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C HA N G E
CONTENTS 14
Volume 38
Issue 03
06
18
17
06 Aero Premier League Finals
17 Cover Story
Hamilton Power clinches shock finals victory over seventime winners Helensvale Hawks for this year’s title.
For Olympian Brad Hore there’s a beautiful synergy between boxing and lawn bowls.
09
10 Bowls Super Challenge Finals 18 Bowls Queensland AGM Coast sides battle it out for Super Challenge Gold during 2016 finals at Musgrave Hill.
BQ chairman Peter Williamson confident his new Board will take Bowls Queensland forward in 2016.
14 Trans Tasman
34 Your Say!
Queensland foursome help Australia to a near clean sweep of Trans Tasman trophies in Christchruch.
New Farm’s Neil Peach weighs in on the current controversy over the future of the Newmarket Bowls Club.
Editorial: Naomi Cescotto
Got something to say? Queensland Bowler Ph: (07) 3355 9988 E: media@bowlsqld.org
Editorial assistance: John Reynolds Stu Taylor Publisher: Queensland Bowler is the ONLY official magazine of Bowls Queensland
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Got nothing to do? Go and play bowls! Subscriptions: To subscribe, send your contact details, together with a cheque for $36 (inc gst) to: Queensland Bowler Subscriptions PO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051.
Bowls Queensland Patron: His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland
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POWER SURGE KNOCKS OUT PLQ ROYALTY AERO BOWLS PREMIER LEAGUE In a shock finish to the 2016 Aero Bowls Premier League Queensland (PLQ) series, Hamilton Power exhibited all the attributes their name implies to deny seven-time winners Helensvale Hawks this year’s honours.
“I believe this season was one of the most closely contested we have ever had in both grades of the competition.” PLQ chairman Brett Wilkie
It’s the first time Helensvale has not won the competition since 2013, being champs in 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008 and 2006. With their noses only a fraction in front most of the way, Hamilton expertly and clinically rebuffed Helensvale’s repeated attacks to take their first PLQ premier grade victory since 2001. They took the trophy following a tight final end that could have seen either team declared 2016 winners. Defeating favourites Helensvale 61-59 was the culmination of a tough March 19 and 20 finals weekend for Hamilton as they held off some of the state’s best bowlers in the elimination matches to secure the grand final berth. They first defeated Helensvale in the qualifying final 62-58, before sending minor premiers Broadbeach Bulls packing 65-56 in the major semi final. These key scalps catapulted Power directly into the grand final and left Helensvale and Broadbeach to battle for the other finals spot, which the Hawks won 63-47. PLQ games director Kurt Brown said the 2016 series had exceeded all expectations in terms of quality competition and talent. “I have always said this competition is the best in Australia,” Kurt Brown said. “You get a mixture of Australian and state representatives and relatively inexperienced bowlers in
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one team competing against others of the same calibre. “You can’t get more opportunity to play with and against the best than this.” PLQ chairman and most successful skip of the finals series (4 out of 4) Brett Wilkie congratulated Hamilton for “stepping up” to take the title. “I believe this season was one of the most closely contested we have ever had in both grades of the competition,” Brett Wilkie said. PLQ 2016 was played between January 9 and March 20, and involved 12 clubs and 336 players. The competition began in 2000 with just the premier grade. An A-grade competition was added in 2005.
PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPS 2016
Hamilton Power
A-Grade Winners - Helensvale Hawks Pictured (clockwise from top left): Top skip Kelvin Kerkow with Pine Rivers president Ron Howden; PLQ Champs 2016 Hamilton Power, back, John Newell, Ron Piggott, Steve Petsky, Sean Baker, Michael Brown, Jade Groenewege, Jason Moore, middle, Garry Schulz, Chris McCabe, front, Jesse Turnbull, Neal Jackson manager, Sam Twining, Brendon Egan (inset: Top skip A-Grade John White with Ron Howden); South Tweed’s Nev Jenkins; Broadbeach import Chloe Stewart; umpire David Brooks; Geoff Renowden, Ed Richardson (behind) and Ron Howden; Hamilton’s Jason Moore.
HAWKS CONSOLATION PRIZE IN A-GRADE The PLQ A-grade final ended as many had predicted with Helensvale easily defeating Greenslopes Geckos 101-68. It was expected the Gold Coast and Brisbane teams would play against each other for A-Grade supremacy, after Helensvale finished minor premiers to Greenslopes’ second place on the ladder. Unlike the premier grade grand final, the outcome was never in doubt with Helensvale starting
strongly to take a 21 point lead after just 31 ends. From that point, the Hawks soared to victory and their seventh A-grade title since the section was introduced in 2005, previously winning in 2014, 2012, 2011, 2007, 2006 and 2005. Pictured below: PLQ A-Grade Helensvale Hawks, Paul Cruise, Pam Rowe, Steve Sail, Tony Church, Darren Christie, Brett Tynan, Yvonne Lovelock, Aaron Minns, Jason Carpenter, Luke Wilson, Shane Pearson, Trev Smith, Jeff Gray, Amanda Haevecker, Lester Piggot, Chris Monk, Mick Carley.
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BLK SEVENS TEAMS READY TO FIRE IN FINALS
PLQ finalists Noel Seawright, Steve Carter and Lachlan Seawright from Belmont Blaze.
Belmont Blaze flamin’ hot Belmont Blaze’s two PLQ teams “exceeded all expectations” by securing both premier and A-grade finals berths on their first time in the competition. While the premier grade team was eliminated by South Tweed Sharks 63-64 in the first game of the finals series, the A-grade players held on for an admirable showing until the preliminary final, defeated by eventual champs Helensvale Hawks 68-101. But the scores and rankings were secondary to the honour of making the finals at all, according to Belmont president Graham Condon. “The most important thing is we got both our teams into the finals on our first try in the comp,” Graham Condon said. “Doing that has far exceeded even our best expectations of how we would go.”
New Farm’s Patrick Campbell, Ray O’Brien, Geoff Jensen, Brett Merkel, Neil Peach, Nathan Chapman, Eileen Swanson, Tim Swanson. Absent Steve Cooper.
Defending champs from Division 1 2015 New Farm have made it through to BLK SEVENS finals weekend “really looking forward to it,” the team (pictured above) said. New Farm faces Jindalee in the quarterfinals on Sat April 9, hoping to go through to the semis and grand final next day. Springwood will be a hard act to contain, having two chances in the quarters, against Wellers Hill and Broadbeach. The other Div 1 quarterfinal sees Southport meet Beenleigh. The SEVENS Div 1, 60+ comp is at semi finals stage, with Ferny Grove hoping to hold off Broadbeach, and Chermside hoping to eliminate Salisbury to go through to the final on Sun April 10. The SEVENS Div 3 and Div 5 comps are at Top 16 playoffs.
prior to finals weekend, to determine four semi finalists. Div 3 Top 16 are Bramble Bay, Salisbury, Helensvale, Stafford, Ipswich City, Corinda, Jindalee, South Toowoomba, Benowa (2), Swifts, Helensvale, South Acacia, Coolum Beach, Brighton, Victoria Point. Div 5 Top 16 are Brighton, Ipswich City, Helensvale (2), Bribie Island, Mermaid Beach, Southport (2), Beaudesert, Springwood, Scarborough, Bramble Bay, Salisbury, New Farm, Sunnybank, South Tweed. Visit www.plq.com.au (BLK Sevens is part of Premier League Queensland.)
BLK SEVENS FINALS WEEKEND BRAMBLE BAY Bowls Club APRIL 9-10, 2016
The Top 16 will play qualifying rounds on the weekend (April 2-3)
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Belmont joined the competition after WynnumManly Leagues Club folded and was forced to pull out. Many of the Wynnum-Manly players joined Belmont, bringing some experience and expertise with them. “We went in with some Wynnum-Manly players but more than half are Belmont originals,” Condon said. “I think we got into the finals with a combination of previous experience, hard work and good bowls.” Belmont A-grade skip Noel Seawright said he was delighted to get the chance to complete for a spot in the grand final against Helensvale. “If someone had told us 10 weeks ago we would get both teams into the finals, I wouldn’t have believed them,” Noel Seawright said. “That isn’t taking anything away from our players. “We had a top team, and could have exchanged players between the premier and A-grades had we needed to.” Greenslopes Geckos A-grade lead David Hele praised the PLQ for the opportunity it gave new players. It was his first time in the competition and he too could not believe he was being given the opportunity to play against state and Australian players. “There aren’t too many competitions where you can do that,” David Hele said. “It is a great opportunity to play with and learn from the best.”
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Super Challenge Finals 2016 GOLD MEN: Paradise make a Point against Musgrave muscle The GOLD men’s final was a thriller. Paradise Point went into finals weekend the favourites, having finished on top of the ladder. However host club Musgrave Hill were deadly out of the blocks, leaving Wellington Point blubbing in their wake, 4 rubbers to 1. (Special mention to the showman Steve Tong from Wello for playing with his whole body, including leg-cocks and Howzat squats.)
GOLD WOMEN: Tweed Heads go back to back In the GOLD women’s comp, Tweed Heads got their back-to-back dream finish. With three new team members keen for a taste of Super Challenge GOLD, Tweed was quietly confident. The main challengers Caloundra and Coolum Beach had a semi finals clash immediately before the final, so Tweed could hope whoever went through would be battle weary. Coolum Beach’s 10-1 win over Caloundra sounds easy but in fact, it was very close. (The women play triples and fours and have a different scoring system to the boys, 6 points for a win overall and bonus 2 for a rink win.) The final was even more brutal, 8-2 to the defending champs. “It went down to the wire, we were five down on the last end, and our third managed to take
the shot bowl, I didn’t even have to play my last bowl,” Tweed Heads fours skip Kristy Thatcher said. It could have ended very differently for the defending champs if fours skip Louise Witton had managed to hold her five shot lead, since triples skip Margaret O’Rourke had already won first points for Coolum Beach. “I knew we had the strength, experience and determination to finish on the top half of the ladder, but to go through the entire season undefeated, well that was a surprise for all of us,” Thatcher said. “It was nice to have young gun Jessica Srisamruaybai do battle with us this year, I think it has been a great experience for her and I look forward to the challenges we might face together next year.”
Musgrave went on to beat Paradise Point 3-2 but as ladder leaders, the Dolphins got a second chance against Tweed Heads and it was all they needed. Tweed did the hard work of getting rid of Algester Sports 3-2 and Wellington Point 4-1, only to go down to Paradise Point 3-2 in the preliminary final. It was the Dolphins who progressed, deservedly after a top season (but sluggish start to finals weekend). With a target on their backs, they faced up to the master marksmen from mighty Musgrave with steel, winning 3 rubbers to 2 and taking GOLD GLORY.
Pictured: GOLD MEN, Paradise Point, Barry Alderdice, Paddy McClellan, Grant Osborne, Sam Granata, Sam White, Robbie Dobbins, Greg Robbie, seated, Peter Thompson, Michael Bannah, Troy Corba, Wayne Krohn, Ray Glasser, Geoff Maskell. GOLD WOMEN, Tweed Heads, Stephanie Goldsmith manager, Val Young reserve, Ann Maree Peart, Donna Clarke, Kristy Thatcher, Christine Hawkins, front, Hiro Emura reserve, Jessica Srisamruaybai, Wendy Wilson, Leigh Rayward.
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SILVER WOMEN: Bramble Bay too tough It wasn’t going to be easy for SILVER defending champs Cleveland, with fighters like Bramble Bay, Club Kawana and Paradise Point standing between them and back to back glory. Cleveland won both the SILVER and BRONZE women’s categories last year but only the SILVER girls made it through this year. Bramble Bay rampaged through the Cleveland defence in the elimination semi, 10-1. Paradise Point copped it twice, 0-10 to Kawana in the qualifying semi and 0-10 to Bramble Bay in the preliminary final. The stage was set for a beast of a final between Coasties and Bay girls, which the Bay girls won 8-2. “It was a tight game to the very end, the triples see-sawed but Kawana got their shots on the last three ends,” Bramble Bay’s Dot Overbeck said. “The fours were down but we came back to win in the last three ends, and by a few more shots for the overall win.” Bramble Bay has been playing two teams in Super Challenge since it’s inception.
Pictured: SILVER WOMEN Bramble Bay, Gael Itzstein, Paula Feuerriegel, Mary Govan, Clare Hill, Barb Gribbin (holding mascot), Ineke McQuirk, Kay Roberts and Dot Overbeck.
BRONZE WOMEN: The Albert ROARS
Pictured: BRONZE WOMEN, The Albert, Maureen Dodt, Sue Ramsay, Ruth Benson, Krys Gerick, Janelle Walker, Coleen Dobson, Merryl Christensen, Beryl Dan.
The humble girls from The Albert (Gympie) were the feel good winners of Super Challenge BRONZE. “It was a very good win for The Albert, we never win anything, we’ve only got 40-odd women,” The Albert bowler Merryl Christensen said. In the quarter finals, Paradise Point def Musgrave Hill 8-2, The Albert def Palmwoods 10-0, Nambour def Ferny Grove 8-2 and Caloundra def Corinda 10-0. The Albert faced Caloundra in the final, after taking Paradise in the semi 10-0, and Caloundra took Nambour 10-0.
Pictured above (from top): Laurina Spencer and Kristy Thatcher; Claudia Cartwright; Warren Manktelow; Chris Pritchard and Michael Hayes
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“The final wasn’t as close as we thought, we lost the fours by two shots, but we won the triples by 12 or 14,” Merryl said. “Our four was down 11-1 at one stage,
Caloundra was giving us a touch-up, but we were holding our own in the triples, and then the fours started to play well again, the triples kept the fours in, sort of.” “We got to the first game of finals weekend last year in the SILVER comp, beaten by Kawana, but we found SILVER just too high. “They might make us go back up again now!” The Albert’s Coleen Dobson skipped the triples and Maureen Dodt the fours. The Albert girls say the secret to their success is their good combinations and friendliness. “We all know each other very well,” Merryl said.
SILVER MEN: Red Hill gets two chances
Birksy’s boys Terry Walsh, Greg Rolls, Alan Keighley, Red Hill Bronze
Pictured: SILVER MEN, Ferny Grove, David Hill, Russell Van Homrigh, Warren McDougall, Paul Kling, Keith Brown, Michael Napier, John Jones, Gerry Lindsay Jnr, front, Ed Boxall, Paul Jones, Ian Mateer, Declan Dawson. Absent Geoff Ellison.
Bowls Qld CEO Warren Birks
Bowls Queensland CEO Warren Birks playing in his first Super Challenge finals weekend for Red Hill couldn’t believe how many people came to play and watch.
SILVER MEN: Ferny Grove
“It was just a great occasion, lots of cheering, Red Hill was happy to be there twice, in both the Silver and Bronze playoffs,” Birks said.
Ferny singles player Russell Van Homrigh won his finals rubber against Toombul and the honour of being named best singles player of the SILVER comp.
“I didn’t play that well, unfortunately, and it came down to our rubber too...” Birks played the Pairs rubber for Red Hill in the BRONZE comp, and although his personal cheer squad of “Birksy’s boys” tried hard, a vocal wave of Solander Lakes supporters got the edge rink-side and on the green, 3-2.
Solander Lakes cheer squad, Gold Men’s
Steve Tong for Wellington Point, Gold Men’s
Unfortunately for the Bribie-based Solander, the gutsy characters from Pacific Paradise were too tough in the BRONZE semi, 4-1, with the blood bond of dad and son duo Bill and Brad Imberger keeping them strong.
In the men’s SILVER comp, Red Hill came up short against Ferny Grove 3-2 and Ferny defeated Toombul in the final 3-2 to win the SILVER title.
Ferny father and son team Paul and John Jones won their Pairs, Ed Boxall and Ian Matteer didn’t win their Pairs, and Ferny’s triples won and fours lost. BRONZE MEN: Pacific Paradise Pacific Paradise were rapt to win the BRONZE comp in a fiery final against tough Wynnum, 3-2. The Brisbane bay-side club also deserved its finals berth, breezing into the final with two 5-1 wins over two Scarborough teams, one of which had beaten mighty Mooloolaba 5-0.
Pictured: BRONZE MEN Pacific Paradise, Lenny Hughes, Mike Reed, Robbie Fish, Ian Cretney, Brian Wilson, Mal Bull, Steve McKay, Daniel Hollingsworth, Bevan Gyde, front, Bill Imberger, Brad Imberger, Greg Wilson, Darren Maddrell, Mike Ansell.
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QUEENSLANDERS HELP AUSTRALIA BOWL KIWIS OVER Helensvale’s fearsome foursome of Brett Wilkie, Lynsey Clarke, Nathan Rice and Mark Casey struck again at Trans Tasman 2016 (March 1-3, Christchurch), helping Australia to a near clean sweep of the series. “It was a tough competition, with us up against tough competitors, freezing winds, heavy rain and even an earthquake,” Nathan Rice said. “But we were still very pleased with our performance. “We wanted at least four wins and we got five. “We achieved our goals.”
New Zealand claimed their sole trophy in the open women’s event after they prevailed in five of six games. Australia’s strong performance overall enabled them to bring home the Overall Open Trans Tasman trophy, with combined match wins of 60-48, and the Overall Development Trans Tasman trophy.
The one bright spot for New Zealand came in the open women series, where they registered their only success.
Five Queensland blind bowlers have been picked in an eight-bowler strong Australian team to play an upcoming Trans Tasman series in New Zealand. The team flies out on April 23. The bowlers, club, classification and directors are: • Joy Forster, Chermside, B2, Director - Bruce Jones • Marian Morrison, Enoggera, B3 Director - Beatrice Kassulke
But it was the Australian men who burned brightest, taking both the open and development series trophies.
• Lynn Seymour Thuringowa, B4 Director - Robert Seymour • Chris Backstrom, New Farm, B3 Director - Mick Toovey
(In a curious turnaround, the Jackaroos men won only two of six games in the final third test, but due to their convincing wins in the earlier first and second tests, the spot in the winner’s circle was theirs.) In the final test of the development series, the green and gold contingent gave a clinical performance to keep their unblemished record intact, six straight wins for both the men and women.
BLIND BOWLERS CHASE TRANS TASMAN TITLES
• Dennis Wormald, Narangba, B4 Director - Ros Myles. Blind Bowls Queensland is in urgent need of bowlers willing to train as directors. Contact the QBBA Secretary on 3274 4774. Queensland’s Lynsey Clarke high-fives Australian teammate
Pictured from left, Chris Backstrom, Dennis Wormald, Marian Morrison, Wendy Ferguson (coach), director Beatrice Kassulke, Joy Forster, director Bruce Jones.
Australia’s Trans Tasman team 2016, back row, Natasha Scott, Anne Johns, Rebecca Van Asch, Barrie Lester, Kelsey Cottrell, Lynsey Clarke, Jacob Nelson, Taleah Putney, Corey Wedlock, Mark Casey, Brett Wilkie, Wayne Reudiger, Max Kleinig, Nathan Rice. Kneeling in front, Carla Krizanic, Tiffany Brodie, Ellen Ryan, Kristina Krstic, Aron Sherriff, Ray Pearse, Dawn Hayman, Karen Murphy, Aaron Teys, Jono Davis. Trans Tasman photos courtesy of Bowls Australia.
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Australian Open Will you be Queensland’s champion club at this year’s Australian Open Bowls Championships? If your club fancies taking home its own trophy from AO 2016, this is your chance. Bowls Australia have a brand new category this year, to reward all the Queenslanders who visit the Gold Coast in June to represent themselves and their state.
Free to air (but not free…) By Naomi Cescotto
Finally, what you’ve all been asking for! SBS TV has come to the party and bowls is back on free to air TV. After the sport got the cold shoulder from the ABC four years ago, after a beautiful friendship of 30 years, it’s been hard yakka to convince one of the free to air channels they should make room for bowls. When we say “free to air”, it’s not exactly free. Bowls Australia is keeping the money details “commercial in confidence”. But the production of one hour of TV costs a lot of money, like a hundred thou (easily…) We’re going for 20 one-hour episodes so that’s a big bill for “free” TV. However it’s still a real coup for Bowls Australia because hard as it might be to believe, bowls is a hard package to sell. I’ve never understood why? The players look good and they’re really (really!) skilled, the sport is outdoors, it’s colourful and it’s about precision, which the television cameras do well, and it’s so relaxing to watch, like the cricket. Will you support The Bowls Show when it cranks up on May 15? If we don’t get behind it, SBS won’t keep it, so don’t be blasé and for Heaven’s sake, don’t grizzle about it being on the fringe on SBS… Hosted by APL 2015 frontman Jack Heverin, Bowls Australia says the “magazine style programme” will feature “highlights of the sport’s marquee events” and interviews with some of the sport’s big names.
There will be regular segments on coaching, development, officiating, high performance and social bowls “providing a point of difference to the traditional “event-only” coverage shown in past broadcasts”. (Sounds like they’re following Queensland Bowler magazine’s recipe for success, we could have told them that’s a good formula!) “Bowlers have been enormously vocal in their desire to see the sport back on free-to-air TV and it has been a strategic focus of Bowls Australia to achieve this outcome, it’s a tremendous coup,” Bowls Australia president Nigel Smith said. SBS director of sport Ken Shipp was equally optimistic about the potential of The Bowls Show. “SBS believes in championing sports which unite communities, we’re bringing bowls back for all Australians to enjoy,” Mr Shipp said. The Bowls Show will be produced by AVE PTY LTD and Power Productions, in partnership with Bowls Australia and SBS. The Bowls Show will be broadcast every Sunday afternoon at 1pm on SBS, from May 15 – September 25. (You can also watch on SBS’s catch up service SBS On Demand if you are unable to watch at 1pm.) In case you’re wondering, APL and the Australian Open will continue to be broadcast LIVE on Fox Sports this year, with the deal already done for BA’s PAY-TV partner to produce 30 hours of live bowls on TV this year.
There will be a Champion Club Trophy to reward the most successful club at the event, and a Champion Club Trophy, Local Clubs category, for the most successful Bowls Queensland-affiliated club. “Bowlers will now not only bowl for individual glory in the singles and team success in the pairs and fours but also accumulate points for their club throughout each discipline,” Bowls Australia president Nigel Smith from South Tweed Bowls Club said. “The winning clubs will be crowned at the closing presentation and profiled by Bowls Australia through their video mediums following the conclusion of the event – what better way to show off the success of your members!” Points are available within all disciplines, including the under-18 singles, bowlers with a disability disciplines and the over-60s pairs, and are distributed from the early knock-out rounds in most disciplines, so the more club members playing in the event, the more points the club is likely to score.
Good hunting ground for Queenslanders A record 26 Queenslanders made it to the final of an Australian Open discipline in their own backyard at the Gold Coast last year, making up over half of all finalists – and 13 were crowned as champions!
With a huge $250,000 total prize pool and a guarantee of at least three sectional matches in most disciplines, the incentive to enter the World’s Biggest Bowls Festival is surely tempting. Don’t miss out because entries are closing… For more information and to book your entry, visit:
australianopen.bowlsaustralia.com.au
Australian Open 2016 Gold Coast June 11-24 $250,000 in prizemoney april 2016
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CEO’S REPORT It’s certainly been a busy first month in the CEO’s role. Let me take this opportunity to thank all of you who have welcomed me and passed on their best wishes. There are some wonderful people involved in the game of bowls and I would be delighted if you come and introduce yourself when you see me out and about. What have we been doing for the sport on your behalf in the past month? The first job has been to work smarter not harder, as we realign tasks and procedures with fewer staff. It is an extremely busy time of year at BQ, with several major BQ events to organise and entries to process, membership renewals due, and affiliation fees to be administered. Please bear with us as we adjust workload to staffing. We are working with an out-of-date data management system and we are reviewing a number of options to pursue the efficiencies that come with automation. Another significant issue is to get some field representation back into our districts and clubs. We are in the process of transitioning our development resources to be covered under the BA umbrella, in line with the other states and territories. We will continue to work with BA to get the new system up and running in Queensland as soon as possible. Our agreement will result in a number of Regional Business Managers (RBMs) being allocated to Queensland, funded by BQ via some direct contribution, and through the Logo Merchandising Scheme. The RBMs will assist clubs with issues like participation and membership, business planning, recruitment, funding, grant applications, and volunteer strategies.
with Bowls Queensland’s Warren Birks
Another big issue is getting the whole bowls industry in Queensland to focus on the future of the game, aligning all stakeholders towards this common goal. I think sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees and it would be to the benefit of our sport if we let go of some of the petty and trivial issues that seem to resurface time and again. If it doesn’t get more bowlers on the greens, does it matter? Can you let it go? With respect, I have been surprised at the number of times I have been called on to address minor “procedural” or “personalities” issues. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all just play nicely together, respect each other and our differences, share a joke, and have some fun playing our great game? Apart from the fact that we have lots of major issues to deal with, we simply no longer have the staff to address minor issues, often involving personality clashes that really should not make their way to Bowls Queensland in the first place. I know it is only a small percentage of the bowling community but they can be a big negative drain on our organisation and the sport in general. We all have a role to play. Finally, I have thoroughly enjoyed the travels associated with my Bronze Super Challenge team, visiting some great clubs. Thanks to those who recently hosted us at Kenilworth and Woombye for the wonderful rural hospitality you provided. It’s this sort of hospitality bowls has been built on and I hope to see lots more of it in the future. Until next month,
Warren.
With plenty of BQ and national events coming up in the next three months, how about giving BQ Facebook a try? We don’t have a full time media unit so it’s not like we’re popping up news every five minutes, but we do our best to keep you connected. For example, BQ’s high performance coach Bill Cornehls and BQ volunteers will post daily snippets from Australian Sides Championships in Canberra (March 31 – April 3). I’m not sure if you’ll get this issue of Bowler on time for Australian Sides, but perhaps for State Juniors at Capalaba (April 2 – 8), eight state titles in seven days. For all our events, there are updates on BQ Facebook and website EVENTS pages (rarely live, but as staff time permits). I’d love you to give it a try and let me know what you think? In conclusion, in case you didn’t know, a big “Voice of Bowls” Pat McErlean has died. Pat ran the Lawn Bowls World Radio Show from Brisbane on Radio TAB for 20 years, from 1992 – 2012. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Pat and BQ foundation board director Robert Webb (see Page 23).
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It’s a mental game For Olympian Brad Hore there’s a beautiful synergy between boxing and lawn bowls “They’re both mental games, you have to stay focused, be patient, it’s always a challenge,” Hore said. “That’s pretty much all I do at the moment, after hard core training, I’m either at the bowls club, or asleep.” After 212 amateur fights over 10 years (175 wins), two Olympic Games (Athens and Sydney), two Commonwealth Games (Manchester and Melbourne), Hore was in his late 20s, recovering from injuries, and weighing up what to do next with his life, including whether to “go pro”. Australia’s 23rd Indigenous Olympian (23rd of 47) took some time out and went to stay with his Aunty in Sydney, where there was a bowls club at the end of the street. “It was 2010, I walked into the bowls club, and I felt the pull of the game immediately,” Hore said.
“I loved the challenge, the people, the mental game. “Throughout the day, conditions change, the wind changes, it’s about getting the timing right.” Hore, 34, is now a professional boxer with a 5-2 win/loss record. He’s got a lot of guts for a bloke in his 30s, going down to 18-year-old Rex Tso in a world title fight in Hong Kong in August last year. Hore fought in front of 3000 people in an attempt to claim the WBC Asian Boxing Council super flyweight title, falling to Tso by TKO in the seventh round. Apart from wanting to do more boxing and bowls, you might be surprised when you ask Hore “what next?” The well-mannered gentleman boxer says Australia has a problem with violence.
“What I do in the ring and what you see on the streets is totally different,” Hore said. “I train for it, I’m tensed, ready to get hit. “What’s totally not on is the coward hit. “It’s not ok to use alcohol as an excuse to boot someone, or go home and boot your partner.” Hore wants to use his street cred as a boxer to address the rising tide of angry people and violence. He’s working on a “Keep your hands to yourself, Australia,” programme for school kids. “Check it out on Facebook, it’s got more than 18,000 “Likes” already, and some big supporters,” Hore said. You can take the Olympian out of the ring but the competitive drive remains. The Caloundra Bowls Club member of four years is working on being good enough to play high-level bowls one day. In the meantime, “Caloundra is a great club full of great people,” Hore said with a happy smile.
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QUICK DISPATCH Delegates at this year’s AGM denied outgoing chairman John Dawson a chance to speak. They voted to run the AGM first, which meant if there were a change of chairman, Mr Dawson would immediately vacate the chair. (Often a Council meeting takes place ahead of the AGM, to enable delegates to clear up any business hanging over from the previous year, and clear the decks for the new Board.) “I would have liked a chance to explain the decisions we made,” Mr Dawson said. BQ finance manager and returning officer for the election Stu Taylor was called to announce the results of the voting. He said all but one district had filled in the voting forms correctly with a numerical system, as required. He said the few invalid votes didn’t make a difference to any of the results, including in the pivotal role of chairman, with Peter Williamson polling double the numbers of the outgoing chairman (411 to 207). In the vote for deputy chairman, incumbent Ron Mitchell from Cutheringa (Townsville) was out-polled by a new candidate from Laidley, Kerry Green (370 to 248). The dedicated number crunching over the past year by Enoggera’s Greg Flynn was rewarded, with the delegates electing him for a second term as director of finance (369 votes to 249), ahead of former BQ chairman Brian Stewart. There were six candidates for the two board director positions available this year, with Colleen Ryan the only incumbent, since Margaret Vincent from Mooloolaba is retiring. Carmel Gibb from Club Helensvale scored the most support with 363 votes, with Colleen Ryan also from Helensvale voted in for a second term (284). Unsuccessful candidates were Greg Brown (Coolum Beach, 263), David Egan (Mossman, 211) and Ron Mitchell (139). (Kerry Green also stood as a director but was elected to the higher position of deputy chairman.)
BQ AGM 2016 gets underway
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Peter Williamson BQ’s new chairman Peter Williamson from Carina Leagues is confident the new Board with its mix of history, experience and new blood will work together to take Bowls Queensland forward in 2016. He has promised more information to delegates after Bowls Queensland Board meetings and quicker responses to inquiries from bowlers. Mr Williamson is confident his knowledge of the District struc-
Delegates vote
april 2016
ture of bowls in Queensland and his people skills will enable him to do a good job, also drawing on his previous experience as club president and Gateway district president. Mr Williamson started his working life in the Navy, and later moved into the petrochemicals and building industries. His working life has involved juggling some furiously competing interests and some recalcitrant characters, and he’s managed to bring jobs in on
BQ Board 2016 Peter Williamson (Chairman)
Kerry Green (Deputy Chairman)
Greg Flynn (Director of Finance) Diana Wenham (Director) Allen Bennett (Director)
Colleen Ryan (Director) Carmel Gibb (Director)
HOW MUCH CLOUT DOES YOUR DISTRICT HAVE? The number of votes a district carries depends on the number of clubs in the district, one vote for each club.
takes helm at BQ time and on budget, so he feels he’s up to tackling the challenges ahead in bowls. “I wanted the chairman’s job because I have an active plan for the future of bowls and I’m looking forward to getting on with the job, but of course, first seeking to understand our current position,” Mr Williamson said after today’s AGM. “I’m very well aware of how essential it is to talk to the all the districts around Queensland
and listen to the issues so we can move the sport forward.” Mr Williamson thanked retiring director Margaret Vincent from Mooloolaba for her many years of service. She has served under four chairmen since joining the Board in 2009, after five years in BQ Match. Mr Williamson acknowledged the contributions of outgoing deputy chairman Ron Mitchell and chairman John Dawson.
CEO Warren Birks and chairman Peter Williamson
As of January 1, 2016, there were 328 clubs affiliated with Bowls Queensland.
DISTRICT / VOTES Cunningham/ 55
Central Qld/ 28
Gold Coast Tweed/ 46
Burnett/ 28
Tropical Far North/ 46
Downs/ 26
Gateway/ 44
Southern Downs/ 24
North Queensland/ 42
Bundaberg/ 23
Fraser Coast/
Caboolture/ 22
Wide Bay Gympie/ 38
Condamine/ 20
Sunshine Coast/ 36
Leichhardt/ 19
Brisbane/ 33
Port Curtis/ 17
Brisbane North/ 30
Maranoa-Warrego/ 13
Mackay/ 30
North West/ 8
TOTAL NO OF DISTRICTS: 21 TOTAL NO OF VOTES: 628
Southern Downs’ Mike O’Leary and Necia Creighton
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Caboolture delegate David McPherson argued the Constitution should be changed to provide for an easier system for boundary review. “One million people have moved into Queensland and they’re not living in the inner city, we need to move our boundaries to where the population lives and we need a simpler system of boundary reviews for bowls districts,” Mr McPherson said. However a number of delegates from remote districts said they would be the most affected by a review, and they did not want to entrust this to a committee of five selected by Council, given that Council could vote as a block and deny remote districts representation on the review committee. “We’re told do what you can, when you can, if you can, we play from Warwick to Tenterfield in Northern NSW, it’s 240km from Clifton to Goondiwindi, five people from this Council should not have the right to say where we go as a district,” Mike O’Leary from Southern Downs said. The motion to amend the Constitution was defeated. As a district selector, David McPherson also wondered if the BQ Board would consider adding another layer on to district championships “to take it up to state level”. “We would have a better chance of selecting our District Sides team if we could see the best the district has to offer playing under pressure at state level,” Mr McPherson said. John Walker from Fraser Coast and Geoff Osborne from Sunshine Coast argued against it. “We can’t even run a district championships, we had 29 nominations in 2014, eight nominations last year, if we can’t run it at district level, it’s not going to work at state level,” Geoff Osborne said. “We can’t run one either, we’ve got 19 clubs spread over 200km, the district championships tends to be just bowlers from the two major centres Maryborough and Hervey Bay, which defeats the purpose,” John Walker said.
Districts hav BOWLS QUEENSLAND COUNCIL
Condamine district’s Harry Smeeton said he ran an east-west division to break down travel time and he would “love it” if district championships were to go through to state.” North West delegate Rod Jolly wasn’t too happy about the “sliding up and down” of Fifth Division State Pennant. BQ match coordinator Ron Somerville said with 21 districts, it was unavoidable, and if the Council delegates would agree to shrink the number of districts to 20 or less, it would make tournament organisation much simpler. “Unfortunately with 21 districts, Div 5 cops the dirty end of the stick,” Mr Somerville said. Central Queensland’s Denis Bartlem had a warning for other clubs and districts. “A visitor to our district sent a letter to BQ bagging our district, a fellow from Tasmania,” Mr Bartlem said. “I tried to follow up but it turned out he wasn’t financial anywhere and once I started to look into it, he disappeared. “This is a just a warning to you all about southern visitors, check they’re financial somewhere because if something happens to that person at your club, they can have you.” There were 12 first time delegates at the 2016 March Council meeting, including North Queensland’s Carolyn Huddy, who wanted to know why the men had teams of 16 for District Sides and the women only 12. “Who does all the fund raising to take the Sides away?” she wanted to know (and we all know the answer to that), “The women!”
Colleen Ryan (director) Bev Seagg (Sunshine Coast) Margaret O’Rourke (BQ selector), Margaret Vincent (retiring director)
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Geoff Osborne (Sunshine Coast)
There were laughs and groans, since this question is raised at almost every Council meeting, but nothing ever changes. (Smaller districts usually argue for an 8-woman, 12-man Sides competition, but when amendments are proposed, they are defeated.) Match coordinator Ron Somerville explained the apparent inequity goes back to the historic RQBA and QLBA days, when the men played Sides of 16 and the women Sides of 12. “Both men and women wanted to continue doing what they’d always done, and 12 years later, we’re still talking about the same thing,” Mr Somerville said. Condamine’s Harry Smeeton suggested the Board consider running a 60+ District Sides competition. Fraser Coast delegate John Walker wanted more detail in the Board minutes sent out to delegates each month and the new chairman agreed. Tony Watson from Downs district wanted delegates to know about the great progress made in bowler’s arm events over the past two years. “We’re holding a four-state competition in September at Broadbeach and we’d love Bowls Queensland to consider some sort of registration or recognition for our organisation,” Mr Watson said. William Sophios from Port Curtis said he was disappointed there would be no BQ-supported progression for school students doing bowls through their schools this year. “We’ve done a lot of work at Monto, Biloela, Mt Larkin and Boyne Island over
Rod Jolly (North West), Bernie Wolland (TFNQ), Martin Corr (Mackay)
ve their say MEETING MARCH 23, 2016 the past couple of years, I don’t want to lose the momentum,” Mr Sophios said. BQ CEO Warren Birks said with development moving under the BA umbrella this year and streamlined staff numbers at BQ, it was felt adding in a state schools competition this year was beyond current capabilities. But the expectation was to provide some sort of state event for students in 2017. Denis Bartlem from CQ said of course the kids were important but not to forget about the 30 to 45 years group.
report, saying BQ Board expenses were up a little this year due to covering outgoing chairman John Dawson’s accommodation expenses while he was working for BQ. But there was a $50,000 saving on the CEO’s wage while Mr Dawson acted in the CEO’s role free of charge. He said Queensland Bowler costs had decreased by $50,000 as a full time staff member had moved to casual work.
“I think we should be trying to get the people finishing up with cricket and football,” Mr Bartlem said, “they’ve got money.”
He said Coorparoo Bowls Club was valued at $3million in 2008 at the height of the property boom, but is now valued at $1.9 million.
Mr Bartlem was also frustrated with the $15 charge for dual member bowlers to change declared clubs.
“The auditors wanted this revaluation and the result is a forced write down of $1.1million,” Mr Flynn said.
The chairman said to “leave it with me”.
“The flood in 2011 and 2013 resulted in new flood lines and Coorparoo is below the floodline recommended for building, so some value has been lost there, also finance is not as readily available today as it was in the peak of the boom.”
Mr Williamson said he is a dual member and he pays full membership at every club of which he is a member. Alan Thorp from BQ coaching committee said it had been a busy year and the focus of the BQ coaching committee was to train a qualified Presenter and Assessor (P & A) in each bowls district, so they could in turn drive training within their own district.
Central Queensland’s Denis Bartlem and Val Hayes
Bowls Queensland finished the year $9,999 in profit (ignoring the paper write down for Coorparoo).
Downs Tony Watson and Dawn James, Brisbane North’s Peter Lovell and Pam Van Homrigh
Garnet Ray (Gateway), John Kirkpatrick (BQ Umpire Committee), Louise Keleher (Brisbane)
William Sophios (Port Curtis)
Roxy Barbagallo (Leichhardt) and Des Kemp (Bundaberg)
BQ Director of Finance Greg Flynn spoke to his annual
Caboolture’s David McPherson with CEO Warren Birks
Council delegates meet
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Hervey Bay retains Wide Bay Classic Hervey Bay Bowls Club was too strong for their opponents in the 2016 Taylor Wide Bay Classic (TWBC), taking out top spot in the Division One grand final and runner-up in Division Two. It’s the second time Hervey Bay has won the $3000 First Div in as many years, defeating runner-up Urangan 4-3 (four rinks to three).
“The non-financial player situation was handled well by Urangan, and all the clubs applauded them for their actions,” Keft said.
They won the 2015 competition 6-1 over Pialba.
“When they realised he hadn’t paid his dues they immediately brought it to the attention of the match committee.
In Division Two, Bargara was one of the few teams to get the better of Hervey Bay, defeated them 5-2 for a $1600 prize. It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Classic this year, with weather delays and the discovery of a non-financial player throwing up challenges for the match committee. While declaring the 2016 event a great success, TWBC match coordinator Dennis Keft conceded the weather delays and player issues had caused some disruption. But he insisted the difficulties did not dampen the enthusiasm for the event nor alter the outcomes too greatly. “I think the rain delays may have adversely affected one of the team’s chances of getting into the final, but that is part of the game and something every team had to contend with,” Dennis Keft said.
“But it is a reminder to all clubs in any competition to ensure the players they select for their teams are eligible.” By John Reynolds Pictured: Wide Bay Classic winners Hervey Bay, from left, Wendy Hamilton, Doug Tester, Ron Haigh, Nev Jamieson, Alan Spence, Peter Wright, Pauline Rose, Al Johnson, John Walker, Wendy Jamieson, Russell Bramich, Tony Smith, Reg King, Frank Riggio, Kev Sainsbury, Wally Rook, Lyn Williams, Dave Bradbury, Sonia O’Doherty, Cheryl McMillan, Margaret Spence, Marijke Tinley. Absent, Ilonka Karolyi, Jean Robinson.
The match committee had to reallocate some points during the season after Urangan Bowls Club discovered one of its players was not financial and therefore ineligible to play. But the removal of points from Urangan did not affect the eventual outcome and they were still able to make the Division One grand final against Hervey Bay.
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Division One RESULTS 1st Hervey Bay - $3000 2nd Urangan - $1800 3rd Pialba - $1200 4th Bargara - $1000
Division Two RESULTS 1st Bargara - $1600 2nd Hervey Bay - $850 3rd Burnett - $650 4th Moore Park - $500
april 2016
FOUNDERS HANG UP THEIR HATS Taylor Wide Bay Classic (TWBC) founders Dennis Keft and Noel Patch are hanging up their hats after four years’ driving the event to repeated success. Match co-ordinator Keft and match chair Patch announced their retirement from the series at the 2016 Division One grand final presentation on March 12. Keft began developing the competition in 2013 after his region was forced to pull out of Taylor Bowls Super Challenge because of a lack of opponents. “We thought at the time the best way forward was to start our own first class competition amongst ourselves,” Keft said. “I started getting it together in 2013 and we had our first competition underway by 2014.” Keft and Patch have been regarded as the faces of TWBC ever since. They said they had done everything possible to ensure the continuation of the Classic and it was time for new blood to take over. Keft did not believe his and Patch’s exit from the organising committee would hamper the event’s future success. “All the Wide Bay Clubs think the Classic is what keeps bowls alive in our area,” Keft said. “It is better than Pennant because it is mixed and includes both fours and pairs disciplines. “I think it is here to stay and will get bigger and better as time goes by.” Pictured: Hervey Bay’s Kev Sainsbury thanks Noel Patch and Dennis Keft
VALE
Robert Webb Condolences from the Queensland bowls community to the family and friends of BQ life member and Robina bowler Robert Webb. Mr Webb was born on May 28, 1934 and died on March 5, 2016, aged 81. A former Reserve Bank of Australia officer, Mr Webb served on the RQBA executive for six years, including four years as director of finance.
He was on the unification committee of RQBA and QLBA from 2002, which led to the formation of Bowls Queensland in 2004.
Jack supports his local club by eating BBQ sausages. He likes his with onions and tomato sauce. Lots of tomato sauce.
Mr Webb was a foundation board member and served until 2006, including as president of the men’s section. He also worked on the districts’ clubs advisory committee, overseeing the implementation of club constitutions. Later, Mr Webb went to Bowls Australia as a board director, serving for six years. Fellow Robina bowler Brian Stewart said his good friend Robert was a handy bowler, but he found his chosen path in bowls administration. “We traveled thousands of kilometres together the length and breadth of Queensland and Robert was one of nature’s gentlemen, a thoroughly honourable person,” Brian said. “We offer our sincere condolences to Robert’s wife Jo and their daughters Josephine and Caroline.”
Man of Merit Not many bowlers have an “end” named after them but Pialba has so honoured Len Geary, (pictured below). Pialba’s No 2 Green will have a sign erected to indicate the “Len Geary End” to honour more than 50 years since Mr Geary joined the club on May 14, 1965, and his recent 25 Years Meritorious Award. “We had a great afternoon to honour Len in February, he’s done so much for the club, and with all his hard work, he’s still managed to win more than 40 bowls titles along the way,” club secretary Beth Meyers said.
in 2001 and appointed Club Patron in 2005. Fraser Coast DBA senior vice president Peter Tinley presented Mr Geary with his Bowls Queensland Meritorious Award in front of a distinguished crowd, including his fellow club life members George Wallin, Kevin Bartlett, Jack Connolly, Min Keyworth, Aileen Zieth and Anne Fotheringham, club patroness Audrey Holloway, and Fraser Coast DBA secretary Peter Moar.
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Mr Geary was a selector for 30 years and games director for seven years. Mr Geary has been a club coach, and an umpire since 1978, still regularly officiating for men’s and women’s events. Mr Geary was honoured with a life membership of Pialba
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april 2016
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Ken Hansen escorts East Bundaberg centenarian Fred Hussey-Smith
Fred turns 100 East Bundaberg living treasure Fred Hussey-Smith became a centenarian on March 19, to great pomp and circumstance at his bowls club of 45 years. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Fred said. “Unfortunately I had to give it up at 99!” Fred received his Bowls Queensland 100 Years Medallion from president Peter Ey. “The club formed a guard of honour and a pipe band played to celebrate Fred’s wonderful achievement,” club secretary Pat Brodie said.
Fred was born in 1916 at Hemmant (Brisbane), one of six children, but he’s lived in Bundaberg for the past 62 years, working as a baker before he retired. He’s always loved music, performing as a drummer with a number of brass bands, as well as in his own band, “Tempo”. Fred has been a keen sportsman, fitting in rugby league, rugby union, hockey, cycling and running before joining Tantitha Bowls Club in 1970, where he was president of the ex-Servicemen’s bowlers. When the flood of 2013 closed down Tantitha for good, Fred joined East Bundaberg Bowls Club.
Maryborough Services VIP Day Maryborough Services held its annual VIP Day recently, with some of the club’s most treasured long-term members getting together for an afternoon of bowls. “The total age of the group reached over 650 years and most of the members still enjoy a short game,” club secretary Jos Hansen said. “Ages ranged from 80 to 92 years old, with a couple of “youngsters” in their 70s joining in for a bit of fun.” Several of the club’s VIP bowlers have positions such as Patroness, Life Member and President of the Ladies Club. Pictured, back row from left, Joy Denning, Lesley Coulter, Sylvia Moulds, front row, Coral Churchward, president Shirley Window, Iris Witt, Bev Baker, Dorothy Mcpherson.
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The last survivor At 90, Nancy Beer has outlasted them all. “Nancy holds a special place in our hearts here at Pine Rivers, she is the last surviving foundation and life member of either the men’s or women’s clubs,” media officer Bev Wise said. Nancy was born on March 11, 1926 and she received her Matriarch’s Badge last month from her friends at Pine Rivers (pictured here with district president Margaret Divlijak and club president Bronwyn Mahoney). Nancy joined Pine Rivers Memorial on the first wave in 1949, going on to become an accredited coach and QLBA delegate. She was honoured with a life membership in 1995. Nancy retired from bowls life in 2011 when she had to move away for health reasons, but she maintains a keen interest in her old club.
Doon Villa celebrates Patroness Berice There’s nothing like feeling young on your 80th birthday but that’s what happened recently to Doon Villa patroness Berice James. Berice is a life member of Doon Villa, where she values the friendships created and crafted over 34 years. Berice and her friends got together at Doon Villa Bowls Club on Feb 20 celebrate Berice’s 80th birthday. “Berice is an important part of our team and our club,” Doon Villa games controller Lois Hunter said. “She was critical to Doon Villa’s triumph at the last Patroness and Life Members Challenge, played between Doon Villa and Maryborough Services in November last year.” “Over the years, I’ve won most of the comps,” Berice said. Berice played at the annual VIP Day at Maryborough Services, for the grand old gals of bowls, feeling young since she was bowling against some women 10 years her senior (and more), including Maryborough Services Sylvia Moulds, 90, Iris Witt, 91, and Bev Baker, 92. Pictured above: Berice James (front), daughter Linda, and friends celebrate at Doon Villa, first row, Julie Collins Joyce Scholl, Maureen Wood, Daph Smyth (Patroness), Maureen Prove (Patroness), Lois Hunter, second row, Shirley Window, Glenes Skerritt, Sue Campbell, Mary Allen, third row, Lorna Mullens, Jan Wood, Sheila Jensen, Glenna Lewis, Rose Rae, Carol Whitaker, back row, Kim Selby, Kay Turnbull, Jos Hansen, Barbara Weinheimer (President), Laurie Hannaford, Gayle Fergusson, Daph Bates.
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GRANTS
– Give it a go!
Persistence pays for Gracemere GRANTS PAY FOR NEW CLUBHOUSE Without great persistence to achieve a number of small and medium size grants, Gracemere Bowls Club (south west of Rockhampton) would not have its new clubhouse. “I had a few goes, and failed, but it was worth persisting, we wouldn’t have our new clubhouse otherwise,” Gracemere president and grants officer Nick Jones said. The new clubhouse cost around $170,000 and about $50,000 came from grants. “There was $16,000 and $24,000 from the Community Benefit Fund over two years, and a number of smaller grants from the local council, to take the total to about $50,000,” Nick said. “The biggest thing I learnt about a grants application is to have a community benefit. “You’ve got to get all the words right, the figures right, but you’ve also got to explain why it’s a good for the community, not just your bowls club. “However it’s absolutely worth all the hard work when you get your grant, and you can finally get going.” The Gracemere Bowls Club’s new clubhouse was opened in July last year by Local Member of Parliament Bill Byrne.
Pictured above: Gracemere Bowls Club men’s president Nick Jones, women’s president Ros Newman and club patron John Newman. Pictured top: Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow and Local Member of Parliament Bill Byrne at the official opening of the new clubhouse for Gracemere. Pictured right: Gracemere foundation presidents Col Matthews and Von Tregea
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The club is relatively young, set up 24 years ago in 1992. Two dongas from the Stanwell Power Station were used as the clubhouse and a roofed area was added to permit all-weather shelter. A machinery shed was built next to replace two smaller garden sheds, for better storage. The next addition very popular with patrons was a proper toilet block with disability access, to replace the former demountable.
The next membership priority was a shade sail for the green, installed by Greensafe in 2004, partly paid for by club fund raising and a grant. It was a joy and a relief for Gracemere when after years of planning and fund raising, there was finally enough money to build the new clubhouse. “In all our improvements, we’ve put together club funds and grants, which has helped our success rate,” Nick Jones said.
When nearby Rockhampton Bowls Club had some lights for sale, they were quickly snapped up by Gracemere and night bowls in the cool of the evenings got underway.
“The successive management and club sub-committees should be congratulated for their past and present fundraising and management.
The club then acquired a cold room to support the bar and catering services.
“Persisting with grants applications is hard work, but it’s absolutely worth it in the end.”
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Umpire with Joan Brotherton
QUESTIONS OF ETIQUETTE It just goes to show how widely read is Bowls Queensland’s flagship magazine, Queensland Bowler. We received an interesting umpiring question from an ex-pat Aussie bowler, living in Spain, who follows our Bowler umpiring column with interest. Thank you to Mr Casson for this interesting question. I hope you find my response, formulated in consultation with the BQ umpiring committee, interesting. Dear Mr. Casson,
Dear Editor Joan Brotherton´s Tantalizing Touchers article in the January 2016, Queensland Bowler has caused me to ponder the following for comment by Joan. Law 15.1 states it is compulsory to mark a toucher as soon as it comes to rest, assuming Law 15.2 does not apply. Law 13.2 Possession of the rink then applies. Very often we see, not only on club days, a following bowl being bowled before the toucher has been marked and a player entering the head to mark a toucher while the opposing bowl is in progress. Both actions are infringements of Law 13.3 (harassment?) Not immediately marking a toucher could create controversy. Assuming an important game where I am two shots up in the end and in the game; it is the last end and the skips have one bowl each to play. I am the last to play. The opposing skip bowls, slightly touches the jack and the bowl drops into the ditch, shot bowl by a narrow margin. There is much jubilation and judgement of the situation. In the excitement, the toucher is not marked. I walk to the head, view the situation, walk back to the mat and bowl my bowl wide and into the ditch. I follow my bowl to the head and claim the two original shots as counting and claim the unmarked toucher in the ditch a dead bowl and not a counter. So much for etiquette and spirit of the game… In the above situation, is the Law the Law?
George Casson Spain PS. I follow the sun and temperate climes now that I am retired. When in Australia, I bowl at Magnetic Island and in Canberra, when in Europe, mainly in Spain. Regards and I enjoy the magazine. George Casson
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Thank you for your interesting question in response to the recent “Tantalising Touchers” umpiring article. You present two scenarios. My reply is as follows and as an Umpire, it is important to me that I make judgment by the Laws of the Sport of Bowls. SCENARIO NO 1: Law 15.1 – A toucher must be marked with chalk by a member of the team that delivered the bowl or the marker as soon as it comes to rest. Law 15.3 – If, before the next delivered bowl comes to rest or, in the case of the last bowl of an end, before a period of 30 seconds that applies under Law 23.1, a bowl is neither marked nor nominated, it is no longer a toucher. I will now state from some of my information in my file that I use when teaching umpiring – Marking a Toucher: A significant aspect of this Law is that a “toucher” must be marked or nominated as a “toucher” immediately it comes to rest and before the next delivered bowl comes to rest or it is no longer a toucher. It would be reasonable to expect that the next player on the mat must not deliver a bowl until the toucher is marked or nominated and should not assume possession of the mat until the toucher is marked. A player stepping onto the mat immediately the preceding
bowl comes to rest should not complain of interference by the opposing player in charge of the head in the process of marking a toucher. Law 13.1 – Possession of the rink will belong to the player or team whose bowl is being played. Law 13.2 – As soon as each bowl comes to rest, possession of the rink will transfer to the opposing player or team after allowing time for marking a toucher as soon as it comes to rest. Therefore Law 13.2 covers the whole situation.
“Very often we see a following bowl being bowled before the toucher has been marked and a player entering the head to mark a toucher while the opposing bowl is in progress.”
Bowling in Spain
SCENARIO NO 2:
Clubs in Spain receive lots of visitors year round, as tourists from various countries come for the good weather, including pre arranged touring teams hosted by well-known professionals.
In this case the “toucher” was not marked before your delivered bowl came to rest (Law 15.3) and therefore as the bowl that should have been marked and was not, it has become a dead bowl and should be taken out of the ditch and placed on the bank, and therefore you are awarded the two shots. I know that we do like to play the game with etiquette and spirit of the game but as the “Forward” in the beginning of the Law Book states, this is only used if a situation arises that is not covered by the Laws, and therefore in both these cases there are Laws governing the situation, and as Umpires we must play by the Laws of the Sport of Bowls. Kindest regards,
Joan Brotherton.
Diane Tucker from Camp Hill shows courtesy by waiting for Capalaba’s Lyn Knight to mark her toucher before delivering her bowl.
By George Casson
Each year I travel and bowl where I can, hence I am sensitive about being a visitor and in particular about etiquette and the Laws, so I don´t unwittingly cause offence. I enjoy reading Queensland Bowler magazine and the umpiring column and I’m delighted to have my question addressed by Joan Brotheron and the BQ Umpire Committee. My club is the Javea Green Bowling Club, near Alicante. This year we will receive visits from 12 clubs from the UK, with at least two of those clubs well regarded.
This makes it important for us to be aware of the Laws and etiquette, to ensure our members behave correctly with our guests. Lawn bowling took off in Spain in the 1970s with an increase in tourism, as the country opened up. (Spain was a fairly closed state during the Franco years, from 1939 – 1978.) Most greens in Spain belong to hotels or restaurants. There are only two or three grass greens among the 20 or so clubs, which have approximately 2000 permanent members. The clubs are well spaced, running down the east coast of Spain from Valencia in
the north to Almeria in the south, with most clubs clustered around Alicante, which has an airport popular with charter flights for visitors to the Mediterranean coast. Javea is midway between Alicante and Valencia. We split into northern and southern leagues and the winner of each league has a play-off at a club halfway in between. Spain has a national team that did reasonably well at the bowls World Championships in Adelaide in Dec 2013. Alex Marshall (Scotland) referred to the Spanish National team as the “Brit Second Eleven”. I now possess a set of Aero Dynamic Size 4 Heavy, having watched and been invited to roll up with Australian team members Natasha van Eldik and Kelsey Cottrell, who were demonstrating Aeros at the World Champs. (We’ve found the Australian models are better suited to the quicker greens. We have a northern hemisphere range of Aeros which are becoming quite popular.) I am looking forward to my annual trip to Australia, to visit Magnetic Island and some clubs in the Townsville area. I have previously got as far as Charters Towers for the return leg of the annual Friendly Cup game against Magnetic Island.
George Casson
april 2016
queensland bowler
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LEPRECHAUN FOURS
Bundaberg held their 28th annual Leprechaun Fours Event with 28 teams filling the greens to mark St Patrick’s Day (March 17), including a team from Monto.
The $2800 prize money was split between two greens, with winners from 1st to 6th on each green taking home a nice reward.
Pictured: Moore Park’s Dawn Franklin, Marion Jackson, Raelene Fryer, Pamela Scott. Inset: (left) Bundaberg vs Brothers; (right) Joyce Albrecht
Knitfest & bowls Maleny Bowls Club will combine bowls and knitting in an innovative weekend festival idea.
The Knitfest Yarn and Fibre Festival from June 10-12 will see the Maleny town streetscape wrapped in art, with trees, buildings and inanimate objects “yarn-bombed”. “A special treat will be the 7-foot-high yarn and fibre decorated lanterns, which will light up at night,” said festival director Deborah Swain. Maleny Bowls Club will hold a special Twilight Bowls Festival on Saturday evening, in conjunction with the lanterns, and also day-time barefoot bowls sessions. There will be workshops, guest speakers, trade stalls, craft markets, demonstrations and competitions.
april 2016
queensland bowler
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CLUB LAW
Curt Schatz
CAUSE AND EFFECT
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How an inadequate RAMP can affect your licence conditions IN THE PAST WE HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LODGING A RISK ASSESSED MANAGEMENT PLAN (RAMP) WITH THE OFFICE OF LIQUOR AND GAMING REGULATION (OLGR). It is important that licensees are aware of the relationship between a venue’s RAMP and the conditions imposed on the liquor licence. A RAMP is a document that describes a liquor licensee’s management practices and procedures at their licensed premises. The purpose of a RAMP is to outline how the licensee will manage their premises in order to minimise harm caused by alcohol abuse and misuse. It is a requirement under the Liquor Act 1992 that a RAMP is lodged with certain liquor applications, including new liquor licence applications, extended trading hours approvals, transfers of existing licence and changes in licence area. A RAMP specifically details a licensee’s management practices and procedures at the premises and is required to address a number of issues including: • Responsible service of alcohol; • Liquor accord – details of membership if applicable, matters addressed by the liquor accord including lighting, noise mitigation, security and transfer services; • Arrangements at the premises with respect to provision of meals, training of staff, dealing with minors on the premises and dealing with unduly intoxicated and disorderly patrons;
• How the impact of the business on the amenity of the community will be limited; and • Ensuring the conduct of the business of the premises complies with the Act and other laws – strategies/practices employed to manage a number of issues in accordance with the relevant legislation including footpath dining, advertising of events, functions, adult entertainment etc. A RAMP may be changed as long as any proposed amendments are lodged with the OLGR and approved. The Commissioner may also issue a licensee, operating within a Safe Night Precinct, a written direction to change their RAMP which may include imposing a condition on the licence to ensure appropriate compliance with the Act or minimise alcohol related disturbance or public disorder. The responses to each of the matters contained in a licensee’s RAMP must be of sufficient detail to satisfy the Commissioner and to provide the basis for conditioning the operation of the liquor licence. In granting an application, the Commissioner will have regard to the venue’s RAMP and the practices and procedures outlined within to ensure that it is compliant and to determine whether any specific conditions should be imposed on the liquor licence.
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The Commissioner may impose conditions on licenses to ensure appropriate compliance with the Act, to give effect to the main purpose of the Act or to minimise alcohol related disturbances or public disorder in a locality. The Act provides the Commissioner with the power to include a number of conditions relating to public safety or amenity including the days on which, or times during which, liquor may be sold, availability of liquor from the premises and the quantity that may be sold, the adoption of stated responsible practices about services, supply or promotion of liquor, the adoption of stated noise measures and/or security arrangements. Additionally, the Commissioner has the power to impose specific conditions on a licenced venue within the Brisbane City Council area and/or Safe Night Precincts. The purpose of a RAMP is to outline the practices and procedures a licensee intends to put in place to ensure it is compliant with the Act. It is important that licensees ensure that their RAMP’s are comprehensive, accurate and up to date. Failure to address or propose sufficient practices and procedures in a RAMP, may lead to the OLGR imposing specific, and sometimes strict conditions on the licensee’s liquor licence. Should you require any further information in relation to the above, please contact Curt Schatz on (07) 3224 0230.
Hospitality law requires the best heads in the business. When it comes to legal advice for a club, you need more than just legal advice you need lawyers who know your industry. With specialist divisions in hospitality and business services, we understand your industry and all its legal requirements. We minimise your risk and help grow your business. For more information contact: Curt Schatz, Partner
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Your Say - with neil peach
THE BATTLE FOR NEWMARKET
Land is a bargaining chip and it gives an owner options
The current controversy over the future of the Newmarket Bowls Club land has wider implications than you might think. It is a scenario likely to be played out in a number of bowls districts in coming years and I think it’s important to raise the issue now and get you all thinking. My view is that districts should work together on a plan to rationalise the number of clubs, while retaining full member numbers. We want total numbers in the sport to stay strong, but with membership stretched so thinly across so many clubs, the precipice is near for many clubs. Why do I care if clubs fold and assets are lost? What’s in it for me? Absolutely nothing. But…I love a game of bowls. I want the sport to stay strong and proud and if we don’t work together, we’ll have no assets left to bring to the negotiating table. In Newmarket’s case, the club land is owned freehold, unlike many other clubs, which operate on council land. This land ownership gives Newmarket a potentially valuable bargaining chip. If they don’t want to play it themselves, we’re asking the club to approve Brisbane District’s use of the asset in negotiating for the future of bowls in Brisbane’s inner-north.
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We have been working with many stakeholders, including Brisbane City Council, for more than 18 months now on a master plan for the future of bowls in Brisbane District. The Newmarket asset could be used as a bargaining chip to help secure other clubs and retain bowlers, if not on the Newmarket site, on a bigger and better permanent base (or number of bases) for bowls in Brisbane’s inner north.
future of our sport (the game we love to play!) Last year, Newmarket Bowls Club board recommended to members to “gift” their land to Brisbane City Council, failing to retain in the sport a potentially valuable asset. There have been “guarantees” Council will retain the land for bowls or community use, but political will can change.
There’s no upside to gifting Why do this land to Brisbane City Council and plenty of I care if a club downside for the sport of lawn bowls in Brisbane’s folds, what’s in it inner north. for me? Absolutely Please Newmarket, nothing. But…I love dispose of this historic asset wisely, in the a game of bowls. interests of generations of
According to many bowls club constitutions, it is the right of current members to dispose of a club’s historic assets as they see fit.
However, I must advocate for the “cluster” approach to any redirection of individual club assets, for the greater good. If assets no longer used by a club were to be voluntarily redirected to the common good of the district, we would be future-proofing the sport together. However, if we continue to limp along, bleeding assets as we go, I fear for the
bowlers to come.
You’re holding a potentially big fish, don’t let it be landed by someone who does not have the interests of bowls at heart. Brisbane District are bowlers looking after bowlers and we will fight for the future of bowls. If anyone is going to sell Newmarket Bowls Club land in the future, let the profits come to bowls, not be sacrificed into anonymous government coffers. Pictured: Brisbane’s Newmarket Bowls Club.
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