January 2014

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January 2014

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ANTHONY

KIEPE chasing 300 test caps KEEGAN’S SECRET WEAPON FOR GAMES SELECTION

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IN QLD

AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER LAWN BOWLS MAGAZINE

Volume 37/1

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CONTENTS

Volume 37

Issue 1

Cover Story 10 Cover Story 2014 could be a big year for Anthony Kiepe. The Toowoomba native is hoping to clock up his 300th test for Queensland.

Cover photo: Stu Taylor

Previews 06 Premier League Newcomers Bramble Bay Vikings ready to raid the 2014 Queensland Premier League competition.

09 Super Challenge Changes to Bronze Super Challenge as Queensland club comp prepares for entry of New South Wales challengers.

Columns 22 Ground Pearl - Nuke it Greens Guru Rino Parrella explains dangers and dramas of Ground Pearl.

23 Time for a change Umpire Joan Brotherton explains why she think it’s time for a change to Queensland’s Pennant competition.

Editor: Wayne Griffin Reporters: Naomi Cescotto Alexander Tate Published by: Bowls Queensland Editorial: Queensland Bowler PO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051 Ph: (07) 3355 9988 E: news@bowls-queensland.org

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Advertising: Wayne Griffin Ph: (07) 3355 9988 E: advert@bowls-queensland.org Subscriptions: To subscribe, fill out the form on page 26 and post it, together with a cheque for $26.80 (inc gst) to: Queensland Bowler Subscriptions PO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051. v37/1

A decade of district bowling for BN girls Brisbane North District women celebrated 10 years of association at a bowls and lunch day at Northern Suburbs Bowls Club on November 17.

More than 90 bowlers from all the clubs in the district, Aspley, Banyo, Bramble Bay, Brighton, Chermside, Dayboro, Deception Bay, Geebung, Hamilton, Ascot Community Sports Club, Kallangur, Northern Suburbs, Pine Rivers, Sandgate, Scarborough and

Toombul, came to celebrate the first decade of Brisbane North District Ladies Bowls Association (BNDLBA), including foundation president Thelma Sexton, a life member of Deception Bay. BNDBA men’s president from 2003 Rod Golding was also there, remembering how he handed out badges to the women as they inaugurated their own association.

“It’s been a wonderful day, we played some friendly bowls and renewed friendships, which we would all agree is an important part of the game of lawn bowls,” current BNDLBA president Jill Heiniger said.

Pictured left: Toasting 10 years of Brisbane North District Ladies Bowls Association, Heather Frizell, Val Burns, Judy Lenske, Roz Hughes, Jill Heiniger, Jill Sammon, Fay Sherwood, Judy Howell, from Northern Suburbs Bowls Club.

Croquet play could see Keegan back in green and gold Endless hours of practise on the Sunshine Coast’s croquet greens have resulted in renewed interest in Kawana’s Julie Keegan from national selectors.

With only eight months to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Keegan cleverly targeted her practise, knowing the Kelvingrove greens run up to six seconds slower than most Australian surfaces.

She believes her proven skills on sluggish surfaces are what encouraged the national selectors to give her another look.

“I’ve been training hard for the past couple of months, I’ve been invited to trial for Glasgow, I’ll just give it my best and see what happens,” Keegan said.

“The croquet greens at Buderim, Noosa and Coolum have been almost perfect preparation, we don’t have any slow bowls greens in Australia, so I’ve been seeking out grass that’s been let go or just under renovation, like our green at Kawana, it was getting nice and furry.

“It’s like playing in your backyard!”

Former Sunshine Coast bowler Kelsey Cottrell is also in the mix for a Games berth, along with Maroon faithful, Lynsey Clarke, the 2013 Australian team captain, and Tweed Heads’ Kristy Thatcher.

“We just played a five-test series against Malaysia, which we won four out of five,” Clarke said.

“We each got a chance to show what we could do, we played six or seven singles matches, I won six out of seven, so I had a good series.”

Commonwealth Games trials will continue next month in Victoria.

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Vikings Debutant side the Bramble Bay Vikings will face the might of South Tweed’s Sharks when the opening round of Premier League Queensland kicks off this month.

But according to Vikings team selector, Ian Fowler, Steve Glasson’s defending champs do not strike fear into the marauding bowlers from Bramble Bay, “You’ve got to get in and mix it with the big boys,” Fowler told the Queensland Bowler recently.

“We’re very much looking forward to it, simply because it will give us an indication of where we sit in the competition.

“It’s no good playing people who are equal to you.”

The Vikings have signed former Seagulls star Jamie Smith and NSW’s bowler Harley McDonald, who has been stacking up trophies at Ettalong Bowls Club under the guidance of Australian ace Aron Sherriff.

“Harley is very good, he’s already been up and played with us,” Fowler said.

“He’s an Australian under 25’s squad member and he’s won a lot of titles around the central coast.

“While it’s his first introduction to Premier League, it’s not his introduction to top class bowls.” v37/1

Defending champs South Tweed Sharks

readying premier league raid They might be thrown to the Sharks in round one, but newcomers Bramble Bay believe they can put up a good fight in this year’s PLQ. There is confidence in the Vikings camp says Fowler.

“In fact, most of the Queensland state team will be competing.”

including many new clubs and teams having a go for the first time.

“Our three skips will be our gun blokes, Jamie Smith, Harley McDonald and Des Cann.

After a successful finals series last year, Club Pine Rivers will play host again in 2014.

With its singles, pairs and fours format, the Sevens is a dynamic comp.

“Mix that with three of our district players and we have a pretty strong team combination.

“Pine Rivers did a fantastic job last year and no doubt will do another fantastic job this year. They were brilliant hosts of the APL,” said Smith.

“First year in, we’d like to be in the top six. We can’t see why we can’t do that.”

All of this year’s team will need to shake of their New Year hangovers pretty quickly, with round one kicking off on January 4.

Big news abounds within the player ranks, including Mark Casey’s homecoming to Helensvale after a stint at Sydney club, St John’s Park.

Former New Zealand rep, Matt Gallop, moves to Hamilton Power, while another Kiwi star, multiple world champion Gary Lawson, will roll up for Broadbeach.

Meanwhile, Australian junior singles champ, Braidan Leese, leaves the Broadbeach Bulls to team up with Glasson’s men at South Tweed.

“It’s one of the biggest competitions in Australia,” says PLQ treasurer (and Shark’s stalwart) Nigel Smith.

“There are a lot big names in there, like Steve Glasson, Kelvin Kerkow and Mark Casey.

“We’ve got international medal winners and current state players. v37/1

On the greens the Pirates are hoping for a better outcome in 2014.

Having made the grand final last year, the home side were devoured by the Sharks, 63-48.

“I reckon it’s the fastest growing competition in Australia,” comments Nigel Smith. “I don’t think there’s any competition growing like it. It’s very much a part of the Premier League family.”

There will be many tough games between now and the finals on March 30, so this year’s champions will have to earn their victory.

Club Helensvale is another team looking to improve on last year’s performance.

The Gold Coast side suffered semi-final heartbreak against the Pirates in 2013.

But having won five titles since the League’s inception in 1999, they are always a major threat in the competition.

With a couple of lean seasons under their belt, three-time champions Wynnum Manly Seagulls have recruited strongly.

Jason Hoy and John Finlayson will line up alongside young gun newcomers, Nic Gosley and Jacob Nelson.

Other teams competing in 2014 include South Toowoomba, Greenslopes and Springwood Titans.

The Premier 7s competition is building year on year and has proved very popular again for 2014, with 91 teams participating

Bramble Bay president Mark Scott welcomes new recruit Harley McDonald

queensland bowler | 7

Between them the Millerick twins, Cassandra and Bolivia, have secured berths in the Singles, Pairs, Mixed Pairs and Fours.

Young Guns Dominate Rising stars a force to be reckoned with at Queensland’s Australian Open qualifiers Young blood dominated Australian Open Qualifiers on the Gold Coast recently, with up-and-coming bowlers taking the lion’s share of the qualifying spots on offer at the week-long event.

Bowlers from across Queensland descended on Gold Coast clubs, Tweed Heads, South Tweed and Twin Towns Services in November to battle it out for coveted berths in the singles, pairs, fours and mixed pairs at next month’s open.

But when the dust settled it was some of Queensland’s top juniors and under-25s who had secured tickets to Darebin’s International Sport Centre.

In the Mixed Pairs qualifiers, youth and experienced combined to great effect, with Nathan Appleton, 21, (pictured right) and Christina Pavlov, 63, setting the pace.

The duo cruised through sectional rounds undefeated and into the final, where they dispatched husband and wife team, Ann-Maree and Warren Peart, 16-9, to secure their trip to Melbourne.

Big guns Julie Keegan, 49, and Des Cann Jr, 24, claimed the second of three mixed pairs berths, with a four-shot win over Emma and Kurt Brown, 15-11, while youngsters Cassandra Millerick, 19, and Scott DeJongh, 20, beat Sue McKenzie and Cohen Litfin to claim their ticket to Darebin in February.

Keegan was back in action in the women’s pairs, where she and former World Champion Carmen Anderson lived up to their billing as one of the toughest teams in the competition.

The duo blasted their Section 4 opposition off the green to throw their hat in the ring for this year’s Aus Open title.

The Millerick twins, Cassandra and Bolivia, showed why they are a dangerous combination, finishing top of a difficult section.

Other winners were Karen Goldsworthy and Lynn Long, who comfortably won all three matches in Section 1, and 14-year-old Sophie Young, who combined with former state and national rep Maria Rigby to clinch a qualifier spot.

8 | queensland bowler

The only post sectional game saw Elizabeth McCleary and Evelyn Stacey lose 16-8 to Emma Brown and Noelene Dutton.

In the men’s pairs, Rohan Wilson, 19, and Nathan Rice played some outstanding bowls, taking three wins from three, then seeing off Braidan Leese, 17, and Sam White, 22, in the post sectional.

Dean McWhinney, 22, and Paul Girdler also went through undefeated despite a round one scare, then beat Trevor Wright and Michael O’Leary in their final match.

Geoff Jensen and John Fern go on to play in Melbourne, as do Ricky Melia and Jason Curry, Neil Peach and Wayne Masters, Dean Merlo and Brett Merkel, and teenagers Bryce Litfin and Nic Gosley.

Gosley, 15, was in terrific form in the singles too, shining 21-10, 21-8 and 21-5 in his three games.

Shane Greentree with three wins continued to impress, scoring 21-2, 21-18 and 21-7.

Scott De Jongh backed up his mixed pairs qualification with singles progress, as did Des Cann.

Here is the full list of qualifiers: G. Higgins, Rohan Wilson, P. Ellful, Cohen Litfin, Des Cann, Sean Ingham, Sam White, Nic Gosley, Trevor Broadbent, Joseph Van Hout, Joel Anderson, Ricky Melia, Shane Greentree, Robert Norquay, Scott De Jongh, Perry Vaccaro, Gary Pearson.

Elizabeth McCleary, so unlucky in the women’s pairs, performed strongly in the singles, gaining qualification with a 100 per cent record.

Rising starlet Kiani Anderson, 20, also made the cut with some inspired bowls, 21-10, 21-15 and 21-9.

As section winners, Christina Pavlov, Christine Baxter, Cassandra Millerick, Noelene Dutton, Selina Goddard, Faye Clarke, Helen Wood-Bradley and Debbie Farley will also be heading to the Open.

Continued next page ► v37/1

Fierce competition for 14th Super Challenge The New Year sees Bowls Super Challenge fire up for its 14th season, with Bronze division rolling out on January 18th, followed by Gold and Silver on February 1.

The early start for this year’s Bronze is so northern New South Wales teams can join the competition, but finish in time for their club Pennant competition in early April.

It means 2014 will mark the first time in 14 years that Gold, Silver and Bronze division finals will not be played simultaneously.

In another change to the competition, a round robin will not be used to decide the finalists in 2014.

This year section winners will host the playoffs, with second and third placed teams playing in the morning.

The winner will then battle the host club in the afternoon for a spot in the finals of Silver and Bronze Divisions.

The Gold Division will consist of 12 men’s and women’s teams, with two sections of six, and a lone men only section of six.

After five rounds the top eight men’s teams and top six women’s teams will play-off for a finals berth.

The format reflects the AFL finals, where the top ranked teams gain home finals.

The bottom eight men’s sides and bottom six women’s teams will play a further two rounds for match and rink wins to give them their seven rounds if they wish.

A wide range of teams have entered this year’s challenge, stretching from Cairns in the north to Condong south of the

► As expected, the fearsome foursome of Dean McWhinney, Des Cann, Brett Wilkie and Kelvin Kerkow will be contesting the Australian Open after they made easy work of qualifying rounds.

They will be joined by Graeme Shillington’s impressive side of Dale McWhinney-Shillington, Eric Farnsworth and Nic Gosley.

Other qualifiers are Neil Peach, Geoff Jensen, Brett Merkel and Wayne Masters, and Brendan Wilson, Simon Bailey, Jason Carpenter and Rohan Wilson.

The women’s fours was a tough contest, but once again the more competitive teams made it through.

Kiani Andersen, Selina Goddard, Christina Pavlov and Sue McKenzie went through undefeated.

Other qualifiers were Cathy Lewis, Glenys Read, Debbie Logan and Christine Baxter; April Wilson, Natasha Jones, Wendy Wilson and Pamela Rowe; Cassandra Millerick, Lynn Long, Karen Goldsworthy, Bolivia Millerick; and Dorothy Cooke, Debra McGarry, Deborah Dimmick, Gaye Blank.

Pictured left: Nathan Appleton was just one of the young bowlers to secure a berth at next month’s Australian Open in Melbourne. v37/1

border, and out west to Toowoomba, giving the challenge a potent line-up.

Debutants this year include Russell Island and Kingscliffe.

Among the new Gold teams this year is Rainbow Beach, who claimed last year’s Silver title.

They will lock horns with fellow first-timers Pacific Paradise and Tewantin Noosa, who will field men-only teams.

A total of 106 men’s teams will take to the greens in pursuit of the big money, while 87 women’s teams have their eye on the prize.

Des Wilson expects a strong showing from the usual suspects.

“Club Kawana ladies (pictured above) and Burleigh Heads men, both winners last year, will be competitive,” Wilson said.

“Mooloolaba will be strong as well, as will North Toowoomba, who just won the State Pennant title.”

But Des is also aware that a surprise could be sprung, saying, “Rainbow Beach, they’ve got some good players.”

In fact, Rainbow Beach have back to back Silver finals under their belt.

After being beaten on the last bowl by Indooroopilly two years ago, they succeeded in lifting the trophy in 2013.

Club secretary Rick Modin is confident of a good showing.

”We thought we’d give Gold a go this year after backing up in the past two Silvers finals,” he said.

“We’ll give them all a fair shake. If we make the semis it’ll be good.”

The finals venues have at this stage not been finalised with several clubs showing expressions of interest.

Is traditional bowls too boring to watch?

What do YOU think about Bowls Australia’s decision to scrap Australian Open coverage in 2014, in favour of supporting live coverage of Australian Premier League in November?

Bowlers say they want to watch bowls on TV, but how many really tune in?

Ratings for the APL action on Fox Sports were higher than for the traditional version of the game, broadcast during Australian Open in previous years.

APL is where Bowls Australia will put your TV money in 2014.

What do you think? Email us on news@bowls-queensland.org

queensland bowler | 9

CHASING THE DREAM

Anthony Kiepe sets his sights on 300th test cap for Queensland

C

lub Helensvale’s Anthony Kiepe, 36, is going for 300 games for Queensland in 2014.

With 287 rep games already on his scorecard, Kiepe has been invited back into the Queensland squad for 2014, and selected for Queensland’s first test for the year, against NSW at Port Macquarie later this month.

If all goes to plan, by the end of January, Kiepe will be up to 290 games for Queensland.

If he’s also selected for Super Six (he won silver in the singles last year) in the lead up to Australian Sides at South Burnie, Tasmania (March 31-April 3), it’s possible Kiepe will celebrate his 300th game for Queensland during the Australian Sides.

“I’m really rapt about it, not too many make it to 300 games in our sport, for a variety of reasons,” Kiepe said.

“I’ve worked very hard for this and had a lot of support, especially from my family, my mum (Bernice) and dad (Allan), my wife Kellie and our four children, Emma, Georgie, Kuga, and Nate.”

State coach Bill Cornehls, formerly of Victoria, has played against Kiepe, and with him.

Now also a state selector, Cornehls said Kiepe continued to be picked for Queensland because he was consistent and reliable.

“He’s not a flamboyant player, he’s under the radar, well, I suppose he’s on the radar if he’s about to get his 300th game!” Cornehls said.

“300 games in any code requires dedication, commitment and consistent form, over a long period of time.

“Anthony has certainly had high and low points in his career, but he’s come back when he could have given up.

“It takes a lot of sacrifices both on and off the green to reach that sort of milestone.”

Kiepe’s count towards 300 for Queensland started 17 years ago.

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“I was 19, in my first game for Queensland against Fiji at Bribie Island in 1997,” Kiepe said.

“It was the most exciting few days of my life, something I had worked very hard for and it was very satisfying to be selected.”

Kiepe’s most memorable Australian Sides championship was his first.

“It was Launceston, 1998, playing alongside the best bowlers in Australia at the time, Kelvin Kerkow, Steve Glasson and Jeff Twist, it was a huge thrill, and we actually won, a dream come true,” Kiepe said.

“I was selected in the Australian U-25 squad that year, I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my representative career.”

Kiepe was born in Toowoomba in 1977 into a family of high achievers on the bowls green.

He won Queensland’s Champion of Club Champions singles title at Maroochydore in 1997 and played third in the Kiepe family’s winning four, father Allan on lead, younger brother Shaun, second, and elder brother Chris, skip.

“All of us have represented Queensland at some time, Shaun in under-18s, Chris in the men’s open side and dad in the over-60s,” Kiepe said.

“We were told only one other family had won a State Champion of Club Champion fours title, when Trevor Morris played with his dad and brothers.”

In the countdown to his 300th game for Queensland, Kiepe’s career tally for the state includes winning six out of a possible 15 Australian Sides Championship titles, from 1998 to 2013.

The 36-year-old missed selection in 2012 and is determined not to be in that position again.

“It was a huge relief to be selected again in 2013, I thought my representative career might have ended when I missed out in 2012,” he said.

“Also to be selected to play Super Singles for Queensland last year in the Australian Super Series in Bendigo and winning a silver medal, that was a definite highlight.”

Kiepe’s goal for 2014 is to keep playing as consistently as he has for the past 17 years.

“I’ve kept a diary of my bowls since I started as a teenager, hopefully I’ll pass 300 games for Queensland this year, if I keep being selected,” Kiepe said. v37/1

300 CLUB THE “300-CLUB” IS A MILESTONE REACHED BY FEW PLAYERS IN ANY SPORT. (For example, in 105 years of rugby league in Australia, Scott Prince became only the 18th player to reach 300 NRL games in September last year, with former Queensland captain Darren Lockyer retiring on a career total of 355 NRL games.)

In Queensland bowls, South Tweed’s Kelvin Kerkow is the only living player certain to have achieved more than 300 games for the state, with a confirmed 335 games and Kelvin checking the paperwork, believing his tally may well be closer to 400 caps.

Only three other players in the history of the game in Queensland are believed to have played more than 300 games at state level, Stan Coomber (Bribie, Banyo), Artie Booth (Kingscliffe) and Keith Poole (Caloundra).

Booth died in 2009, aged 91, and Coomber and Poole in 2012, aged 76 and 85 respectively.

(Some district historians say Booth played as many as 460 games and Poole as many as 500 games for Queensland, although BQ has no official tally to verify these figures.)

“Coomber, Booth and Poole were the original three, no doubt they achieved 300 games for Queensland,” said long time selector and recently retired BQ chairman of selectors Carlo Campana, 81, from Tweed Heads Bowls Club.

“It’s very exciting if Kiepe is about to reach that milestone, it’s a big number of games.”

From the Chair with Ron Chambers APL

Following the success of the Australian Premier League bowls competition at Pine Rivers Bowls Club in November, we have received many inquiries from our bowlers regarding bowls returning to our television screens.

A Bowls Australia petition, which was supported by Bowls Queensland and signed by thousands of bowlers, was presented to ABC television and federal politicians in 2011.

This petition, which requested that bowls coverage be returned to the ABC, was unsuccessful.

Fox Sports, which televised the APL, have in the past broadcast bowls events on their channel, but sadly not on a regular basis.

Bowls Australia’s recent decision not to televise the Australian Open means unfortunately, we will have to wait until November 2014 for the next APL competition to see bowls back on the TV. (The rationale behind the BA decision was that the ratings for previous Australian Open packages were nowhere near as strong as for the live content of the APL.) DOON VILLA BOWLS CLUB

I was very pleased to attend the 120th Anniversary celebrations at Queensland’s oldest bowls club Doon Villa in Maryborough last month.

Everyone who attended had a great day, playing bowls in the morning, followed by a celebration lunch in the afternoon.

Guests included Nigel Smith from Bowls Australia, district officials, representatives from many clubs in the area, and myself representing Bowls Queensland.

Doon Villa runs entirely on volunteer labour, with proud club members feeling this is one of the main reasons the club has survived and thrived for 120 years.

VOLUNTEERS

BQ records show players on more than 200 games for Queensland include Kiepe’s Club Helensvale teammates Nathan Rice (244) and Mark Casey (225).

Doon Villa Bowls Club is only one of many country clubs that rely heavily on volunteers.

Ron Marshall, a foundation member of Ashgrove Bowls Club, who also played at Windsor, Stafford, Hamilton, Clayfield, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore Swans, also earned a 200-Game badge.

Holding any position on a committee or just helping out can be very rewarding and appreciated by the people who visit your club.

Marshall was born in 1916 and died in 2004, aged 88.

At the time of receiving his badge, he sent a letter to BQ saying it was “one of the highlights of his life to have skipped more than 200 games for Queensland”.

Brett Wilkie goes into 2014 on 177 games and for the women, Australian captain Lynsey Clarke is on 148 games and Mareeba’s Sue Brady on 128 games for the state.

It’s believed long-time player Marilyn Emerton (Mooloolaba) is also on more than 100 games and former player and selector Jenny Harrigan retired on more than 100 games.

At the relatively young ages of 44 (Kerkow) and 36 (Kiepe), it’s likely the two stars will go on to add to their personal scorecards for Queensland.

In rugby league, players traditionally get a big gold ring when they reach 300 NRL games.

What do you think we should do for our 300Game bowlers? v37/1

However many clubs are struggling due to the lack of workers to volunteer at their clubs.

Remember a few hours spent each week will go a long way towards ensuring the viability and longevity of your club.

There should be more people willing to give up an hour or two each week to help their club.

It helps keeps fees at an affordable level and builds friendships and a sense of community, which is part of the reason most people play a sport.

QUEENSLAND DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

The State Under-18 and Under-25 development squads visited Auckland late in December for a series of test matches to aid the development of our future state players, both male and female.

This event has proved very successful in the past.

It gives our younger bowlers an opportunity to play international bowls at an early stage of their career.

BQ state coach Bill Cornehls organises the international event each year in conjunction with his Auckland counterpart Howard Sandler, with the aim to improve the standard of bowls of up-and-coming bowlers in both countries.

queensland bowler | 11

30 seconds with Queensland stars What’s coming up for YOU in bowls in 2014? To get you warmed up, we asked a few members of the current Queensland squad to look forward to the year ahead, and reflect on the year past.

We also asked them to share any tips for success. And just for a bit of fun, we asked if they had a quirky habit to confess.

Clockwise from left: Sue Brady, Yvonne Lovelock, Christina Pavlov, Tracy Foster; Lynsey Clarke & Bolivia Millerick; Brendan Egan, Des Cann Jr, Anthony Fantini; Mark Casey; Kurt & Emma Brown; Nathan Rice; Natasha Jones.

TRACY FOSTER - West Toowoomba

LYNSEY CLARKE - Helensvale

Best thing 2013? State Championships, winner Pairs, runner Up Singles, equal 3rd Fours.

Best thing 2013? My wedding day, best day of my life, then three and a half weeks in the USA. We’re both sports fanatics and we went to the ice hockey, basketball, baseball, it was awesome to be at Madison Square Garden New York and Las Vegas.

Looking forward to 2014? Love to skip for Queensland!

Something quirky? They call me Twacy and Twiggy since I lost weight.

Best advice? Be safe, be happy.

NATHAN RICE - Helensvale Best thing 2013? Trip to Scotland for Eight Nations in July. First time I’ve played outdoors in the UK, very different surface, rough and slow. You need bowls that turn a lot, wide bowls, like the old super-grips used 30 years ago, very hard if you’re used to a tight bowl. You need a big back swing and not everyone can adjust to a new bowl and new type of green. If we bowled that hard on the Gold Coast, it would rebound off the back and come back to the mat!

Looking forward to 2014? Obviously the Commonwealth Games in August, there are 9 (men) still in the trial squad, they’ll take 5.

First though, I’m looking forward to a good hit out for Queensland against NSW at the end of the month, then more Games trials and the Australian Open in February. They’ll pick the Games side in March-April.

Something quirky? Golf! I’m a golf fanatic.

I don’t have much spare time though, with the kids, aged 4 and 2. (And although I’d never do karaoke, the kids seem to enjoy my singing...!)

Best advice? Stay calm! Try not to let anything get to you, you’ll be up and you’ll be down, but just try to stay in the moment.

YVONNE LOVELOCK - Musgrave Hill Best thing 2013? Playing Golden Nugget, beating Karen Murphy and giving Jo Edwards a good run for her money.

Looking forward to 2014? Hoping to make the State team.

Something quirky? They call me “Kooka”, I look after the state team mascot, a kookaburra.

Best advice? Seize the day! Get outside and enjoy yourself when you play and try not to stress.

ANTHONY FANTINI - Helensvale Best thing 2013? Skipping for Queensland in the test series against the ACT and winning 3/3 with a great bunch of blokes. I only got to skip because Kelvin (Kerkow) wasn’t available but it was a thrill, the other skips were Brett (Wilkie) and Nathan (Rice).

Looking forward to 2014? An even bigger and better year, both on and off the green.

Something quirky? Play golf right-handed, putt left-handed.

Best advice? Success is what you put into it and how much you put into it. v37/1

Looking forward to 2014? Making Australian Commonwealth Games team for Glasgow and traveling to Europe.

Something quirky? Brisbane Broncos tragic, favourite player Wendall Sailor. Addicted to Candy Crush on my iPad, up to 400. Also love the smell of Betts Bowls Grip!

Best thing about bowls? Competition aside, the people you meet along the way. I can walk into any bowls club in Australia and feel welcome.

Best advice? Set goals in bowls and life. My motto is Dream, Believe, Succeed. Aim for a balance in life outside bowls, and you’ll do better on the green. And have fun!

BRENDAN EGAN - Wynnum Manly

LOUISE WITTON - Coolum Beach Best thing 2013? winner Triples

State championships,

Looking forward to 2014? More of the same!

Something quirky? I knit tea cosies.

Best advice? Stay calm.

BOLIVIA MILLERICK - Calounda Best thing 2013? Playing QLD V ACT Test Series and playing with Lynsey (Clarke).

Looking forward to 2014? Everything! Playing in more test series and the Australian Open and making the U25 state squad.

Something quirky? It was mum and dad’s divorce that got me into bowls when I was 10. I couldn’t play netball week on, week off, but I could play bowls...

Best advice? You’re always going to lose more games than you win, so just enjoy yourself and stay positive.

MARK CASEY – Helensvale

Best thing 2013? Playing interstate test series and Australian Sides, fantastic and enthusiastic bunch of guys.

Best thing 2013? Winning the inaugural Australian Premier League! One of the best and most entertaining competitions ever.

Something quirky? Don’t mind a banana and mayo sandwich! Also have this habit of patting my pockets to make sure wallet and keys are there (even when I know I just put them there!).

Something quirky? I have a big interest in Greyhounds. A couple of years ago, I had as many as 10 greyhounds racing however they have all finished now. I’m just about to buy a few pups.

Looking forward to 2014? Fingers crossed to be part of the Queensland side to finish on top at Australian Sides in Tasmania.

I’ve moved clubs this year, lots of really good young blokes with plenty of talent, I think we’re going to see a very competitive season from the Seagulls!

Looking forward to 2014? I’m hoping 2014 will be one of my biggest years, with my main goal to make the Commonwealth Games team. I have represented Australia in two games already, winning a Gold and Silver so I would love to go again and bring home another medal.

Best advice? Never think it can’t be done, and have fun. The rest will follow.

Best advice? Listen to the advice of people that know what it takes to have success. You will receive many different opinions, but it’s most important to choose the right advice to make you become a better player.

SUE BRADY - Mareeba Best thing 2013? Winning State Pairs with Tracy Foster. Being in Queensland squad.

Looking forward to 2014? Hopefully staying in the Queensland squad.

Something quirky? I don’t eat green stuff and I only drink Coke and water.

Best advice? Don’t play the pokies!

KURT BROWN - Club Pine Rivers Best thing 2013? Move to Club Pine Rivers.

2013 Champion of Club Champion Pairs (so near yet so far!) Winning 2013 Prestige Fours Bribie Island (previously won singles and pairs, now won the fours too).

Looking forward to 2014?

Premier League.

Queensland

Something quirky? Love music, especially the old fashioned classics like The Drifters and early Elton John.

Best advice? Get hungry! You’ve got to be hungry to win, I’ve been in and out of the state team, and I always want it, I’m always hungry for the next win.

CHRISTINA PAVLOV – Broadbeach Best thing 2013? Winning Australian Over60s Pairs (with Sue McKenzie).

Looking forward to 2014? Defend our title!

Something quirky? I collect ancient Chinese ceramics.

Best advice? Listen to good music, like Queen’s “I want to break free”.

NATASHA JONES – Bribie Island Best thing 2013? Playing for Australia for the first time (Trans Tasman). Winning all four titles at State Juniors. Playing Queensland seniors for the first time.

Looking forward to 2014? Hopefully keep a spot in the Queensland team and play for Australia U25.

Something quirky? I’ve got skills as an artist, I’m good at drawing.

Best advice? I listen to music going into a tournament, for inspiration and relaxation. queensland bowler | 13

COACH PLEASED WITH QLD SPIRIT Cornehls reveals his highs and lows

T

here were medals, international call ups and tight test victories for Bill Cornehls to enjoy in 2013, but the highlight for Queensland’s state coach was seeing something rather more special from his bowlers.

“The Queensland spirit, that never-give-in, never-say-die attitude,” says Cornehls. It’s a quality that has been on display in 2013.

Braidan Leese also made the podium, his singles gold a terrific achievement, but Cornehls said Leese offered more than a ribbon to the side.

“He went out there and was one of the leaders in the team. That’s what we wanted him to be, and he won the gold medal. You can’t do much more than that.”

At Caloundra earlier this year the ACT visited for a Test showdown, and Lynsey Clarke was aiming to lead a young team to a clean sweep.

In weather beaten Victoria, Gail Waitai from Broadbeach and Lou Dalakis from Mooloolaba were named Queensland’s Players of the Series at the 2013 Senior State Sides.

At 2-0 up it seemed possible, but in the third test Clarke and her young starlets were 6-15 down after 14 ends.

“Gail and Lou were consistent through the whole game, Gail certainly helped set her rink up,” Cornehls said.

But Cornehls’ desire for grit had seeped into the foursome and they stormed back to snatch victory 21-20.

“After buckets of rain overnight it was Antarctic weather, really cold and chilling.

The Queensland spirit. Never give in, never say die.

Over in Perth at the Australian Under-18 Championships, the Queensland fighting spirit was personified by April Wilson.

Upon landing in WA the Helensvale bowler fell ill, but she turned up on the green everyday to give the Kookaburras her all.

Wilson delivered bronze with Taleah Putney (below) in the pairs and made the bronze play off in both the singles and the fours.

“We were bowling into a strong head wind on a heavy green, the games were intense but matching the host state in those conditions proved we have the ability.”

Despite the success of 2013 Bill keeps focus.

“There were a few negatives. One I see from a coaching point of view is trying to get the players up to perform in these series.

“Because we play so many tournaments and carnivals across the year, we get a situation where players will decide to play in certain events.”

Prodigal son Casey returns Australian Premier League star Mark Casey no longer has the Blues.

The two-time Commonwealth Games medallist is back on maroon soil for the 2014 season.

“It’s great to be back at Club Helensvale, I missed the guys last year, I used to see them 2-3 times a week but with all the travel involved with my NSW commitments, it made things difficult,” Casey said.

“However, it was a very enjoyable experience playing for St John’s Park, it’s one of the most professional and biggest clubs in the world, it was great to see how they go about things.

“Representing NSW was also great, to go through the whole year undefeated was an outstanding achievement.”

Casey was also looked after by Queensland’s Broadbeach club in 2013.

“Both St John’s Park and Broadbeach gave me amazing support during 2013, both are terrific clubs that look after their members, I wish them all the best for 2014,” Casey said.

“But it’s excellent to be back at Helensvale. In 10 years we’ve achieved so many fantastic results together.”

Bill’s personal highlights are linked to the individuals, “I like putting something back into bowls, working with the players,” he says.

“I’ve seen them at different levels, under 18s, under 25s, through to the Open side, it’s good knowing I’ve been part of their little pathway going along."

14 | queensland bowler

Photo: Bowls Australia v37/1

Kandanga triumphant at Kingaroy carnival Teams from Kandanga (Gympie) and Bundaberg took the largest share of prize money at Kingaroy’s annual November Pairs and Fours Carnival.

The three days of competition (Nov 8-10) was played in excellent Spring conditions, with plenty of sunshine and little breeze.

In the pairs, 28 teams took part, playing over three games.

Competition was fierce. With five teams winning all their games, ends and margins came into play to decide overall positions.

The winners were Bundaberg’s John Jardine and Ian McCracken, 3 wins 38 1/2 ends.

Runners up were Kingaroy’s Steve Carland and Phil Kemp, 3 wins 34 1/2 ends.

Third was Caboolture’s Greg Mooney and Bruce Kelly, 3 wins 33 ends.

In the fours, 26 teams took part, playing over two days, with a team from Quilpie/

Cunnamulla making a 20-hour round trip.

Once again the competition was fierce, with no team having a 100 per cent record.

Winners were Kandanga (pictured), Greg Maher, Jeff Worth, Garry Dan, Jack Horne, 4 wins 1 draw 53 1/2 ends.

Runners up were from Gladstone/Kingaroy, Greg Schulz, Geoff Gees, Kerry Smith, Tony Leggio, 4 wins 55 1/2 ends.

Third place went to Bundaberg/ Goomeri, John Jardine, Brian Kunde snr, Ian McCracken, Brian Kunde jnr, 4 wins 55 ends.

Taylor...proudly supporting Aussie bowlers Taylor Bowls committed to supporting bowls in Australia, writes Scottish international and Taylor rep Anne Dunwoodie A year ago Australian bowlers and Taylor Bowls were celebrating phenomenal success at the World Championships in Adelaide, and if you need reminding about that amazing event, Australia lifted five of the titles while Scotland took the other three.

More successes have followed for since then and we are continuing to ‘rock all over the world’ Only a few weeks ago Karen Murphy once again delivered gold, this time at the World Champion of Champions in Christchurch, while the unheralded Tom Bishop from England, an outsider to the international scene, also flew the Taylor flag to lift the m e n ’s title.

Flip that coin over and on the other side of the pond Taylor Bowls supported Australia’s Disability and Visually Impaired bowlers, who beat the Brits in their own back yard, returning from the World Championships in Worthing UK with a fistful of silverware.

Taylor reps also racked up more triumphs in the Hong Kong Classic recently, with Kelsey Cottrell chalking up her third title at the Asian event alongside Australian teammate Carla Odgers.

Meanwhile, six of the eight semi-finalists in the U-25 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow also sported our product and came away with all three titles.

We could literally go on and on, but I’m sure you’ve got a flavour of the pride we take in every challenge.

Recently Taylor Bowls launched our latest project, offering you, our valued customer, a new online service facility for fast-track purchasing of our product.

If you’re not aware of it, simply log on to www.taylorbowlsdirect.com to see our fantastic deals.

We don’t just promote and sponsor the elite players, we are justly proud of our commitment to bowlers irrespective of their ability.

Taylor all-stars Lynsey Clarke & Karen Murphy v37/1

We lend support wherever we can, because to get support, you have to give support at all levels.

For us that starts at grass roots for all ages.

We are hands on with school programmes, we work with disability and visually impaired bowlers, as well as amateur and the top flight players.

We may be a Scottish based company, but we have shown our wholehearted commitment to our Australia customers.

Australia has been good to Taylor Bowls and in turn we hope that we have been good to Australia in the many varying ways we have supported the sport.

Australia’s elite squad are hard at work just now, trying to impress the selectors to earmark one of the five places that will be on offer for men and women to represent their country at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in just over six months time.

The Games are right on our doorstep and Taylor Bowls would like to take this opportunity to impress you off the field as well as on it.

Should you venture to Scotland, why don’t you pay us a visit.

Call us and book a guided tour around our manufacturing plant to see how we pull our expertise, knowledge and innovational skills together to keep our product at the forefront of the sport.

A warm welcome awaits you! queensland bowler | 15

Cementco Bowls Club

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER

Darra Cementco before the renovations

Queensland's first new grass green in 50 years Brisbane’s western corridor is undergoing substantial redevelopment, but Darra Cementco Bowls Club won’t be trampled in the rush of new suburban offices springing up.

little green and we’ll build you a car park and another green in return,” explains John Lang, club coach and selector, recalling the proposal.

“We thought about it for five seconds and said ‘Go for it!’”

The club of just over 100 members has gained a new car park and brand new tournament sized second grass green, the first of it’s kind in Queensland for 50 years.

With so many clubs turning to synthetic greens, Darra’s decision to stick with grass bucks the trend.

The old Cement Australia site, on which the bowls club was originally built for the workers of Queensland Cement and Lime, was ideal for urban renewal and will be renamed Westlink Green.

“We stayed with grass because a number of clubs around have gone to synthetic and had a lot of trouble with them, so decided to stick with grass.”

Graystones, developers of commercial precincts, saw the western development as a perfect opportunity to relocate their offices, but the bowls club had the prime land.

Anna Robbie, a member of the BTP Westlink Green development team, said it was a unique project.

Graystones contacted the bowls club through Cement Australia, “We’ll offer you enough land beside your big green if we can have the Darra Cementco in the early days

The matter was not taken lightly said Geoff Chandler, club President.

“We needed a larger easement so we negotiated with the bowls club about realignment. This involved building a new green adjacent to their larger green.”

Darra Cementco aren’t their usual sort business partners.

“Working with the bowls club has been different from working with a land vendor because they have long term interests, they weren’t selling out.”

Ms Robbie emphasised the sensitivity of dealing with a community not just building and land.

“It was important to make sure we didn’t impact their activities, we worked hard to make sure they weren’t compromised.”

As the roof goes on to the new Graystones office, the development is close to completion.

The iconic QCL powerhouse, built in 1914, has been renovated and the area is more picturesque.

Future renovations to the clubhouse are being considered but for now focus is on the new bowling green.

It has reached its final level and is awaiting the summer rains to help pack it down, with club members hoping the first bowls will be rolling by the end of January 2014. ►

16 | queensland bowler

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Clockwise from top left: Before the first spade went in, drainage preparations, raising the levels and just before the turf goes down. ► With the Masters Pairs at the end of February, it will be the first competition on the first new grass bowling green in Queensland for five decades.

Geoff Chandler said 2013 had been an interesting year.

“Along with the redevelopment it has been quite a good year. We showed a reasonably good profit due to voluntary management and controlling the finances very well. We’re very thankful for people’s time.”

Artist's impression of the new office development alongside the iconic QCL building.

Hooray for Harold!

There were crowd favourites at the recent Champion of Club Champions state finals at Broadbeach and 93-year-old Harold Poole from Laidley Bowls Club was definitely one of them.

The retired carpenter has been playing bowls for 55 years, the first 30 or so years at Drayton and the last 20 at Laidley.

Harold won State Champion of Club Champion singles in 1986.

He’s very proud to be still playing at 93 and still good enough to make a state final fours team, representing Downs district in the men’s fours with Wayne Kellond, David Weier and skip Craig Ziebell.

“Harold’s our driving force,” said Ziebell.

Unfortunately the Laidley boys couldn’t go all the way at State level, beating Banyo but losing to Elliott Heads and eventual runners-up, Thuringowa. v37/1

Greg Maher, Jeff Worth, Garry Dan, Jack Horne, fours winners David Weier, Harold Poole, Craig Ziebell and Wayne Kellond from Kandanga. queensland bowler | 17

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queensland bowler | 19

Ingham Friendly

Three North Queensland district clubs, Ingham, Noorla and Macknade, are proud of their record as a host club of interstate visitors.

With many southern bowlers heading north when the temperature drops, the Ingham district clubs are finding their skills as hosts in demand.

A total of 92 bowlers attended a recent Queensland versus Northern NSW “friendly”, when a tour group came to town.

“Everyone had a lot of fun, these sorts of visits are wonderful for small clubs and show what a great sport lawns bowls is from a social side, as well as the competition,” Ingham Ladies Bowls president Kay Rotondo said.

Brisbane District is looking forward to a bright 2014 after a six-out-of-seven record in 2013.

“We’re a small district, only 17 clubs, but our ladies have impressed over the past few years,” Sue O’Toole said.

“We finally made Division 1 in 2010 and managed to stay there in 2011 and 2012, playing Division 2 in 2013, after missing out on Division 1 by one shot.

“Each year, the district competes in seven challenges and in 2013, we won all except the four-way Brisbane Shield, which was played at Cleveland on an exceptionally windy day against Brisbane North, Cunningham and Gateway, with eventual winners Cunningham.

“We won all the rest, against Gateway (March), Brisbane North (May), Gateway and Caboolture (August), Downs (September) and Sunshine Coast (October), some for the first time since 2005!”

District president Melda Blake said she was delighted with the effort and success of Brisbane ladies.

“Other great achievements from the district this year are Sue Bond’s fours team from Ferny Grove going through to play State Champion of Club Champions and Ferny Grove winning Queensland Division One Pennant,” Blake said.

20 | queensland bowler

Six of the best “With a new coaching programme underway with direction from Michelle Russell, we Brisbane girls have our sights on becoming Queensland’s top district!”

Below: Champ of Champs, Ferny Grove’s Judy Collingwood, Karen Mateer, Kerrie Wilson and Sue Bond

Pictured above: Brisbane District’s Desley McDougall, Sue Bond, Vicky Massey, Kerry Wilson, Robyn Williams, Linda Brack, Maureen Napier, Carol Rembacher, Chris Russell, Judy Collingwood, Karen Mateer, Eileen Swanson, Nikki Hunt, Debbie Litzow, Sue O’Toole, Kelly Gauntlett, Mary Vicenzino, Marie Webber and president Melda Blake (holding shield). v37/1

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queensland bowler | 21

Rino Parrella

How to n u k e ground pearl!

To kick off 2014, I thought I might write about ground pearl or pink pearl and sadly, it’s not something the wife keeps in her jewellery box!

The green keeper-version, Margarodes spp, is a sap-sucking insect that feasts on the roots of plants and causes a lot of damage.

I have been dealing with this pest for many years, with a lot of success, hard to eradicate but possible to manage.

A lot of sugar cane farms mined and sold their fertile soil to nurseries for extra income, and we green keepers used this soil for our top dressings.

The insects got into our greens from the soil.

Damage?

Ground pearls damage plants by extracting juices from the root system of plants.

Description Ground Pearl females are generally between 1 - 4 mm long, have a pink globular appearance and have well-developed forelegs and claws.

The male is a gnat-like insect varying in length from 1 to 8 mm.

Damage is most apparent during dryer periods, where grass is seen to turn yellow in irregular patches and it can eventually die.

So what sort of action can we ‘green gurus’ take?

It’s nigh on impossible to eliminate these insects entirely, but the idea is to keep the population down so the turf has a better chance to flourish.

It can take a few seasons to get results but be persistent!

Nymphs are 1 to 2 mm in length and are covered with a hard, globular, yellow/purple shell.

If you miss even one season, you’ll be back to where you started.

The first thing to keep in mind is that no chemical will penetrate the pearl cluster from February through to September.

The pinkish-white eggs are laid in clusters within a white waxy sac.

But when the first heat of October comes around, they turn pink and leave their pearl shell.

Life cycle Females usually reach maturity in late spring.

They emerge and disperse throughout the soil, eventually settling in the soil at a depth of around 5 to 10 cm.

They encase themselves within a waxy coat and develop eggs (without mating).

Approximately 100 eggs are laid by each female.

The nymphs emerge in summer and usually infest grass rootlets. There is usually one generation each year.

So where do they come from?

Ground pearl or pink pearl are found mostly in warm climates, believed to have been transported to Australia on sugar cane tubes from South Africa, where they caused havoc in that industry.

22 | queensland bowler

So how do they get into our greens? It was surprisingly easy.

The pink female crawls to the surface and lays hundreds of eggs (without mating, that’s the clue we’re dealing with something out of the ordinary here!)

This is the window we green keepers wait for, our chance to ‘nuke’ them.

The other maintenance tip is when you’re re-growing the turf back into the damaged areas at renovation time, try to achieve a deep root system, using plenty of fertilizer in those patches to give you a fighting chance.

October is the time to ‘nuke’ ground pearl I apply a monthly spray at first sight in October through to January.

Having come to the surface, they are easily controlled with the likes of Chlorophosphorus, Bifenthrin or Merit.

Continue next page ► v37/1

with

► Thiamethoxam (Meridian) does a decent job when mixed with white oil or Supracide with white oil.

Including a soil penetrate would help move the products into the zone required.

How do tell if your method is having success?

You’ll know they’re dying when you squeeze them and they don’t pop between your fingers, but are mushy and dried up.

But once they start to burrow back down, and start to build their little shell, it becomes more difficult to check outcomes.

All you can do is try to curb the population explosion year after year.

What I have recommended will have great success if you can do it for a few consecutive years, usually the results become apparent after the second or third year of annual treatments.

Tip of the Month Only by accident I came across this one!

I couldn’t work out why some of our Rain Bird sprinklers wouldn’t throw the distance, resulting in dry patches after watering.

If you have the Rain Bird 900 Series Eagle Blu sprinkler heads, you will notice there is a manual switch that’s turned with a key, it’s the solenoid valve on the top (a small grub screw on the hexagonal switch).

By screwing the grub screw down, it will open the solenoid valve further, to allow more water out, which will result in an extra five metre-throw and more even watering.

Rino

DISCLAIMER Rino’s advice is GENERAL IN NATURE. No individual club circumstances have been taken into account.

Neither Rino, Bowler magazine staff nor Bowls Queensland will accept responsibility for any damage caused by individuals choosing to act on Rino’s advice or apply Rino’s advice, either correctly or incorrectly.

joan brotherton

Pennant...is it time for a change?

It was interesting to read the two letters to the editor in the November Queensland Bowler referring to the playing of Pennant.

I am in complete agreement with Dawn Stanton’s comments (Your Say, November 2013) and appreciate the continuing problems many districts face each year when deciding on the Conditions of Play for Pennant, while trying to make their competitions as successful, enjoyable and competitive as possible.

her club mates, who among many fantastic achievements earned a promotion into this year’s Division 1.

I know many years ago we did have a Pennant competition where divisions went on to play metropolitan finals and I can remember the excitement that this generated throughout each club.

A return to this type of competition is worth trying and as Dawn comments, “we want more bowlers”. This may just be a way of attracting them.

Division 1 is governed by the Bowls Queensland’s Conditions of Play, as district winners go on to play in Group and State play-offs.

Pennant needs an overhaul. There is a need to inject more spirit, competitiveness, friendship and togetherness, which seem to be lacking at present.

But other divisions are the responsibility of individual districts, with each district deciding how their own Pennant competitions are played; how many divisions, how many sides in each division, how many players in each team, etc.

Pennant is a competition that every member can enjoy, be they new or experienced bowlers, and we should be encouraging them to represent their club in this wonderful team event by giving them something to strive for.

In my own district, we were fortunate that this year we were able to field five divisions, each with eight sides, with Division 1 having three teams of four players, while divisions 2, 3, 4 and 5 had two teams of four players.

I hope that many members will take up Dawn’s call for change and send letters to their district secretaries requesting they raise the matter at Bowls Queensland’s next council meeting in March.

To me personally, the ultimate would be to have two teams of four players in each division.

Let’s hope that in 2014 or 2015 our Pennant competition can be the start of a new concept and we can all join together and play this wonderful competition as it should be played and enjoyed.

This would certainly assist all clubs, large or small.

I would also like to see Division 2, 3 and 4 winners go on to compete at Group and State level, similar to Division 1.

As I am sure many of you would agree, ALL DIVISIONS are important.

It was wonderful to read Erin Clement’s comments (Letters, Pg 32 November 2013) regarding the success of Geebung Bowls Club during last year’s Pennant season.

NEW OFFICIAL’S MANUAL Last month I mentioned that a new Official’s Manual will be available in 2014.

Unfortunately I have since been informed that this manual is not scheduled for release until 2015

“I have never witnessed such courage, determination and the desire to win,” Erin said of

Grass greens are extremely valuable commodities and no actions which affect their viability should be taken based on Rino’s column and without taking individual circumstances into account. v37/1

queensland bowler | 23

Unravelling the red tape A new Bill, “The Liquor and Gaming (Red Tape Reduction) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013”, which was assented to on 3 June 2013, highlights the new State Government’s commitment to reducing the regulatory burden on the liquor and gaming industries.

To implement these changes the government established a red tape reduction expert panel, with the purpose of introducing red tape reduction in multiple phases, the Bill being the first phase with the second phase to be implemented at a later date.

with

Curt schatz

► paperwork will be reduced for low-risk venues, such as restaurants or cafes applying for liquor licences, so that a risk assessed management plan will not be required when applying for a liquor licence provided the premises is not open past midnight, does not hold an Adult Entertainment Permit and is not a restricted area;

This has direct consequences and benefits for ALL licensed venues.

► the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming can waive the need for a community impact statement when applying for a restaurant or café liquor licence, provided the venue is located near other commercial properties and doesn’t trade past midnight, there is no amplified entertainment and the venue won’t adversely affect the community;

Some of the most significant changes to legislation affecting the liquor and gaming venues include the following:

► clubs and hotel licencees will not be required to renew their gaming machine licences;

► non-profit community organisations will no longer need a Community Liquor Permit to sell alcohol at a one-off fund raising event or function if the profit is used to benefit the community, liquor is sold in a period of eight hours or less between 7am and midnight and the sale of liquor is ancillary to the event;

► clubs and hotels no longer have to seek the Commissioner’s approval to acquire or replace gaming machines; ► club gaming machine licencees now have two (2) years to dispose of gaming machine entitlements

after a decrease in gaming machines, surrendering a licence or ceasing gaming; and ► the State is no longer responsible for the regulation of trainers offering RSA and RSG courses. This is now a matter for the Commonwealth Government.

It is clear that these changes will bring significant benefits to Queensland, particularly in the tourism industry, encouraging operators to relocate and set up in Queensland as well as providing greater employment opportunities for Queenslanders.

Additionally, it will allow clubs and businesses to provide services more effectively to their local communities.

If you have a matter which fits into one of the above categories, or any other liquor or gaming matter, please don’t hesitate to call me direct on (07) 3224 0230, and I can confirm how to do it, and whether or not any “red tape” in relation to that particular matter, has been removed.

► nursing homes and hospitals will be able to serve patients/residents and their guests two standard serves of alcohol a day without requiring a liquor licence; ► from 1 January 2014, licenced premises will not be required to advertise new applications in newspapers and the government gazette;

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

Level 21, Riverside Centre 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane Qld 4000 Telephone 07 3224 0230 cschatz@mullinslaw.com.au

24 | queensland bowler

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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........................

Daytime telephone........................................................................... *email.............................................................................................

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.

Noel Gadsby from Bray Park

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queensland bowler | 25

with

Barry Ward

Skills Courses coming to a district near you Hope you had a lovely Christmas and warm wishes for excellent bowling in 2014 to you all, from the BQ coaching committee.

MARYBOROUGH MENTOR Maryborough Ladies Bowling Club says “thanks” to life member of 30 years, Imelda Persal.

Imelda has been with the club for 60 years, since October 13, 1953.

She served as president in 1969 and secretary for a total of 26 years, from 1973-1991 and 1995-2003.

Imelda has also been a Wide Bay district president.

Imelda was made a life member in 1983 and patroness in 2008.

She has a meritorious service badge from Bowls Queensland.

Imelda has also been a leader on the green, winning nine club

singles championships, seven pairs, nine triples, six fours and district singles three times.

“Imelda has been a wonderful ambassador for Maryborough Ladies Bowls and for the game of lawn bowls,” president Merle Scott said.

“She’s always there when we need advice and perspective on an issue.”

At 87, Imelda no longer rolls up, but she maintains a keen interest in the club.

Pictured: front row, Maryborough life members Imelda Persal and Doreen Blakemore, back row, patroness Norma Taylor and life members Merle Scott and Edna Watson

We wish our colleague and former Queensland Bowler columnist Brett Murphy all the best in his new job at St John’s Park Bowls Club (NSW).

A new column from the BQ development team will return to Queensland Bowler magazine in the near future.

For all the best news, views and comps make sure you get your copy of the

First up for skills training this year are the districts of Maranoa, Warrego, Condamine and Downs.

The training is designed to cater for any players intending or hoping to be coaches and all coaches interested in a refresher.

Most of the training will be hands-on, on the green.

We have scheduled the trip for March 10-14, and by the time you’re reading this, you should have heard from us regarding the need for numbers to justify the expense of these visits.

Please get in touch with Bowls Queensland as soon as possible to advise likely numbers.

(The visit is on weekdays, but if there is a much higher demand for a weekend, it’s possible dates could be rearranged.)

If you’re in one of these first four districts to be visited by the coaching committee, and you’re a coach due for reaccreditation, please advise your district and make sure the application for reaccreditation is sent into Bowls Queensland.

There is a $30 fee for reaccreditation, but no fee for the skills training course.

The BQ coaching committee has the goal of visiting all districts in Queensland sooner rather than later to provide up to date training and advice for intending coaches.

To all our bowlers out there with potential as coaches, our sport in Queensland needs you and welcomes you.

We urge you to sign up for one of the upcoming coaching workshops.

Professional development will help our great game keep its edge in terms of passing on skills learnt over many years to new and developing players and ensuring existing coaches are aware of the latest coaching practises.

Our sport needs more players with people skills and expertise on the green – if this is you, we hope to see you at a coaching clinic soon!

To: Queensland Bowler Subs PO Box 476 Alderley, Qld 4051 Name.............................................................

Address.........................................................

each month!

......................................................................

Get yours home delivered for just $28.60* per year State....................................p/c.....................

Please enclose a cheque/money order for $28.60 (*inc gst)

26 | queensland bowler

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