KULJAK HISTORY

Inaugurated:    23rd September 1963
Incorporated:  13th March 2001
(last edited 12 February 2011)

Harold Horner completed a paper titled GENESIS OF THE KULJAK CLUB when he retired in 1990.  His words are reproduced:

When the first Australian overseas touring team returned in 1962, the Western Australian members were high in praise of the reception they received in the House of Commons Dining Hall, where they were guests of the Centurion Old Players Club at their Annual Dinner.  Letters to the Centurion Club President, Jack Winkley-Heaword, and their Hon. Secretary, Mr J R Gomersall, brought a copy of their constitution, full details of their operations and heartening good wishes to us in our efforts to form an Old Players and Supporters Club on similar lines.

On the 5th June, 1963, a letter was sent to each club secretary requesting the names and addresses of all known old players and supporters.  The response was most gratifying.  As a result, 325 invitations were posted for a Buffet tea and inaugural meeting to be held at the Wembley Lodge, Cambridge Street, on 23rd September, 1963.  Seventy nine accepted the invitation.

Following a most enjoyable buffet meal, Laurie Turnbull, who had been Manager of the Australian team, so generously feted at the House of Commons, gave an outline of the value to lacrosse England of the Centurion Club and of the part played in retaining the interest and companionship of players who had “hung up their boots”.

Formation of the Club
A motion to this effect, moved Phil Byers and seconded by Alec Newton, was carried unanimously, and so history was made.

Office Bearers
            President:        Harold Horner             Vice Pres:                    Eric Biddle
            Hon Sec:         Luke Pitsikas               Hon Treasurer:            Alec Brown
            Hon Auditor:  Steve Ryan                  Committee Member:   Len Berry

Name of Club
A search at the Public Library for aboriginal words for “black swan” and “boomerang” had disclosed that, throughout Australia, there were 43 words for the former and more than 20 for the latter.  From a short list of these, and bearing in mind euphony and simplicity, members voted to adopt the word KULJAK, meaning “black swan”, the Western Australian emblem.

Thus the English Centurion Club had brought forth an off-spring which was destined to play a significant part in Australian lacrosse activities in succeeding years.

Constitution
By-law 5 states Kuljak’s objectives to be:

• to further the game of lacrosse
• to provide a club for supporters and retired players
• to encourage the game of lacrosse
• to encourage the provision and training of suitable persons for the panel of referees.

Contribution
(a)        Membership
At the inaugural function on 23/9/1963 there were 64 in attendance.  As was to be expected, as the first wave of enthusiasm passed, membership for 1964 fell to 49.  Thereafter has been a steady build-up until 1986, we had 116 fully financial members.

Objectives
In the last issue of the Lacrosse Gazette, a detailed account was given of how Kuljak had measured up to its stated objectives under By-laws 5 (b) and (c) of its constitution, i.e. providing a club for supporters and retired players and encouraging the game of lacrosse amongst players.  Now we will examine Kuljak’s activities in the remaining objectives of Bylaw 5, namely:-
(a)       to further the game of lacrosse, and
(d)      to encourage the provision and training of suitable persons for the panel of referees.

Contributions            A
By-laws           5          (a)        Furthering the game of lacrosse

• Social Functions:        

Following the inaugural Buffet Dinner, held at Wembley Lodge on 23rd September1963, the Annual Dinner functions, held successively at Air Force House, Adelaide Terrace, Perth, the Air Force Association Country Club, Booragoon and, since 1975, at the Pirates Den, East Fremantle, under management of Kuljak member, Kel East, were used by Kuljak to aid the WALA in entertaining groups of interstate and overseas lacrosseurs as follows;-
Senior Championships: 1972 and 1977
Colts Championships:              1969, 1975 and 1980
Junior Championship;               1966 and 1970
Overseas Teams:                       Lancers from Baltimore-1970
                                                 USA World Series Team and supporters- 1974

• River Cruises:            

1965 - Senior Championship players and supporters
1969 - Colts Championships and visiting Women’s World Series Teams from USA, UK and the Eastern States.

• Financial Aid for WA members of Australian Touring Teams in 1967 and 1975.

• Aid in the 1980 Financial Crisis of the WALA:          Free of interest loan                $600

Gift by Kuljak Members        $432

Contributions:           B
By-laws           5          (d)       Referees
Whilst most referees have been members of Kuljak since its formation in 1963, this situation arose; it should be clearly stated, by personal choice.  Despite the fact that the fourth objective of Kuljak’s constitution has been re-stated many times to members, it would appear that a group of retired players is not a fertile ground for referee recruitment.  And yet, sound referee recruitment is the Achilles Heel of lacrosse in W. A.
What is the answer?  Kuljak regrets it cannot find the answer.  Perhaps the solution lies within each Club, in two specific areas;-

• A positive policy of strong encouragement of each player, as he reaches retirement age, to give at least his first year or two of retirement to refereeing.
• An all-out effort by the responsible, thinking members of each Club to train ALL their players accept, WITHOUT QUESTION, the decision of referees as final.  By doing this, Clubs will very quickly establish an atmosphere, on and off the field, which will enable referees to enjoy their work, as they enjoy playing lacrosse.  This will then have the ultimate spin-off value of conditioning their retiring players to WANTING to referee.

Contribution:             C
By-law                        5          (c)        Encouragement of juniors

• At the Gala day on16/7/1966, President Biddle, presented new crosses to needy players from Bayswater-Midland, Nedlands-Subiaco, South Perth and Wembley.
• Four frames (new) were donated in 1967 to the newly formed junior team at the Salvation Army Centre at Subiaco.
• Through the agency of the late Clive Hickey, a crosse was donated in 1968, to a worthy player in the South Fremantle High school team.  In the same year, 5 more crosses were subsidized to 50% of the same high school and 6 crosses, similarly subsidized, for Hamilton High School juniors.  In the following year a crosses was made available in like vein to the following clubs: Bayswater, Fremantle, Nollamara and South Perth.  Again, in 1970, Melville City was the recipient of 6 crosses, also 50% subsidized.
• Three more high schools benefitted from Kuljak aid in 1971, as follows: City Beach and Como- 2 crosses and 2 goalie face masks to each school; and 6 crosses to John Forrest High School.  The following year saw 6 crosses made available to Hampton High School in response to an appeal from their sponsor, Jim Graham.  This Club failed to form so the crosses were made available to the newly formed Northern Suburbs Lacrosse Council, as sponsors of the Wanneroo and District Club.  Subsequently, however, the Hampton High Club did not form; the cost of the 6 promised crosses was met by the WALA until Kuljak was in a financial position to refund the cost of the crosses to our parent body in 1974.
• In 1974 members of the once powerful, but defunct, Mt Lawley Lacrosse Club, through Len Berry, donated its accumulated funds of $52.44 to Kuljak for use in furthering lacrosse among juniors.  To this end, Kuljak supplemented this sum of money sufficiently to donate to Rossmoyne High School a new set of goals in the 1975 season.
• An appeal, in 1977, by the Hon Secretary of the Wanneroo District Lacrosse Club for financial aid to extend the junior team led to the granting of $100.  In the same year an appeal by Mr P. R. Stratton for 25 balls costing $1.50 each for use on behalf of WALA and coaches conducting special training courses for juniors was gladly met.  In 1978 a further donation of $60.00 was made to Wanneroo Districts to help them maintain their fine recruiting drive for junior members.
• In 1980 a donation of $100 to the constituted South Perth Club, now located in Canning as the Canning Club, was wisely used by the club with matching payment by the Club and a small contribution by each junior player, to provide crosses for a full team from Riverton Primary school.
• This year, 1982, sees our most adventurous move into the provision of crosses, when, on behalf of Kuljak, Mr. Murray Redfern, Manager Australian team competing in the World Series at Baltimore USA will bring back souvenir crosses marked appropriately, for each of our clubs, to be held as a club crosse and used as each club sees fit to help junior players from time to time who is having stick trouble.

Annual dinner: these crosses were on display at Kuljak’s Annual Dinner at Kel East’s Pirate Den on Tuesday, 17th August, and were made available then through Club in attendance or later by private delivery.
NOTE: If all this equipment donated and subsidized by Kuljak was brought together at one time, it would supply the entire D Grade completion of today – including goals, balls and face masks.  A tremendous contribution to lacrosse.
 
Service to Lacrosse and the Community:  In opening the 20th Annual General Meeting on 20th Aug 1982 at Perry Lakes Stadium, President, Colin Mounsey made special mention of awards recently made to:
Laurie Turnbull O.B.E.
Hugh Rudderham O.A.
For outstanding service to lacrosse and the community.

Members expressed high praise of the retiring President, now in his second and final year, for his fine brand of leadership and his use of administrative experience so effectively furthering Kuljak’s objectives.

Membership:     102
Finance:            Bank Balance:           Opened at $1097.18   Closed at: $1323.53
Hon Treasurer:  Jim Craig
Hon Auditor:    Luke Pitsikas

21st Annual General Meeting:                      Under incoming President, Howard Knight.
Aid to juniors: Resolved to donate one crosse to each club to be engraved KULJAK and to be used, for preference, among juniors.  Cost to Kuljak - $280.
Historian needed: All material collected over many years by the late Joe Carden on matters to do with lacrosse and by Kuljak’s Vice President, Laurie Turnbull on ALC and international lacrosse development concerning Australia was crying out for an Association Historian.  Could Kuljak help?

A special General Meeting, called before 69 members attending Kuljak’s Annual Dinner at the Pirate Den on Tuesday the 17th Aug 1982, carried the following motion unanimously: that Kuljak finance the purchase of a file, plastic envelopes, cream-laid paper and meet the cost of photocopying as required in order to lay the basis for a history of WALA from currently held newspaper clippings and Annual Reports, together with any similar clippings and reports which could be borrowed.
Kuljak’s Hon Secretary, Harold Horner, volunteered to carry out such mounting and filing as would be required and there were several offers of help with photocopying and seeking of personnel records.

Annual Dinner
An all-time record of 78 members plus a very gratifying response from players of today – 16 attended, representing six clubs.  At the dinner, Kuljak hosted five officials from the South Australian and Victorian touring Junior Champion teams.
Report on the dinner would not be complete without the sincere acknowledgement of the value of Kel East's catering, the quality of the fare and the high standard of service, all of which, no doubt contributed to our record attendance.

1985: Finance:
In accepting from Hon Treasurer, Jim Craig, the very healthy statement as at 25.3.85 of a bank balance $1995.87, President Laurie Turnbull further develop Kuljak’s Committee discussion on financial aid to a particular club and encouragement of junior players by:
(a)     Payment of $200 towards the establishment of Iroquois (Midland) after 24 years “in the wilderness”.
(b)     Donation of 8 sets of Sofcrosse sticks to the WALA to enable lacrosse to be introduced in metropolitan primary schools under the expert direction of Mark Hickey.
(c)     $112.99 on WALA History, to this was added $60 in 1986 for photos for WALA historical records.
(d)     Payment to the WALA of an annual fee of $25 to defray the cost of administrative material supplied to Kuljak throughout the year.
(e)     A Club Badge was struck and 300 were purchased at a cost of $737.  Sale price for these were to be $5.00.  All had been sold by the conclusion of the World Series in July, 1990.

Annual Dinner 1986: 
An outstanding display of memorabilia, including a set of twenty 5 inch x 3 inch colour photographs, covering all who attended 1986 Dinner.  In fact, the following 20 colour photographs of equipment and personnel introduces a considerable proportion of past and present lacrosseurs who have “stood tall” in lacrosse in WA during the past half century.  When, during the evening, an appeal was made by Don Rudderham, Chairman of the 1990 World Series to be held in W.A., calling for helpers in any capacity within reason during the conduct of the Series.  27 Kuljak members signified their readiness to help.

Project for 1987:
With the demise of the Melville City Club, Kuljak was requested by the WALA to make a loan of $500 repayable over three years to the Southern Districts Lacrosse Club in the formation of a Division 1 team.

Trophy Cabinets:
To meet the demands of the WALA that all permanent trophies be retained under lock and key and housed in official premises, President, Peter Reid applied his expertise in this field by preparing plans for two cabinets 6 feet wide, 3 feet high and 1 ft. 6 in deep shelf to accommodate all WALA perpetual trophies and to become, alternately, wall fixtures.  Labour cost for construction was nil, as Thornlie Technical School Principal was only too pleased to have work for his machining and cabinet making apprentices.  The cost of materials was $747.53 and they now permanently housed in the Perry Lakes Stadium Men’s Women’s lacrosse office in charge of Mrs Mavis Owens.

Lacrosse World Series in Perth, 1990:
Kuljak President, Laurie Turnbull in his report following the departure of all participants at the conclusion of the Series, paid a special tribute to the co-ordination displayed by the ALC and WALA through the Series which were, without any doubt, the best ever seen.  Kuljak’s hosting of the Japanese contingent was a remarkable experience for all concerned and the final “farewell” night, held at Noalimba by the Japanese for all Kuljak members who contributed to their 17 day stay in W.A., was an event never to be forgotten.
Laurie extended his thanks to Kuljak’s Executives and Members for their whole hearted support throughout his term, with a special, personal appreciation to Kuljak’s Honorary Secretary Harold Horner, for the dedication he has shown throughout his twenty eight in office.

Kuljak’s Annual General Meeting,
Held 26 /3/1991: In his final report as Hon Secretary Harold detailed Kuljak’s contribution to the World Series as follows:
a)       Ticket sales and control of entry gates at the W.A.C.A. throughout the series.
b)      Supervision of specified areas in the Lillee-Marsh stand.
c)       Provision of private vehicles, or as drivers of hired buses, for daily transport of the Japanese contingent to matches, to practice venues or social purposes during 17 days stay a Noalimba by the 30 member group.
d)      The special “home visit” evening when members and their wives hosted small groups of our Japanese visitors for a greatly appreciated exercise of fraternisation.

This response by members was without doubt the most ambitious project undertaken by Kuljak in its 28 years of existence and earned, from the President and the Coach-Manager Japan Lacrosse Association, the following commendation:
“We would like to thank you; again, for all of the pleasures you have given us during our stay in Australia.  It was, without a doubt, the most memorable experience that we have had since the establishment of lacrosse in Japan”.

Election of a new team of Officers:
After 28 years of faithful service to lacrosse, Kuljak Officers, as a body, had made it known during the past year that, following World Series in WA in 1990, they would retire in favour of a younger group of retired lacrosseurs.  Under retiring President, Mr Laurence Turnbull, and the following Kuljak Officers:
            President                     Mr Terry Riorden
            Vice President             Mr Kel East
            Hon. Secretary            Mr Rob Peirce
            Hon. Treasurer            Mr Ian Toy
            Asst to Sec & Treas    Mr Ken Cooper
            Hon. Auditor              Mr R Smith
A motion moved by Mr Peter Reid and seconded by Mr Luke Pitsikas, that the retiring Hon. Secretary Mr Harold Horner, and Hon Treasurer, Mr Jin Craig, be accorded special acclaim for their untiring work over many years, was carried with acclamation.

Annual Reunion of the “Old Brigade”:
It should be recorded that each since 1992 Kuljak Officers, including all past Presidents who, under our Constitution have the right to serve for only two years, and their wives, meet at selected restaurants to reminisce on times spent under Kuljak’s banner.  Of the many topics arising, the names of three lacrosse minded personnel deserving special mention for aid extended to Kuljak Officers from time to time:

• Mrs Mavis Owens and Mr Malcolm Stokes from the Lacrosse HQ at Perry Lakes Stadium.
• Mr Terry Alllington, Historian of the Australian lacrosse Council, coach of the Victorian Colts team many years ago, and since then, has been a regular member of Kuljak.

The History from 1991

The following is a record the next 20 years (1991 to 2010) of Club history.  Comments amendments, improvements, additions, corrections and suggestions whatever - are most welcome.

After working together for 26 years Harold Horner and Jim Craig retired as Secretary and Treasurer in 1990.  Harold was keen to see that the Club did not falter and he asked Bob Peirce and me (Ian Toy) to nominate as Secretary and Treasurer in 1991.  Roger Smith joined us as the Auditor and Roger continued in this role until 2009.

In 1991 the Club benefitted from a bequest from the estate of the late L M Corbet, past player and keen supporter of the Club and of Western Australian Lacrosse.
The new executive immediately addressed membership numbers, introducing a membership brochure for display at Clubs, actively inviting past players to join or re-join and saw significant growth in the first year to over 90 members.

The following year, 1992, at Ian Toy’s suggestion the Club introduced Life Time Financial Membership subscription and the Kuljak Medal which is awarded annually to the most valuable player in the men’s highest grade Grand Final game.  Later (2010) the Medal was also awarded in the Women’s A Grade Grand Final for the first time.
Next came the club tie to complement the existing badge and these are now worn by members attending the Annual Dinner.  The dinner was the only social gathering on the club calendar and was held at the Bayswater Lacrosse Club.

1994 saw the Club continue the policy of supporting junior lacrosse and a financial contribution to the State U/17 boys’ team was made.
Luke Pitsikas and Eric Biddle joined Harold Horner as Life Members in 1995.  In the same year the Club introduced the Annual Golf Day for members and golfing friends.  Over the years Murray Redfern, Roger Smith and Chas Gates have ensured the day is a success.

In 1998 the Club purchased a public address system and a voice recorder which have been on loan to WALA for use at meetings etc.  The Women’s U/19 World Lacrosse Cup benefited in 1999 when the Club made a financial grant towards the costs of conducting the championships.  In the same year Kuljak donated $250 to the Lacrosse Reference Library being established by WALA.

The Annual dinner was in need of a facelift and it was decided to take up an offer by club members Alan and Ken Stewart.  They suggested we hold the dinner at the social club rooms of the Air Force Retirement Village Bull Creek.

This proved to be a success and the Dinner is now usually attended by 50 or more members and guests.  The dinner is an opportunity to feature Club reunions or a team from the past.

About this time the Club decided to create a collection of photographs of past State Senior Men’s Teams and the collection process was undertaken by Ian Toy.  The Club now has two large folders housing photographs of all the teams from 1926 to 1990 for display.

As Harold Horner mentioned in his history notes the Club had a set of bylaws/rules and an unofficial constitution.  To make the Club “legal” it was incorporated under a new Constitution (Rules) in 2001 and established a policy document to provide guidance on how best to administer the Club.

2002 was the year the Club saw the passing of its founding President and Life Member Harold Horner.

In 2003 the Club President (Don Rudderham) suggested the idea of having a social event that was suitable for both members and partners.  The first annual summer breakfast (2004) was held at East Fremantle Yacht and is now part of the Club’s social calendar with the venue alternating between East Fremantle and the Hillarys Yacht Clubs.  A guest speaker is a feature of the day.

2004 also became the year the Club made its first grant ($500) under the Youth Sponsorship Scheme to Brad Goddard who was a member of the Australian U/19 team.  Children/grandchildren of members are eligible to apply if they play in a District/State/Australian youth team.

The Club made a tentative move to measure the interest in starting lacrosse in the fast growing district of Mandurah.  Unfortunately it did not take hold and the idea will need to wait for another time in the future.

Roger Smith suggested we have a casual Club shirt, he went about arranging this and it is now a familiar sight at club social events such as the Breakfast or the Picnic Day.

The Picnic Day was held in 2008 and 2009 at Whiteman Park on a Sunday just before the lacrosse season starts and attracted some 100 to 150 people.  Everyone in the Western Australian lacrosse community was invited and the event was an initiative of the Club President (Graham Rose) and supported financially by club member Ross Whiteman.

Life Member Luke Pitsikas passed away in 2008 and like Harold he was a founding club member who worked with Harold to establish the Club in the early years.

The following year (2009) Ian Toy was awarded Life Membership Certificate for his work as Treasurer and contribution to the administration of the Club.  Graham Rose suggested that the other surviving Life Member, Eric Biddle, was deserving of a certificate and Graham and Ian Toy travelled to Boyup Brook to make the presentation to Eric.