Bowling club formed 50 years ago
Umina Beach Women's Bowling Club was formed on November 22, 1959, at Umina Progress Hall with 17 members.
President Pauline Ford and secretary Evelyn Peck of the Brisbane Water District Women's Association, now called Central Coast Women's Bowling Association, attended this meeting.
The foundation officers elected were president Ellen McEwen, secretary Hilda Neighbour, treasurer Marj Brown and vice presidents Phoebe Barrow and Alice Richards.
Among the first names mentioned in the early records are those of S Burcher, M Foley, A McLeod, E Luxton, I Verell, A Armstrong, L Plastlo, M Johnston, I Wickerson (the club's first life member), M Warnecke, P Neve, E Crummy and F Hook.
President Ellen McEwan, Mac as she was known, was a familiar figure riding to the club on her bicycle.
She did much to get the club underway in 1959 and gathered a small band of women around her to get the club functional.
Unlike many other clubs, the men of the Umina Beach Bowling Club welcomed the women bowlers, even before the completion of their clubhouse.
As the first green at Umina wasn't functional until September 1960, the Umina women took up the offer of sister club Woy Woy to use their greens for play.
Ms Marj Brown followed Ms McEwan as president in 1961 and relinquished the presidency 12 months later to Ms Edith Luxton.
The women had to bring their own crockery and cutlery to help with afternoon tea as well as some appetising food.
Ms Luxton was president for four years during which time she presided at the official opening of the Umina Beach Women's Bowling Club by NSWWBA President E Luscombe on March 22, 1966.
This official day was also attended by CCDWBA president Jess Gallagher.
Membership was initially limited to 60.
In 1969-70, membership was increased to 100 with six women waiting to be admitted.
Also during this year, the first President's Day was held with president Madge Johnston being in office at the time.
The club's current membership is 163 and its highest membership was recorded at 243 in 2000.
Email, 11 Nov 2009
Kaye Cavanagh, Umina Beach Women's Bowling Club