To commemorate 100 years since the Armistice, we would like to introduce you to 100 members of Caulfield RSL over the next 100 days
Arthur LeFevre
LeFevre was born in Rye, Sussex in England to Henry Feaver (Le Fevre) and Caroline Wiffin. Prior to departing England he was listed on the 1911 census as an 'Assistant Professional Golfer' living with the family of Frederick Rhodes "Professional Golfer".
He arrived in Australia in 1912 and, on his enlistment papers when he signed up in September 1914, he noted a previous apprenticeship in golf club making.
He joined the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance and departed Melbourne on 2nd August 1915 on board HMAT Suffolk.
In January 1917, he was promoted to Lance Corporal, was a Corporal by May and a temporary Sergeant by October. He returned to Australia in 1919.
By 1921 he was the professional at Royal Melbourne Golf Club and, in September of that year, won the Australian Golf Open by 10 strokes - understandably, as the event was played at Royal Melbourne!
He won the 1921 Australian PGA, was runner up in the 1922 Australian Open and, in 1923, he won the Victorian PGA by 14 strokes and was runner up in the Australian PGA in 1924 & 1926.
LeFevre joined Caulfield RSL in 1940, and retired from Royal Melbourne in 1948 and became one of the first golf club makers in Australia.
He passed away in 1957.
Quick fact: In the 1920, Arthur's brother Ernest - also a golf pro - was listed as living at Royal Melbourne Golf Course. He was a friend of Sidney Myer and often visited his Sorrento beach house. Eventually Myer hired Ernest to work in the Myer Bourke Street store's 5th floor sports department, where the pair often passed the time hitting balls into a net.
Lest we forget