An extract from the club’s newsletter, with thanks to Ron Bradner
Club History 1924 – 1956
Formation of the original Pittwater Aquatic Club.
Photo courtesy of the State Library of NSW, from the Hood Collection.
The formation of the original Pittwater Aquatic Club had occurred when a professional rowing club, in existence in the Bayview area prior to 1924, divided into two groups. The Bayview group dropped its professional status and became an amateur club till 1924 known as The Pittwater Aquatic Club. They occupied what are now the Bayview Tennis Club rooms which were built by Warringah Shire Council for them, it is believed their membership was about 70 in those days. During the war years and as a result of dwindling interest in the sport of rowing, membership dropped of and the club eventually went into recess.
Club History 1956 – 1958
The re-birth of a Club
The re-birth of the Pittwater Aquatic Club stemmed from a meeting convened by Merton Cooke on 14/10/56 to “explore the possibilities of bringing together people interested in watercraft and everything that goes with it so that we may be of mutual assistance to each other”.
The meeting was held in the Methodist church hall in Mona Vale and a provisional committee was formed comprising, R Benham, G Peterson, W Weston, J Danvers, A Barnes, W Williams and M Cooke. The meeting resolved:
- The organisation be named the Pittwater Marine Social Club.
- A register of members be started.
- The membership joining fee be set at 10/- with an annual subscription of 5/-.
- To publicise and call a public meeting for the purpose of attracting members and electing an executive committee.
- Address problems associated with care of boats, dropped moorings, theft from and vandalism to boats ashore and afloat, navigation hazards and general cleaning up of waterfront, (Whilst no defined area is named it is assumed they were referring to the Bayview spit area where they wished to operate from ).
- Undertake investigation of the foundation of the original Pittwater Aquatic Club, it’s constitution and rules. Investigate methods / rules of other Clubs.
This committee proceeded with the tasks and started discussions with the Council and the local Harbour Master of the Maritime Services Board.In the weeks following new members were attracted including, Wally Smith, Gordon Williams and Father G Parker, all of whom were to serve on committees and make significant contributions to the re- establishment of the Club.
In the weeks following new members were attracted including, Wally Smith, Gordon Williams and Father G Parker, all of whom were to serve on committees and make significant contributions to the re- establishment of the Club.
Subsequently, a public meeting was publicised for the 2/2/57. This first meeting of the Pittwater Marine Social Club was held at the Bayview Tennis Club rooms and sixteen people attended. From those present an executive committee was elected, this comprised ~ W Weston Chairman, John McLaren Vice Chairman, Merton Cooke Secretary, Father G Parker Asst. Secretary, Walter Smith Treasurer, and three committee men, Allen Barnes, Chas Williams and R Benham.
A provisional constitution was also accepted at this meeting, with comment to be sought from the membership. Several committee meetings ensued discussing the constitution and other matters of importance to the group.
At a committee meeting on 24/2/57 an important decision was made to invite the Trustees of the Pittwater Aquatic Club, Messrs Cedric Williams, Arthur Fryer and Beau McFee to the next meeting.
The next meeting on the 17/3/57, was attended by Pittwater Aquatic Club trustees, Messrs Fryer and McFee and after much discussion it was agreed that they should join the committee of the fledgling organisation, as by then it seemed that amalgamation would be in everybody’s best interests.
What actually transpired between then and the 26/1/58 is uncertain as no records of any meetings are available, however the name Pittwater Aquatic Club was officially registered under the Business Names Act on 29/7/57 by the members of the committee.
Two General meetings were held in the Tennis Club rooms on the 26/1/58 and 7/2/58, after which announcement of the Annual General Meeting was made. Other topics of discussion were a site for a slipway, Halesmith Road was favoured however several meetings with council had not been conclusive. A slipway committee was formed to continue with this exercise, this included Wally Smith, F Andrews, L Haynes, J Castner, and P Castner
The first AGM of the new Pittwater Aquatic Club was held on 27/2/58 at the Narrabeen Community Centre hall. A report was tabled detailing the activities leading up to the reformation of the Club and progress made to date. The membership stood at over 80 people, and 40 vessels of varying sizes were on the Club register. The slipway committee tabled costing for a slipway of 15 tons capacity, they reported that discussions were still continuing with council regarding a site. Special mention was made of the Shire president W E Berry for his cooperation.
An election of officers was conducted and the following members were elected.
W Weston President, J Castner Vice President, Merton Cooke Secretary, Father G Parker Asst. Secretary, Walter Smith Treasurer, B McFee, R Benham, W Williams, A Barnes, A Fryer, committee men.
Club History 1958 – 1968
The Club becomes a Co-operative Society
After the first AGM the newly elected committee comprising W Weston President, J Castner V President, M Cooke Secretary, W Smith Treasurer, continued with regular meetings with council officers seeking approval to lease a site at the end of Halesmith Road for development of a Clubhouse and slipway. At this time the whole area of Rowland Reserve and Winnereremy Bay was undergoing transformation with dredging works being carried out and reclamation of mangrove swamp land. These works were being carried out by a Company called Pacific Paradise on behalf of Warringah Shire Council (WSC). March 1958 the Council agreed to a temporary site for a slipway on the sand spit opposite the Halesmith Rd site (now Rowland Reserve). A loan of 200 pounds was obtained from the Club’s bankers to construct the Slip; repayment of this loan was to be financed from Slip fees charged to members. Details of the construction are sketchy but the majority of the work was completed on a voluntary basis by club members with great spirit and enthusiasm. It was put into service in June of that year and continued to give service for about nine years.
Not only were the men active in projects for the Club at this time, we can also thank the wives of Club President Weston and Treasurer Smith, for designing and constructing a sample Club burgee as we know it today.
The second AGM on 13/4/1959 recorded a membership of 124 and the same committee was re-elected, with the exception that J Castner was elected President and W Weston Vice President.
During the ensuing year the Club negotiated a lease with WSC for a clubhouse site at Halesmith Road which was known as Winji Jimmi Park, and a Permissive Occupancy Licence was gained for relocation of the slip to this site. However a resident’s petition to Council challenging the Council’s right to lease public reserve put a stop to the new Club ever occupying this site, and a lengthy legal battle was begun about the issue.
As it turned out the uncertainty of occupying the Winji Jimmi site was a blessing in disguise, for the Club committee then learned of a private landholding of three Lots on an access road called The Esplanade, of a Mrs Antella. The lots being shown as “open space” between residential and Council resumed land which was being developed by Pacific Paradise Pty Ltd. The Club was assured by Pacific Paradise that they had no interest in the land, so leasing negotiations were begun with Mrs Antella. Difficulties with lease terms led to discussions about the Club purchasing the property and so it was offered for 750 pounds, terms offered were 200 pounds deposit with balance payable over 3 years @ 6% interest. A special executive committee meeting was convened where it was agreed that they should hastily raise a loan of 300 pounds from their bank to secure the purchase “quickly and quietly” should any locals oppose the Club. It was suggested that 6 members each be approached to act as guarantors for 50 pounds each for the loan at the Bank. Deposit cheque for 75 pounds was forwarded to the Club solicitor on 19/4/61 to commence with contract to purchase the three Lots, 10, 11 & 12 The Esplanade.
This year had been a difficult one for the Club, amid legal controversy with the Council about the Winji Jimmi site which they could not occupy, the membership numbers fell to 98. The death of Father E G Parker who had given so much energy and commitment to Club affairs also dealt a blow to the members, and a memorial plaque was ordered to be displayed in the first Clubhouse when erected.
Some controversy also existed among members about the purchase of the Antella land so this decision was put to a vote at the 4th AGM on 11/8/61, the issue being decided by President L Haynes’ casting vote in favour of the purchase. Also passed at the meeting was a motion requiring members to pay a contribution of 10 pounds each to boost Club funds to assist with the purchase, this however proved unpopular.
The Committee elected at the conclusion of the meeting was L Haynes President, B Geitz V President, M Cooke Secretary, W Smith Treasurer, J Castner Asst Treas, Committee members E Griffith, J Reid, R Anderson, G Lovering and B Johnston. Minutes of meetings through this period record a great sense of commitment and determination on the part of committee and members to fight on regarding the lease of Winji Jimmi Park, and other legal problems to do with the purchase of the Antella land. Legal investigations by the Club’s solicitors into title of the Antella land had now discovered that in fact 4 lots were owned by the Antella family when the land was designated “Green Belt under the jurisdiction of The Cumberland County Council (CCC). It was also discovered that WSC had attempted to acquire the parcel for 75pounds (circa 1958-59), but the offer was rejected by the Antella family. WSC subsequently gazetted the land “open space”, this raised the question of whether the Club would be able to build on the land should they be successful in the purchase. Legal pressure on WSC eventually forced the issue in favour of the Club. In May 1962 an Executive Committee Meeting rescinded the original motion to purchase the three lots and a new motion was carried to purchase Lots 9, 10,11 and 12 The Esplanade from Mrs Antella for 1200 pounds as required.
Amidst all, the business of raising funds to complete the purchase was not proceeding well, only some members coming forward with the 10 pounds contributions sought. So at the same meeting the following members agreed to act as guarantors for a bank loan: R Anderson, M Cooke, B Gietz, A Hardwick, B Petty and W Smith. However subsequent applications to two banks were unsuccessful. Executive Committee member R Anderson then arranged for finance of 1000 pounds through Solicitors McLeod, White, McKeown & Co and for that firm to complete the purchase with all haste. Contracts were exchanged with the Mrs Antella on 27th June 1962, signatories as trustees for the Club on the Contract were Merton Cooke, Walter Smith and Keith Jones and their wives. Also in June, Shire President W E Berry, who it seemed was the only supporter of the Club on Council, was asked to become Club Patron in recognition of the assistance he had given, he duly accepted.
Through this period it was painfully obvious that the legal structure of the Club was most unsatisfactory and a hindrance to the raising of capital and the transaction of legal documents. The legal owners of the property purchased were in fact the three trustees and their wives whose signatures were on the contracts and guarantees for the loan, the Club itself had no legal substance. After much investigation and discussion it was decided the most desirable course of action was for the Club to become a Co-operative Society.
At the tenth AGM on the 16th March 1967 the move to become a Co-operative Society was put to a vote and carried unanimously. In accordance with the governing rules of Co-operative Societies a minimum number of seven directors were elected, they were: J Reid, M Cooke, W Smith, Miss R Paterson, H Foran, P Russo and R Anderson. The applications for Registration of a Society with the Registrar were made out in front of the assembled members at the meeting. Applications for shares were then completed by several members and lodged with the required monies. Formal registration of The Pittwater Aquatic Club Co-operative Limited proceeded and was completed on the 13th June 1967. The Annual report for the first AGM of The Pittwater Aquatic Club Co-operative Limited recorded the membership at 90 shareholders and 12 associate members.
