GPS GOLD CHALLENGE		HISTORY AND TESTIMONIALS

THE HISTORY

It began with the below quoted letter of 10 December 1998.

David Hutchinson was a Shore Old Boy, graduated in 1967. For a few years he had watched his sons and nephews run around the old football rounds at Northbridge and had experienced once again the unique friendly competitive spirit, which exists in the GPS community.

At the same time, he had been nominated by one of his peers to be the Old Boy coordinator for his year and was conscious of the fact he had done nothing in the two years since accepting this role.

Then he turned 50.

Eating dinner alone at a restaurant in Lygon Street , Melbourne , some ideas started to flow, no doubt encouraged by a nice bottle of red. By the time he returned to his hotel, there were copious notes written on napkins – something to do with a senior GPS sports competition for 50-year-old men. Upon waking, he re-reads the notes and recognised the alcohol-infused ridiculous nature of the ideas. The notes were consigned to the bin.

Nevertheless, over the next three months the ideas persisted and he occasionally bounced his thoughts off other old boys of his vintage, without much support. Finally, he attended a Year 12 valedictory dinner for his daughter Alex's graduation. Also in attendance were the gun sportsman from Shore of '67 – Rick Lee – and the gun sportsman from Scots of '67 – Peter Ledgerwood. Late in the evening, and no doubt red wine had again played its part, both Rick and Peter came back to David and said "Go for it".

Next morning and without further thought, David sent the attached challenge letter to a 1967 old boy from each of the other GPS schools. For three weeks he waited, secretly hoping he wouldn't get a response. But then there it was – an innocuous handwritten envelope arrived. The letter inside contained two words "You're on", signed Dennis Lynch of Riverview.

Nine months later, the first GPS Gold Challenge was held at Pennant Hills Golf Club and Riverview. And despite many sceptics who suggest that we are all too old at 50, the event was a complete success and those who attended experienced what some claimed to be amongst the best few days of their lives – a big call at our age. And the winner? Riverview, with Shore second.

TESTIMONIALS

Iain Reid---1974 Shore…"Participating in 2006 for the 1974  Shore leavers…It was a great chance to catch up with a bunch of mates from school and guys you played against from other schools as well. The lasting memory of the whole event was the great spirit in which everyone participated, we all had a ball over the 2 days. The guys were still talking about it months after the event. It really is an opportunity not to be missed.”

Ron Ferster -- Grammer 1968 " Competing in 2000 for the 68 leavers was a fantastic experience and the memory of catching up with old and new friends will stay with me. Definately worth getting involved and many thanks to the organisers"

THE FIRST LETTER

Finish