January 2013
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beach Bowls Getting wet & Wild at Toowong
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Volume 36/ Issue No. 4
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CONTENTS 06 Top of the World
15 Ingham Honoured
Australia dominated the recent World Championships in Adelaide, scooping the pool to finish on top.
Sean Ingham has ended his junior bowls career in style, picking up the inaugural David Fordham Junior Sports Award.
08 John Vance - Pride of Aus
18 Reality Check
Queensland blind bowler John Vance has been awarded the prestigious Pride of Australia Medal.
As we begin a new year, BQ development manager Brett Murphy discusses the challenges facing our sport.
12 Cover Story
26 Helping Older Bowlers
Toowong Bowls Club is making a splash in the community. Cover Pic: Dustin Goan and Sahn Zanotti at Bikini Bowls.
Coaching guru Mick Cherry examines how coaching can help keep older bowlers in the sport.
4 | queensland bowler
v36/4
From the Chair
your say
with Ron Chambers
With Christmas and New Year’s celebrations done and dusted, I am looking forward to another year’s bowling, with high expectations for all of our bowlers. The Bowls Queensland 2013 and 2014 calendars have been finalised, so you can all keep an eye out for the dates of key events over the next two years.
You can find these calendars on the Bowls Queensland website. Visit www.bowlqld.org and click on the calendar tab. BOUNDARY REVIEW Recently Bowls Queensland’s boundary committee conducted a boundary review at the request of some of our districts. The committee sent their proposals to all districts and clubs affected by the process.
Dear Editor,
At Marlin Coast Bowls Club in Trinity Beach, Cairns we have gotten serious about disabled access onto our green.
At our AGM earlier this year it was decided that a pathway should be cut through to the green to allow permanent wheelchair and disabled access. We are very proud of the finished product, shown off here by wheelie bowler Steve Lockey, men’s president Paul Standidge, myself, and management committee chairman Ted Grace.
Col Neyland Marlin Coast
Unfortunately, a number of clubs reacted negatively to the review.
For those clubs that disagreed with the proposals, I would like to remind you that the letter stated that any recommendations would only be implemented with agreement from clubs and districts.
Any comments on the proposed changes must arrive at the Bowls Queensland office by Friday January 25, 2013. All comments received in writing will be reviewed by the boundary committee and reassessed, before any recommended changes are proposed at the AGM in March. DEVELOPMENT SERIES Musgrave Hill hosted the Trans-Tasman Development Series in December, between Queensland and Auckland. This annual event is organised by state coach, Bill Cornehls and Auckland youth coach, Harold Sandler. It has been highly successful in providing a pathway for rising bowls stars.
ANNUAL AWARDS The Bowls Queensland Annual Awards are now open for nominations.
I encourage as many people as possible to nominate for the awards, which recognise people from all facets of the game. The awards include categories such as: Club Player of the Year, Player of the Year – Bowler with a Disability, Junior Player of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Club of the Year. Nominations for the Queensland bowling Hall of Fame are also open for players and bowlers in an administrative or volunteering role. Nominations for these prestigious awards close at 3pm on Friday January 18, so I encourage you all to get them in as soon as possible. The forms can be found at www.bowlsqld.org
Editor: Wayne Griffin Editorial Assistant: Beth Newman Naomi Cescotto
Editorial: Queensland Bowler PO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051 Phone: (07) 3355 9988 Fax: (07) 3855 0010 Email: news@bowls-queensland.org
Published by: Bowls Queensland
Advertising: Wayne Griffin Phone: (07) 3355 9988
v36/4
Letters to the Editor, Queensland Bowler, PO Box 476, Alderley, Q 4051 or via email news@bowls-queensland.org Letters must be short and may be edited to ensure appropriateness of content.
Fax: (07) 3855 0010 Email: advert@bowls-queensland.org Subscriptions: To subscribe, post your name, address and telephone number, along with a cheque for $25 (inc gst) to: Queensland Bowler Subscriptions PO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051.
queensland bowler | 5
WORLD CHAMPS
GOLD RUSH Aussie stars dominate on home turf, capturing a swag of gold medals at the 2012 World Bowls championships in Adelaide
Photos courtesy of Bowls Australia
A
ustralia cemented its place as the world’s top bowling nation, taking out the overall winner’s trophy at last month’s World Championships. Every Jackaroo finished with a gold medal, as part of an unprecedented seven-medal haul. Australia made the final in every discipline bar the women’s fours.
Team captain Lynsey Armitage said the side’s incredible results were a “dream come true.” “We had goals to do well, but you never think you’re going to achieve as much as we did. I mean, to win five gold and two silver medals out of eight events, and to win both the men’s and women’s overall trophies was just phenomenal,” Armitage said. Armitage was part of Australia’s dominant triples outfit, which romped home against New Zealand to take gold, 21-9, without even needing to play the last end. The 29-year-old said she was excited leading up to the big game, but was focusing on helping World Championships debutante Natasha Van Eldik in her first major final. “It was her first ever big final and she said to me the night before she never actually won an international gold so we really wanted to do it for her. “Kaz (Karen Murphy) and I had been there a little bit so we helped her with our experience.”
Natasha Van Eldik, Lynsey Armitage & Karen Murphy
When they picked up a crucial five shots part way through the decider the trio knew they had one hand on gold, Armitage said. “It was a really close game actually, until we got a five about halfway through the match and it really knocked the wind out of them and the crowd really got behind us and we just took off from there.” Murphy, meanwhile, broke a 27-year drought to take out the singles title, 21-17, over defending champ, New Zealand’s Val Smith. It wasn’t easy for Murphy, with the match stretching out for three and a half hours and 24 of the 30 ends decided by only one shot. Young guns Kelsey Cottrell and Rebecca Quail ended New Zealand’s bid for a third successive ladies’ pairs title, with a 16-12 victory in the final. Armitage said the contribution of coach Steve Glasson, who was until last month the only Australian world singles champion, was integral to the team’s success. “He’s been there and done it before so we all learnt from his thoughts and his coaching,” she said. “We all sort of thrived on the team that he put together.” The Aussies’ wealth of experience on Adelaide’s unpredictable greens gave the side confidence going into the tournament “We knew what to expect. We spent so much time at the clubs we knew them inside out.
6 | queensland bowler
Kelsey Cottrell & Rebecca Quail
“We could dream about them, we could think about them when we were at home preparing,” she said.
Wilkie said the side had surprised itself a little with its gold-studded worlds campaign.
Australia has a strong record in recent major international events on home soil, having produced their best Commonwealth Games performance in the 2006 Melbourne games, in which Armitage also played.
“It’s an amazing feeling. We all hoped we could achieve something like this,” he said.
“I was part of the successful team in ’06 in the Commonwealth Games and it was a similar sort of thing (to this). We had a great home crowd and they really helped us get over the line.” The men picked up medals in every event, by far their most successful championships. Helensvale’s Brett Wilkie finished up with two medals, gold in the men’s fours and silver in the triples. Sherriff, Casey, Wilkie & Ruediger
“I think we exceeded everyone’s expectations. Going into it, people were saying it would be good if we could win three, that would be a real achievement. “Deep down, we all thought we were a genuine chance to win a gold medal, and things came together and the results came our away.” Wayne Ruediger, Wilkie and Mark Casey were agonisingly close to gold in the triples, going down 12-13 to Scotland. The Aussies were denied another gold by Scotland in the men’s pairs, with
Leif Selby and Aron Sherriff relegated to runners-up in a 13-18 loss. Selby wasn’t left empty-handed however, with the former world number one defeating Canadian Ryan Bester in a singles showdown thriller, 21-19. Selby had to wait longer than any of his teammates to pick up a gold medal, but the New South Welshman showed that pressure was no problem in the final as he became Australia’s second men’s world singles champion ever. The fours combination of Sherriff, Ruediger, Wilkie and Casey finished on a high, with a dominant 22-13 win over fierce rivals, South Africa. Wilkie said South Australian Ruediger’s local knowledge was invaluable in his debut championships. “He fitted in well with the side and settled well. It helped to have the advice of a local and it was good for the dynamic.” Wilkie said he was just getting back in to his normal routine, with the championships done and dusted. “It’s been a pretty hectic couple of weeks, with long days.” “I’m a bit buggered.”
queensland bowler | 7
Easy as ABC “He came, he saw, he conquered…”
Tony Bambach was a barefoot bowler two years ago who got fed up with paying the $5 barefoot player fee each time he rolled up.
He decided it would be cheaper to become a full member at Cannon Hill and for $65 a year, he could play every day!
After a short time of coaching and learning the etiquette, Tony took the bit between the teeth and decided he was ready to step up against the big boys. After just one year of playing nearly every day, he entered the competitive arena and took out the Novice singles, the “B” singles and the “A” singles championships all in the one year. At 45 years old, Tony has proved that any new player can achieve great heights if they have the will (much to the chagrin of some of the club’s more experienced bowlers). Imagine if this rough diamond had started earlier!
Tony now has his nephew Darren McLennan, 14, playing and hopefully following in his uncle’s proud footsteps. “There are no club records of anyone achieving such lofty heights and we at Cannon Hill would be interested to hear from any other small clubs that could boast such a claim,” Cannon Hill’s club treasurer Mark Metcalfe said.
(Rough diamonds are always welcome at Cannon Hill! Contact Paul Baggaley or Mark Metcalfe at the club on (07) 3399 8664.)
Photo: From novice to “A” grade champion, Tony Bambach. Photo: Kacey Ellison.
Pride of Australia Queensland blind bowler John Vance has become something of a media darling in recent times.
The former paediatrician is known around his home village of Mount Tamborine for his brave steps with a new guide dog Vogue, who is helping him manage a progressive eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa, which causes increasingly severe tunnel vision and extremely poor night vision. Vance is also known for his work to promote opportunities in sport and life for the blind community.
He will be a proud delegate to the International Blind Bowls Championships in the UK in July and while he won’t compete at the event, he will proudly support Australia’s players, including Queensland’s Joy Forster (Chermside) and Christine Henry (Moorooka). “We’re trying to raise $100,000 Australia-wide to help our blind bowlers defend the world title they won in 2009,” Vance said. TEAM SPIRIT: Ruth Telfer (director), Christine Henry, John Vance with dog Vogue, Joy Forster and Bruce Jones (director) at the Enoggera Bowls Club. Photo courtesy of The Courier-Mail 8 | queensland bowler
“If any of our Queensland clubs would run a fund raiser to help us, we’d really appreciate it.” The 70-year-old is also active in
the community, counselling other sufferers of retinitis pigmentosa about how to use a white cane to improve their mobility, advising Queensland Rail how to make the train network more userfriendly for blind passengers and serving on the board of Guide Dogs Queensland.
He recently won both the state and national divisions of the prestigious Pride of Australia Medal Awards, in the Care and Compassion division, for his services to the blind community. So if you see a beautiful black guide dog beside the green at Enoggera on Monday mornings, you can be sure John Vance isn’t far away.
“I was nervous about changing from the white cane to a guide dog, but she’s improved my confidence in getting around so much,” Vance said. “Without Vogue, I couldn’t go out at night because my night vision was so bad, but she got me home safely without me bumping into any bus stops, lamp posts and all the other things I used to bump into,” Vance said.
When Vogue is off duty, she is just another member of the family, enjoying a play and a cuddle with John and wife Dawn. (If you would like to help Australia’s blind bowlers get to the UK, contact Blind Bowlers secretary Dennis Wormald at dennis.wormald@bigpond.com) v36/4
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Mermaid’s Kev celebrates century Mermaid Beach bowlers hung up the bunting and cranked up the Irish music to help clubmate Kevin Byrne celebrate his 100th birthday recently. Byrne was born in Limerick, Ireland on October 9, 1912.
He immigrated to Australia as a young man and raised four children in Melbourne.
He retired to the Gold Coast in 1980 and immediately joined Mermaid Beach Bowls Club where 32 years later, he’s still an active bowler on Tuesday afternoons. “He’s blessed, you know, he has all his faculties, he’s very humble and respected by everyone,” said friend and fellow Mermaid bowler Allan Trevarthen.
Byrne was joined by 60 bowlers on the greens at Mermaid Beach for a celebration gala bowls day on December 16.
Bowls Queensland representative Dawn Forrest presented Kevin with a centenarian medal, while Mermaid Beach chairman Hugh McKenzie and president Pat McMahon presented him with a plaque on behalf of club members. Gold Coast-Tweed district bowls president Chas Turner brought along a rink of bowlers to help celebrate Byrne’s contribution to the sport. Photo: Kevin Byrne centenarian medal.
with
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Could this be Qld’s friendliest club Rathdowney is just a stop along the highway for many people, but its bowls club is fast becoming a popular destination for many Queensland bowlers. In a town of less than 200 people, Rathdowney boasts 35 members, with many of those bypassing other clubs along the way.
Its popularity is such that it is bucking the general trend of membership decline, adding 12 members to its list in the past year. Club president Dot Cooke and husband Barry, who travel to Rathdowney from Kooralbyn, said the close friendships and welcoming nature of the club made it popular.
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The Cookes have tried other clubs, but are always drawn back to Rathdowney.
“We missed the country warmth that we found when we were bowling at Rathdowney,” Dot said. “It’s like a bowling family more than just a club, which is really terrific and new people can feel that atmosphere.”
While the small club has been steadily adding to its membership, Dot said they had no aspirations to outgrow their small town warmth.
“As funny as it sounds, I wouldn’t like us to grow too quickly. Because if you get too many new people at once, you can’t establish that bond and give new bowlers the one-on-one time that some of them need to develop to the next level.” v36/4
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queensland bowler | 11
Wet and Wild at
Toowong
B
owls clubs willing to think outside the square are enjoying a resurgence.
Toowong Bowls Club in Brisbane’s inner west is one of those clubs.
bowls is for fuddy duddies in heavy white dresses and long white socks, the sport has moved with the times, certainly at Toowong” Jackson said.
Barman Ben Jackman is also a student, an actor, a bowler and a DJ.
“If we can get them through the doors while they’re young and they associate playing bowls with having a good time, they’re more likely to take up the sport down the track.”
Every Sunday, beach gear is the order of the day at Toowong.
“It’s outdoors, it’s fun, beginners and good bowlers can play together, the beer’s cheap, it’s friendly, it’s a great thing to do with a group of friends,’’ Christou said.
He is also behind the club’s Bikini Bowls initiative, which was cooked up to entice people who love water sports and outdoors play to keep cool on a bowling green this summer.
People young and old come for the cheap beer and to play bowls to great music in a friendly atmosphere.
There’s a couple of wading pools where the (big and little) kids can play, super soakers to give your mate a surprise, and sometimes, the greenkeeper kindly leaves a hose or two out to give the crowds on the greens a good sprinkle if it gets too hot. Jackman said the club expected to continue taking bookings for Bikini Bowls every Sunday during the summer. “There’s no perception in this area that
12 | queensland bowler
For second-timer Calgan Christou, barefoot bowls is a fantastic way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.
“It was heaps of fun the first time we played so we’ve come back again.”
SOL Breads held its work Christmas party at Toowong Bowls.
Francesca Boothroyd from Corinda said it had been an excellent way to relax with workmates after a busy year.
Beth Farrell from West End said she was there because the club sponsored her soccer team and she wanted to support the club which supported her.
Former Yamba lad Ben Longland was at Toowong for only the second time himself.
But as a seasoned young bowler, he actually joined the club straight off so he could play alongside his dad and hopefully enter competitive bowls in his new home town in the coming season. Megan Fulmer spent almost as much time keeping cool in the wading pool as on the green. “The wet water areas make the whole day fun, it’s awesome,” Fulmer said. Millie Read celebrated her 22nd birthday at one of the first Bikini Bowls Sundays at Toowong in November. She was back for her second barefoot bowls day on Sunday December 16, appropriately blending beach gear with Santa hat in a nod to the festive season. “I played lawn bowls for sport at high school in Woolgoolga (near Coffs Harbour),” Read said. “Now I’m living in Brisbane, it’s good to be back on the green again.” Read was swept off her feet by fellow barefoot bowlers Jim Pinna, John Cowley, Christou and Isaac Etchels. “We come to bowls to ‘pick up chicks’,” they joked. v36/4
A black line painted on the wall is the only indication this thriving modern club almost went under, in more ways than one.
After the devastating floods of January 2011, the entire interior of Toowong Bowls Club had to be ripped out and replaced. It was anything but a quick and easy process.
“There were delays with funding, delays with getting approvals through council, sometimes we just wanted to walk away,” club manager Tom Adams said.
“Fortunately the dedication and perseverance of a few dear members meant we got there in the end.
Tim and Pam Salway try the fare
“There’s so much history to this club, more than 100 years, and we’ve ended up with a product that’s so much better than what we had, but what a testing process…”
Bikini Bowls Sunday at Toowong: Francesca Boothroyd and Beth Farrell “work Christmas party” (opposite page); Jim Pinna, John Cowley, Calgan Christou and Isaac Etchels show Millie Read what they mean by “picking up chicks” at bowls; cool in the pool with Megan Fulmer; DJ Ben Jackman and Alicja Malicka; bikini bowlers Danielle Shaffer, Rebecca West and Elle Stephenson.
Oh what a difference $750,000 has made, including a new state of the art kitchen, bar and dining area. The club’s goal is to be a one-stop shop for hungry inner west families looking for a quick, easy and delicious dining option for lunch or dinner seven days a week.
During the 2011 floods
“The old place was daggy and the kitchen was daggy…now look at it,” Toowong chairman Les Chamberlain said. He said the club’s popular “Crackerjack 1970s prices” on basic drinks would continue.
“The future is nothing but rosy, the amount of people and community groups who call this club `home’ is astronomical,” Toowong member since 1991 Mary Cleghorn said. v36/4
queensland bowler | 13
Kilcoy Bowls Club is chuffed about a recent corporate and community bowls day where more than two thirds of the participants were first timers.
“We had more than 70 take part in the competition over five weeks, 50 of them new to the game,” organiser Margaret Worrall said. “We’ve had new membership inquiries as a direct result and people are already asking if we’ll do it again next year.”
The fours competition was funded by a Queensland Government Sport and
First-timers flock to Kilcoy Recreation Active Inclusion programme, with support from Bowls Queensland and the local bowls club and businesses.
Runners up were the Anglican Guild Connection with an Encouragement Award to Woolmar Warriors.
“The object was to raise awareness in the Kilcoy community of the fun and healthy lifestyle of lawn bowls,” Worrall said.
The girls from Kilcoy Laundry particularly enjoyed getting outside for some team bonding over lawn bowls.
The overall winners were a group of neighbours called the Awesome Foursome - Roger Moat, Jeff Welden, Elayne Moat and Noel Lanes.
Weekly winners were The Mad Mechanics, The Pink Panthers, Tree Change Realty and the Awesome Foursome.
Heads roll for 35th
More than 90 bowlers including a number of foundation members attended the 35th anniversary celebrations of Elliott Heads Bowls Club near Bundaberg. It was well attended by visiting bowlers from other district clubs and special club supporters joined in, including life member Gordon Shepherd, bowls shop proprietors Maxine and Henry Stauffer and dining room caterers Dot and Russell Johnson. The day’s bowls culminated in a High Tea where life member and men’s patron Bill McMah read a short history of the club. Elliott Heads was officially opened on October 8, 1977 by then RQBA president Jim Smith. 14 | queensland bowler
The first green was laid with tiff grass from Byron Bay Bowls Club, the first time tiff grass had been laid on a bowling green in the Bundaberg area.
A second green was laid in 1979, this time with tiff grass from Tweed Heads Bowls Club. The third and final green was laid in 1993. “Many people say Elliott Heads greens are the best in the district and we are very proud of them,” club chairman Dennis Young said.
“We all want to thank our wonderful greenkeeper Steve McNamee for the great job he does in keeping our greens in such tip top shape.” After such a joyful celebration, the club is now looking forward to its 40th anniversary in 2017.
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Pan Pac Masters
Queenslanders shone in the recent Pan Pacific Masters games on the Gold Coast. With bowlers from across the world competing in the biennial competition for over35s, the Sunshine State proved its talents, taking away a swag of medals. Gail Waitai took out the top prize in the Saffron ladies singles, just ahead of Helensvale’s Bev Perkins. Perkins got her own gold in the mixed fours, with Ray Perkins, Linda Gardiner and David Gardiner. State triple champions Jane Bush and Carol Williams reigned supreme in the ladies pars, while in the men’s singles David Gardiner was top of the lot, taking out the Teal division on points difference.
The 2012 Pan Pac Masters Games were the largest on record, with over 12,000 athletes descending on the Gold Coast to compete in a variety of sports.
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Ingham Honoured Junior gun Sean Ingham has capped off a sensational 2012, winning the inaugural David Fordham Junior Sports Award.
Ingham got the nod after being nominated by Queensland state coach Bill Cornehls. The Broadbeach bowler said he was really pleased to win the award, which includes a $2000 bursary to help him continue his bowls career. “I’m absolutely stoked,” Ingham said. “I wasn’t that confident that I’d win, so I’m pretty happy.”
He will be spending the prize purse wisely, using it to travel to more bowls competitions in a bid to further his career. Cornehls said Sean’s actions on and off the green stood out to the judges. “His record this year has been great and he’s a very worthy recipient of the award,” Cornehls said.
“Obviously the award selection
panel have seen what I see in Sean. He is a leader among the juniors and he is one of those dedicated players who wants to move forward (with his bowls).” The award was established in 2011 in honour of the veteran sports broadcaster who passed away with prostate cancer in December last year.
This latest achievement caps off a dream year for Ingham, who has collected just about every prize at the under-18 level. “It’s been a really successful year. It’s the way that I wanted to end under-18s.” Pictured above: Sally Fordham with Sean Ingham and Erica Fordham.
queensland bowler | 15
Reality check Let’s make 2013 the year we really tackle the challenges facing our great sport
Before Christmas we had a look at some positive things clubs have been doing and it was my full intention to follow on from that this month with more good news stories. However, I have been asked at a number of club visits recently if I would do a column on the major areas and issues affecting clubs adversely, so I guess it makes some sense to go from the successes to the challenges.
As you know, the development team visits all clubs far and wide throughout the year and surprisingly, the problems are nearly all the same throughout the state. The major issues affecting clubs, in no particular order are: Membership, Volunteers, Club Administration and Finance. Membership
Obviously one of the biggest challenges faced by clubs not only in Queensland, but interstate and nation-wide, is declining membership. Statewide, for the period of July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012, membership decreased by 2289. Of those, 335 were members of Kingscliff Bowls Club on the northern New South Wales coast, which decided to leave Bowls Queensland in 2012 and re-affiliate with Bowls NSW.
This leaves a total decline for Queensland of 1956, close enough to four
18 | queensland bowler
with
brett murphy
per cent.
Of those 1956 there were nearly 600 members who passed away, leaving approximately 1350 members who left the sport. While any loss of members is concerning, the biggest concern is the lack of new members joining clubs to cover the losses.
While participation levels in the sport through barefoot bowls have never been higher, we are not seeing a transition to full bowling members. So why are people not joining bowls clubs like they used to?
There have been a number of changes in the past twenty years that have contributed to the decline in traditional membership and I believe the main reasons are the following.
Other Sports: Nearly every other sport now offers a masters’ category. If you’re fit and healthy, you can play the sport of your youth, netball, soccer, cricket or rugby until you’re 100.
Grey Nomads: You only have to drive around to notice the increase in caravans and mobile homes on the roads. The people driving these vehicles were once bowls club members, some still are, but very rarely are they at home long enough to spend time at their own club. Baby sitters: In this modern age of dual income families, many grandparents provide child care for their grandchildren,
meaning they spend more time at home and little time at clubs.
Retirement Villages/Resorts: With purpose built complexes installing their own bowling greens, some retirees don’t want or need to go anywhere else unless they crave competition.
Of all the retirement villages in our state, only one is affiliated, enabling them to play pennant and competition games. If the residents are content playing social bowls there is no need for these villages to affiliate, so effectively they have become one of our major competitors.
You only have to look at the decline in membership of clubs with a retirement facility close by to see this. What about targeting other age groups? No matter what age group you target there are valid reasons/excuses for not taking up lawn bowls.
Juniors: While we spend time and money targeting juniors as a requirement of funding we receive, the return is limited, with only around 400 juniors statewide. This age group probably has many good reasons not to play bowls. Most older bowlers would not have considered playing lawn bowls when they were 15 or 16 years old, with all the other sports options available to young people, such as football, cricket, etc.
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And we are not only competing with other sports. Young people have plenty of other distractions, such as boyfriends/ girlfriends, cars, fashion, beaches, shopping etc.
Some people think bowls is only a shadow of its former self, but this sport has tremendous potential.
In fact, the list of things-other-thanbowls for juniors to do is endless. However, encouraging juniors to participate will hopefully provide results later in life, when they have done all those other things. We encourage our juniors and plant a seed, making it fun for them so they have good memories of the sport and hopefully return. 20 to 40 year olds: Probably the best group to target as they have the most expendable income. However, most of this age group is still committed to other sports, getting married, raising families and working to secure their futures…little time here to commit to lawn bowls. Baby Boomers: Once again, even though they have expendable income they are usually still very time poor.
Many are still working to pay off the mortgage and put the kids through school or university. They have families of their own, including kids who need to be taken to junior sports on weekends, friends to entertain, family holidays, etc. What do we do? With all that doom and gloom you would think that nobody is joining the sport. Fortunately we have a great sport to offer and it’s not as bad as it all seems, we just need to work harder. When I say “we”, I mean all of us, from the state body to the individual members, and by “working harder” I mean selling/ promoting/marketing our game and our clubs.
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Members: Encourage non-bowling friends to come along and try the sport and see what the club has to offer. Help your club in endeavours to encourage new members and increase patronage.
Clubs: Be proactive and chase new members, through advertising campaigns in community newspapers, flyers/ brochures in local businesses or letterbox drops proclaiming how great the club is and encouraging new people to come along. Clubs can also hold open days, come and try days or bring a friend day to encourage more people to at least try the sport. BQ promotional vans are also available to all clubs who wish to promote their club to the wider community, and the development team can assist with ideas on how to run and schedule these days.
There are also grants available at times to conduct events as mentioned above. State: Through the development team BQ can offer support to clubs who want
to try new things to encourage new members. For example, we can help your club put a school bowls program together or we can take a promotional van to a local shopping centre in conjunction with an open day. We are here to help and only a phone call away. We are also looking at holding a statewide open day in late 2013. While this idea is only in its early stages, the feedback from clubs so far has been positive.
As always, we are constantly looking for different ways to promote the sport to the general public and this will remain as one of our top priorities. Next month we will have a look at the other issues.
And, as always, if you are having problems at your club, Bowls Queensland’s development team is always here to offer any advice or assistance we can. Call us on (07) 3355 9988 or email sdm@bowlsqld.org.
queensland bowler | 19
Are you covered against litigious in-laws? While most bowls clubs will definitely have public liability insurance, members may not have adequate public liability cover at home.
With the holiday season upon us, it is likely that many club members will have guests or family coming over for parties.
It is fairly amazing how some of these events can turn in to an injury that may involve family. In a recent case, which is set out below, an aunt sued her niece for falling down the stairs after tripping over a gum nut.
If you’re like me, the outdoor areas of your home are a bit of a mess. There are pine needles covering your pavement, there are jacaranda flowers carpeting your stairs and there is dropped fruit all over your deck.
While you concede to yourself you are terribly lazy when it comes to cleaning up your yard,
Curt schatz
the last thing on your mind is the likelihood of your dear old aunt slipping on the aforesaid pine needles / jacaranda flowers / dropped fruit and breaking her neck when she pops around for a cup of tea.
pruning or removing the gum tree and judgement was given in her favour. The trial decision was appealed.
Such were the facts in the Court of Appeal’s decision in Graham & Ors v Welch [2012] QCA 282 delivered on 19 October 2012.
The evidence led at trial suggested there were only a few gum nuts present at a time, as the paved steps were regularly cleaned.
Even further from your mind is whether your policy of public liability insurance provides sufficient indemnity in the event your aunt sues for negligence.
On 27 November 2006 Mrs Welch suffered an injury at her niece’s home as a result of slipping and falling on steps after stepping on a gum nut which had fallen from a gum tree in the garden. At trial, Mrs Welch proved her niece had been negligent by failing to provide safe access to her house by adequately
Banyo Ladies Bowls Club held its annual Christmas Capers last month and it was a huge success, welcoming 78 men and women for the bowls and after-bowls fellowship. Random fours were drawn out of a hat and the greens were buzzing, given there were four times as many players as on a normal bowls day.
20 | queensland bowler
with
On appeal, Justice Atkinson found the aunt was familiar with the steps having been at the house often and presumably had either experienced no danger in respect of the gum nuts or ought to have been aware of any danger that existed.
The aunt’s evidence was that she was aware of the presence of gum nuts on the steps. Her Honour found it is common to find gum nuts on external steps in suburban residences, particularly those in a bushland setting.
Her Honour observed “gum nuts have been an everyday
President of three years Judy Ladds said she took on the job because she enjoyed playing at Banyo so much and didn’t want to move. “We’ve had a good year, eight new young players signed up and we’re working well with the men’s club,” Ladds said.
part of the consciousness of Australian children since May Gibbs wrote her tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie in Gumnut Babies.” Justice Atkinson ultimately held it is not reasonable for court decisions to require the removal of gum nut trees if an entrant to a residential home slips on a natural hazard which is readily apparent. The appeal was allowed. This decision has relevance to homeowners who are lazy when it comes to outdoor maintenance, and homeowners who live in a bushland setting. The key point from this decision is that a homeowner need not take action to remove all risks from residential homes if the risks are naturally occurring, common and obvious, although what constitutes reasonable steps to reduce a risk will always be considered.
Banyo’s Christmas Capers in 2013 will be extra special, coinciding with the club’s 75th anniversary. Photo: Catching up at Banyo’s Christmas Capers bowls day, Geebung and Toombul bowlers Ruth Wright, Eileen Grima, Pat Postle, Margaret Bradley, Yvonne Lee, Beverley Fitzgerald, Joy Luscott.
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Letter from Bowls Queensland Audit & Risk Committee
BQ / COORPAROO BOWLS CLUB INVESTIGATION & REPORT In recent months there have been many emails and much communication has been circulated around the state concerning Bowls Queensland and their purchase of Coorparoo Bowls Club in 2008/2009. At the April board meeting some questions were raised within the Board concerning Coorparoo Bowls Club. The Board requested that the Bowls Queensland, Audit and Risk Committee look into the purchase of Coorparoo Bowls Club by BQ from start of 2008 through to present and to report back.
The committee was required to gather all information in relation to the purchase of Coorparoo Bowls Club, submit a report to the Board and make recommendations on how Bowls Queensland could better manage the property. The Audit and risk committee was to:
► Gather all information available from Bowls Queensland, Mullins Lawyers and any other relevant sources. ► Interview those associated with the purchase and operations between 2008 and present. ► Investigate the future of the Bowls Queensland and Coorparoo Bowls Club relationship and its long-term viability. ► Investigate and advise the BQ Board of any other further issues that may be discovered during our investigation.
This was not a small task and required extensive investigation before a report could be completed and submitted. The facts surrounding the purchase are:
• In October 2007 the Coorparoo Bowls Club president resigned following legal action to prevent an agreement with the Coorparoo RSL & Services Club Inc. The agreement would have seen the management and ultimately the ownership of Coorparoo Bowls Club transferred to the Services Club without reference to the members of Coorparoo Bowls Club.
• A Special General Meeting was then called in early December 2007 to elect a new president and to authorise the new council to proceed with a service agreement with the RSL. The motion for the agreement for the dealings with the RSL failed. • At the March 2007 Annual General Meeting the new president addressed the meeting at length and proposed that the council be authorised to negotiate an agreement with the RSL.
• There were other issues raised and some question marks raised at this Annual General Meeting but the Coorparoo Bowls Club members authorised the council to proceed with having an agreement with the RSL signed.
• In August 2007 a copy of the agreement was handed to a member of the club to study under due diligence and the report received was adverse to the proposal. Prior to this the RSL had been advised that there was unanimous support from the CBC council and that members were aware of the proposal and had no objections. • A Supreme Court injunction was then issued preventing the execution of the agreement. The court ordered that the agreement be referred to a Special General Meeting.
• In correspondence to the members in mid December 2007 the President advised that the club would close on Friday 22nd December, The clubs locks would be changed and that the club would be placed into liquidation, the property sold up and the balance from the sale placed into the hands of the Public Trustee. • On the 6th January 2008 a meeting was held and the Coorparoo Bowls Club committee requested that Bowls Queensland’s CEO be contacted about the matter. • A Special General meeting was held concerning these issues in early February 2008. The members agreed that the council should investigate all alternative options for the clubs future.
• A meeting was held with Bowls Queensland’s CEO on the 10th January. There were developers interested in the property but the Coorparoo Bowls Club preferred to keep it in bowls. • Because of the urgency to establish an agreement between Bowls Queensland and Coorparoo Bowls Club the flying minute dated 23rd January 2008 was sent to all board members with all details, a copy of Peter Owens letter and a report from Peter Turnbull to gather approval to proceed with an agreement. At the January board meeting all board members were taken to CBC to inspect the premises and receive further details of the plans for CBC. • Bowls Queensland purchased the property valued at $3.5million for $1-00, with the provision that they would maintain it as a bowling facility for 15 years
• Bowls Queensland also was required to improve the bowling green and
a deal was made with the government to provide and experiment with a new type of grass, which the government would provide at no costs and would monitor and review its performance. • When the green was disturbed it was found that the ditches, which were made of asbestos also had to be replaced at an extra cost to Bowls Queensland that they had not been aware off. • As part of the 15 year agreement Bowls Queensland is to maintain the greens to competition standard. • The property at the time of purchase was valued at $3.5million, which Bowls Queensland only paid $1-00 for. If the premises was to be sold it is envisaged that it would be valued more that the $3.5 million at the time of the original purchase. From the Audit and Risks investigations Bowls Queensland and Coorparoo Bowls Club have a formal agreement that Bowls Queensland and Coorparoo Bowls Club must comply. • Coorparoo Bowls Club are currently repaying a loan to Bowls Queensland, albeit slowly. • As part of their lease Coorparoo Bowls Cub was required to set a development fund and since the agreement they have paid for improvements to the property from this fund. • Bowls Queensland has to complete additional works to meet the required safety standards. Coorparoo from here. The Board has requested that Coorparoo Bowls Club complete and submitted expression of interests for all Bowls Queensland and district events. We are encouraging Coorparoo Bowls Club to develop a strategic plan and operation plan. Coorparoo Bowls Club is applying for grants to complete further works on the club. Coorparoo Bowls Cub has a management group that promotes bowls and other social activities to the community. Should the need arise Coorparoo Bowls Club could be utilised as the Bowls Queensland headquarters. Regards Doug Murray Chairman BQ Audit & Risk Committee
Wonderful Worlds Umpiring at World Championships an amazing experience
joan brotherton
What a privilege to be asked to umpire at the 2012 World Championships in Adelaide last month.
There were two umpiring shifts each day and three days of night games.
It was very interesting working alongside international technical officials (ITOs) from overseas and Australia, including my fellow Queenslanders John Dawson from Tewantin and Peter Landers from Deception Bay.
The positioning of the umpire is very important, as when required, they should always be equipped and ready to go on to the green to officiate.
Congratulations to all players, officials and volunteers on a wonderful and enjoyable event.
It was a busy and fascinating challenge, umpiring and marking for outstanding competitors from 27 countries, all vying for the world’s most prestigious bowls titles. We three Queensland umpires were on the greens from the opening ceremony, in which each of us was given the honour of escorting a visiting country.
I escorted the national ladies’ team from Cypress from the opening ceremony until the end of the sectional rounds. The sectional rounds were held at two local bowling clubs, Holdfast Bay and Lockleys. Both had four beautiful greens with six rinks on each green in use every day. The finals were played only at Lockleys.
Each green required two umpires and an extra, which provided for an umpire to be positioned on each side of the green and the extra to assist when necessary.
I stress this point of always being prepared.
Nothing is worse than an umpire receiving a call and not being ready or not having the correct equipment.
The conditions of play at the World Championships were very similar to how we play our events in Queensland, with the exception that because it was a world/ international event, there were particular laws/measurements we had to observe, regarding the length of the jack, rebounding jack and minimum distance of the mat line from the front ditch. (Illustrations of these can be found on Page 97 of the Laws of the Sport of Bowls - Law B.4.2.)
We were also required to measure the pace of the green at the beginning of each day, something most of us wouldn’t normally do
at our clubs, as the greenkeepers generally perform this task. We also marked many games, which I must confess is my favourite job. Again this was a little different at Worlds. Paddles were used after the fourth bowl had been played to indicate the position of the head and any changes after that, of course. When the ends were completed, the paddles were used to communicate the positions to the board turner and spectators. There were a number of the board turners who travelled down from Queensland and it was lovely to meet these generous volunteers. Thanks for your feedback on my Queensland Bowler magazine columns. It seems our magazine is read from as far away as New Zealand, because I received positive feedback from the umpires from across the Tasman. For me personally, carrying out an official role at the World Championships was a wonderful opportunity to enhance my umpiring and marking skills.
Club Uniforms Made Easy Getting it right the first time
For many years bowling clubs have struggled to have Club Uniforms designed and made without high re-order quantities required. Along with that, many manufactures only use a single pattern for both men and women taking a “one size fits all “approach. This clearly doesn’t suit all men and women bowlers. To compound the issue, members were expected to choose their garments from a size chart without actually trying on the shirt to ensure the ideal comfort & fit. This has caused endless problems for Uniform Committees across Australia. Hunter Bowls in Sydney - Australia’s largest supplier to the industry has developed a fast & easy 5 Step Process to take all the dramas out of getting your uniforms updated or replaced. Just think of the benefits. All artwork is included in the one low price. You can even change the artwork as many times as you like until you’re completely happy.
Try before you buy! To get the right fit, first time every time, Hunter Bowls will send a full size range kit (XS to 6XL) to your club for all your members to try on. On top of that, it’s only 4 weeks delivery and there is no minimum re-order quantity required after your first order. You can even order one shirt at a time. So, if you have ever had uniform problems and are looking for a One- Stop Shop, it looks like a visit to www.hunterbowls.com.au should be your first port of call. You can phone Hunter Bowls on (02) 9634 5888 or email sales@hunterbowls.com.au. Alternatively, if you are travelling to Sydney you can visit their large showroom at Castle Hill anytime to see the full product range.
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Welcome to the Queensland Bowler January edition of Henselite’s Spot the Jack competition. Simply put an X where you think the missing jack was located in this picture, fill in your details below and send this page to:
Queensland Bowler January Spot the Jack PO Box 476, Alderley 4051 The first correct entry drawn will receive a free set of Henselite bowls. Winners can choose from a selection of bowls, colours and sizes. Name........................................................................ Address.................................................................... ................................................................................. State........................................Postcode.................. Entries must be received by January 31. Winner will be announced in the March issue. Multiple entries allowed. Original entry forms only, no photocopies accepted.
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This month’s winner Congratulations to: Elizabeth Hodges from Macleay Island You will receive a free set of Henselite bowls of your choice from a selection of bowls, colours and sizes. * By supplying your email address you agree to receive a copy of the next Henselite eNewsletter containing details of discounts, specials, new products and bowls information. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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queensland bowler | 25
Helping older bowlers remain in the game is good for our sport As coaches, our principle job is to teach new players the basics of the game. Clubs have various strategies in place to attract new members, but once they arrive it is up to the coach to get them out on the green with a bowl in hand as quickly as possible. The coach will concentrate on developing a basic knowledge of the game, including safety, the object of the game and a basic delivery technique.
with
Mick Cherry
Some players have a natural ability, while others take a little longer to get a handle on the game. To get these slow starters up to speed, the coach must first find out what they can do and then develop some sort of delivery that will work for them. It can take a lot of time with some new players, but through perseverance they become very happy members of the bowling community.
The bowling arm gave Caboolture Lakes bowler Betty Goodwin a new lease on life.
“
If we spent as much time trying to keep older players in the game as we do trying to attract new players, membership would be rising.
”
At the other end of the scale we have many players who have been bowling for a lot of years and have an in-depth knowledge of the game, but as they get older they are finding it increasingly difficult to continue playing because of physical problems. It may be because of arthritic problems in the hands or being unable to bend low enough to deliver the bowl without dumping it on the green (greenkeepers love that). Maybe if clubs and coaches were to spend as much time trying to keep older players in the game as they spend trying to attract new players, our membership figures would be rising instead of declining. Unfortunately as coaches we can’t do much to prevent the ageing process, that’s something we are all facing. But, with a little thought, we can adapt a player’s game to enable them to extend their playing time by quite a few years. The most obvious and highly successful adaptation is of course the use of a bowling arm.
26 | queensland bowler
Recently a player approached me, who was having a terrible time trying to get low enough to deliver his bowl. He knew that it was only a matter of time before he had to walk away from the game he loves, so he approached me to try to find a way to deliver his bowl without dropping it from a great height. We tried several things, but he was simply unable to get low enough to deliver his bowl without the well-known thump when it hit the ground. The bowl would wobble away and usually come up very short and his frustration was obvious, as was his acceptance that he was nearing the end of his bowling career. I introduced him to the bowling arm, showed him the various styles and we went about the process of re-teaching him to bowl. Of course it wasn’t necessary to teach him the game, he already knew that. Once he had mastered the technique of timing the release (not as easy as it looks), he started to make progress and within a couple of lessons he was actually putting the bowl on the green very smoothly. He practised several times a week and gradually improved his skills to the point where he could play some social bowls. He is now playing regularly again and is a very happy bowler, whose future in the game is no longer in doubt. Well done John, you made my day. Next month I will look at some of the other problems that affect older bowlers and how coaches can help overcome these difficulties.
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