Lenswood Memorial Park Inc~ History

Established Nov 1946 Incorporated Feb 1947

Volume 712. Folio 29 & Volume 1907 Folio 26

1924 – Property of Ben Lawrance, looking east from Hill 1932 – Property of Ben Lawrance, looking east from Hill

1940 – Property of Ben Lawrance, looking west towards Hill 1940’s –Lawrance family standing on bridge across the creek

Benjamin Lawrance purchased the land from George Monks in 1920. In 1944 it was sold to Mrs M Hales. Lawrance held a £1200 mortgage on the land.

Citizen’s meeting : 6 Nov 194627 November 1946

Ask community to donate £2,500 – whole purchase price

11 December 1946

£600 raised by donationDecided to ask public for loans

19 December 1946

Full amount required raised – 2% interest to be paid on loans

5 February 1947

First AGMConstitution plannedFirst committee President – H.K. Caldicott Secretary - S.N. Norton C.G. Mason, S.E. Green, E.L. GilesSubscriptions 1/-

7 May 1947 Some loans repaid (after selling of apple crop on land)

4 June 1947 Sale of farming items purchased with land.

30 July 1947 Central Cricket Ground offered income from pines on that land (Forest Range near Ford) towards Lenswood Memorial Park.Decided to plant pines on land (4 acres) across creek and to retain and rent the house at this time.Social Committee formed – Miss. M. Vickers, Mrs H.K. Caldicott, Mrs L. Burke, Mrs E.L. Giles, Don Kumnick, George Schultz, A.L. Vickers, Don Green, Ron Probert, Les Green, Brian Vickers, Bryant Giles.

1946 - 1947

6 August 1947

Advice sought from Town Planner re layout of facilities. A plan was developed

10 November 1947

Land exchange with H. Schultz. Some land across, some of it across the creek, was exchanged for land on the road side.Initial plan final and placed on board at Cold Store for public discussion.

4 February 1948

Subscriptions increased to 5/-

5 May 1948 J.V. Green asked to scoop and grade the land. Council asked for grader to finish surface.

14 July 1948 2000 pines given by Mr Fred Brockhoff (note that some of these died and were replaced by donations from other residents over the coming year).

1947 - 1948 - Development of facilities

Arbor day - 23 July 1948 planting dayChronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 5 August 1948, page 11

Development of facilities1949 Plan : 4 tennis courts at southern end of ground, with club house; oval with pavilion on

western side; bowling green in north west corner, croquet green in north west corner; children's play ground to east near ‘Government Road; basket ball court with rustic shelter.

Official opening : 19499 April 1949 Official opening – Premier Tom Playford.

Gala ball at Mission Hall.

4 May 1949 Football Club apply to use oval for 1949 season.Barricade planned to protect orchard of F.W. Green.

12 August 1949

Trees planted around boundaries.

9 November 1949

Plan for laying two tennis courts.Bowling Green deferred.

3 May 1950 Basketball court surfaced but Tennis courts still not started.

19 July 1950 Unorganised sport by local residents permitted on Sunday mornings.

2 March 1951 Gala days had been held almost annually

4 April 1951 Children's’ playground equipment purchased although not erected for over a year.

18 July 1951 Decided to sell house on Park land, by tender.

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Thursday 7 April 1949, page 6

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Friday 2 March 1951, page 13

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Wednesday 26 September 1951, page 5

1952 - 195930 July 1952 Oval per year £10

Tennis Courts per year £10Basket Ball Courts per year £5

4 November 1953

Planning for building at the Park – finally finished late 1956.

28 January 1957

Gala night fair - featured weight throwing, tractor backing, barbeque, cake stall, jumble stall, entry 2/- (children free).

11 October 1958

Karen Kumnick was asked to act as Junior Queen for the Xmas Carnival and Sue Conlon asked to act as attendant.

5 November 1958

Guy Fawkes night successful and this event continued for a number of years. In 1961 a ‘lovely legs’ competition and a display by the Adelaide Archer Club was included in the event. Regular competitions included childrens’ competitions, tractor backing and a 100 yard race. Stalls raised much needed funds and there was the obligatory chocolate wheel. A house of horrors was often a feature. The Rural Youth Club assisted with the events.

26 February 1959

Park building to be painted green and white.

Lenswood Basketball - Joy Schapel, Jill Schultz, Pam Rowley, Velma

Bridges, Barbara Joyce, Kay Fullston :: Dorothy Bonython,

Judith Bridges

Lenswood Basketball - Janine Croft, Ann Pfieler, Kay Fullston

(capt), Helen Stott, Pam Bennett :: Kath Joyce, Gay Schultz, Brenda

Stott

Swamp Road, including oval looking

north. 1963.

1961 - 19639 June 1961

Memorial Archway completed and front fence planned.

21 July 1961

Two ‘dressing room’ and a shower room additions planned for Park Hall.

4 April 1962

Hall floor discussions had continued for a number of years. The floor had ‘bumps as the dampness caused a problem with any flooring plans. Grading of land outside the hall was planned to encourage better drainage. An underground drain was also planned across the front. Extra vents were also added at each end.Table Tennis begins to use the hall.

1962 - 1963

In July 1962 Bill Joyce suggested an Apple Festival to raise funds - a committee formed to investigate similar events around Australia. Planning continued over the coming year. Friday 22 – Sunday 24 March planned.Other apple regions joined the committee for planning and spreading the workload.Queen competition and a Ball were proposed. The Queens represented their region and part of the judging was based on the amount of money they raised.A new bridge provided access for picnics across the creek.

Table tennis move to the Park.

1965 - 197528 July 1965 Planning commences to add a veranda at the front of the hall.

17 May 1966 Gymnasium Club started to use the hall.

13 October 1966

20th anniversary celebrations planned

29 September 1975

2000 feet of drainage laid under the oval and the surface reseeded. The wet land near the creek on SWAMP road continues to plague the Park.Wall in front of the Hall also erected.

Lenswood Ranges Football Colts - Runners-up - 1969

Ian Leslie, Gordon Mason, John Muller

Kym Green, Barry Hewlett, Peter East, Ian East, Gary Peterson

Chris Conlon, Peter Probert, David Osborne, Colin Plummer, David Coulter, Peter Mason

Robert Schultz, Graeme Green, Graham Edwards (Cap), Bill Joyce (Coach), David Schultz (V Cap), Peter Redden,

Neil Cramond

1981 - 199028 August 1981 The creek running along the back of the Hall has, on occasion, flooded with various impacts on the

building. In 1981 it was noted that the piano was re-tuned after the flood. Keeping the piano in tune in that wet environment was a constant battle for many years.

7 August 1985 Lenswood Fitness Club joined the Park.Football and Netball no longer used the facilities, but remained affiliated.

7 August 1987 Robe Mason Pavilion erected in memory of the long service Robe gave to the Park.New fences erected and the Hall was painted.Tennis Club planned the concreting of the courts.A social club was again formed.

10 September 1989 Some of the Netball Club were noted to have moved to Forest Range courts.

Lenswood Ranges Football A cricket Mt Barker & Eastern Hills Premiers - 1979-80

Brenton Conlon, Graeme Green, Gordon Mason, Daryl Pollard, Mark Joyce, John McInnes (Insert)

Colin Plummer, Kym Norton (V Cap), John Plummer (Cap), Dean Brock, Trevor Plummer

1992 - 199521 July 1992

New constitution.Forest Range Junior Soccer affiliated.Hall was reroofed and floor cemented.The tennis shed was reroofed and the netball court resurfaced.Two karoke nights raised money for the Tennis Club and an auction and festival were held.

27 July 1993

Floor surface laid.

After two year’s planning new playground equipment installed (grant from Council, funds from Ladies Committee and donation from Lions Club).Fund raising was a Talent night, Deb ball

19 October 1994

No festival – fund raising was Talent night, Old Style Dance

31 July 1995

Garden at front of hall replanted.Talent night and Family Dance.

30 August 1996

New gutters, fascia, roof tek-screwed, external painting, new cement laid in front of hall oval lights repaired and new toilet block completed.A party for any reason - ‘Toilet block’ openingWelcome by Bill JoyceRibbon cutting by Emily Rowley

Old playground

199128 August 1991 The Ladies Committee ceased operation.

After years of battling wood floors damaged by damp a grant to cement the floor was obtained. The Fitness Club moved elsewhere.Major fundraisers for the past year were an auction, Deb ball and festival.

1996 - 1999November 1996

Nov 1996 function to celebrate 50 years was held – displays of memorabilia attracted many former residents back for a chat and afternoon tea.

23 July 1997 Fundraising included line dancing and a Quiz night.Lobethal Football Club affiliated.

24 August 1998

Sealed floor, improved the kitchen and curtained the hall.Tourist Association Apple and Wine FairKaraoke night, quiz night, Football reunion was major function.

11 October 1999

Raising funds for new roof.

Lenswood Memorial Park IncHistory

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