103 Years of Continual Family Service to Durban Country Club
The Parumal Family

Father - Mr Parumal (Senior)
1921 – 1956 (35 years)

Mr Parumal (Senior) left Maduri, in Madras, South India, by ship as an indentured labourer to work on the sugar plantations in South Africa. After completing a five year term of service, he could choose to return to India or stay as a free Indian in South Africa. He chose to remain and decided to try his hand at a new venture after having worked for many farmers, which led to commencing employment as a labourer at Durban Country Club in 1921. After 19 years of faithful service, the Secretary at the time, Mr Weston, appointed Mr Parumal as Sirdar (Headman). He resided on the Club premises in a house which is now the Golf/Functions office from 1940 to 1950 and thereafter moved to the old clubhouse building. Sadly Mr Parumal passed away in 1956 whilst still in the services of the Club.

Son - Mr Arumugam Parumal (Caddie Master)
1953 – 1994 (41 years)

Mr Parumal was 12 years old when his parents moved to the Club. His schooling started in 1934 at St Aiden’s Boys School then Greyville Government School and finishing in 1945 at Sastri College. After finishing school he worked at SA Sweet Factory for almost five years and was thereafter unemployed for a short while. During this time of unemployment, Mr Parumal worked as a caddie at the Club and assisted Mr Jabaar, Caddie Master, when he was unwell. Whilst working at Natal Clothing Factory in 1953, Mr Jabaar passed away and Mr Parumal was requested by Mr Bissett, Assistant Secretary of the Club at the time, on numerous occasions to help the Club as a Caddie Master. During Mr Parumal’s years of service, Mr Van Diggelen, Secretary from 1953 to 1974, was very instrumental in his long stay at the Club. Mr Parumal retired from the Club with pride on 1st March 1994 after completing 41 years of dedicated service.

Some interesting facts about Mr A Parumal:

•    On 17th February 1994 he became an Honorary member of Durban Country Club as well as being the first non-white member.
•      In 1998 at the age of 70 years he was the first non-white member to make a clean sweep in the 1998 “C” Division Club Championship winning Best Nett, Best Gross and Matchplay.
•    He played golf on many occasions with Mr Papwa Sewgolum who at the time worked at Beachwood.
•     He was Caddie Master for Norman von Nida, Peter Thomson, Tommy Bolt, Lee Trevino and Jack Nichlause when they played at the Club.
•    He has known Gary Player since 1955 and was invited to his Million Dollar Golf Challenge in 2004 as an honoured guest.

Granddaughter – Mrs Marlene Pillay (nee Parumal)
1980 – present (27 years to date)

On 7th July 1961, Mrs Pillay (nee Parumal) was born at the house the Parumal family lived in at the 10th tee and grew up at the Club with her siblings, Percy, Iris and Linda. Her working experience at the Club was that of assistant florist to Mrs Marshall thereafter Mrs Croxon and presently florist to Mrs Kruger. Mrs Pillay dedicates her working hours to providing the Club with beautiful floral arrangements and assists in the laundry room.
In 1984 the Parumal family moved to live in Phoenix.

Written by Mr A Parumal
Edited by Mrs L Cooper
July 2007