Golf
5 November, 2024
Trish Mills Blue Wren Trophy hotly contested
On Thursday, October 31, the Horsham Golf Club held its annual Blue Wren Trophy, but it was the first time it was named in honour of someone—past member Trish Mills, a much-loved member of the club who sadly passed away in October 2023.
Trish wanted the Blue Wren Trophy to be on the calendar, and it developed into the Blue Wren event rather than being part of the Nell Smithett event.
Her family donated a perpetual trophy to be played for, and 81 ladies played for the trophy in a Texan Stableford format.
Sue Wilton, Alison Sinclair, and Marion Venn won with 111 points. Carolyn Purvis, Marge Rich, and Helen Burke were runners-up with 110 points from a countback.
Kath Rook, Chris Burgess, and Julie Wirth finished third in that countback. Marie Oliver, Lorraine Melville, and Sally Wood were one point behind in fourth on a countback.
The nearest to the pin were: 2nd - Kerryn Price and Tracey Hobbs; 8th - Robyn Holcombe and Lil Mayer; 11th - Amanda Brownsea and Marge Rich; 13th - Deb McSparron and Marge Rich.
Trish joined the Horsham Golf Club in April 2002, coming in from the nine-hole course of Moor Park.
She joined the Ladies Committee in 2003 and became Ladies Captain in 2004. She held that position for two years before resigning from the committee in 2006.
She then rejoined the committee in 2011-2019.
Trish was a tireless worker who always supplied slices for the raffle table. If biscuits were needed at tournament time, she was the first to offer her help. She also helped in the kitchen if necessary.
Trish loved golf. She played many times a week and supported the smaller club at tournament time. She was also one to take new golfers under her wing and play with them or take them to tournaments.
She was part of at least six winning pennant teams for Horsham. She also attended many local and Victorian events where she willingly offered her vehicle to transport the ladies.
It was only health issues that slowed her down, and she was still trying to play up until her death in October 2023.
Trish was also instrumental in bringing people in for the Monday morning ladies' social golf.
One of her many grandkids talked at her funeral about the time they were popping a champagne bottle. It popped off in Trish's direction, and they yelled, "Watch out," but Trish didn't hear. Trish explained, "If you had wanted me to duck, you should have yelled out, and then I would have known to duck."