Bowls Australia Annual Report 09-10

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010

bowls australia

Annual Report 09-2010

AN

OFFICIAL

BOWLS

AUSTRALIA

PUBLICATION

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Contents

2

CEO and president’s report

4

Bowls Australia board

6

Bowls Australia council, committees and member associations

8

ASC message

10

State and territory associations

12

Membership growth and development

1

Annual Report 2009-2010

14

High performance and pathway events

16

2009 Australian Open

20

2009-10 honour roll (results)

22

2009-10 Australian squad

25

Commercial development and promotion

28

Finance report

Bowls Australia: Darebin International Sports Centre John Cain Memorial Park 281 Darebin Road, Thornbury, VIC 3071 Telephone: +61 3 9480 7100 Facsimile: +61 3 9495 0194 Email: admin@bowlsaustralia.com.au Website: www.bowlsaustralia.com.au Designed by: Jejak Graphics Ph: 03 8790 8775

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Stakeholder relations, leadership and management CEO and President’s report

O

ver the past 12 months, a major focus of Bowls Australia’s board, committees and staff has been to increase consultation and communication with its stakeholders. Our main avenue of consultation is through our state and territory associations, who provide valuable input into whole-ofsport issues and decisions.

This commitment to consultation provides diverse opinions and ultimately leads to well rounded decisions being made for our sport.

STRATEGIC PLAN PROGRESS Progress on the 2009 – 2012 strategic plan is being closely monitored by the board and management team. In order to achieve the target of 280,000 registered members we seek the assistance of all state and territory associations, associations, zones, districts, groups and clubs. As a sport, increasing our membership has a number of benefits including:

• Establishment of a partnership with beyondblue: the national depression initiative; • Establishment of a membership task force, comprised of state and territory executive officers, development officers and presidents; • The establishment of the national bowls census; • Laws of the sport review process and lobbying; • Agreement to reintroduce the National Champion of Champions event in 2010; • The improved content and coverage provided on the BA website including live streaming of many BA events.

WORKING COLLABORATIVELY

• Reduced financial reliance on the membership base at all levels;

BA board, staff and committees have consulted widely on a number of matters with key stakeholders. Some of these consultations include:

• Increased recognition for state and federal government grants; and

• BA board meetings with STA boards (NSWWBA, RNSWBA, Bowls SA, Bowls ACT, VLBA and RVBA);

• Assisting in the survival of small clubs.

• Two council forums and one executive officers conference;

We encourage you to visit our website www. bowlsaustralia.com.au and review the Planning Participation Tool to identify your club’s goal to help achieve this national target.

2009-10 HIGHLIGHTS There have been many highlights throughout the year and we have outlined some of these as follows: • Fit4Bowls ambassador program announced and rolled out; • Junior policy and guidelines launch and promotion;

• Development officers conference; • Selectors forum – with STA selection committees at the Australian Sides Championships; • Meetings with each STA officiating committee – to consult on the officiating program review; • Continuation of member forums in conjunction with STAs; • The establishment of a membership task force;

• Successful 2009 Asia Pacific Championships campaign;

• The continuation of the national constitution working party, comprised of state and territory presidents and deputy presidents;

• Completion of the introductory and club coach courses and manuals;

• Laws of the sport survey and consultation.

• The establishment of a central coach and official database; • Review of the national logo policy;

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• Relocation of the BA office to the Darebin International Sports Centre;

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010

FINANCE

THANK YOU

While overall revenue and expenditure was less in this year, the overall result leaves BA in a sound financial position. The operating result for the 2009-10 financial year was a surplus of $64,586 compared with $47,295 in 2008-09. A more detailed financial report is featured later in this report.

On behalf of the board we would like to take this opportunity to thank the state and territory associations, including boards, staff and committees, for their tireless contribution to our sport. Thank you to the board, council, committees and staff for your commitment to ensuring the success of our strategic plan and the work you undertake for the sport.

WORLD BOWLS Bowls Australia has been in regular communication with World Bowls representatives regarding a number of matters over the past 12 months. The review of the laws of the sport, security and playing surface at the Commonwealth Games and international operations had been a focus of these communications.

We encourage you to keep up to date with national programs, events and policies through our website and to provide feedback via your state or territory association. We look forward to the ongoing progress of our strategic plan and working collaboratively with our state and territory associations and the many stakeholders of bowls in Australia.

BOWLS VICTORIA

Neil Dalrymple

Brian Marsland, OAM

Chief executive officer

President

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the unification of the RVBA and VLBA to form Bowls Victoria. The joint working party, which included members of both organisations, had worked tirelessly to actively consult with the bowls community in Victoria to achieve a staggering 81.9% of the VLBA’s 497 clubs and 85.5% of the RVBA’s 525 clubs agreeing to the change. Congratulations to the newly appointed board and chief executive.

PARTNERSHIPS We would like to acknowledge the considerable contribution received from the Australian Sports Commission and Australian Commonwealth Games Association together with our commercial partners listed later in this report.

We would like to thank our broadcast partners, ABC television and Fox Sports, for televising our sport which is appreciated by our membership and audience alike.

Partnerships with host clubs and state and territory associations for BA events in 2009-10 have been a great success. We appreciate the support and assistance provided to ensure the success of national and international events hosted in Australia.

Acknowledgement of these clubs is provided later in this report.

BA is very pleased to be a partner with beyondblue: the national depression initiative which was formally launched at the Australian Sides Championships earlier this year.

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Bowls Australia board

Brian Marsland OAM President

Barbara Klose Vice President

• Bowls Australia president since 2006 • Bowls Australia board director since 2001 • Bowls Australia vice president 2001-2002 • Chairman of state selectors in South Australia • Woodville High School Old Scholars Association president • Bowls Past Presidents Association of SA past patron • Retired secondary school deputy principal since 1993 • Royal South Australian Bowling Association president 1999-2001 • RSABA past metropolitan vice president and senior vice president • Alberton Bowling Club, SA president 1989-1991 • Australian Masters Games bowls coordinator 1999 • S.A. Community Recreation Association board member 19841997 • Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) - 2002 • Australian Sports Medal - 2000 • RSABA life member - 2001 • Alberton Bowling Club, SA life member - 1994

• Bowls Australia vice president since 2006 • Bowls Australia board director since 2002 • NT Ladies Bowling Association former president, treasurer and secretary • Australian Women’s Bowls Council treasurer 2001-2002 • Australian Women’s Bowls Council selector 1994-2000 • Bowls NT board director 20042006 • Women’s World Bowls Organising Committee secretary (Moama) 2000 • Previous manager of many Australian representative teams both nationally and internationally • Arafura Games bowls coordinator1996 and 1998 • Australian Sports Medal – 2000 • NT Ladies Bowling Association life member

• Bowls Australia board director since 2007 • Beresfield and Morpeth Bowling Clubs, NSW chairman • Zone 2 (Newcastle) match committee since 1993 • Zone 2 (Newcastle) former vice president for seven years • Bowls NSW state councillor and board member for seven years • NSW Premier League Controlling Body former member • Australian Sports Medal – 2000

Des Skinner Bowling Director

Robert Webb Bowling Director

• Bowls Australia board director since 2006 • World Bowls 2012 chairman • Salisbury Bowling Club past president and chairman • RSABA and Bowls SA executive member for 10 years • National selector 2003-2006 • SA state selector and team manager 1996-2003 • Australian Sports Medal – 2000 • Salisbury Bowling Club life member

Geoff Nethercott Bowling Director

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• Bowls Australia board director since 2006 • Robina Bowls Club president 1990-1993 • Gold Coast/Tweed Head Bowling Association president 1995-1997 • Royal QLD Bowls Association senior vice president 2003-2004 • Royal QLD Bowls Association executive member 1998-2003 • Bowls QLD men’s section president 2004-2005 • Bowls Queensland District Club advisory committee 2007-2010 • Australian Sports Medal – 2000 • Bowls Queensland life member

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010

• Bowls Australia board director since 2009 • VLBA president 2005-2007 • VLBA vice president 2000-2005 • World Bowls umpire board 2000 • VLBA council member from 1997 • VLBA chair of numerous committees including umpire board, competitions, selection, junior bowls and promotion and development • VLBA delegate for the Commonwealth Games Commission

Beverley Shannahan Bowling Director

Steve Glasson Independent Director

Joe Aarons OAM Independent Director

Glenn Ashcroft Independent Director

• Bowls Australia independent director since 2009 • NSW junior bowls committee former member • St Johns Park Bowling Club director • Carina Bowls Club former director • Capalaba Bowls Club former director • Greenkeeper by trade • Has served as a bowls coordinator and part-owner of lawn bowls wholesaler/retailer • BCiB promotions/development manager • Nine-time Australian Indoor champion • World Championship gold medallist (singles) 2004 • Two-time Commonwealth Games representative • Represented Australia on more than 300 occasions • Bowls Australia independent director since 2009 • Philani Pty Ltd managing director • Level 3 umpire • Level 2 coach • Bowls Victoria state coaching committee member • Maccabi Victoria former board member • Group 16 (Melbourne Beaches) chairman 2005-10 • Gansel (Aust.) Pty Ltd board member • Glen Eira Bowling Club former board member • City of St Kilda Bowling Club former board member • Caulfield Park Sports Club Inc. chairman • Caulfield Park Advisory Committee member • Maccabi Ajax Lawn Bowls Inc. Life member • Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) - 2007

• Bowls Australia independent director since 2005 • Bachelor of Business (Accounting) • Diploma in Insolvency (IEP) • Member of the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA) • Member of the Insolvency Practitioners Association of Australia (IPA) • Member of INSOL International – International Federation of Insolvency Professionals • Member of the National Institute of Accountants (NIA) • Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) • Nine years in banking industry (customer service, investments and lending roles) • Seventeen years in a US multi-national (in functions of accounting, treasury, sales and marketing, mergers and acquisitions and e-business and sourcing) • Spent the past seven years and currently working as an insolvency practitioner specialising in corporate and personal insolvency and turnaround management • Specialist consultant to Business Intellect Group Pty Ltd • Sydney Professional Accountants Group committee member • Northern Beaches Accountants Discussion Group member • Hills District Accountants Discussion Group member • Parramatta Professional Accountants Discussion Group member • North Manly Bowling and Recreation Club past director and chairman of the board 2002-2005 • RNSWBA Club Advisory Committee past chairman and current member since 2004 • Manly Bowling Club member • Level 1 bowls umpire • Introductory coach

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Bowls Australia council, committees and member associations 2009-10 BOARD

Staff

President- Brian Marsland OAM

Chief executive officer Neil Dalrymple

Vice president- Barbara Klose Beverley Shannahan Robert Webb Geoff Nethercott Des Skinner Joe Aarons OAM Glenn Ashcroft

Development manager – Tony Sherwill Events and projects manager – Shaun Doyle

Steve Glasson

Finance manager – Daryl Rogers

2009-10 COUNCIL

High performance manager – Kim Littlejohn

Bowls Australia president Brian Marsland OAM

Operations manager – Meghan Albert

Bowls Australia vice president Barbara Klose

Administration assistant – Brianna Klinberg

Bowls ACT president Ken Dalgleish

Commercial operations coordinator – Rachael Haynes

Bowls ACT vice president Margaret Harber

Communications and marketing coordinator – Richard Goodbody

RNSWBA president Ian McKnight NSWWBA president Jewel Buchanan Bowls Queensland chair Cynthia Neeve Bowls Queensland deputy chair Jack Oliver Bowls SA president Ivy Kluske Bowls SA vice president Kenn Rogers Bowls NT president John Nelson Bowls Tasmania president Pat Bennett Bowls Tasmania vice president Max Minns VLBA president Maureen Connelly RVBA president Graeme Hosken Bowls WA president Frank Lilley Bowls WA deputy president Roz Davey

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Commercial operations manager – Des Ryan

Community bowls coordinator – Barrie Lester Development coordinator – Tamara Mason Elite coach advisor – Sue Sofarnos Events and projects coordinator – Narelle Henderson Finance officer – Linda Moli High performance coordinator – Penny Herbert NATIONAL COACH – Rex Johnston OAM

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010

National Selection Panel Rex Johnston OAM Jenny Harragon

National Constitution Working Party

Sam Clough

BOWLS AUSTRALIA PRESIDENT Brian Marsland OAM

National Coaching Committee

NSWWBA PRESIDENT Jewell Buchanan

National Coaching Director – Geoff Campbell National Coach – Rex Johnston OAM Peter Hanlon – VIC Jacqueline Hineman – QLD Jan Palazzi – NT Bowls Australia – Convenor - Tony Sherwill

National Officiating Committee National Officiating Director – Mark Cowan

BOWLS VICTORIA PRESIDENT Graham Hosken BOWLS WA DEPUTY PRESIDENT Roz Davey BOWLS SA PAST PRESIDENT Bob Cooper BOWLS ACT PRESIDENT Ken Dalgleish

Peter Delaney – VIC Janice Thomas – NSW Terrie Crozier – NT Beth Young – SA

Membership taskforce

Bowls Australia – Convenor - Tony Sherwill

Bowls ACT development officer Mick Farr

Audit and Risk Committee

Bowls NSW development manager Michael Beaumont

Convenor - Barbara Klose Joe Aarons OAM

Bowls WA chief executive officer Pam Glossop

Robert Webb

Bowls Victoria development officer Kate Benton

CEO Performance and Remuneration Committee

Bowls Queensland chair Cynthia Neeve

Convenor- Geoff Nethercott Des Skinner

Historian Margaret Radford

NSWWBA president Jewel Buchanan Bowls SA general manager Ben Scales Bowls Australia development manager / Convenor Tony Sherwill

World Bowls 2012 representative Geoff Nethercott Neil Dalrymple

Australian Commonwealth Games Association representative Perry Norm Cunico

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Message from the Australian Sports Commission

I

t is an honour to serve as the new Chair of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Board at this challenging and exciting period for our national sporting system.

The ASC and national sporting organisations (NSOs) have long spoken of a shared ambition to strengthen relationships between all system partners involved in Australian sport.

Aligned with this ambition, the Australian Government is now encouraging a whole-of-sport reform agenda, aimed at establishing a more collaborative, efficient and integrated sports system.

Through new direction for sport ‘Australian Sport: the Pathway to Success’, the ASC will work closely with sport to achieve its main objectives; boost sports participation and strengthen sporting pathways while striving for international success.

The reform agenda seeks for the ASC to assist to provide stability and support for all sporting organisations in their pursuit of a shared, common

purpose; creating a better sporting pathway for all Australians, from the grassroots up.

The ASC will implement the new direction, and this includes collaboration with all NSOs to allocate a record amount of new sports funding – committing an extra $195 million over the next four years.

This funding is in addition to the current ongoing baseline funding for NSOs. Also, the ASC will assist sporting organisations with access to coaching and officiating programs, governance support, planning and education opportunities and assistance with becoming more inclusive – particularly in the areas of Indigenous sport, sport for people with a disability, sport for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women’s sport development programs.

This is the first time key sport partners, such as state and territory institutes and academies of sport and state and territory departments of sport and recreation, have collaborated on a Commonwealth funding decision in the interests of Australia’s sporting future.

This is an exciting time for all of us involved in Australian sport. With significant new funding from the Australian Government, sports will be better positioned than ever before to lead the drive for higher participation levels and strong success on the sporting field by promoting the unique nature of their sport, creating a legacy and a lasting impression for communities across the country.

The ASC will continue to work with all NSOs, the state and territory institutes and academies of sport and state and territory departments of sport and recreation, reinvigorating access to, and participation in, sport across the community and driving Australia’s continued sporting success.

The Hon. Warwick Smith AM Chairman Board of the Australian Sports Commission

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Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010

WINNING PARTNERSHIP

The Australian Sports Commission proudly supports Bowls Australia The Australian Sports Commission is the Australian Government agency that develops, manages and invests in sport at all levels in Australia.

Bowls Australia has worked closely with the Australian Sports Commission to develop bowls from community participation to high-level performance.

AUSTRALIAN SPORTS COMMISSION

Bowls Australia is one of many national sporting organisations that has formed a winning partnership with the Australian Sports Commission to develop its sport in Australia.

ausport.gov.au

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State and territory association contact details

Bowls ACT PO Box 6105 O’CONNOR ACT 2602 Phone: 02 6257 3560 Fax: 02 6257 4229 events@bowlsact.org.au http://www.bowlsact.org.au

Bowls WA PO Box 123 OSBORNE PARK WA 6917 Phone: 08 9242 1822 Fax: 08 9242 1866 enquiries@bowlswa.com.au http://www.bowlswa.com.au

Bowls NT GPO Box 728 DARWIN NT 0801 Phone: 08 8945 4800 bowlsnt@bigpond.com http://www.nt.bowlsaustralia.com.au

NSWWBA 7/309 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Phone: 02 9267 7155 Fax: 02 9267 7254 reception@womensbowlsnsw.org http://www.womensbowlsnsw.org

Bowls QLD PO Box 476 ALDERLEY QLD 4051 Phone: 07 3355 9988 Fax: 07 3855 0010 admin@bowlsqld.org http://www.bowlsqld.org

Bowls SA PO Box 59 BROOKLYN PARK SA 5032 Phone: 08 8234 7544 Fax: 08 8351 8220 reception@bowlssa.com.au http://www.bowlssa.com.au

Bowls TAS 114 Hobart Road KINGS MEADOWS TAS 7249 Phone: 03 6344 1174 Fax: 03 6344 7435 bowlstas@bigpond.com http://www.bowlstasmania.com.au

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RNSWBA PO Box A2186 SYDNEY NSW 1235 Phone: 02 9283 4555 Fax: 02 9283 4252 rnswba@rnswba.org.au http://www.rnswba.org.au

Bowls Victoria PO Box 6080 HAWTHORN WEST VIC 3122 Phone: 03 9819 6177 Fax: 03 9819 5453 specialprojects@bowlsvic.org.au http://www.bowlsvic.org.au

You’ll love the EcoCash green.

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Brian Kett, Managing Director GRG International.

We are especially proud to be a major sponsor of this prestigious tournament.

EcoCash is an Australian owned and operated organisation that has extensive ATM services Internationally. “We operate in Australia, America, Canada, Hong Kong and Mexico, with a strong partner based in China”, says Michael McNeill, General Manager/ National Marketing for GRG International.

We can provide your club with an environmentally conscious ATM that is technically sophisticated and financially rewarding, please give us a call on 1800 474 286 (1800 GRG ATM) for an obligation free discussion.

CALL NOW 1800 GRG ATM (474 286) or email sales.aust@grgatm.com www.grgatm.com

Membership growth and development

B

owls Australia is pleased to continue its association with the Australian Sports Commission – without which we would not have the capacity to achieve the successes which we have enjoyed over the past year. BA wishes to sincerely thank the ASC for its support throughout the past financial year and hope our relationship continues into the future.

Coaching The revised coaching accreditation scheme is currently operating successfully in all STAs. The latest accredited coaches have all been very impressed with the new course (several had completed the old course in years gone by) and firmly believe they are better coaches because of it. We are also pleased to hear that the ASC is now recommending our course as a benchmark for other sports to aspire to when improving their structure. This excellent result could not have been achieved without the dedicated work of Bowls Australia development coordinator (coaching and officiating) Tamara Mason.

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Our National Coaching Committee continues to provide a boost to bowls in Australia. I wish to sincerely thank the National Coaching Director Geoff Campbell and the

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010 National Coaching Committee for their contribution.

Officiating Our officiating structure is currently under review.

The first step in this process was to meet face to face with each STA umpiring/rules committee, which was completed in June. The results were pleasing with several commonalities of what each STA would like to see improved in order to ensure the system serves our sport well into the future. The remainder of the review will take place over the first six months of the 2010-11 financial year. Any potential changes will be discussed with each STA umpiring/rules committee prior to being enacted.

Particular thanks to the National Officiating Committee and National Officiating Director Mark Cowan for his tireless support and guidance.

Programs The Women in Sport initiative remained a priority for Bowls Australia over the past financial year.

We continued to make progress, largely centred around ensuring the clothing worn on-green is both comfortable and of an appropriate standard for modern sporting wear.

Also under the ASCs Women in Sport funding, we continued to work on creating an appropriate format of the game which is suitable for all Australians to suit their work and/or family commitments. This will ensure a healthy membership base is maintained (and increased) into the future.

Our involvement with the ASC’s Sports CONNECT program continues to develop. Recent forums of each of our four partner organisations (AUSRAPID/ABBA/ DSA/AAWD) have sketched out the potential to extend the bowlers with a disability section at the Australian Open to include multiple disability events in 2011. We thank them for their support throughout the year – particularly Robyn Smith at AUSRAPID for her support of the bowlers with a disability section at the 2010 Australian Open.

State and territory development officers As part of our efforts to ensure STA development officers receive continual professional development, each development officer attended a conference in Adelaide with a workshop dedicated to improving their skills in facilitating meetings.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, has provided a much needed boost to the team and will revel in his role as Bowls Australia community bowls coordinator.

Barrie will complete a range of activities, including attending events to ensure that schools, community groups and potential participants and members will be exposed to our fantastic sport.

If you would like the assistance of your state or territory development officer, contact your association or visit www.bowlsaustralia.com.au for contact details.

All the best to all members for the upcoming season, may all your bowls be live and your club have an open door to new participants and members alike.

2009-10 Bowls Australia membership statistics

Members

Clubs

STAte

Male

Female Total

ACT

1637

865

2502

21

QLD

30040

15598

45638

347

SA

11949

5523

17472

224

TAS

3928

2090

6018

73

WA

12758

6612

19370

213

RNSWBA 58456

-

58456

590

NSWWBA

-

26684

26684

-

NT

271

145

416

9

RVBA

35343

3165

38508

525

VLBA

2258

17403

19661

500

234725

2002

Totals

We also welcomed the addition of Barrie Lester to the Bowls Australia development team. Barrie, a

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High performance and pathway events High performance

International events

Entering the final stages of preparation for the Delhi Commonwealth Games, the past 12 months has been an exciting and pivotal period for the high performance program incorporating fresh, new and exciting faces in our national and expanded Silver Tier squads.

The 2009 Asia Pacific Championships in Malaysia in August marked the return of the Australian team to the international arena, capturing two gold, three silver and two bronze medals from eight events during another impressive campaign.

The past year has seen a wide range of planning and implementation following the recommendations outlined in the Australian Sports Commission’s high performance review completed in 2009.

In our third year of a four year cycle, the program has taken a fresh direction under the guidance of national coach Rex Johnston OAM, who commenced his new role in December after a four year stint as a national selector.

Bowls Australia would like thank Cameron Curtis and Ian Schuback OAM for their outstanding contributions as head coach and technical coach since the program’s inception in 2004, laying the foundations for a prominent and world leading program.

Just prior to the benchmark tournament, the third Asia Pacific Merdeka Indoor Championships were staged in Kuala Lumpur, with Australia winning all but one of the four titles which were up for grabs and debuting three players in South Australia’s Kelli Wray and Penny Landherr, as well as NSW’s Gerard Beath.

In late February, a six game test series between Australia and England was staged at the Moama International, which saw Victoria’s Lee Schraner and NSW’s Natasha Van Eldik earn their respective debuts, with the old enemy scraping across the line on a count back with scores locked at 3-3.

In preparation for the Delhi Games, the national team visited the sub-continent for the first time in bowls history in April at the Eight Nation Test Event.

Competing against the powerhouses of the bowls world, Australia clinched five medals from six events, returning with four silver and a bronze on the unique synthetic surface, with NSW’s Beth Quinlan also debuting.

The XXXII Trans Tasman test series saw another successful campaign, with Australia clean sweeping New Zealand at Bargara, while our under-25 men kept their strong record intact by clinching a victory across the ditch in February. NSW’s Terry Antram became the 133rd male Australian player to compete at international level.

Delhi Commonwealth Games Australia’s preparations for the Delhi Commonwealth Games began its final phase in December with 28 athletes attending a shadow camp at Narrabeen in Sydney.

In the ensuing six months, a number of camps and

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Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010

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events were staged to provide the shadow squad with the best possible opportunity to press for selection in the Games team. In May, the team of 12 was announced and includes three gold medallists from Melbourne (Lynsey Armitage, Wayne Turley and Mark Casey) and nine debutants.

environment, as countries strengthen their position, we must ensure we are one step ahead.

During the coming year, the high performance program will focus on expanding the opportunities of athletes and coaches in our national pathway via the expansion of the Silver Tier athlete program and the introduction of an Emerging Athlete Program aimed at athletes transitioning from junior to senior bowls.

The program will also focus on providing opportunities for coaches to work within the high performance network. The result of the pathway’s expansion is sure to benefit our medal opportunities at the 2012 World Championships and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Bowls Australia lodged a bid with the Australian Sports Commission in June for an increase in its high performance funding to enable these initiatives to be undertaken.

Future of the program The Eight Nation Test Event in Delhi highlighted just how far the sport of lawn bowls has progressed in high performance terms since the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Many of our competitors have introduced key personnel to assist their teams, a component which has been crucial and effective within the Australian program for some years now, including sports psychologists and sports scientists.

To meet the challenges of the increasingly competitive

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This additional funding has been made available through the federal government.

2010 Australian Open For a successive year, the Shepparton Park and Mooroopna bowls clubs staged the $125,000 Australian Open. With the support of the Greater Shepparton City Council, host clubs and the Goulburn Murray, Bowls Australia’s premier event was once again a huge success.

Utilising their past experience, the host clubs were able to fine-tune a number of aspects directly related to the event, and while these changes may have

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010 been small, they certainly assisted in ensuring a smoother tournament, which again increased the professionalism surrounding the Australian Open.

Thanks must go to the organising committee, which poured in hours of hard work to ensure the clubs were at their best and the event was a raging success.

Interstate qualifying once again proved to be a significant driver with yet another increase in entries across the country. This initiative has opened up the opportunity for bowlers nation-wide to have access to the southern hemisphere’s marquee event. Entries increased by 20% from 2009, with an overall increase of 72% since the introduction of interstate qualifying in 2008.

Once again AUSRAPID provided great support to the event by coordinating teams to participate in the bowlers with a disability tournament run in conjunction with the Australian Open. It is the target for 2011 to include deaf, blind and wheelchair competitors into the program.

After a year’s absence, the finals of the AER Foundation Mixed Pairs Challenge were once again incorporated into the AO program. Representatives from all states attended, to make a very exciting competition. Focal Promotions is the primary driver of the Challenge, which is growing in numbers at club level every year.

The over-60 triples had good support from Victorian

players with a number of teams travelling from interstate. With the move back to Melbourne it will be a challenge for 2011 to ensure that numbers increase.

Finally, the under-18 singles once again produced a strong field with representatives from all states and territories, except the Northern Territory. This event will be expanded in 2011 to allow greater representation.

Bowls Australia would like to acknowledge the tireless support given by the hundreds of volunteers that worked at the Australian Open. A number of volunteers travelled from interstate, as well as some key volunteers from Melbourne and surrounding areas. Special thanks must be given to Harvie Hele, Val Savage and George Vayonitis for coordinating the volunteers, to Bill Sheedy who managed all the technical officials and Geoff Nethercott for his efforts as the Tournament Director.

Sport and Recreation Victoria have continued to be a major funding partner for the Australian Open. Without SRV’s support it would not be possible to stage an event of this magnitude within Victoria.

The Australian Open will now return to the Darebin International Sports Centre that has undergone extensive renovations on the greens over the past 18 months. It is planned to reinvigorate the event at Darebin with a fresh look and feel. This will be done with continued support from the Darebin City Council, who oversee the venue.

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2011 Asia Pacific Championships and 2012 World Championships Planning for the 2011 Asia Pacific Championships and 2012 World Championships is slowly progressing.

An official travel operator has been appointed and key consultants have been identified to assist with sponsorship and TV broadcast. The two host clubs are continuing to work hard to prepare the venues for the event, with renovations already commencing over the past 12 months and will continue into next year. The next 12 months will see the finalisation of venue plans and the volunteer program for the 2011 Asia Pacific Championships.

An international affair The Bowls Australia grand prix circuit can no longer be seen as a domestic competition.

Over the past 12 months, international raiders from South Africa, England, Scotland and New Zealand have pillaged some of the game’s most elusive silverware, while competitors from Guernsey, Malaysia, Northern Ireland, Zimbabwe and Canada have all featured prominently.

While experienced campaigners Karen Murphy and Sharyn Renshaw captured yet another two titles apiece, taking their overall tallies to 13 and eight respectively, the 2009-10 season also saw the ascension of some of the nation’s finest young talent,

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eclipsing one of the circuit’s longest standing records not once but twice in the space of three months.

During the BCiB Queensland Open at Bribie Island, Victoria’s Dylan Fisher became the youngest ever winner when he joined forces with Australian squad member Lee Schraner and his step-father, Todd Simmons, to capture the men’s triples title.

But at the very next event, Western Australia’s Kristina Krstic, who at 15 years and 116 days edged out Fisher by a matter of weeks, stole the mark after partnering Murphy to victory in the women’s pairs at the Janome NSW Open.

While the plaudits came thick and fast for Fisher and Kristic, the circuit can also lay claim to unearthing NSW’s Natasha Van Eldik, who capitalised on every opportunity to all but force her way into Australia’s Delhi Commonwealth Games team.

Having reached the final of the women’s singles at the BCiB Queensland Open, as well as capturing the triples crown, the teenage sensation backed up her stunning performances at Bribie Island with a win in the fours at the Janome NSW Open.

A star was born In the men’s series, world number seven Aron Sherriff made a welcome return to the winners’ list after a three-year hiatus when he captured the fours at the Janome NSW Open before defeating England’s Graham Shadwell in the final of the $125,000 Australian Open at Shepparton Park.

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010 While Shadwell had his colours lowered, his English teammates in Merv King and Stuart Airey had no such problems lifting the pairs title, while Queensland’s Paul Jopson, Ben Twist and Kurt Brown secured the triples.

With the top five female players in the world entering the Australian Open, the singles final lived up to its billing with former Scottish sensation Joyce Lindores accounting for 2006 winner Julie Keegan, while Renshaw teamed with Western Australia’s Therese Hastings to claim the pairs.

Having failed to qualify in the singles, world number one Val Smith earnt the ultimate redemption in the triples when she joined New Zealand teammates Clare McCaul and Jan Khan in defeating Lynsey Armitage, Beth Quinlan and Keegan in a double blow for the Aussie skip at the southern hemisphere’s biggest tournament.

Demonstrating the pulling power of the circuit, every state and territory, bar the Northern Territory, boasted a grand prix finalist in 2009-10.

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Results BOWLS AUSTRALIA GRAND PRIXS 2009 BCiB QUEENSLAND OPEN – BRIBIE ISLAND BC (QLD) Singles: Ashley Klose (SA), Rebecca Quail (TAS) Pairs: Bradley Holland and Matthew Robertson (VIC), Lisa Mitchell and Corinne Crouche (NSW) Triples: Dylan Fisher, Lee Schraner and Todd Simmons (VIC), Amanda Haevecker (QLD), Kerrie Wilson (QLD) and Natasha Van Eldik (NSW)

2009 JANOME NSW OPEN – TAREN POINT BC (NSW) Pairs: David Holt and Neil Burkett (NSW), Kristina Krstic (WA) and Karen Murphy (NSW) Fours: Reg McCulla, Clay Parker, Lennon Scott and Aron Sherriff (NSW), Penny Landherr (SA), Anne Johns (NSW), Natasha Van Eldik (NSW) and Karen Murphy (NSW).

2010 AUSTRALIAN OPEN – SHEPPARTON PARK BC & MOOROOPNA BC (VIC)

Singles: Aron Sherriff (NSW), Joyce Lindores (VIC) Pairs: Mervyn King and Stuart Airey (UK), Sharyn Renshaw (NSW) and Therese Hastings (WA) Triples: Paul Jopson, Ben Twist and Kurt Brown (QLD), Clare McCaul, Jan Khan, Val Smith (NZ) Under-18: Cody Packer (WA), Carly Griffiths (QLD) Over-60: Terry Rawlings, Mike Chittenden and Paul Morris (VIC), Marjorie Patterson, Judith Croft and Jan Rolph (NSW) AERF: Kate Carriage and Terry McInnes (ACT) AWD singles: Josh Barry (VIC), Kaye Freeman (QLD) AWD pairs: Josh Barry and Ross Brown (VIC), Crystal Martin and Kaye Freeman (QLD) AWD mixed pairs: Laura Williamson and Josh Barry (VIC)

Annual national events 2009 Australian Junior Championships- Halekulani BC (NSW) Singles: Cody Packer (WA), Carly Griffiths (QLD) Pairs: Braydon Locke and Mac McLean (ACT), Sarah Boddington and Sarah Vesenjak (NSW) Triples: Braidan Leese, Ben Savva and Scott DeJongh (QLD), Rebekah Ramsay, Megan Walsh and Kenita Monk (NSW) Fours: Dane McKinnon, Ben McArthur, Aaron Wilson and Matthew Rennex (VIC), Kirsty deWaard, Lauren Ingham, Shahn Griffiths and Zoe Jones (QLD) Boys’ title: NSW Girls’ title: NSW Overall title: NSW

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2010 Australian Sides Championships- HOLDFAST BAY BC (SA) Best performed rink: Kelvin Kerkow (QLD), Penny Landherr (SA) Alley Shield: Queensland Marj Morris trophy: Western Australia Overall title: Western Australia

International competitions 2009 World Champion of Champions- Aberdeen BC (Scotland) Men’s singles champion: Brett Wilkie (AUST) bt Wayne Hogg (SCO) 12-3, 11-9 Women’s singles champion: Kelsey Cottrell (AUST) bt Lucy Bere (GUE) 6-6, 6-5

2009 Asia Pacific Merdeka Indoor Championships- Bayuemas Indoor BC (MALAYSIA) Australian representatives: Gerard Beath (NSW), Anthony Kiepe (QLD) and Brett Wilkie (QLD), Anne Johns (NSW), Penny Landherr (SA) and Kelli Wray (SA) Men’s singles champion: Anthony Kiepe (AUST) bt Mohamad Azwan (MAL) 9-4, 7-4 Women’s singles champion: Milagros Witheridge (PHI) d Emma Firyina (MAL) 1-7, 9-3, 5-1 Mixed pairs champions: Anne Johns and Anthony Kiepe (AUST) bt Zulhilmie Redzuan and Maisarah Aminludin (MAL) 13-12 Mixed triples champions: Anne Johns, Kelli Wray, Gerard Beath (AUST) bt Fairul Izwan, Nor Hashimah and Khairul Anuar (MAL) 12-11

2009 Asia Pacific ChampionshipsBukit Kiara Lawn Bowls Centre (MALAYSIA) Australian representatives: Mark Berghofer (NSW), Mark Jacobsen (VIC), Leif Selby (NSW), Robbie Thompson (QLD) and Wayne Turley (NSW). Lynsey Armitage (QLD), Kelsey Cottrell (QLD), Claire Duke (NSW), Julie Keegan (QLD) and Karen Murphy (NSW).

Men’s singles champion: Ali Forsyth (NZ) bt Leif Selby (AUST) 21-7.

Women’s singles champion: Rosita Bradborn (PHI) bt Songsin Tsao (THAI) 21-17. Kelsey Cottrell (AUST) bronze.

Men’s pairs champions: Robbie Thompson and Mark Jacobsen (AUST) bt Jamie Hill and Gary Lawson (NZ) 22-8 Women’s pairs champions: Siti Zalina Ahmad and Nor Hashimah Isamil (MAL) bt Debbie Wilford and Carmen Anderson (NI) 22-10. Lynsey Armitage and Karen Murphy (AUST) bronze.

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010 Men’s triples champions: Mark Berghofer, Wayne Turley and Leif Selby (AUST) bt Jerry Ng, Jimmy Chiu and Danny Ho (HK-CH) 23-13 Women’s triples champions: Nor Shafeeqah Yahya, Nor Fidrah Noh and Azlina Arshad (MAL) bt Kelsey Cottrell, Claire Duke and Julie Keegan (AUST) 17-15.

Men’s fours champions: Azim Ariffin, Amir Usof, Aswan Shuhaimi and Fairul Izwan Muin (MAL) bt Ronald Lising, Leo Carreon, Chris Dagpin and Angelo Marales (PHI) 21-10. Mark Berghofer, Robbie Thompson, Wayne Turley and Mark Jacobsen (AUST) bronze.

Women’s fours champions: Nor Shafeeqah Yahya, Nor Fidrah Noh, Azlina Arshad and Nor Hashimah Ismail (MAL) bt Grace Chu, Peggy Ma, Winnie Wai and Elizabeth Cormack (HK-CH) 20-9. Lynsey Armitage, Julie Keegan, Claire Duke and Karen Murphy (AUST) quarter-finals.

2010 Moama International- Moama BC (VIC) Australian representatives: Mark Berghofer (NSW), Mark Casey (QLD), Mark Jacobsen (VIC), Leif Selby (NSW), Lee Schraner (VIC) and Wayne Turley (NSW). Kelsey Cottrell (NSW), Claire Duke (NSW), Julie Keegan (NSW), Karen Murphy (NSW), Sharyn Renshaw (NSW) and Natasha Van Eldik (NSW) Men’s singles: Sam Tolchard (ENG) bt Leif Selby (AUST) 8-5, 10-0 Women’s singles: Kelsey Cottrell (AUST) bt Amy Monkhouse (ENG) 5-8, 10-2, 4-2 Men’s pairs: Mark Bantock & Robert Newman (ENG) bt Lee Schraner & Mark Jacobsen (AUST) 14-3, 6-7, 3-1 Women’s pairs: Natalie Melmore & Ellen Falkner (ENG) bt Natasha Van Eldik & Julie Keegan (AUST) 3-11, 8-3, 3-2 Men’s triples: Mark Berghofer, Wayne Turley and Mark Casey (AUST) bt Merv King, Stuart Airey and Graham Shadwell (ENG) 8-5, 6-11, 5-0 Women’s triples: Sharyn Renshaw, Claire Duke and Karen Murphy (AUST) bt Jamie-Lea Winch, Sian Gordon and Sandy Hazell (ENG) 13-1, 9-7

2010 Eight Nation Test EventJawaharlal Nehru Stadium (IND) Australian representatives: Mark Berghofer (INDIA), Mark Casey (QLD), Leif Selby (NSW), Aron Sherriff (NSW), Wayne Turley (NSW) and Brett Wilkie (QLD).

Lynsey Armitage (QLD), Kelsey Cottrell (NSW), Claire Duke (NSW), Sharyn Renshaw (NSW), Beth Quinlan (NSW) and Natasha Van Eldik (NSW).

Men’s singles champion: Safuan Said (MAL) bt Ali Forsyth (NZ) 10-4, 9-8. Leif Selby (AUST) quarterfinals.

Women’s singles champion: Siti Zalina Ahmad (MAL) bt Kelsey Cottrell (AUST) 9-4, 10-1.

Men’s pairs champions: Richard Collett & Dan Delaney (NZ) bt Brett Wilkie & Aron Sherriff (AUST) 9-5, 9-8 Women’s pairs champions: Colleen Webb & Brunhilde Rossouw (SA) bt Lynsey Armitage & Natasha Van Eldik 8-6, 7-6 Men’s triples champions: Mark Bantock, Graham Shadwell and Robert Newman (ENG) bt Andrew Todd, Andrew Kelly and Richard Girvan (NZ) 12-4, 12-6. Mark Berghofer, Wayne Turley and Mark Casey (AUST) bronze.

Women’s triples champions: Jamie-Lee Winch, Sandy Hazell and Sian Gordon (ENG) bt Sharyn Renshaw, Claire Duke and Beth Quinlan (AUST) 5-13, 8-7, 4-3

2010 World Cup- Warilla BC (NSW) Men’s singles champion: Leif Selby (AUST) bt Anthony Kiepe (AUST) 9-2, 6-7, 3-2 Women’s singles champion: Jo Edwards (NZ) bt Karen Murphy (AUST) 7-4, 8-8 Under-25 men’s champion: 1. Andrew Kelly (NZ) 12-0, 2. Brendan Aquilina (MALT) 11-1, 3. Mat Pietersen (AUST) 9-3.

Under-25 women’s champion: 1. Sam Shannahan (AUST) 7-1, 2. Genevieve Baildon (NZ) 6-2, 3.

Shermeen Lim (SING) 5-3.

2010 Trans Tasman- Bargara Bowls & Sports Club (QLD) Australian representatives: Terry Antram (NSW), Mark Berghofer (NSW), Mark Casey (QLD), Mark Jacobsen (VIC), Leif Selby (NSW) and Aron Sherriff (NSW). Lynsey Armitage (QLD), Kelsey Cottrell (NSW), Claire Duke (NSW), Julie Keegan (NSW), Karen Murphy (NSW) and Natasha Van Eldik (NSW) Men’s title: Australia wins 4-2 and reclaims the men’s trophy Women’s title: Australia wins 3-3 on a count back and retains the women’s trophy Overall title: Australia wins 7-5 and reclaims the overall Trans Tasman trophy Australian under-25 representatives: Sean Baker (QLD), David Ferguson (NSW), Dylan Fisher (VIC), Carl Healey (NSW) and Mat Pietersen (NSW).

Janet Healey (ACT), Carla Odgers (VIC), Rebecca Quail (TAS), Sam Shannahan (VIC) and Morgan Solman-Stewart (NSW).

Men’s title: Australia wins 2-1 and retains the men’s trophy Women’s title: New Zealand wins 2-1 and reclaims the women’s trophy Australian under-18 representatives: Martin Miller (NT) and Aaron Teys (NSW). Carly Griffiths (QLD) and Lisa Phillips (VIC).

Overall title: New Zealand wins 2.5-0.5 and reclaims the Trans Tasman trophy.

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2009-10 Australian squad Lynsey Armitage

Claire Duke

Club: Club Helensvale, Queensland Date of birth: Dec 6, 1983

Club: Cabramatta BC, NSW Date of birth: Jul 25, 1983

First represented Australia: 2003 Representative number: 62

First represented Australia: 2005 Representative number: 66

Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Championships 2010 Eight Nation Test Event 2010 Trans Tasman

Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Championships 2010 Moama International 2010 Eight Nation Test Event 2010 Trans Tasman

Gerard Beath

Anne Johns

Club: Cowra BC, NSW Date of birth: Jun 30, 1976

Club: St Johns Park BC, NSW Date of birth: May 16, 1980

First represented Australia: 2009 Representative number: 131

First represented Australia: 2008 Representative number: 73

Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Merdeka Indoor Championships

Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Merdeka Indoor Championships

Mark Berghofer

Mark Jacobsen

Club: St Johns Park BC, NSW Date of birth: Jan 21, 1985

Club: Moonee Ponds BC, Victoria Date of birth: Jun 4, 1968

First represented Australia: 2009 Representative number: 129

First represented Australia: 1998 Representative number: 106

Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Championships 2010 Moama International 2010 Eight Nation Test Event 2010 Trans Tasman

Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Championships 2010 Moama International 2010 Trans Tasman

Kelsey Cottrell

Julie Keegan

Club: St Johns Park, NSW Date of birth: May 31, 1990

Club: St Johns Park, NSW Date of birth: Jul 11, 1964

First represented Australia: 2005 Representative number: 68

First represented Australia: 2007 Representative number: 71

Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Championships 2010 Moama International 2010 Eight Nation Test Event 2010 Trans Tasman

Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Championships 2010 Moama International 2010 Trans Tasman

Michael Cronin

Anthony Kiepe

Club: East Cessnock BC, NSW Date of birth: Nov 23, 1977

Club: Club Helensvale, Queensland Date of birth: Oct 14, 1977

First represented Australia: Yet to debut

First represented Australia: 2007 Representative number: 126 Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Merdeka Indoor Championships

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Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010

Penny Landherr

Samantha Shannahan

Club: Kensington-Marryatville BC, South Australia Date of birth: Mar 1, 1962

Club: Lara BC, Victoria Date of birth: May 15, 1989

First represented Australia: 2009 Representative number: 75

First represented Australia: 2008 Representative number: 74

Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Merdeka Indoor Championships

Karen Murphy

Wayne Turley

Club: Cabramatta BC, NSW Date of birth: Dec 18, 1974

Club: Taren Point BC, NSW Date of birth: Nov 2, 1972

First represented Australia: 1997 Representative number: 56

First represented Australia: 2005 Representative number: 121

Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Championships 2010 Moama International 2010 Trans Tasman

Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Championships 2010 Moama International 2010 Eight Nation Test Event 2010 Trans Tasman

Sharyn Renshaw

Brett Wilkie

Club: St Johns Park BC, NSW Date of birth: July 22, 1961

Club: Club Helensvale, Queensland Date of birth: Jun 7, 1974

First represented Australia: 2007 Representative number: 72

First represented Australia: 2009 Representative number: 130

Represented Australia 2009-10 2010 Moama International 2010 Eight Nation Test Event

Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Merdeka Indoor Championships 2010 Eight Nation Test Event

Lee Schraner

Kelli Wray

Club: Brighton BC, Victoria Date of birth: Jan 31, 1982

Club: Holdfast Bay, South Australia Date of birth: Sep 10, 1988

First represented Australia: 2010 Representative number: 132

First represented Australia: 2009 Representative number: 76

Represented Australia 2009-10 2010 Moama International

Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Merdeka Indoor Championships

Leif Selby Club: St Johns Park BC, NSW Date of birth: Jul 26, 1972 First represented Australia: 2007 Representative number: 125 Represented Australia 2009-10 2009 Asia Pacific Championships 2010 Moama International 2010 Eight Nation Test Event 2010 Trans Tasman

23

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Commercial development and promotions

I

n what proved to be a challenging and changing economic environment, Bowls Australia acknowledges with sincere gratitude its commercial partners across the 2009-2010 financial year.

sustainable and robust.

Bowls Australia’s commercial partners underpin our comprehensive television schedule which comprises of domestic and international events.

Bowls Australia’s ongoing broadcast partnerships on the free-to -view platform provided by the ABC and the pay-to-view platform provided by Premier Media Group in Australia and British Sky Broadcasting in the UK help underpin the commercial sustainability of the sport of lawn bowls in Australia.

The televised events, which provide elite competition for talent identification and team preparation, as well as ensuring a grand prix circuit for the participation of our members, continue to serve as the shop front for our sport to promote itself to a national viewing audience.

In addition to these traditional media platforms, Bowls Australia also implemented online broadcasting in 2010, live streaming the Australian Open, among other events, to viewing audiences across Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Bowls Australia’s commercial partners underpin our comprehensive television comprising of domestic and international events.

State government partnerships comprising of the Victorian government’s support of the Australian Open, now in its sixth year, and Events SA’s support of the 2012 World Championships are integral partners of Bowls Australia and World Bowls 2012 Ltd.

Our televised schedule of events, which provide elite competition for talent identification and team preparation, as well as ensuring a grand prix circuit for the participation of our members, continue to promote our sport to a national viewing audience.

As the principle partner of Bowls Australia, the Australian Sports Commission’s ongoing support across all levels of the organisation, including high performance pathway programs, participation and sport development such as Women in Sport and Sports Connect, truly epitomises its commitment to ensuring sport systems across Australia are successful,

Bowls Australia would like to thank our “sponsor family” for their valued support.

At the forefront, the continued investment from Thomas Taylor Ltd reflects the buoyancy of the bowls market in Australia both in sales of bowls and merchandising.

The commercial partnerships with Kombat, Tiger Turf, EcoCash, Great Southern Railways, Asics and the AER Foundation continue to contribute directly to the implementation and sustainability of our grand prix circuit and internationally televised events.

25

With over 3000 entries over the past financial year, the grand prix circuit has established itself as the premier domestic series for elite and grassroots bowlers alike.

New host club partners in 2009-10 in the form of Bribie Island, Bargara and Holdfast Bay demonstrated an incredible capacity to showcase the very best the sport has to offer.

Community program partner, the Department of Health and Ageing, contributed funds to the successful Fit4Bowls health and wellbeing program.

Official Designations

The Volunteers Grant Program provided under the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs contributed to the implementation of regional training programs for volunteer coaches across each state and territory association.

Taylor Bowls - Premier partner Bowls Australia

The contribution made by our event host clubs cannot be understated and the continued support of long term club partners such as Moama, Halekulani, Taren Point, Shepparton Park and Mooroopna Bowls Clubs is graciously acknowledged.

Australian Sports Commission - Principle partner of Bowls Australia

Events SA - Presenting partner World Championships 2012 Victoria government - Australian Open Australian Commonwealth Games Association Department of Health and Ageing - Fit4Bowls community partner beyondblue - Community charity partner SportingPulse - Website and competition management partner Kombat - Preferred apparel provider Tiger Turf - Preferred provider of synthetic surfaces EcoCash - ATM partner

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Asics - Preferred provider of footwear

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010

AER Foundation - Presenting partner – AERF Mixed Pairs Challenge 2XU - Preferred provider of compression garments Great Southern Railway - The Ghan

Grand prix circuit support partners Australian Open Greater Shepparton City Council Queensland Open BCIB NSW Open Janome Taren Point Bowling Club

International Event partners Moama International: Australia V England Moama Bowling Club Trans Tasman Bundaberg Regional Council Bargara Bowls and Sports Club

Broadcast Partners Australian Broadcasting Corporation Premier Media Group British Sky Broadcasting

Host Clubs Taren Point Bowling Club - NSW Open Halekulani Bowling Club - Australian Junior Championships Shepparton Park Bowls Club and Mooroopna Bowls Club - Australian Open Moama Bowling Club - Moama International: Australia V England Holdfast Bay Bowling Club - Australian Sides Championships Bargara Bowls & Sports Club - Trans Tasman Bribie Island Bowls Club - Queensland Open

National Merchandising Program The National Merchandising Program continues to be an important whole-of-sport initiative generating revenue to support the employment of development officers in each state and territory association, as well as the development of the game at grassroots level.

Bowls Australia has maintained its commitment to reinvest funds from the NMP back into the sport via STAs. The 2009-2010 financial year saw the overall distribution back into the sport reach over $1,000,000 since full inception of the program in 2004.

After an extensive review and consultation process with NMP stakeholders, BA released its new logo policy. The document was released in an illustrative version depicting best practice examples to provide stakeholders with an easy to read visual reference.

The new logo policy has also been designed to assist in its adoption in the dress regulations of each STA. BA will continue to work with STAs to achieve a national level of compliance in attire standards across STA sanctioned pennant and above level events.

Licensed manufacturers have continued in their commitment to quality and ensuring a wide range of product is readily available to stakeholders. Licensees have incorporated modern designs and fabrics enabling NMP stakeholders access to the latest manufacturing, team wear and fashion concepts.

BA has maintained its commitment to working with licensees in developing and promoting licensed apparel ranges that are appealing to a wide demographic, while offering flexible alternatives for retail and club needs. Licensees of the NMP will remain proactive in developing product ranges that are reflective of the sports needs.

Strategically BA is aiming to grow the annual NMP distributions to STA development programs in excess of $600,000 by 2012. This will involve a concerted effort from all NMP stakeholders and BA will be working closely with stakeholders to deliver this key objective.

BA is committed to ensuring the NMP remains a sustainable revenue source and continues to engage all stakeholders, while remaining robust and accessible to the bowls community.

27

Financial Report The operating result for the 2009-10 year was a profit of $64,586 compared with the $47,295 profit of the previous year.

The 2009-10 year saw a continuing focus to progress towards the achievement of “key performance targets” as outlined in the Strategic Plan 2009-2012, despite a reduced revenue flow and a continuing adverse financial environment in Australia.

Despite a reduction in revenue from sponsorships, grants and merchandising, Bowls Australia did achieve an increase in spending in the strategically important area of game / sport development and provided additional funding towards a comprehensive preparation of the high performance team for success at the Commonwealth Games in India.

The year also saw further economies being achieved from the tight control over the costs of governance and administration in addition to running national events at minimum cost without adversely affecting quality.

REVENUE Overall revenue reduced by $170,000 during the year to be $4.0 mill.

Capitation fee income continues to be the major source of income for Bowls Australia with 43% of revenue coming from this source. Whilst fee paying club membership numbers continued to fall at a disturbing rate (2.9% for 2009/10 compared with 3.1% for 2008/9 and 1.6% for 2007/8), this was offset to some degree by the minimal increase in capitation fee of 27 cents (excl GST) per member per annum.

It is both strategically and financially important that the decline in capitation fee paying membership numbers be turned around to provide future monies for the development of the sport in Australia.

Bowls Australia continued to benefit from grant monies provided by the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Commonwealth Games Association for spending on sport development programs and the high performance team activities. In addition, monies received from the Australian Government’s Department of Healthy Aging facilitated the creation of an effective website under the banner of “Fit4Bowls”.

However, sponsorship revenue has continued to be difficult to obtain in this economic environment and has further declined. In response, Bowls Australia has commissioned a national census to be rolled out across Australia via its state and territory associations. Data from this census is expected to provide an understanding of the drivers behind the decline in membership and also provide statistical data to attract sponsors supportive of the sport and its members.

The continuing popularity of televising national and international events managed by Bowls Australia during the year has also enabled an ongoing revenue stream from the selling of television rights both within Australia and overseas.

Revenue derived from the National Merchandising Program has continued to level out from the peak of a few years ago. As these funds go directly back into STA development programs, it is vital that all bowlers support the NMP by complying with the STA dress regulations for all garments.

The increase in bank term deposit interest rates during the year did enable an increase in the income to be derived from the investment of reserves in these capital secure government backed securities.

28

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010

EXPENDITURE Overall expenditure has been decreased by $187,000 to be $3.96 mill. for the year.

Reflecting the directions outlined in the Bowls Australian Strategic Plan 2009 -2012, spending was mainly focused towards the two major targets of: • Achieving 280,000 registered participants by December 2012; • Having Australian teams ranked as number one in the world.

As such, some $1.1 million of spending was directed towards development projects which covered the diverse range of: • research and analysis of participation trends; • junior player participation; • healthy aging websites and programs; • coach development and accreditation; • improving standards and accreditation programs for officiating the game; • encouraging the greater participation of women in the sport; • training and developing volunteers; • reviewing and developing standards for synthetic greens and facilities.

Some $890,000 was also spent on the training and coaching of elite and high performance athletes to provide a solid base for their success in local and overseas sport competitions in addition to the Commonwealth Games in India in October 2010.

These expenditures were for: • training camps; • improving the professional coaching and athlete support structure; • competitions against international teams; • pre-Commonwealth Games visits to India.

During the year, Bowls Australia managed eight domestic and international events throughout Australia with the aim of providing premier competitions for both active club and high performance players. As usual these events were run at a loss, but every effort continues to ensure that costs are kept to minimum without adversely affecting the quality and reputation of the event.

Once again the Australian Open competition was successfully held at the Shepparton Park and Mooroopna bowls clubs in regional Victoria with the active support of the local community and the Victorian State Government. Such support does help Bowls Australia to run many of these events successfully in the busy Australian bowls calendar.

Bowls Australia has been able to meet its television production commitments at a reduced cost as a result of more efficient event calendar planning and venue selection. In addition, a successful conclusion to a prior year TV sponsorship deal was negotiated during the year which enabled a significant amount of the doubtful debt provision to be released.

During the year, Bowls Australia took take advantage of a favourable exchange rate position to achieve a significant saving with the payment of capitation fees to World Bowls in UK. Governance and administration cost have continued to be contained across the organisation

29

BALANCE SHEET and CASH RESOURCES. The balance sheet continues to be strong with 77% ($ 1.6mill) of total assets invested in cash and term deposits with Australian banks.

Management has continued to focus on collecting debts promptly so as to maximise cash on interest bearing deposits and minimise the opportunity for bad debts.

Accumulated funds have risen slightly to reach $1.2 million. This level of reserves does provide a sound financial base for Bowls Australia to continue to spend future monies strategically in the best interests of all stakeholders.

Daryl Rogers Finance Manager

Income - Year Ended 30th June, 2010 Income - Year Ended 30th June, 2010

Merchandising Merchandising 12% 12% Sponsorship Sponsorship 9% 9% Capitation Capitation Fees Fees 43% 43% Interest Interest 2% 2% Other Other 5% 5% TV Income TV Income 5% 5%

Operating Operating Grants Grants 24% 24%

Saleable Saleable Items Items 0% 0%

Expenditure - Year Ended 30th June, 2010 Expenditure - Year Ended 30th June, 2010

Administration Administration 14% 14% World World Bowls Bowls Affiliation Affiliation 3% 3%

National National Bowls Bowls Events Events 23% 23%

High High Performance Performance 23% 23%

Development Development 28% 28%

Governance Governance 2% 2% Television Television Production Production 7% 7%

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Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010 BOWLS AUSTRALIA Incorporated.

ABN 65 427 736 644 Financial Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2010 DIRECTORS’ REPORT

31

BOWLS AUSTRALIA Incorporated.

ABN 65 427 736 644 Statement of comprehensive income for the Year Ended 30 June 2010

32

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010 BOWLS AUSTRALIA Incorporated.

ABN 65 427 736 644 Statement of financial position as at 30 June 2010

33

BOWLS AUSTRALIA Incorporated.

ABN 65 427 736 644 statement of cash flows FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010

34

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010 BOWLS AUSTRALIA Incorporated.

ABN 65 427 736 644 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010

35

BOWLS AUSTRALIA Incorporated.

ABN 65 427 736 644 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010

36

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010 BOWLS AUSTRALIA Incorporated.

ABN 65 427 736 644 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010

37

BOWLS AUSTRALIA Incorporated.

ABN 65 427 736 644 STATEMENT BY DIRECTORS

The Board has determined that the Association is not a reporting entity and that this special financial report should be prepared in accordance with the accounting policies as outlined in Note 1 to the financial statements.

In the opinion of the Board the financial reports as set out in Pages 2 to 7:

1

Presents as true and fair view of the financial position of Bowls Australia Inc. as at 30 June 2010 and its performance for the year ended on that date.

2

At the date of this statement, there are reasonable grounds to believe that Bowls Australia Inc. will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due.

This Statement is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board and is signed for and on behalf of the Board by:

President ......................................................................................................................................................................

Brian Marsland

Vice President ..............................................................................................................................................................

Barbara Klose

24th august Dated this ……………………………. day of …………………………….

2010.

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Sponsors and club partners Sponsors

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Club Partners

Bowls Australia Annual Report 2009-2010

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