Several interesting items appear in the minutes for 1957 : the practice of tipping staff was discontinued ; a separate division of Starboats was arranged for the Pittwater ; J . W . Smyth was elected a life memberfor special services rendered , and a race to W arriewood Beach and return , a race to Juno Head , and a picnic race to Hailers Beach were arranged . Approval was given for a new Restricted Division to consist of Starboats , Flying Fifteens , Flying Dutchmen and any similar classes-and the club bought three sheep to keep the grass down !
In August 1957 preliminary discussion had taken place regarding a master plan for the future development of Green Point . This was apparently the brainchild of Commodore J . W . Smyth , QC . It was envisaged that the plan would include provision for extensive recfarnauon and the construction of a new clubhouse on the point , to which future extensions could be made , together with marinas , boat harbours , jetties and other yachting facilities . It would include a bowling green and provision for adequate parking facilities and the general beautification of Green Point . The money for this project would be raised by debentures and not by way of a levy .
In December 1957 , however , a setback occurred . There had been plans to alter the Articles of Association of the Pittwater Division to include the prefix ' Royal '. Verbal advice was received to the effect that this would not be approved . Things were not all that bad , howt : vta , a .::. tltt : llu · t : t : : sln : x ::: v vuicha : st :«.. I iu Avril were doing so well that an additional two were added to the flock !
Prize money was good in those days . Division No . I , first prize £ 10 ; Divisions 2 and 3 , Restricted and Dragons £ 6 ; Basin Cup £ 15 , and £ 20 for the Montagu Island Race . These all graded down for second and third . Good money in those days !
Approval was eventually received for the prefix ' Royal ' to be applied to the Pittwater Division . The bulk of the work associated with this honour was carried out by J . K . Cutler and the club ' s thanks were extended to him . In September 1958 the Pittwater Division became Incorporated under the Companies ' Act of 1936 , limited by guarantee and known as the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club-Pittwater Division .
J . W . Smyth , QC , was the inspiration and the leader of the whole of the Pittwater Division . He was the Commodore of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in 1958 , the year of a burglary at the club headquarters in Rowe Street . John Smyth was also responsible for the club ' s journal , the Pittwater News , in 1957 . He wrote of the burglary :
In the early hours of the morning of 28 August [ 1958 ) the Rowe Street premises were broken into by thieves . The burglar alarm worked and the police were promptly on the scene . Owing to unavoidable delay in gaining access , however , the offenders made good their escape but must have departed in somewhat of a hurry as they left behind their tools of trade . They smashed up a couple of poker machines but did not get very much because , as you know , our machines pay out so freely that the amount of silver therein at any given time is necessarily small . The only clue as to their identity so far is , that judging by what they did to his office , they don ' t like our Secretary . The police are working on this angle and are now inte . rviewing thousands of suspects . It was perhaps unfortunate that the police arrived so promptly as otherwise the thieves might have taken our pink carpet , but maybe this is only wishful thinking .
Many improvements were made to the Pittwater Division at Green Point in I 958 . Questions of reclamation and dredging were discussed and the Committee produced a plan for a hardstand area ( now the 5.5 hardstand area ). Dinghy storage was also discussed . It was decided to obtain a special purchase from the Government of approximately one acre to the north of the boatshed and j etty-tllis would be by way of permissive occupancy of what is now the 5.5 . hardstand . The method of financing this project was discussed and it was agreed that the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club would not be committed in any way to contribute in the event of the special purchase . In other words , it was entirely the responsi '> ilily of the Pittwalc ::: r Division .
On 29 May 1958 name plates ( plaques ) were purchased for Rowe Street . These are the plaques now displayed on the pillars of the club ' s front entrance at the Pittwater .
This year also saw some administration changes in the Pittwater Division . The Vice-Commodore reported that at a meeting of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club held on Wednesday 18 August 1958 the following resolution was passed :
Subjectto the necessary consents , Mr J . L . Gale be appointed House Manager of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club-Pittwater Division and Mr Ron Robison be appointed part-time Secretary . Such appointments to beeffectiveas and from the incorporation under the Companies ' Act of the Royal Prince Alf red Yacht Club-Pittwater Division Ltd . Mr J . L . Gale to be appointed under a three-year contract of service with free and undivided use of the cottage .
At a meeting held on 13 November 1958 , in regard to Green Point development , it was resolved that :
( i ) any necessary extensions to the accommodation at the Pittwater be considered and that this club will support any reasonable and necessary expenditure as agreed by this Comminee ; ( ii ) the said sub-committee be asked to report on the advisability or otherwise of acquiring
Harold Vaughan , the first Captain of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club . This rank was created in 1957 .
W . C . Stuart , Commodore 1958-60 .
Associate members Helen Corben and Norma Uren with the winner of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Associate ' s Horse Race .
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