A HISTORY of the AUSTRALIAN VETERAN GOLFERS ASSOCIATION Inc. A meeting of four business men, Messrs. A Hall, W.Foulsham J.Barkel and H.Hattersley took place on 7th July, 1965 and thus was formed the Australian Veteran Golfers Association. (A.V.G.A.)   The purpose of the Association was firstly to become affiliated with the World Senior Golf Association whose policy was the "promotion of Senior Golf and through it Goodwill between Nations". Authority to select a team to represent Australia at the World Seniors Championship was given by the Australian Golf Union through the New South Wales Golf Association President, Mr D.W.Dwyer to the Australian Veteran Golfers Association. The AVGA's headquarters was in Sydney, and areas visited over the years that followed included Hobart, Launceston, Geelong and Townsville who were all encouraged to establish their own Veteran Golfers Association. By 1977 the membership was Sydney 699 and together with 15 associated Associations totalled 2500 approximately. Whilst every endeavour was made to promote senior golf in the many Clubs it was considered that improvements could be made to the overall Association. Many had contributed to its progress, like Jack Barkel (the only Australian to win the World Seniors Golf Championship), Vic Kendall and Clare Higson of P.G.F. Sporting Goods. In 1977 whilst in the United States, Bill Sidwell (Sec. of the A.V.G.A.) discovered that not all Senior Associations were compatible with each other, and upon his return set about organising a National Association to amalgamate all veteran/senior golfers under the one banner in Australia. Considerable negotiations took place with various Clubs over the following years with the main concern identified that control was in Sydney and this needed to be decentralised. Mr Harry Macklin-Shaw, then President of The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide was approached to ascertain the viability of such an organisation being established in South Australia. He instigated a meeting of interested parties who met at The Grange Golf Club in 1980, and so was formed the South Australian Veteran Golfers Association. To obtain funds for this National "break out" an International Championship was staged in March 1981 by the A.V.G.A. in Sydney at The Australian Golf Club, Kensington, Sydney with the full support of Qantas Airways and Citizen Watches. Donations were received from many well wishers, resulting in a successful event. Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara then Prime Minister now President of the Republic of Fiji attended this inaugural Championship. Later he did establish the Fiji International Seniors and Golf Championships in Suva. Funds were then distributed to interested parties in each State for the purpose of promoting Senior Golf in their respective States. A National Body was considered most essential and the first meeting of the "steering" committee took place on the 16th June, 1981 at The Australian Golf Club. The Australian Veteran Golfers Union was formed for the purpose of organising senior golf in Australia. Each State has continued to grow, with representatives from each State on the National Committee of the Australian Veteran Golfers Union. The Australian Veteran Golfers Association Inc. whilst originally being the body that created the spread of veteran golf throughout Australia, it still continues with its overseas activities of creating "Goodwill between Nations" and the promotion of local golf tours within Australia. The Australian Veteran Golfers Association Inc. is now managed by a board of dedicated senior golfers.