Mornington News 19 January 2021

Page 17

A life of golf, turf and China relations

On course: Mount Martha Golf Course’s first superintendent Rob Boundy died in November. Picture: Supplied

THE first superintendent of Mount Martha Golf Course, and a man who took the far-sighted step of initiating professional connections with China in the 1980s, has died. Rob Boundy, married to Heather for 50 years, died in November after a long illness. Appointed superintendent of the fledgling course in 1977, Mr Boundy moved the family with two daughters and a son from Balwyn to live in the “residence”: a timber house moved from Barkly Street. In setting up the Mount Martha course he worked to a design by Colin McKenzie, who was responsible for the Cape Schanck and later Nepean golf courses, as well as long-time Mornington Shire engineer Emil Madsen. Mr Boundy oversaw construction of the tees, greens and fairways but – as per the plans – dug only one bunker as it was considered more might slow down play too much on a public course. As no irrigation system was included in the original design, Mr Boundy for many years would have to get up twice a night to move sprinklers while riding on his trusty three-wheel Honda, accompanied by his dog Jonah. With an interest in machinery design, he built equipment to make the jobs of fertilising and spraying easier. Heather Boundy recalls a signature moment when, at a golf

course conference in Melbourne, Mr Boundy met a director of the Beijing Botanic Gardens. “With his interest in emerging nations, and China in particular, Rob struck up a friendship which resulted in him being invited to speak at the first national turfgrass conference in China in Guangzhou,” she said. Most of the lawn areas had been destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and any interest in growing grass for parks and streetscapes was just re-emerging. With the support of thenMornington mayor Cr David McMillan, and a grant from the Australia-China Council, Mr Boundy toured China with a focus on golf course design and turf management. “He suggested building the first lawn bowling green in China, in Guangzhou, as a way of educating the Chinese in the growing of turf and the use of Australian-made equipment, seed and fertilisers,” Mrs Boundy said. “About 18 months later he organised a tour by Victorian bowlers, including his mum, to play the inaugural international lawn bowls competition in Guanzhou between a Mornington Peninsula team and a team from Hong Kong. It was said to be a great learning experience for all involved.” Mr Boundy regularly made onair calls from China to the Terry Laidler evening show on Radio

3LO, becoming something of an ambassador for Australians working in China at the time. After this a nine-hole golf course was built in the city of Hangzhou, and an early turf farm laid in the countryside in partnership with a Chinese company. Turf wasn’t his only interest: Mr Boundy was instrumental in setting up the popular Mount Martha Carols by Candlelight on the lawns of Mount Martha Community House, with former Cr Stan Wadsworth, each December. It was overseen by Mount Martha Uniting Church, St Martins Anglican and Liquid Church. He also established a “sister school” relationship between Mornington Secondary College and Suzhou Secondary College. He was also active on the committees of Mount Martha Community House, Community Aid Abroad and Mornington Technical School. In his later years, Mr Boundy enjoyed running chauffeured tours of wineries in his Rolls Royce and providing a high-class alternative to taxi rides to Melbourne Airport. Mr Boundy is survived by Heather and their children Rebecca, Kate and Matthew. Rebecca lives in London, Kate in Mornington and Matthew in Albury. They all grew up on the golf course and attended Mount Martha Primary School and Mornington Secondary College. Stephen Taylor

GALLERY TALK As the largest public gallery in the South East region of Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery has a vitally important role in making art accessible to everyone in our community. Entry to the Gallery is now free and we are excited that by removing entry fees, anyone can walk into the MPRG and experience the best contemporary art from across Australia for free. There are many roles of a public gallery including delivering inspiring visual art experiences which are relevant and accessible to the whole community. We also develop and care for a large art collection of over 1800 objects and deliver engaging education and public programs for people of all ages. As we cautiously head into 2021, we are looking forward to presenting a diverse range of exhibitions that celebrate the amazing work of the artists in our program. You can view our 2021 exhibition program on our website – under Future Exhibitions. The 2021 exhibition program includes feature exhibitions by local artist Lauren Guymer, local indigenous art centre Baluk Arts, and The Overwintering Project which focuses on Westernport as an internationally significant shorebird habitat. We are also looking forward to the Spring Festival of Drawing in September where we are commissioning new wall drawings in the gallery featuring 11 leading contemporary artists and a program of workshops and special events for children and adults. Sign up to our e-newsletter through our website to receive monthly updates about our programs.

Right now, you can see the 2020 National Works on Paper exhibition featuring leading artists from across Australia working in the fields of drawing, printmaking, digital prints and paper sculpture. From over 1200 entries from around Australia, 74 works were shortlisted and are on display in the Gallery until 21 February. Check out our free online workshops with master printmaker David Frazer on the fundamentals of linocut printmaking or Hubert Pareroultja’s Mastering Watercolour Workshop. You can use your own materials or purchase an Art Box from the Gallery Shop, containing the materials required. You can watch our free online workshops any time that suits, pause and rewind, and come back and re-watch and create as many works as you like. Our popular Young at Art program for preschoolers is going weekly in 2021. Book in now for a Tuesday session, starting 2 February. Numbers will be limited at 10. Young at Art introduces under 5s to the wonder of art with a hands-on creative activity, a tour of the exhibition and an arty storytime. A take-home art materials box will be supplied with each session. We look forward to welcoming you to the Gallery in 2021. Visit mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au

Danny Lacy Artistic Director Senior Curator

www.mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au Civic Reserve, Dunns Road, Mornington Ph 5950 1580

Keep our environment in mind this summer, and make some simple changes to your daily habits by: BYO cup instead!

Refill a reusable water bottle

Get a reusable picnic set

Ditch the straw!

Every little bit counts.

Find more great alternatives: mornpen.vic.gov.au/sup

Mornington News

19 January 2021

PAGE 17


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