v) For the Duration: 1939 - 1945
World War II forms a long interval in the story of the Ipswich Golf Club - an interval which was essentially extended an extra three years because of the post-war decision to move to a new site.
The most obvious effect of the war was the smaller numbers as members enlisted. Staff levels were also affected - the Club’s professional Fred Anderson enlisted in 1940 and greenkeeper Jack Phillips in 1942. The remaining members, many in reserved occupations such as Railways, struggled to keep the course in order. Jack Dixon was particularly mentioned on several occasions and Col Cameron kept the clubhouse going, while the Associates took charge of the bar several days a week. However the number of Associates also began to dwindle as women enlisted in women’s services or carried out war work. They were usually given leave of absence "for the duration of the war," a recurrent phrase which soon became "for the Duration". Associates who were absent included Club Champion and Queensland State Representative Doreen Galligan.
Even the Associates’ electric urn was lent to the All Services Hut "for the Duration". RAAF wives were offered half-fee Associate membership and social members became important, attending mainly for fundraising activities but also entitled to play a few non-competitive rounds.
Rationing soon caused more difficulties. Petrol rationing reduced the number of visits to other clubs and the usual hearty afternoon teas had to be curtailed when it became almost impossible to get commodities such as butter.
The worst shortage was in the most essential item, golf balls. Players used two balls, a good one on the greens and a very old one on the fairways which were sometimes in poor condition because of lack of maintenance. Old balls were collected and reconditioned and the arrival of a dozen new balls was so important that it was recorded in "the minutes".
In 1940, the Army took over the Ipswich Showgrounds and the adjacent Sandy Gallop Golf Club as a Field Hospital. The dispossessed Sandy Gallop members were offered membership at Ipswich. Service personnel stationed at Redbank or Amberley were also offered honorary membership; many of these visiting players were excellent golfers and one American, Master Sergeant Quinn, recorded a hole in one.
At one low point during the War, the Club was said to have only 14 active permanent members. By 1944, it had become impossible to maintain the entire course without a greenkeeper and only 11 holes were in use. A new 18-hole circuit was evolved over the 11 holes - "for the Duration".
The only bright spot in this period was that in spite of low membership, the Club showed a healthy credit balance for the first time in many years. This was because there was virtually no wages bill and expenditure in almost every area had been reduced.
The Club at an earlier stage had issued debentures to cover costs, but in 1943, the credit balance allowed the debenture holders to be paid out. The debt on the machinery used on the course was also completely wiped out.
Wartime fundraising
Most normal competition play was abandoned during the war and golfers devoted a lot of time and energy to patriotic fundraising. Bridge afternoons were popular and most local golf competitions had fundraising as a major aim. The money raised was donated to the Patriotic Fund, Comforts Fund, Red Cross, All Services Hut and British Relief Fund. Money was also invested in the Victory Loan.
A specific golf activity during the war was the War Chest Fund. When War broke out, the Queensland Ladies’ Golf Union immediately decided to help the nation’s Patriotic Fund and in October 1939, a subcommittee was formed to run the "QLGU War Chest Fund"
Country clubs were asked to help the Fund by holding a special competition once a month for a medal supplied by the Union. Metropolitan clubs were asked to make voluntary contributions from competition funds and to hold Patriotic Open days instead of Pennant matches.
The supply of medals must have started to run out because by 1941, clubs were asked to give some other form of trophy once a War Chest medal had been won by a particular player. By 1943, winners were offered a choice between a medal and a spoon. Later in 1943, spoons were to be given to any club for a Mixed Foursome on a Patriotic Golf day. In August 1944, the supply of both medals and spoons was exhausted.
The QLGU War Chest Fund closed in November 1945 having raised 3462 pounds which was spent on an ambulance, fitting out and maintaining the recreation room at Lady Wilson Convalescent Home at Chelmer, a mobile kitchen, a mobile trailer, equipment.
Some of these special spoons for the War Chest Fund were found recently and are on display at the Ipswich clubhouse.
Peace at last
The end of the war in 1945 was marked with a Victory Cup in August, won by Lloyd Hogan. The committee commented on the small band of people who had held the club together during the war, and immediately planned to reappoint a greenkeeper and rehabilitate the course back to 18 holes.
In spite of a big effort, this goal had not been achieved by opening day in 1946 when the inside portion of the course was not quite ready for play. However the Club welcomed a field of 50 and the return of many popular players such as Doreen Galligan, Norm Aylward and Mrs Selina Thomas.
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