Magazine: Pitchcare Oceania in Pictures. (Part 1)

By Sarah Gibson in Editorial on 27th Jan 2010 21:55

Pitchcare Oceania takes a trip down memory lane with a look back from our launch at the end of July 2008 to the Vic Open at Spring Valley last week. Here are some of Rob's favourite photos from our first successful year and a half.

Rob continues to think he has skills in photography, but the rest of us in the Pitchcare Oceania office see this as one big ego trip for the man who heads up the PC Oceania team. Sarah Gibson offers her comments to go with his passable photos!

In no particular order as Rob was too lazy, here's Part 1.

Kurri Kurri Show

A long drive to Kurri Kurri in Northern NSW saw Pitchcare Oceania Support the STA turf seminar.
(Left) The well attended turf show has some great demos including this one by Sustainable turf.
(Right) A rare photo of the Pitchcare Oceania stand in one piece as the winds at Kurri Kurri wreaked havoc on posters.

Manuka Oval

(Left) I think Rob may have been jealous of Bradley van Dam's house in Canberra. The lovely cottage comes with the job of looking after the jewel of Canberra's ovals.
(Right) The Oval itself still looking great in the middle of the hard football season. Rob recalls wearing five jumpers when taking the photos!

Massey University Manawatu Campus

(Left) Another building Rob remembers mainly due to the lunch he had inside. A Chicken Curry he recalls, don't ask him to remember anything else about the day however, his memory fails when it comes to anything other than food!
(Right) Massey University's marvellous rugby set up, where so many of the world's best players have trained.

The Oceania Launch

(Left) The day Oceania was launched to the public Melbourne in July 2008 at the 24th A.G.C.S.A Annual Turf Conference. Rob assures us he likes this photo due to his green hats he designed himself! Hmmm yeah right!

(Right) Again Rob's good friend John Purtell is the reason he chose this photo. He explains it has nothing to do with the ladies draped on John's sides.

Steve Mexted

Steve and Mexted have been a long time supporters of our magazine/website, and Rob recently caught up with the man himself in Wellington. Poor Steve had to sit through the pain staking process of Rob's photo shoot. This one captures what Steve really thought of Rob's skills behind the lens!

Northcote Golf Club

A small course in the inner suburbs of Melbourne that Rob used to manage many moons ago. The easiest hole on the course was this short 128m downhill par 3. Although Rob maintains it was also the most picturesque and his favourite of the holes.

The PC Oceania stand during the NZ Turf Conference

Easily our best stand so far at the conference in Auckland last year. Unfortunately this is the best photo we have to document the successful show. Notice the large shadow at the front of the picture. This can be seen in nearly every photo during the day. After much deliberation we worked out it was Rob's large head blocking the light!

The NZSTI grounds at Palmerston

An unusually good photo chosen from the MD. I think it's safe to say the dark stormy skies in the background mixed with sunlight in the foreground, did Rob plenty of favours when he shot this picture at the front of the beautiful NZSTI grounds.

The Girls of Pakuranga Country Club

In this photo Rob forces the lovely ladies of Pakuranga to stand with the sun directly into their eyes. Luckily the constant professionals Kelly and Wendy took it all within their stride and produced a superb photo with the striking clubhouse in the background. Well done girls!

Dave Hinkley with the Stunning Surfaces of Parramatta Stadium

(Left) Dave strikes a pose in front of the famous Mick Cronin Stand.

(Right) Dave continues to produce world class surfaces and here is the proof. If Rob was smart he would have had Dave standing in front of this site. Unlucky for us he isn't.

Team PILA

Our friends from Mona Vale, Sydney strike a pose in front of their great goal posts. The photo started out a great afternoon at the PILA factory, which gave a crash course to the PC boys on what goes into making the goals stand above our beloved surfaces.

ARMA Racecourse Managers in Brisbane

The Racecourse Mangers Conference in Brisbane brought together track curators from all over Australia and New Zealand. Doomben track manager Warren Williams, addresses the crowd at the gorgeous Doomben track, which Rob captured none of in this photo!

All round good guy and greenkeeper for Ratho Ross Baker

Ratho Links Tasmania

(Left) Ross Baker, Head Greenkeeper, Club Pro, club maker and all round good guy. Ross is one busy man and does a great job at this unique golf club.

(Right) The scenery at Australia's oldest golf club is breath taking, even Rob struggled to make it look bad.

Ratho Links Tasmania

After nearly 20 photographs Rob finally catches the Ratho logo blowing in the wind on the green. I'm told he spent nearly 10 minutes trying to capture this image. Rob was also insistent this make his list of photogrpahs. Hmmm, you tell me was it worth it?

Riversdale Golf Club in Melbourne

(Left) The exclusive Riversdale Golf Club in Melbourne's east. This photo shows the newly constructed 13th hole after its grow in stage.

(Right) The short par 3 14th Hole after the club installed new paths to reduce wear around the course.

Royal Hobart in Tasmania

Royal Hobart Golf Club in Tasmania, the well maintained putting green is the look out from the historic building. Considered Tasmania's premier members club and championship course, it also hosted and Australian Open in 1971, won at the time by the legendary Jack Nicklaus.

The Guys at Fountain Line, smart enough to bring a tent to shelter from the heavy rain.

STA Ryde

(Left) Zoom in and you will notice you can see the heavy rain on the team from Fountain Line. If I had the only stand out doors I'd be annoyed, but the guys were still in jubilant spirits despite the bad weather.
(Right) The Oceania stand, for once without the shadow of Rob's head in front.The green hats make an appearance.

Next week in part two of this three part feature, we look at Rob's favourite photos. We have a look at photos from Westpac and Wakaito Stadium in New Zealand, as well as The Turf Producers show at ANCO in Cranbourne.

There are 2 comments on this article

27 Jan 10 by Peter Bass

Lol that was a bit of fun.

Looks like Rob got a bit of roast over it. Wish i was around for the Oceania launch Who said the Turf Industry doesn't have woman eh?

You Can't Handle The Truth. Bass atYa

28 Jan 10 by Peter Leroy

Picture of Hinkley isn't right, is it ? Thought he was much more well fed than that ;)

Great photography Rob..he is the Editor sucking up is good sometimes.

LOL

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