At the Port Pirie Golf Club’s centenary ball were life member Brian O’Loughlin and Wayne Johnson.
The 100 year celebrations for the Port Pirie Golf Club were in full swing on Saturday night as members and patrons of the club raised their glasses and kicked up their heels at the centenary ball.
Preparations had been underway for months, and while there are still some of the centenary celebrations to be held, the Ball was the highlight of a most successful year for the club.
Eighty people filled the clubhouse with good cheer, led by Wayne Johnson, an ex-Port Piriean, club captain and player, who officiated as Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Wayne told of stories since long forgotten and reminisced of players and play of days past.
Brian O’Loughlin, a golf club stalwart had been approached to fill the role of guest speaker and his dry sense of humour had the already joyous crowd in bouts of laughter. Brian and his family had been supporters of the club for many years and it was a just choice in the selection of speaker. Brian paid tribute to past presidents and captains and told of visits by such players as Vijay Singh to the Pirie course.
The theme of the evening had been black-and-white, the original colours of the club when it had been first formed July 11, 1912. The men were dapper in their bow ties and the women in their long dresses.
The president’s wife, Marie Mullin was elegant in a lace covered ensemble and Sue Penny, the captain’s wife, was stunning in black chiffon, with a little black jacket to keep out the cold. Shirley Johnson looked beautiful in a black and grey slinky dress with a neck scarf and Karyn Cousins, who had travelled from Reynella, wore a beautiful a-line black satin dress.
Best dressed couple for the evening went to Marta Parr and Ken Spencer, both looking very elegant. In a little black number covered with a tangerine coloured jacket was Gen Sawers and Jenny Minerds danced the night away in a soft flowing black floor length frock.
First prize of a raffle drawn on the evening went to Phil Bickley, second prize to Ruth Gooley and third to Mark Athanasos. Various prizes were won during the night with the prize for furthest to travel going to Gen and Ross Sawers, Ross having travelled from Prominent Hill for the occasion.
Sam Harris kept the music flowing and the dancers on the floor.
