Clubs are formed for various reasons: competition, knowledge, social activities etc.. Looking back, I suspect that an underlying reason for our Golden Club’s existence in the beginning might just have been that Golden owners wanted to indulge in their strong desire to enjoy the companionship of fellow admirers of their Golden Retrievers! Golden numbers were much less in those very early days than they are to-day - though they multiplied fairly rapidly as the Club prospered - and Golden owners were eagerly sought over time and drawn into the Club.

Permission was given by the CCC to begin as a Social Club, a testing period, and we were lucky to have plenty of help in the initial running of the club from members of the well established and respected Dachshund Club, so we were off to a very good start.
Finances had to be built up, of course, but that gave cause to many enjoyable social events which really set the scene for the fun times ahead. Our early bank balance was less than $100 - today’s reports certainly show a huge increase! We had a marvellous Treasurer in Di Beal - she kept an ‘iron fist’ on the finances, even though the Club’s assets were rather meagre in the beginning. Fees were $1.50 single and $2.50 Family, CCC fees to match - well, times HAVE changed. Trophy Donations flowed in, which helped considerably.
Social functions, which included theatre parties, dinners, wine tasting, cent auctions, were all designed to both raise money and also to entertain - and we most certainly did enjoy them. There were many members who hosted the evenings in different areas of Brisbane , Toowoomba, the Gold Coast, and every event was always very well attended. There was a strong group of members from the Toowoomba area, led by Les Carlsson, Margaret Kirton, the Gourley family and others - those people were marvellous in that they managed to come to Brisbane to join in any event, including the Meetings. The ‘Toowoomba Contingent’ was very important indeed to the progress of the club. It helped, of course, that Brisbane still had its ‘Big Country Town’ image and traffic and petrol prices were no impediment to distances travelled.

The first Christmas party was held at our Brookfield home, with Santa visiting the group of adults and children on the one flat area of the property, though even then during one of the sack races (yes, all the old fashioned games were held) one Member who shall be nameless did come to grief with a damaged shoulder. A very large pool was almost overflowing with people - those babies held in the arms of their parents doubtless have children of their own today. There is a rare photo of Bill Sullivan and friend enjoying an afternoon there: as Shirley will attest, Bill was not a ’show-going’ person.

One party held in our house , which was situated at the top of an almost vertical drive tucked into a very steep hill, reminds me of the determination of members to socialize to the extreme. John Ferguson, who was a very talented performer on the organ, decided he would entertain the gathering. The driveway, more of a track than anything, was notorious, a neighbour along the valley was always on stand-by with his tractor to drag a car back onto the ‘road’, or to fill in the holes left by any rain deluge. Most drivers were too afraid to run the risk to drive up, so parked at the bottom of the hill or out along Gold Creek Road - which was then considered to be almost a bush track . So, it was something of a major achievement when several men, in the dark, somehow man -handled the organ up that driveway and into the house to provide John’s music. I might add that at the end of the evening, one member decided to run down (Bravado?) but his body somehow got ahead of his feet with dire results. I can’t say I remember how the organ was taken back home!

Apart from the gatherings, the shows were real meeting places, especially the country shows.
One particular All Breeds show was held at Stanthorpe, the usual ‘Golden Camp’ was set up, the judging took place (Goldens were rarely out of the Specials), and as usual most members were still there at the end of the day, as were exhibitors from other Groups. Someone discovered that there was a wine tasting area, so we all lined up at what were several long trestle tables joined together, with bottles of the local home made wines standing there for tasting the supposedly alcohol free liquids. We dutifully took our places at one end in order to make our way along, and went from one bottle after another tasting the contents: the fruity labels were SO deceptive, and for many people, including me (which would be no surprise to our Vice President, Carolyn), the results were fairly intimidating. What I DO remember is the long wavering line of cars being driven home at a funereal pace and the welcome absence of police patrols.
There were plenty of ‘characters’ - humans as well as dogs. For example, there was the family known for arriving at the wrong venue or on the wrong day - they also had a Pointer who became known as the ‘Black Golden’: his wins were listed among the Golden successes. It was a very warm and casual gathering of people and any ‘misdemeanour was duly noted in the Club Newsletter for everyone to enjoy. Perhaps it might be said there was a noted absence of the ‘professional handler’! On a side note, Members of today might like to know of the origin of the Club Painting which is displayed at all our shows, it was painted and donated to the club by John McDougall, a very talented artist. The Club Emblem and the original car sticker was designed by Joan Rockett, another artist. The Club has been privileged to have had many gifted people as members through the years.

Some of the best times, as I’m sure early members will remember, were the events held at the Ekka Grounds by the CCC, The World Of Dogs Spectaculars, the forerunners of the Pet Expos. These were held in order that Clubs could display their dogs in a setting depicting their country of origin, and attracted large numbers of visitors. Remembering that at that time the country of origin of our breed was considered to be England, the backgrounds had to be appropriate.

Members really threw themselves into preparing for those. The England of the early years of the 20th century was chosen for the setting, though later displays moved to the leisurely world of the striped jackets and boaters. Members scoured second hand shops, Op. shops, for appropriate clothes and the men busied themselves building the ‘backdrop’. There were to be 3 sections ’At Home’, ’Picnic’ ‘Field’. In the feeling of great enthusiasm, a ‘waterfall’ was added, (even a few ducklings swam at the base) and a member, Des Shepherd, who was our first electronics ‘nerd’, set up a closed circuit television set through which was played a melody ‘The Golden Retriever’ composed by a member’s ‘Country Music’ brother.. Of course Goldens were there in force then and in every following year. Well, it wasn’t the greatest result, by any standard, but it was great fun, and gave ideas for the following year.

The Sectioned Theme was set up again the next year, with a somewhat improved result, more members became involved, adults and children alike enjoyed the ‘dressing up’ in those period clothes, the women AND the men - who looked dashing in their striped blazers and boaters - did set the scene nicely. There was a slight intake of breath when someone entered the picnic’ area in ‘normal’ attire, but it added to the fun.

Next time the setting was widened to allow a nursery: Enid Beal, Di’s lovely mother, took on the part of the Nursery Maid with her cot load of puppies, a member from Toowoomba had the most marvellous Puppet Show, (sad to say his name escapes me) and after months of paper flower making evenings a Gazebo was again erected and covered with the flowers. Goldens and their owners made a very attractive picture under the Gazebo. A Special Mention’ was the reward for that display.

Which gave ambition to do better ‘next year’. So the ‘Golden Park’ followed: another Gazebo, again covered with flowers, enough shrubs and flowers to provide the park setting, a Vintage Car, loaned to the Club by the Gold Coast Museum (it helped that our then President, David Graham was friend to the owner), and numbers of Goldens with their smartly dressed owners. We did win the trophy that year for the best display (I wonder what happened to that trophy?), cheers and celebrations all around.

The final year that the event was held we made a truly spectacular decision, the words disastrous and manic come to mind: we would take the Giant Step for Goldens and send them into SPACE. The rocket was built by Ed Atkinson, members came up with the zaniest outfits (though thankfully the Goldens were spared that indignity) but - all in all we eventually decided that we really should have stayed on Planet Earth! The result - somewhat fantastic, and one to laugh about - but still enjoyable. Of course we were sure that our Display was NOT the Council’s determining factor in its decision to cancel any further Spectaculars!

I’ve emphasised these events in particular because though there were many other gatherings, including Field Trials held with the aid of UFTA, Christmas parties at various locations, social evenings, etc. the Spectaculars seem to exemplify those feelings of fellowship, excitement, and fun which abounded, perhaps because they particularly enabled most of the members of the Club to participate: a ‘spirit of Camaraderie’ would describe it well. Those times epitomized everything a Club should be, a gathering of people from all walks of life enjoying the most wonderful spirit of friendship.

Whilst Durack Showgrounds are in a class of their own, before they came about the early shows were held at our own choice of venue, which enabled us to have the entire area to ourselves, which was really especially enjoyable. It was also possible, in those times, at All Breed Shows, to have dogs ringside with their owners who could then watch the Group judging without concern for the welfare of the dogs, and therefore gain more knowledge of other breeds - always useful knowledge in breeding. I felt that opportunity was lost at Durack.

Many people contributed to the success of the Club in its beginning, and they were very happy times indeed. Enthusiasm was a strong force in gaining its reputation of being among the very best and friendliest Clubs in the Queensland Dog World, an accolade recognised by the CCC. Sadly, many members have moved on and away from the Club, and I’m sure their loss is sincerely felt, though happily some are still valuable members, and the members of today, I feel confident, are carrying on those early traditions of fellowship.

Hopefully the photographs - though somewhat faded - will bring back good memories to those who were there as well as enjoyment to the members of today.

Hope Phillipson. A Founder Member.