one just begun. It is unlikely that John Lennon ever played golf and the platypus is clutching for words.

Circumstances have prevented any golf over the past month. What with the finger nail of home renovations, a lightning trip to Melbourne and a pulled hammy, when the body over-ruled the mind, in an athletic encounter with a class of nine year olds, golf has not been possible.

Circumstances have also prevented the acquisition of the latest results as the books are still with the auditor. In the meanwhile an outgoing committee has been acknowledged and a new one elected with the usual suspects volunteering for the executive. How many clubs and organisations are like this? Claire Sutherland was allegedly the Secretary of the hospital auxiliary for over 42 years!

Every year groups of people put their collective hands up to run a club, a committee, to organise a particular event or, because no one else is prepared to have a go. So, a debt of gratitude to all the volunteers as without you what would be left of this community?

Golfers also owe a particular debt of gratitude to those volunteers with the foresight, energy and wherewithal to build the course and to the BSC for its continuing support. To the managing committee of the BSC and to Luke and Les for their efforts: many thanks. Where would we be without the club?

Next in line in the gratitude stakes are the sponsors, both corporate and individual. Some receive kudos and a tax deduction for every dollar spent. Others are anonymous or absent while others play almost every week. All find that giving is often better than receiving.

Frank Williams and Rob Dillon deserve special praise for their efforts as Pennants captains. Both teams made the final with the old Masters successful. Congratulations to Jackie Clark and Mike Toirkens for their championship wins and to Pat Martin for winning this year’s Caltex Allrounder Scholarship.

A final thankyou to all those who helped make golf possible in 2012 and to the editor for her willingness to accommodate Monkittee’s vagaries.

And to the Crow our special thoughts go out to you as we wind down another year. And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun. The near and the dear one, the old and the young.

n Chilean needle grass early in the New Year, so keep an eye out for further details. In the meantime, for further information, please do not hesitate to contact our consulting agronomist, Roger Garnsey through Landmark Daniel Walker on 02 48 422405. Acknowledgements: Chilean Needle Grass National Best Practice Management Manuel, DPI Vic.