Four directors, three sitting for the first time and one returning after an absence of two years, have been confirmed as elected to the Golf NSW Board for 2022/23 following the organisation’s Annual General Meeting, which was held online this evening.
Returning to the board after serving a mandatory stand-down period are former Golf NSW Chair, Mr Peter Mitchell from Duntryleague in Orange, and first-time directors Ms Tegan Purcell of Wagga Wagga Country Club, Mr Stephen Browne from Killara Golf Club and Mr Matthew Ward of Port Kembla Golf Club.
The four join the board following the stand down of Ms Meralyn Fage, Mr Les Wallace, and Mr Grant Harding, whose terms expired this year. Mr Peter Ipkendanz, while eligible for re-election, chose not to recontest his position.
Ms Tegan Purcell, the head professional at Wagga Wagga Country Club, joins the board after serving in several roles in the sport, both in a working capacity and as a volunteer. These roles included various committee positions at Avondale & The Highlands Golf Clubs and on several Golf NSW committees, including the Golf NSW Advisory and Golf committee.
Mr Stephen Browne, a member of Killara Golf Club, has been an avid golfer for over 40 years and is involved in the club’s successful cadet program.
In his professional life, Mr Browne is the executive director of Xceedence Australia and a recent graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.
Mr Matthew Ward has been involved with the sport for over 40 years and is a current member of the Golf Committee at Port Kembla. He has represented the club and the region as a competitive golfer and is the club’s A-Grade pennant captain.
Mr Ward is the Facilities Manager for Cleanaway Waste Management and looks after several critical areas of the business, including its relationship with the globally diversified mining and metals company, South32.
Mr Peter Mitchell returns to the Golf NSW Board following a two-year absence. A retired Real Estate Agent, Mr Mitchell has held many roles within the Central West District and with Golf NSW.
The four directors join the Chairman, Mr Michael Medway, Mr Frank Gal, Ms Lyn Cooper, Ms Kaye Dalton, Ms Mandy Henry (all of whom were not up for re-election) and the appointed director, Mr Andrew Fraser, on the Golf NSW board.
Mr Medway thanked the outgoing Board members during the meeting, noting their tireless contribution to the organisation through several difficult periods, including the 2019 drought and bushfires, the COVID Pandemic and, more recently, the flooding crisis gripping the state.
“Golf NSW has faced significant challenges over the last three years, and each departing director has made a substantial contribution to the organisation.
“Through the advocacy of Grant, Les, Peter & Merilyn, regional
considerations have been at the forefront of the board’s decision-making process, and the improvements made in this space have been considerable.
“They leave a legacy for which they should all be proud of and for which we are grateful,” Mr Medway said.
*Feature Image: The incoming Golf NSW Directors are clockwise from top-left: Mr Stephen Browne, Ms Tegan Purcell, Mr Peter Mitchell and Mr Matthew Ward.