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Foundation Committee
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President -
P.J. Cahill
1955-1970
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Hon Treas-
W.F. Jackson .
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Hon Sec-
O.S. Barton
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Hon Asst Sec-
G Buckley.
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1955 Foundation
Members
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(still current members)
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Neville Crocket Barry
Tallbot
Jack Hodson
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Tom (Gus) Sheppard
John(Pat) Sheehan
Leighton Ireland
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George Stokes
Bill Stockwell
Terry Watts
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Collin Coulton Ramsay Buckley
James Waite
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George Buckton Allan
Brotherton
Bill Jamieson
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Lesley Hunter
Allan
Hunter
Mervin Squires
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Colin (Mick) Howe
John
Hudson Donald Street
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Lesley Owen Bob Wilkinson
William Sneddon
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John Sullivan George
Kidd
Max Blanch
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Russell Naughton Joe Parkinson
Before the
foundation of the Sportsman’s Club, the sporting codes using the
ovals spent many hours in “working bees” to maintain their playing
fields. The major clubs using the fields saw fit to form a
licensed club with the aim of fostering sport and maintaining the
ovals. An invitation to all sports codes was extended and only
cricket, baseball and rugby league took up the challenge.
After a couple of years of operation the “club” found it was
possible to employ a full time curator. Keith Nancarrow was
appointed and sportsmen of those days are aware of the wonderful
grounds he prepared.
In 1957 the Speedway track around the main ground was removed and
in 1959 a complete reconstruction of Cahill (no 1) oval was
carried out. Under the guidance of Keith Nancarrow. 30cms of coal
ash, topped with 12cms of Maitland loam and seeded with
South African couch grass the playing surface became in all
opinion the equal to the S.C.G.
At the same time the spear
-point watering system was located and updated in the north
eastern corner of the present clubhouse and provided adequate
water for both Cahill (No 1) and Miller (No 2) Ovals. Miller
Pavilion was erected, turf wickets laid on Miller (No 2) and the
hill formed around Cahill (No !). Today grass forms the main
coverage. All this work at the expense to the Club.
Miller Field has been moved twice since its early construction,
once in 1970 to allow for extensions to the Club and car park and
then again to relocate farther away from Glover St, and
residences. In the early days many a cricket or baseball would be
retrieved from the clubhouse roof. Some Club glass doors and
windows were also broken.
A council garbage dump was located around Barton Oval and when
closed early 1970’s Barton Fields and Lumsdon Fields were
developed with sand pumped from Rutile mining in the area. These
fields cater for Rugby League, Cricket , Baseball, Australian
Rules and all Schools sports programs.
Since the Club took over maintenance responsibilities we have had
a number of members of ground staff who have done wonderful jobs
with those who have taken up most of the fifty years of head
grounds man being Keith Nancarrow, Darryl Crockett, and Russell
Neal.
The
Belmont Sports grounds have been and still remain property
of the community of Lake Macquarie and as such are under the
administration of the Belmont Ovals Board which allocates
usage ,meets various maintenance costs And relies on the
“Sporties” to carry out a maintenance program which provides a
huge benefit to sports clubs and schools enabling us to meet one
of our obligations to sport, an original commitment agreed upon
fifty years ago
The Belmont
Sporties has always participated in the local community through
its sponsorship of the charities and local sporting bodies, and
this year introduced its new Sponsorship Program
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