Curlewis has always been a community minded settlement banding together to help each other out and assisting the village to grow.
One of the many community projects undertaken over the years is the now very popular Curlewis Golf Club.
The same spirit that established the club in the early 1980s, was raised again when members provided all labour for the new dining room constructed in 1994.
The extension was officially opened by then Mayor of Gunnedah John Lyle on November 5, that year.
Cr Lyle praised the energy and spirit of the members at a dinner attended by a total of 120 members and guests.
The new amenity was a far cry from the first club house – an old tin shed, originally the horse stables on the Curlewis Recreation Ground.
The 12-hole sand green course had been a popular addition to the village recreation ground and the club became affiliated with the Northern Tablelands District Golf Association in 1985.
The decision to proceed with the project was made in August that year and the first working bee was held in September but with the volunteers putting their hearts and souls into the project it was completed within 42 working days – built, lined, painted and fitted out.
Close to 30 members attended the main working bees on Saturdays and Sundays but there was always someone working on the site every day.
The project was completed with only hours to spare – as one committee member said: “the paint had hardly dried by the time the opening function was held”.
The future was looking good for the club with a turnover the previous year of $36,000 raising hopes of building on that figure by making the new dining room available for hire for parties or meetings.
Committee member Don Tunningley commented at the time that the club was successful because of its “excellent atmosphere”.
The club champions for that year were also announced at the function with Don Tunningley winning the title for the first time while Margaret Campbell won the women’s title for the second year in a row. The nett consistency over the year was won by Mark Chiplin.
“Curlewis has always been well-known for its community spirit and the golf club is a fine example,” Cr Lyle said at the function.
“Right from the early days, members have been prepared to pitch in and have a go and what has been achieved here is a great credit to them.”
Curlewis golf club with the 1994 dining room extension on the right.