1911 – 1976

There are many amazing stories of those who built the Mollymook Golf Club, but none quite like Maisie Williams.

Born Mavis Patricia Kennedy at Cooma on June 28, 1911 to Patrick and Theresa, she was the second of four children and grew up in Jerilderie. In those days with no radio, phones TV or internet you had to make your own fun, and she was multi-skilled and talented with a keen mind and drive, allied to an inherent sense of fun.

Maisie was dux of her class and with an intellect that would these days have her at university, but in those simpler times she left school at age 15. Local papers show that she won awards for her musical ability in theory and with piano and violin, and was awarded the Queen Victoria Jubilee Medal, a big honour at the time.

She also inherited her aunt Lilian Fowler’s sense of advocacy for women’s rights, and is reported as performing as musical entertainment at a meeting of The Equality Club in Sydney in 1926. This group was active in promoting equal wages and rights for women in wider society, and was led by Maisie’s Aunt Lil. Lilian is famous as the first woman to be an alderman on a council in Australia and also the first woman to be mayor in the nation’s history.

During the 1920s the Kennedy clan shifted north to the Northern tablelands town of Guyra, and there her life took another turn. Within a few years she had met local lad Charlie Williams, which was probably no surprise given her brother Austin (or “Hector” as he was known by all) was courting Charlie’s sister Pauline, known as “Polly”.

1931 saw two weddings, with Hec and Polly tying the knot in April and then Charlie and Maisie on June 10 that year.  She was then 20 years old. Four boys would follow for Charlie and Maisie – Peter, Bob, Ken and Warren. Life wasn’t easy in Guyra in the 1930s so when war arrived the two families shifted south to Ulladulla.

They soon found their niche. Because of her musical talents and energy Maisie had been involved in community fundraisers at Guyra for charities and local schools and she carried that drive with her when they shifted south. Apart from her smile and eternal affability she was also a wonderful seamstress, cook, doll maker and many other things.

She understood the value of music and bringing people together, and made an immediate impact when her postcode became 2539, as this article articulates:

Woman Brought Towns Together

The woman who brought together the neighbouring South Coast towns of Milton and Ulladulla has died. People today told of the work Maisie Williams had done for the community. One resident said “Years ago the two towns were not so neighbourly. You could say we were feuding – there was a lot of jealousy in the community.

People from both camps would fight and argue about anything. But when Mrs Williams moved to Ulladulla, things began to change. Charity groups were formed – spearheaded by Mrs Williams –and she encouraged people from both towns to help. She held the community hands together in friendship. With an interwoven series of charity groups and clubs, old wounds were healed. Mrs Williams saw her 35 years’ work in the district fulfilled.

By Alec Field

One of her initial fundraising efforts in the locale produced enough money to fund the district’s first ambulance, a clear example of her initiative and practicality.

Both Charlie and Hector had been in the Guyra Town band, and with Maisie tinkling the piano they formed a local group that played at functions all along the south coast and inland. Her oldest son Peter was later a drummer in that group.

And Peter married Joan Faust, whose family had sold land to enable the building of the Mollymook Golf Club.

Maisie became one of the first Associate members and rose to become Ladies President, serve for over 20 years and be the first woman to be accorded life membership of the golf club. Her acceptance speech, characteristically, mentioned everyone else but herself. She became an accomplished player too and had the distinction of scoring a hole in one.

Her strength, energy and enthusiasm in as Associates President made her a legend, quite apart from her efforts in so many other spheres.  

She also foresaw the need for the Golf Club to expand beyond the coast and was one of those who drove the development of the now iconic Hilltop course. But she’d be the first to admit she didn’t do that on her own, like all her other community efforts. The other directors at that time also saw that potential, and the subsequent years show the wisdom in that decision.

When Maisie Williams she passed away on January 23, 1976 the golf club and entire south coast lost a jewel from its crown, and her funeral was one of the biggest ever staged in the town. All sections of the local community were in the throng that overflowed at Ulladulla, with WIN News covering the event and local MP John Hatton one of those in the near 1,000 strong crowd paying their deserved respects.

At the time of her sudden death she’d been nominated for an MBE for her work in the community, and there would have been few more worthy recipients. This article in the Milton-Ulladulla Express, January 28 1976, shows why:

Passing of Maisie Williams

The death of Mrs. Maisie Williams on Friday January 23 has caused a deep wave of shock and sorrow throughout the entire Mollymook, Milton and Ulladulla area.

Perhaps a fitting epitaph for this outstanding woman could be summed up in the simple words of Mr Joe Greco, representing the Italian community of the district, who said:

“She was a wonderful person who helped anybody and everybody in need and she will be sorely missed by all of us.”

Mrs Williams, aged 64, of 60 Seaview Street Mollymook, passed away at Canberra Hospital after suffering bad health for the past few month, but although she knew she was very ill, her indomitable spirit still enabled her to present a bright and ever smiling face at the many functions she attended during the Christmas Season.

She is survived by her four sons, Peter, Robert, Warren and Ken and was the proud grandmother of 24 grandchildren.

A resident of the district for nearly 35 years, Mrs Williams was a foundation member of practically every regional charitable organisation and if ever there was money to be raised for a needy cause the inevitable catchword was “Get Maisie”.

She was a great fun person with a quick sense of humour and a natural flair for organising shows and reviews to “make people laugh, not cry” and many of the older residents will recall before the advent of the rock and roll era when Maisie and her brother, Hector Kennedy, played all the music for the old time dances in the area.

On the other hand it was not generally known that for the past 34 years she held the office of Justice of the Peace.

She was a Foundation Member and Charter Member of Quota from 1956 until the present time and also served two terms as Lieutenant Governor and Governor of the District for the Quota Club.

She was also a Foundation Member and served on the Committee for many years of the Shoalhaven District Ambulance Auxiliary.

Handicapped children were a source of major concern to Maisie Williams and so naturally she was a Foundation Member who continually worked devotedly and untiringly for Mullala School for Handicapped Children.

On the sporting side, Mrs Williams has been President of the Associates Committee of the Mollymook Golf Club for an unbroken 20 years, a near record of Presidency for any golf club.

She was the only Associate member of the Mollymook Golf Club ever to be awarded Life Membership of the club by the members, a signal honour of any Associate but she did not know was that all the charitable organisations and sporting clubs with which she had been associated had all secretly met to submit a combined recommendation to the appropriate authorities that she be awarded the OBE for her services to the community.

Perhaps no greater tribute could be passed to one woman than the comments published below:

Mr John Hatton, Member for the South Coast: Maisie Williams was on the finest women I have ever met. I will always remember her for her vitality and enthusiasm and total commitment to helping her fellow human beings. She will be sadly missed by the many hundreds of people with whom she has been associated in the name of charity in the district but she will also be remembered through the whole of New South Wales for the work she did on behalf of the Quota Club. On the personal side my wife Vera and I will feel her loss very deeply and personally.

Mr Bob Larkins, President of the Mullala School for Handicapped Children: The kiddies of the Mullala School owe a lot to Maisie Williams. Her mature judgement, cheerful disposition and knack for keeping harmony was respected by all member of the committee. Her boundless energy during fundraising drives and the construction of the Mullala School demonstrated that she was the only persona capable of carrying out her allotted tasks. Nobody could praise Maisie Williams too much.

Mr Tony Heslin, Superintendent of the Shoalhaven District Ambulance: We oiwe a lot to Maisie Williams. She was an amazing person with an untold amount of energy and enthusiasm for the welfare of other people. The district will be a lot poorer in her great loss but will always be remembered for the great work she has carried out in the interests of others.

Mr Geoff Ellington, President of the Mollymook Golf Club: It would be impossible to describe the great work Maisie has done on behalf of the Club. Over the past twenty years she has been invaluable, not just to the Associates but to all the members and we are deeply grieved over her passing. She will never be forgotten by each or any of us.

Speaking with deep emotion, Mrs Edna Wood, Acting President of the Mollymook Golf Club Associates said: Every Associate is feeling great shock and grief at the present time. To each of us Maisie was just “Maisie” who brought a dynamic sense of energy and fun to us all, particularly on the social side. She was a genius at organising fun games and parties but never failed in making any visiting Associate feel individually and warmly welcomed to the Club.

Mrs Lil Switzer, representing the Quota Club: I cannot adequately describe the grief I am feeling. Not only has Quota lost a wonderful member but the whole district has lost a wonderful friend. When Maisie was governor of the district she had 20 clubs under her jurisdiction which she visited regularly and she literally travelled thousands of miles in her dedicated work on behalf of the Club in helping to raise untold sums of money for worthy causes.

Mrs Blanch Baird, President of the Milton Ulladulla Womens Bowling Club: It is very sincere feelings of loss that the members of the Milton Ulladulla Womens Bowling Club learned of the passing of Maisie as we will always remember her. Her devotion to duty in respect of the many charitable clubs with which she was associated represented to all women a focal point of sisterhood. She undoubtedly earned the deep affection of those who were privileged to know her.

Mrs Thelma Myles, President of the Mollymook Beach Womens Bowling Club: Maisie Williams was not only a fellow sportswoman but I was very proud to claim her as a friend. Those of us who knew her well will never forget her bright and happy personality. Thank you Maisie for what you have done for so many of us.

Vale Maisie. None of us will ever forget you and may you sleep in peace.

It is appropriate that this remarkable lady is remembered and has a road at the Hilltop course named in her honour. Even 50 years after she passed away, her legacy continues.

Maisie Williams was a beautiful lady, a pioneer and a champion on and off the golf course.