee members included.

It was at this meeting on the 20th of March, 1957, that the name The Byford & Districts Country Club was unanimously selected by the attendees as the new club’s name. This name has remained unchanged in the 66 years since.

The Club’s first interim Committee Meeting was held at 10 p.m. the same night. A public meeting took place on the 11th of April, 1957, to further discuss the proposition, according to the Club’s first annual report. At this meeting, the promotional committee retired but was re-elected en bloc, as it was said that they had done a good job so far. The second full committee meeting was held on the 3rd of April, 1957, at which time the committee initiated its first membership fee for ordinary members, set at one pound and one shilling.

On the 3rd of April, 1957, the Club began work on compiling its first Constitution. The Club’s inaugural AGM was held on the 29th of April, 1957, at the Byford Hall, where the members agreed to commence social functions. Accordingly, the Club’s social committee was established, and the first social gathering of the Club took place on the 30th of May.

Recognising the desire of many to move forward with establishing the Byford & Districts Country Club, at the Committee’s fifth meeting on the 27th of May, 1957, it was proposed to appoint Mr. Peter Kargotich, Mr. Ron Brown, and Mr. R. Ham as Trustees of the Club. These three trustees attended an auction for the sale of one and a half acres of land. They were approved a ceiling of 450 pounds for the purchase of the parcel of land, which we now recognise as our old club on the South West Highway.

The Club was successful in securing the land for 405 pounds—equivalent to $12,500 in today’s money. On the 25th of July, 1957, the Club’s Committee recognised the fast-growing membership and elected to place a cap on membership at 200, with subsequent membership applications placed on a waiting list.