June 2016

JUNE 2016

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State Champs 2016

Bolivia and Cassandra Millerick win two state titles and the heart of Rodney the dashing dog.

Cover photo: Naomi Cescotto

DISTRICT SIDES 2016

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CONTENTS

Volume 39

Issue 05

06 District Sides domination

33 From the Chair

Gold Coast Tweed claims men’s and women’s Division 1 flags and also secures silver in the men’s comp.

Chairman Peter Williamson provides a rundown on his first month at the helm of BQ.

10 State Championships 2016

36 CEO Report

Catch up on all the action from Queensland’s 2016 State Championships with our 8-page event wrap-up.

The issue of falling membership is far more complex than it seems, says BQ CEO Warren Birks

32 Australian Open

38 Subs & Replacement Players

Five top reasons to visit the Gold Coast for this year’s Australian Open.

BQ Umpire Committee co-ordinator John Fitzpatrick explains the often confusing issue of subs and replacement players.

Editorial: Naomi Cescotto Cover Photo: The Millerick twins with Mel Larcombe’s dog Rodney.

Contributors: Ursula Baehr, John Reynolds

Editorial contact: Ph: (07) 3355 9988 E: media@bowlsqld.org

Subscriptions: To subscribe, send your contact details, together with a cheque for $36 (inc gst) to:

Advertising: Wayne Griffin Ph: 0448 368 979 E: advert@bowls-queensland.org

Queensland Bowler Subscriptions PO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051.

Bowls Queensland Patron: His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland

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GOLD Coast Tweed

dominates District Sides

GOLD

WOMEN

1st Gold Coast Tweed 2nd Brisbane

Making the Women’s Division One final along with Gold Coast Tweed was Brisbane, Downs and Cunningham, with Brisbane finishing runner up.

The GCT district is hard to beat because the lifestyle draws so many great bowlers from other districts, like Dee Robertson from West Cairns now at Broadbeach, and Taleah Putney from Gayndah, recently joined Helensvale.

Even Julie Keegan has switched coasts, from Kawana to Broadbeach.“I loved it, it was awesome, we all just gelled, everyone made me feel very welcome,” Keegan said of her debut for GCT.

GOLD

Keegan, Wendy Wilson and Chrissie Pavlov skipped the victorious side (pictured left) back row, manager Linda Gardiner, Sue McKenzie, Julie Keegan, Chrissie Pavlov, Ann Russell, Wendy Wilson, Kristy Thatcher, Mel Larcombe, Anne McClure, Ann-Maree Peart, front, Jessie Cottell, Georgia White, Dee Robertson, Taleah Putney.

MEN

1st Gold Coast Tweed - Yellow 2nd Gold Coast Tweed - Teal

“We’re the team everyone wants to beat but the pressure is on the players to bowl to their potential and they did, this is our third year in a row,” men’s manager Vic Lord said.

“It’s my fifth year and I look forward to it every year,” said Australia’s No 1 ranked bowler Ryan Bester.

“It’s really nice to play on the same team as great bowlers like Paul Girdler, Nigel Smith and Nev Jenkins, since I usually play against them in competitions like Premier League.

Gold Coast Tweed yellow (pictured right), back row, selector Carlo Campana, Greg Ash, Keith Farrelly, Clint Bailey, Dean McWhinney, Nigel Smith, Dale McWhinney, Ian Law, Craig Larcombe, Ryan Bester, Michael Keegan, Max Jaffray, Ethan Lord, Paul Girdler, manager Vic Lord, front, Peter Richards, Sam White, Neville Jenkins, Sean Ingham.

SILVER

The cream can’t help rising to the top and Gold Coast Tweed district was more than proud to take the No 1 and No 2 spots in the prestige Division 1 final, out-ranking the other two Div 1 finalists Sunshine Coast and Brisbane North.

Sunshine Coast had a moral victory, beating GCT on finals day, and Brisbane North was punishing in the rounds but less consistent in the finals.

“This is my 10th District Sides and the best team won on the day, it always has, they were the best and they won,” Sunshine Coast manager George Lock said.

The ‘make up’ team that made it all the way to No 2, Gold Coast Tweed ‘teal’, from left, Simon Bailey, Alan Law, Graeme Shillington, Tom Nathan, Peter Thompson, Robbie Allan, Kevin Anderson, Gary Pearson, Brendan Wilson, Ryan Burnett, Paul Staggard jnr, Clint Sheldon, front, Scott De Jongh-Fitzpatrick, Jamie Smith, Phil Brandon, Matty Bell.

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District Sides Dream of Division 1 Queensland’s annual District Sides competition is a mad whirl held in May each year, with four full on days of navigating rounds and climbing ladders.

Not everyone has the expectation of a Division 1 finals berth, but everyone has the dream.

Four host clubs and dozens of volunteers bend over backwards to make it an experience to remember for 600 visiting bowlers plus supporters.

The Sides ran from May 4-7 at Tweed Heads, Coolangatta, Twin Towns and South Tweed, hosted by Gold Coast Tweed district.

Australia’s No 1 bowler Ryan Bester is a passionate supporter of Queensland bowls and can’t wait to play District Sides each year.

“I always say Australia is the best country in the world to play bowls and competitions like District Sides show that,” Bester said.

“People come from all over the state to play bowls with the best against the best and everyone gets better each year for the experience.”

It can cost more than $10,000 for a district side to come away and play at state level, but so many first-timers shared their delight at the experience.

“I’ve had a great time, what an amazing first day, we won by three shots over Brisbane (46-43) and Port Curtis (57-54) and we tied with Sunshine Coast (4747), brilliant,” first timer Pat Wales from Mackay said.

“People come from all over the state to play bowls with the best against the best and everyone gets better each year for the experience.”

There are 21 bowls districts in Queensland and to avoid anyone having to sit around and twiddle their thumbs, BQ invites the host district to field an extra side in the men’s comp to make an even draw.

After three days of sectional play and crunching the ‘for and against’, the top four prestige positions on the Men’s Ladder at the end of nine rounds were won by GCT yellow, GCT teal, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane North (drawing on Premier League 2016 champs Hamilton Power).

The top four on the women’s ladder were an eclectic mix, slick Gold Coast Tweed, dignified Brisbane, gutsy Cunningham and the Downs country girls, steel in velvet.

(There is no need for an extra side in the women’s comp, since North West QLD doesn’t field a side, meaning a balanced draw of 20.)

Some feel a boundary review and restricting the number of districts to an even number would be more representative and fair when it comes to District Sides, especially when the host district has such depth that both of its teams out-class all the rest.

“Whilst I appreciate all the top bowlers are from the Gold Coast area, they should be allowed to field only their best 16, and then it’s up to the other districts to challenge them,” Fraser Coast Division 3 champ John Walker said.

“It was only last year Fraser Coast took it right up to them, going down by four shots, their two top skips well beaten, and going back several years, we beat the GC team outright in one of the finals.

“One side, one district!”

One thing Walker did appreciate was the member’s prices for drinks at Coolangatta, which hosted the Div 3 final.

Pictured from top right, Fraser Coast’s Peter Tinley and John Walker (photo-bomb Steve Henry); Gateway’s Wayne Masters, Brisbane North’s Steve Tong, Brisbane’s Raymond Bax, left, Coolangatta volunteers Tony Jackson, Joan Helf and Roslyn Gilligan.

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Downs triumphs in Division 2 BOWLS QUEENSLAND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN KERRY GREEN WAS INVITED TO PRESENT THE AWARD TO THE DIVISION TWO WINNERS AT TWEED HEADS AND HE COULDN’T HAVE BEEN MORE PLEASED AND PROUD ABOUT HOW IT TURNED OUT. The Downs men topped the Division Two table, with Green himself as part of the side, filling in briefly for Allan Kiepe.

“Great result, I’ve been to 11 District Sides, we’ve been in Division 1 before, we’ve won Division 2 before, the boys played very well (I had to threaten them with a big stick on finals day but they came good in the end!)” Green from Laidley said.

Former Across the Waves bowler Steve McNamee came into the Side this year after a move from Bundy to Toowoomba, “very good player, great to have him in the Side,” Green said.

There were some challenges for the selectors in striking that winning combination.

“We had a few top skips unavailable so we brought in some young up and coming skips and they did a great job, it’s very satisfying as a selector, and I’m very proud of the boys,” Allan Kiepe said.

The Downs Side, skipped by Shaun Kiepe, Colin Gray, Gavin Bradford and Graeme Kath, made a clean sweep of the finals series, defeating Mackay 64-59, Gateway 64-51 and Port Curtis 69-55.

DISTRICT SIDE 2016 Men’s Ladder 1. Gold Coast Tweed 2. Gold Coast Tweed 3. Sunshine Coast 4. Brisbane North

(Also satisfying for Green was defeating BQ chairman Peter Williamson’s Gateway side, a bit of friendly rivalry!)

1

5. Downs

Smaller districts Mackay and Port Curtis were pleased to make the Div 2 final after being extremely competitive in the first nine rounds.

2

6. Mackay

7. Port Curtis 8. Gateway

9. Fraser Coast

3

10. Brisbane

11. Bundaburg

12. Cunningham

Pictured right, District Sides 2016 Division 2 winners Downs, Darren Thomas manager, Mick Ross, Nathan Appleton, Steve McNamee, Graeme Kath, Ted Murray, Hayden Vogler, Gavin Bradford, Allan Kiepe, Jimo Hagan, Callum Brownie, Brett Whittaker, Shaun Kiepe, front row, Kerry Green, Chris Barrett, Graeme Elton, David Bowles, Gary Gray.

13. Tropical Far North Qld 14. Condamine

15. North Queensland 16. Southern Downs

4

17. North West Qld 18. Caboolture

19. Central Queensland 20. Leichhardt 21. Burnett

22. Maranoa Warrego

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5

District Sides Top 5 finish for Sunny Coast SUNSHINE COAST WOMEN WERE UNLUCKY NOT TO MAKE THE WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE FINAL BUT THEY MADE SURE OF DIVISION TWO, PLAYING OFF FOR THE TITLE AGAINST CENTRAL QUEENSLAND, WIDE BAY/GYMPIE AND BUNDABERG. “We got three wins today in the final but we faced our challenges to get here, every match was tough, our record was win, draw loss, win, draw, loss so yes we were very keen to win today,” Sunny Coast’s Liza Burgess said.

“We said if we don’t make it into Division 1, we’re darn well going to win Division 2,” team manager Margaret Vincent said.

Kawana’s Jane Bush got an amazing toucher (pictured) at a critical time for her side in the rounds, sitting her bowl in a gravity-defying position on top of a Helen Bernardin-toucher for Brisbane North.

Minimising the loss allowed Sunshine Coast to squeak home against Brisbane North by two shots, confirming the Sunny Coast in Div 2 and relegating Brisbane North to Div 3 (which they won).

The Div 2 winning team was skipped by Mary Geary, Louise Witton and Jane Bush, pictured left, back row, Mary Geary, Carole McDonald, Yvonne Walsh (first time District Sides), Marie Williams, Monika Duff, Joy Hatch, Annica McGill, Louise Witton, Brenda Balchin, front row, manager Margaret Vincent, Liza Burgess, Jane Bush, Bolivia Millerick and Cassandra Millerick (Absent from photo: Leigh Fortington)

DISTRICT SIDE 2016 Women’s Ladder

The Central Queensland girls were delighted with their second place in Div Two, sixth place overall.

The Division was hard-fought, with Wide Bay/Gympie ladies breathing down the neck of CQ all the way to the end and Bundaberg always lifts under the pressure of District Sides.

5

2. Brisbane

3. Cunningham 4. Downs 5. Sunshine Coast

2 3

4

1. Gold Coast Tweed

1

“Well deserved, it’s awesome, a real feather in our caps,” manager Patricia Ward said.

6. Central Queensland 7. Wide Bay Gympie 8. Bundaberg

9. Brisbane North

10. Tropical Far North Qld 11. Mackay

12. Caboolture

13. Gateway

14. North Queensland 15. Burnett

16. Maranoa Warrego

17. Port Curtis 18. Leichhardt

19. Southern Downs 20. Condamine

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2016 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ester wins prestige Singles It’s been a great 12 months for Bramble Bay’s Ester Regan, topped off with two state titles, in the Women’s Singles and Fours.

It was a surprise for Regan earlier this year to find out she was Queensland’s No 1 ranked bowler, and also at that time ranked sixth in Australia (BA rankings).

This time last year it was Helensvale’s Lynsey Clarke who was the toast of State Championships, winning three titles, with only the singles eluding her.

It was fitting the two should meet in this year’s Singles final, Regan narrowly defeating Gail Waitai 25-24 in the semis

and Clarke eliminating Maree Gibbs 25-17.

Regan was ahead 13-0 after eight ends but Clarke put together seven consecutive ends to be back 11-13 by the 15th.

Clarke won a single on the 23rd end, 17-20, and it was her last, Regan winning her first State Singles title 25-17, after being runner up in 2005 and 2008.

“Lynsey is an exceptional Australian player and I knew who I was up against,” Regan said “So I stayed calm and played the best I could – I would say 80% of my shots were good.”

Hatrick for Bester The man touted as potentially “the best bowler in the world” Ryan Bester won his third consecutive State Singles championship at Tweed Heads in a smashing final against a relatively unknown challenger who never gave up.

The low-key former NZ dairy farmer from Logan City Bowls Club Robert Cresswell let his bowls do the talking and soon proved in front of a full house why it was no fluke that he ended up in the prestige Men’s Singles event.

Cresswell stuck to Australia’s No 1 like glue, trailing but minimizing his losses in a game scored mostly in singles, including a string of them by the challenger, coming back from 11-17 down to draw level 17-17 on the 29th end.

Then heartbreak at the hands of Bester, taking four in a cobra-strike, 21-17.

Cresswell managed to get back within two shots 20-22 but Bester was soon on match point, 24-21, and the hammer fell soon after, three Cresswell drives failing to

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dislodge two Bester bowls on the kitty, the score declared at 25-21 and Bester had his hat-trick.

“I always enjoy playing Singles, especially with no re-spot of the jack, it suits me because I like the draw shot and the drive and not everyone can do both well,” Bester said.

Cresswell said his bowls had got a lot better since he retired five years ago.

“I used to be a bit ‘toey’ but I’m more relaxed now, I like a nice quick green and these greens were great, I felt very comfortable,” Cresswell said.

Tie-Third was Kevin Anderson (Broadbeach) and John Balzarolo (Tweed Heads).

june 2016

Pictured clockwise from top left: 2016 Women’s Single champ Ester Regan; Ester in action in the final against Lynsey Clarke; Men’s champ Ryan Bester and singles runner-up Robert Cresswell

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2016 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Pairs thrillers

Ryan Bester & Brett Wilkie

The final two ends of the State Men’s Pairs final was thrilling, if the first half was not.

Brett Wilkie and Ryan Bester were ahead 19-7 after 13 ends.

Two young Musgrave Hill bowlers with nothing to lose Nic Gosley and Dean McWhinney turned the tables.

First they closed the gap to 14-19, and at 14-21, they scored multiples of three to go into the final end just one shot down, 20-21.

“What a comeback from so far behind against a great like Ryan Bester, and Brett Wilkie, you don’t see that too often,” said proud mum Jackie McWhinney.

A wick the wrong way saw a Wilkie bowl hold shot for the icing on the cake, 22-20, a state title.

“It’s always a privilege to win a state title, it’s always a hard fought competition,” Wilkie said.

“It’s great to play with Brett rather than against him,” Bester said. “We’ve been good friends for a long time and we’ve always said “One day we’ll have a game together” and it was after last year’s State Championships we lined it up, so we’ve spent a whole year looking forward to it.”

It was Wilkie’s first state title this year, Bester’s second (Singles, Pairs), and McWhinney won Triples.

Tie-third in the Men’s Pairs were Steve Halmai (Tweed Heads) & Kurt Brown (Kawana) and Gary Pearson & Ian Law (Burleigh Heads).

While the Men’s final was a comeback from behind, the Women’s final was a fingernail biter from start to finish, the Millerick twins against Tewantin Noosa’s Jenny Lonie and Robyn McAnelly.

“The scoring was so low, I looked over and saw the men’s score was like 19-7 and we were down one shot on 5-6, it was just a single either way the whole way,” winning skip Bolivia Millerick said.

“It’s the best game I’ve ever played!” Cassandra Millerick said.

“It’s the best game I’ve ever played, also,” silver medal skip Robyn McAnelly said,” Jenny and I are elated!”

The score was Millerick 8, McAnelly 7 after 14 ends; 12-11 with three ends to go; and McAnelly up 14-13 going into the final end, when the grateful twins scraped up two to win 15-14 and claim their second state title (Triples, Pairs).

Robyn McAnelly and Jenny Lonie lost by just one shot to twins Bolivia and Cassandra Millerick

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Tie-third was Margaret Wardrop (West Cairns) & Dee-Anne Robertson (Broadbeach) and Sarah Duffield & Amanda Haevecker (Helensvale).

The new Men’s Over 60s Pairs titleholders are Geoff Hawken and Alan Elliott from Southport, the silver medallists Gary Groeger from Tarragindi and Bob Marty from Wellington Point.

The Women’s title was well deserved by Pat Logan (at her first State Championships) and Eryn Finnigan from Algester, the silver medallists Adele Pershouse from Bargara and Mary Geary from Mooloolaba.

Elliott had a great start, eight shots in two ends, 12-3.

Marty managed to come back to 13-17, but with only six ends to go, he needed a move as big as his character!

He ran down to the head arms waving madly like a plane coming in to land.

“I learnt it from the kids,” Marty said.

“That’s what they do, I thought I’d give it a try...”

The game drew to a steady conclusion, 22-19 to Elliott.

Groeger said it was luck…the new state champ said it was because he and Hawken swapped jobs.

Endurance test in Over 60s

OVER 60S FINALS DAY WAS AN ENDURANCE TEST, FOUR HOURS TO PLAY 21 ENDS IN BOTH SEMIS AND FINALS, BUT IT WAS GREAT TO SEE SOME SPARKLING NEW FACES HIT THE RECORD BOOKS. “We’ve worked out I’m a better skip than Hawkeye but he’s a better lead than me,” Elliott said.

They came back to within two 18-20 but couldn’t get the finish, Logan and Finnigan taking two doubles, 22-18.

Tie-Third was Wellers Hill Wasps Ron Cronk & Kevin Higson and Windsor’s Paul Burns & Alan Brown.

“I was pretty comfortable all the way through, we’re just delighted,” Finnigan said. “Over the moon!”

We got out of jail

Tie-Third was Kerss & Williams and Linda Morish (Pine Rivers) & Margaret O’Rourke (Mooloolaba).

The Women’s champion Over 60s Pairs skip Eryn Finnigan made everyone laugh when she admitted how she and good friend Pat Logan made the final.

“We got out of jail in the semi (against Kawana duo Merril Kerss and Marie Williams), we managed to pick up eight in the last two ends,” Finnigan said.

Play was tight in the final too, 8-7 to Finnigan after nine ends, but a five on the 10th, 13-7, put pressure on Pershouse and Geary for the first time.

Pictured: Top left, Geoff Hawken, Alan Elliott, Bob Marty, Gary Groeger; top right, Pat Logan & Eryn Finnigan. Below (from page 12): Former BQ chairman Ron Chambers with current BQ chairman Peter Williamson; Men’s Pairs finalists Dean McWhinney, Nic Gosley, Ryan Bester, Brett Wilkie; Rob Pershouse supporting wife Adele; Over 60s Pairs silver medallists Gary Groeger, Bob Marty, Adele Pershouse, Mary Geary.

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2016 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Long live the King KURT BROWN WINS HIS FIFTH STATE MIXED PAIRS TITLE The ‘King’ of Queensland’s State Mixed Pairs Kurt Brown struck again at Tweed Heads, winning his fifth title in eight years.

His Queen of Hearts wife Emma won her second title, the first at Bargara with Kurt on their honeymoon in 2012.

(Kurt previously won with Gail Crompton from Bargara back-to-back in 2009-2010, with Emma in 2012, and Ester Regan at Capalaba in 2014.)

The Mixed Pairs was the first state title to be decided and a worthy final, coming down to the last bowl against Melissa Larcombe and Scottish international Kevin Anderson from Broadbeach, 20-19, 21 ends.

“The best game of bowls I’ve seen in a while,” BQ Match’s Nev Galbraith said.

“I’m sure the crowd would have enjoyed it,” Kurt said.

“It was a hard game, there was drama, mystique and tears (mine!),” Emma said.

“We really missed my grandma Doreen Brown being here with us today,” Kurt said. “We’d like to dedicate this win to her.”

There were 56 pairs in the inaugural State Champs – Mixed Pairs event, about half couples in life as well as on the green.

Tie-Third went to semi finalists Rob and Adele Pershouse from Bargara and Windsor Wombats Sue O’Toole and Alan Brown.

Pictured: State Mixed Pairs champs Emma and Kurt Brown. Below clockwise from left, Rob and Adele Pershouse, silver medallists Kevin Anderson and Melissa Larcombe, Mary Geddes and son Chris from Bribie Island, Damien McGee from Cloncurry and Bev Peters from Mt Isa, Ken and Hiro Emura from Tweed Heads.

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2016 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS State triples champs Dean McWhinney, Graeme Shillington and Shane Leonard

Victory delayed is sweeter Perennial triples runners-up Dean McWhinney and Graeme Shillington have “at long last” broken the drought to take the championship title from last year’s winner Neville Jenkins.

In a game that rarely saw anyone in front by more than a couple of shots, skip McWhinney dropped in a corker of a shot on the last end to secure victory over Jenkins 18-17.

Lead Shillington was jubilant at finally taking victory with his son McWhinney and Irish international mate Shane Leonard.

“We have been runners up in this competition so many times I was starting to think we would never get there,” Shillo said.

“We had to bring in the luck of an Irishman to win it on Friday the 13th! It couldn’t have been better.”

McWhinney rocketed out of the gate taking a 7-0 lead, but Jenkins’ team of lead Bob Dobinson and Nigel Smith refused to panic and slowly but surely started to peg team McWhinney back.

By the mid-way point they had levelled the score and at one stage even took a two-point lead.

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The score was 17-17 going into the final end, where McWhinney rolled down a perfect shot to rest his bowl on the jack.

“It was one of the closest games I’ve ever played and Neville was always on target,” McWhinney said.

“We have been runners up so many times, it is great to finally come away with the win.”

Jenkins was philosophical about the loss.

“That 7-0 score at the start really had us struggling for a while,” Jenkins said. “After that we really did nothing but chase.

Bowls Australia president Nigel Smith from South Tweed said he was happy with the game, despite the loss.

“It was a great game to play and a great game to watch,” Smith said. “Everyone played as they were supposed to play but it just wasn’t our day.”

june 2016

The women’s triples final also saw regular runners-up take the championship trophy for the first time.

Bolivia and Cassandra Millerick have played with longterm mentor and friend Karen Goldsworthy from Cleveland (pictured below) every year since they were 15, since they met on a bowling green in Bundaberg.

For years they’ve been waiting for the big break, runners up in 2014 and 2015, but this year victory was never really under a cloud.

The silver medallists from Broadbeach, Lyn Cuthbertson, Sue McKenzie and Melissa Larcombe only occasionally came close to taking the lead, Millerick claiming the state title 20-10.

“How good is this?” an elated Bolivia asked her teammates. “This is absolutely fantastic.”

Cassandra said the win was especially thrilling after being runners up two years in a row.

“We worked so hard for it,” Cass said. “We just played steadily and kept our concentration.”

“They really outplayed us today,” Larcombe said. “They are great young players and deserve their success.

“I didn’t come here wanting to lose, but if I had to lose to someone, I am glad it was them, they are like daughters to me.”

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2016 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Humble in victory SEAN BAKER WINS THIRD STATE FOURS TITLE Two Queensland reps Sean Baker and Sam White battled to win 2016 State Men’s Fours for their friendships groups, the title ultimately going to Baker 20-12, his third time as skip for a winning state fours (2016, 2014, 2007).

The boys looked to enjoy their final, John Newell, Jamie Anderson, Robbie Wild and skip Bakes rewarded with gold, while Paradise Point’s Sam White skipped Peter Richards, Jayden Christie and Braidan Leese to silver.

“We could easily have not gotten through the sectionals but we batted our way through to the final, we were just fortunate things happened to go our way today,” Baker said.

“Their skipper Sam White is exceptional but they couldn’t quite get the shots they needed today.”

Baker said there’s always a certain amount of gold old fashioned luck in winning a state final.

“That’s why bowls isn’t an Olympic sport, because luck is such a big aspect in the game,” Baker said.

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“You can play well and loose or play badly and win, just by that bit of fortune going your way.”

Queensland’s new state fours champs are from different clubs but they’ve known each other for years and had success with each other before.

They all took time off work to get together this year and play.

“We met through bowls,” Baker said.

“Half of the sport is about seeing your mates and maybe success comes from playing with such good friends, because you don’t want to let each other down.”

Tie-third was skip Jeff Ryan from Toombul’s team of Darren Mullins, Mick Ashworth and Greg Tate (defeated by White 23-13) and skip Peter R Hughes’s side of Andre Legosz, John Howarth and Alan Thorp (defeated by Baker 28-18).

june 2016

Pictured: (top) State fours champs 2016 Sean Baker, Robbie Wild, Jamie Anderson, John Newell; (above) silver medallists Sam White, Braidan Leese, Jayden Christie, Peter Richards; (left) three state fours titles together, Wild and Baker.

What a cracker!

STATE FOURS TIED AT 25-25 WITH TWO ENDS TO GO… The State Women’s Fours final was a cracker of a game, with both sides in an equally strong position to get their name in the record book.

Two drops of five and the score went from 22-15 against Regan to 25-22 in front, three ends to go.

Ester Regan called on Jessie Cottell, Kay Cavanagh (Sandgate) and Maria Rigby to help her win a second state title (Singles, Fours).

Instead of panicking about losing 10 shots in two ends, Logan’s rink simply played themselves back into the game, taking three on the 19th to level the score 25-25, two ends to go.

Debbie Logan counted on Gail Waitai, Maree Gibbs (Milmerran) and her longtime best mate in bowls, Mt Gravatt’s Christine Baxter.

Regan was slower to warm up but by half way, had doubled Logan’s tally, 15-7, but there she cooled her heals for the next five ends as Logan not only came back 17-15 but sailed past, 22-15.

“I pumped them up, I told them we still could make it, and that’s all it took,” Regan said.

Regan won the next 26-25 but it looked shaky on the last, a Gail Waitai pearler knocking out Cottell’s shot bowl, for three to Logan.

Fortunately for Regan, a divine drive by Riggers saved the day, and gave them shot, end, match, state title, 27-25.

“I would love to play a game like that again, it was a cracker,” Regan said, hoisting the Shield.

“It was a thrill to play against Ester, we gave it a good shake, that’s for sure,” Logan said.

Tie-Third was Bolivia Millerick’s team of Cassandra, Lynn Long and Karen Goldsworthy (defeated by Regan 20-19 in another thriller) and Cairns girls Joy Baird, Frances O’Shea, Judy Rick and Terry McAlary (defeated by Logan 20-9).

Pictured: Women’s fours finalists, Gail Waitai, Debbie Logan (s), Chris Baxter, Maree Gibbs, Maria Rigby, Kay Cavanagh, Jessie Cottell, Ester Regan (s); top left Kay Cavanagh and Jessie Cottell, bottom, Team Jessie Rebecca Rixon, Tahlia Camilleri, Jacinta Weier, Madi Styles.

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Division 3 CLIFFHANGERS AT COOLANGATTA Fraser Coast men make it two on the trot and Brisbane North women play the margins.

Men Fraser Coast men played through Brisbane, Bundaberg and Cunningham to win the Division Three title at Coolangatta.

“It’s simply awesome, to win a flag in any division is great but to win back to back was simply sensational in our eyes,” Fraser Coast’s John Walker said.

“It means we’re competitive and shows we have the bowlers in Fraser Coast to take on best players of other districts.

“We were beaten this year by Bundaberg by one shot, defeated Brisbane by 2 shots and then defeated Cunningham by 29 shots in the playoffs.

“All these teams finished above us last year. We are improving and the other districts now realise Fraser Coast are not the easy beats they once were.”

Even with Marvin the Meerkat to support them, runners up Brisbane weren’t quite good enough to derail the Fraser Coast bullet train.

Women The four women’s teams in the Div Three final at Coolangatta faced the biggest challenge of the finals series: they had all won one game in the first two rounds, so the winner would come down to the final round, and probably the final ends.

Top - Fraser Coast’s winning Division 3 team, from left, Owen Backwell, Alan Johnson, John Brown, Mick Roy, Alan Schatz (manager with flag), Steve Henry, Anthony (Princes) Williams, Jack Horne, Alan Burness, Peter Kemen (slightly obscured) Gordon Williams. Front L to R - John Walker (Phantom), Peter Tinley, Brian Kunde Junior, Garry Dan and Daryl Weymouth Above - Brisbane North’s winning Division 3 team, from left, Debbie Affleck, Helen Lightfoot manager, Dawn Denford, Judith Schultz, Barbara Gribben, Sue Bond, Yvonne Scriven, Fay Tuer, Ester Regan, Mary Govan, front, Patricia Hobson (obscured), Helen Bernardin, Linda Mitchell, Kathy Masters, Linda Morish.

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Mackay was top of the ladder by six shots, looking for a win over Tropical Far North Queensland in the final game to win the title, while Brisbane North was hoping for a win against Caboolture, knowing they had to score an extra seven shots on top of Mackay’s total to win the title, assuming they both achieved a second win…

Fortune favoured Brisbane North, with TFNQ defeating Mackay and eliminating their main rival (but not by enough shots to become a threat themselves).

Brisbane North kept up their margins to more than 10 shots in both of their finals wins but TFNQ’s margins were half of that.

Division 4 Pictured left: Men’s Division 4 champs Tropical Far North Queensland, back row from left, Dennis Skinner, Andrew Hansen, Denis Jacoora, Ben Crimmin, Doug Laycock, Kevin Ford, Wayne Petroholis, Shane McInerney, Jared Walker, Ashley Hammond, Alf Siliato, Kevin ‘Kiwi’ Deegan, manager Bernie Wolland, Santo Raciti. Front row, Asst manager Alf Strano, Russell Hubbard, Tyler Pettigrew, Mitchell Styles.

Riding the moose to victory IT COULD HAVE GONE EITHER WAY, TFNQ OR CONDAMINE, BUT TWO ‘MOOSES’ BY TFNQ (ALL EIGHT BOWLS CLOSEST TO THE KITTY) CLINCHED THE DIVISION FOUR TITLE FOR TFNQ. Men

TFNQ skip Ben Cribbin from Cairns Bowls Club said he likes playing District Sides because there is a competitiveness he doesn’t always get at home.

“It’s a sport that has allowed me to form life long friendships all over Australia,” Cribbin said.

“I enjoy the family feel and reunion of District Sides.”

Rounding out div 4 was Southern Downs and North Queensland.

Four title-fight at Twin Towns, beating Maranoa Warrego (delighted to win their first games at a District Sides, having previously won a rink but not a game), North Queensland and Burnett.

The Gateway girls won Div 2 in 2015 but didn’t consider it a ‘step down’ to be in the Div 4 final this year.

“We had a tough draw and very strong rounds and it was really exciting to win Div 4,” district secretary Dawn Cloherty said.

“Of course we’d like to win Div 2 again, in fact we’d like to win Div 1, but any win’s a good win, and it’s great to play against the top players from other districts.”

Twin Towns umpire Veronica Power said she was impressed by the stamina of those completing District Sides.

“Women who play bowls together really do share a sisterhood,” Power said.

“District Sides is a great way to catch up with fellow passionate bowlers for a competitive game,” Thuringowa’s Vinnie Morgan said, playing for NQ. “I’ve got mates who’ve relocated several times along the coast of Queensland and they always find new friends through bowls, it’s a great way to fit into the local community.”

Women

Gateway struggled in their final game but fortunately had enough points in the kitty to get them over the line in the Division

Gateway’s Sylvia Sinnamon, Tracy Gilligan, Gail Pratt, Ree Patterson, Christine Baxter, Glenys Read, Clare Hall, Betty Clarke, Kerry Heelass, Debbie Logan, Lesley Mitchell, front row, Kay Smith, Kay Fick, Annette Brown manager, Karen Goldsworthy.

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Division 5 SMALLER SIDES BIG ON SPIRIT Men Division 5 is always a tough steak to chew on for the men, with six challengers for the title.

(BQ Match has looked at all sorts of ways to cut up the cheese, but the boys who finish in the bottom six still cop the raw prawn!)

Still there was no grizzling from the North West Queensland boys, dazzling in their green and gold and stockpiling plenty of District Sides stories to share in the lean season in Cloncurry and Mt Isa. The one that almost got away was the clash against Maranoa-Warrego, just four shots the difference over four rinks 64-60.

Caboolture was the side that lived on the knife edge in the finals series, a tie against Burnett 61-61 and two shots up on Leichhardt 73-71.

Central Queensland had two magnificent victories and a six shot loss.

Women The Port Curtis girls were brilliant fun but deadly on the green, taking out the finals series against Leichhardt, Southern Downs and Condamine undefeated.

“It was tough in the rounds but we made the other girls play for their wins, we played some beautiful bowls and it was just fantastic to win Fifth Division,” manager Suellen Tappenden said.

Pictured top: Div 5 winners North West QLD, from left, Larry Scott, Dean Wildermuth, Adrian Janetski, Robert Morgan, Ashley Pardon, Murray Campbell, Robert Scott, Brett McMurray, Steven Scott, Garry Cummins, Rob Peters, front row, Damien McGee, Dan Hale, Kevin Wehrman. (Absent Rod Jolly, Paul Williamson, Beau Sampson, Peter Baker) Above: Women Div 5 winners Port Curtis, standing from left, Yvonne Shearer, Suellen Tappenden, Shelly Bolt, Heather Price, Sam Lunck, Carolyn Meade, Desieree Hindmarsh, Janet Hogan, Yvonne Geall, front, Bronwyn Torrens, Tiffany Murray, Cathy Lees. (Absent Lynne Cowen and Ann Parker) Below: Below: Downs Tracy Foster, Bev Higgins, Joyce McGeorge; Santo Raciti leads for TFNQ against Gold Coast Tweed ‘teal’.

District Sides Champs 2016 26

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The Leichhardt girls also fielded some real stars and plenty of spirit and as they said, playing at state level will give them experience to take home.

Southern Downs brought two beautiful (tin) cockatoo mascots to District Sides, much admired but unfortunately Connie and Conrad didn’t get them over the line.

Condamine had BQ director Diana Wenham in their corner and a thrilling one-shot victory over Southern Downs, 49-48.

“If they turned the scoresheet upside down, we’d be on top!” Wenham said optimistically.

Gallery

Photos clockwise from top left, Maranoa Warrego girls, GCT V TFNQ, Bundy boys Tim Smith, Junior McMah, Darren McCracken, Mackay girls, Central Queensland men, Leichhardt skip Roxy Barbagallo, North West V Maranoa Warrego boys, Leichhardt boys, Central QLD girls, Southern Downs girls and Conrad the black cockatoo, CQ’s Rod Rideout and Gateway’s Trevor Broadbent,North Queensland’s Elsa Piotto.

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Chinchilla turns on the country charm The Chinchilla Ladies Fours bowls carnival held in April each year comes highly recommended by those who attended this year from Woombye Bowls Club.

“In honour of the moth which saved the country, a hall was built at Boonarga.

“This is the only memorial to a moth in the world.”

The Bowls Five games of 15-ends were played over the two days, and teams travelled from many areas to participate in what was an outstanding event.

“We had the most wonderful time, the event deserves to be promoted for 2017,” Pam Cranney from Woombye said.

There was much laughter and fun witnessed on the greens, even though $2,500 in prize money was up for grabs.

The 2016 carnival was held on April 9-10, the Woombye girls linking up with women from Sunnybank and Maryborough on a tour of the Chinchilla area on the Friday, ahead of the weekend Carnival.

A team from Tin Can Bay, skippered by J. Callaway won.

They were the only team to win all five games and took home $800.

“We visited Old Chinchilla Station, which is a working cattle property, an organic sorghum farm, where we were treated to a sumptuous afternoon tea of country cooking, the Condamine River and town weir, a cotton farm, Boonarga Hall, and the town centre,” Cranney said.

Well done to all bowlers for the great sportsmanship displayed all weekend.

In the past, the two day carnival was held during the week, but with the gas and mine workers occupying the accommodation during the week, it was decided to change to a weekend.

“A 92-year-old past bowler helped the Chinchilla club president Kathy Obst with the informative commentary.

This is the 3rd annual two-day Ladies Carnival that has been run over a weekend in April.

“This event was a wonderful introduction to the friendship, goodwill, hospitality and great food we experienced the whole weekend, and some of us were billeted with generous locals as well.”

The prize money is funded by sponsorship from local businesses, who pay for advertising on the boundary fence.

Men and women club members work together to make the carnival a success, from the greens and surrounds to the catering, raffles and running the games.

The visiting bowlers got an education and some great bowls by attending the $2500 carnival.

Thank you to all the people of Chinchilla for hosting such a brilliant event. We aim to return next year and bring others!

The education “In the early 1920s Queensland was overrun by prickly pear. “Chinchilla was picked to breed the cactoblastis moth and it was released here.

- Pam Cranney Pictured: (top) Woombye team- Millie Milne, Elaine Asher, Pam Cranney and Gaenor Mallett; (middle) the winning team from Tin Can Bay, $800 richer; (bottom) happy runners up, $600.00 richer!!!

“It had a devastating effect on the prickly pear and the land became productive once again.

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Arm Bowlers More than 70 arm bowlers from near and far got together at Paradise Point Bowls Club recently for the Gold Coast Tweed Bowls Association’s Arm Bowlers Challenge.

Eighty-four year old Robert Burton spent the day before the comp travelling on a train from Rockhampton, to ensure he arrived on time.

“The draw ensured each team played at least one game on each green and the four team games were against a different team.”

Others came from Hervey Bay, Sunshine Coast, Bribie Island, Brisbane, Ipswich, Laidley and Dalby.

The winner of the day was a composite team (pictured right) of Michael Thorn (Paradise Point), Dennis Bowers (Bribie Island), Arthur Collins (Tweed Heads), Glenn Norton (Red Hill) and Geoff Merriman (Urangan) , with 4 wins and 58 shots, nudging out John McGahan (North Dalby), Roger Goodridge (Paradise Point), John Amos (Algester), Cheryl Hutchinson (Helensvale) and Jim Merrick

The majority of Gold Coast Tweed District clubs were represented with two clubs entering a full team.

“The event was conducted under the playing conditions of the upcoming 2016 National Arm Bowling Championships, to be held at Broadbeach from September 5-7,” Maroon Arm Bowlers Association chairman David Johnson said.

“Accordingly entries were teams of five, playing pairs and triples in the morning and singles and fours in the afternoon.

May and at time of going to print, Bundaberg was due to host on June 3.)

Inquiries to David Johnson at the Maroon Arm Bowlers Association: david@davlie.com.au.

(Helensvale), on 4 wins and 45 shots.

The next competition will be at Broadbeach on July 6.

(The arm bowlers move around the state though, Laidley hosted a comp in

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Tablelands Shield

Atherton Tablelands women sometimes have trouble scratching up eight bowlers to play but when we get together, the play is spirited and competitive.

We held our traditional Atherton Tablelands Division One Shield 2016 on May 10-11 and the fight is still in us!

“We may not go on to represent the bigger district or zone but we put our best bowlers into our local competition, which is robust among the Tablelands clubs and Mossman,” Yungaburra president Robyn Williams said.

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“I’m so proud to congratulate the Yungaburra ladies who won, it was a very enjoyable two days with some great bowls rolled.”

Results: 1st Yungaburra, 2nd Atherton, 3rd Mareeba, 4th Mossman.

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Jack supports his local club by eating BBQ sausages.

He likes his with onions and tomato sauce. Lots of tomato sauce.

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top reasons to attend Australian Open 2016 Hosted by City of Gold Coast June 11-25, 2016

1

The World’s Biggest Bowls Festival: After a massive 2015 event, the 2016 Australian Open will be even bigger. More than 2000 bowlers will play more than 4,300 matches in all disciplines throughout the two weeks across 14 host clubs.

2

Watch the locals thrive: In 2015, just under half of all champions were locals, including victories in both the Men’s Pairs and Women’s Pairs. This year, around 800 Queenslanders will be going for glory!

3

Watch the legends in the Over 60s: With the addition of Over 60s Pairs for both men and women, see legends of the sport such as Sam Laguzza, Robbie Dobbins and Peter Bellis in action.

Random draw could mean anything: The event promises some tantalising early round matchups. Keep an eye on Canadian turned local Ryan Bester in the sectional rounds, who takes on Australian Jackaroo Barrie Lester in the Men’s Singles and last years’ runners up Sam White and Braidan Leese in the Men’s Pairs.

4

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Under 18s and Bowlers with a Disability: In 2016, the Under 18 Singles and Bowlers with a Disability disciplines will be even bigger, with a record 64 under 18s and 73 bowlers with a disability competing.

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Jack Attack INTERNATIONAL By the time you read this, the first ever Jack Attack international between Australia and Scotland will have been played at Broadbeach Bowls Club (5pm, Tues June 7).

You can see what Bowls Australia is organizing on your behalf weekly on The Bowls Show, SBS TV, 1pm Sundays until September 15.

Australia and Scotland played a three-day international ahead of The Bowls Show Jack Attack showcase.

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From the Chair

by BQ Chairman Peter Williamson

At our first Board meeting the BQ committees were selected for the coming season. Please give these volunteers your support when they are in your District, as they give of themselves much time and effort to serve the sport of bowls in Queensland.

The State District Sides competition from May 4 to 7 was attended with the deputy chairman and some of our Board members. We were able to watch players from throughout the state play very skilfully in their quests for the titles, in divisions from one to five. I hope you enjoy reading about the results of this competition on the BQ website, facebook page and in this Bowler magazine.

Unfortunately our match coordinator was taken ill (get well soon, Ron) which left a hole in the numbers at the main office. Neville Galbraith battled on with the help of Jack Cahill and Kevin Goldie. But even these stalwarts were not able to prevent some glitches in the communications chain. I was able to speak to members of many clubs throughout the state and will take on-board as much of the advice that can be implemented for the good of all.

The state championships ran from May 9 to 22 at venues on the Gold Coast and it was great to see

QLD V NSW U18 TEST SERIES

The annual U18 test series between QLD and NSW will be held at Tugun Bowls Club from July 3-5.

The QLD boys test team is Shane White (Helensvale), Nicky Cahill (Bargara), Jacob Nelson (Belmont Services), Jayden Christie (Helensvale), Dale McWhinney-Shillington (Musgrave Hill).

The QLD girls test team is Jessie Cottell (Broadbeach), Jessica Srisamruaybai (Tweed Heads), Rebecca Rixon (Kawana), Shervawn Wilson (Tin Can Bay) and Julia Allen-Best (Tin Can Bay).

so many new faces coming through the ranks to challenge for the titles.

Augurs well for the future of the sport!

The finishes to the finals were exciting and many bowlers stayed around to spectate for the finals.

I’m sure having such an appreciative and enthusiastic audience lifted those on the green and everyone went home feeling satisfied with what they had seen.

Like any new board we are in the process of settling in and looking around to see what brush fires we need to attend first and then move forward for the betterment of the sport in Qld. Considerable investigation has gone into the way BQ is currently handling data base processing.

It was resolved to update our system so that clubs and districts will be able to access the system and input information as required. This will reduce time and costs by all concerned.

The Board will commence governance training by the Aust Sports Commission at the next board meeting.

The Strategic Review Summary that was carried out last year will be released in an abridged format and circulated to the Districts.

We look forward to working with Bowls Australia’s new Regional Bowls Managers for Queensland as they come on board; Andrew Howie is already working out of the Gold Coast.

Peter Williamson

INDOOR QUALIFIERS

Six Queensland women have qualified for the Australian Indoor Championships (Tweed Heads, August 22-25).

They are Broadbeach’s Melissa Larcombe, Emma Brown and Chloe Stewart, Helensvale’s Lynsey Clarke, Caloundra’s Cassandra Millerick, and Tweed Head’s Kristy Thatcher.

There were four spots for QLD men, won

by Broadbeach’s Clint Bailey and Luke Day, Tweed Head’s John Balzarolo, and Mudgeeraba’s Alan Law.

Congratulations to Mark Thatcher from Helensvale (pictured) on achieving his 100th cap for Queensland at Australian Sides 2016. Also Brett Wilkie was awarded his 200th cap badge.

STOP PRESS Just before going to print, Bowls Australia announced the successful candidates for its final two appointments to Queensland as Regional Bowls Managers (RBMs).

Their official start dates will be June 27 (after the Australian Open).

“The quality of applicants was outstanding, it was very difficult to narrow it down to a shortlist of four, but we feel we have chosen the best candidates and they are looking forward to working with Bowls Queensland and their local clubs,” BA national participation manager Garry Dillon said.

RBM Sunshine Coast/Hervey Bay – Peter Nixon Peter previously worked for BA in the position of Regional Bowls Manager – Western Victoria and he was an RBM of the year.

He relocated to Queensland last year and has continued to play and coach bowls as a member of Nambour Bowls Club.

Previously Peter spent 23 years in the RAAF and held positions as bowls coach/ coordinator at Werribee, Ocean Grove and Moama Bowling Clubs.

RBM Townsville - Paul Jackson Paul is currently club development and bar manager at Highton Bowling Club in Geelong and he has previously held a similar role at South Bendigo Bowling Club.

Paul is currently a bowler with Highton Bowls Club.

His previous work experience includes over 26 years with ANZ bank in a variety of management positions.

june 2016

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May Day Fours Charleville The Annual May Day Bowls Fours carnival in Charleville was another great success.

The winning team was Donnybrook (three Donnybrook and one Charleville player), with 5 games won and an overall margin of 82.

The runner-up was a combined team from Chinchilla and Charleville, with 5 games won and an overall margin of 50.

A total of 20 teams participated with players from Quilpie, Donnybrook, Sunnybank, Cunnamulla, Roma, Chinchilla, Gympie, Miles, Yandina and Wandoan as well as local Charleville players.

A total of 5 games was played over the two-day carnival, 18 ends.

Two players from last year’s winning team from Cunnamulla Frank Coleman and Ian Daniels returned again this year but were unsuccessful at having a consecutive win.

On Saturday night, a popular ditch-to-ditch competition took place, open to all.

Entertainment was provided on Saturday and Sunday nights, as well as a BBQ dinner on Saturday night and a hearty hot breakfast for players on Sunday morning.

The long weekend allows out of town bowlers the flexibility to travel more comfortably to the event.

Some of the bowlers extended their visit into a five-day social fishing trip, starting on the Monday after the carnival.

The carnival will be held again next year and we hope to see you there!

- Dick Bennett

WINNERS (top) Gary Peters, Don Wise, Gordon Mattingly (all Donnybrook) and Todd Handley from Charleville; (above) Chinchilla’s Greg Cook, on microphone, with Sue Slatter (both Chinchilla), Paul Brayley (Charleville) and Kevin Edwards (Chinchilla). Charleville President Greg ‘Rusty’ Russell is on far left.

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Boys in blue gearing up to defend home turf in 2017 Queensland Police Bowls are in a building phase ahead of hosting the annual national championships at Caloundra in 2017 (March 2-17).

“We returned a mildly successful and much improved performance at this year’s nationals in South Australia and we’re aiming to win at home next year,” QLD police bowls recruitment officer Adam Taylor said.

The police Sides championship is similar to Pennant but the competition is over five rinks.

The 58th Australian Police Bowls Championships at Lockleys Bowling Club, SA (April 7-14) saw QLD suffer narrow losses to WA and NSW before being soundly beaten by eventual winners SA. “However in the final game against Victoria, Queensland came home strongly from behind, ten shots down at 85-95, to win by two shots, 98- 96,” Taylor said.

they were narrowly beaten by the reigning champions from NSW, who successfully defended their title.

“The Lockleys greens ran truly at a swift 18 to 19 seconds throughout the carnival,” Taylor said.

Queensland will host the next Australian Police championships at Caloundra Bowls Club in March this year, and there is great anticipation that a team from the Hong Kong Police Bowls Club will also attend.

The QPBC is still trying to recruit more players to join its ranks and seeks former and serving members of the Queensland Police Service or Queensland residents who served in other jurisdictions to join.

“A brilliant on-shot on the final bowl by Red Edwards took us from three-down to two-up.

“This is a campaign to win the Sides championship in our host state, if you think you may be qualified to play, please email,” Taylor said.

“This marked Queensland’s first win against Victoria in 15 years!”

Adam Taylor, QPBC Recruitment adam. brb4@bigpond.com

In the triples championships, the exciting North Queensland duo of Neville (Noddy) Ingram and Bob (Rowdy) Blucher teamed up with new recruit Kerry Smith from the Sunshine Coast to come runner up behind a highly fancied SA team, whilst the pairs team of Adam Taylor and Kel Emerton progressed through to the semi-finals, where

Pictured: Celebrations commence after beating the Vics, back row from left, Matt Hamilton, Clint Turner, Bob Brightwell, Ron Graham, Kevin Kunst, Russell Harber, Darren Taylor, Julie Palmer, Graeme Coulsen, Adam Taylor, Neville Ingram, front row, Kel Emerton, Shane Stanley, Red Edwards.

Presidents not past it!

Congratulations to East Bundaberg’s Jennifer and Peter Ey (pictured), joint winners of the recent National Past President’s Carnival in Adelaide.

The 22nd Biennial National Friendship Carnival of Bowls was held April 13-19, and hosted this year by the Bowls Past Presidents Association of South Australia.

For the first time in 44 years, it was an ‘open gender’ carnival (previously the men and women played separately).

There were 58 teams of four, 11 teams from QLD, and the past presidents were hosted at 10 different clubs.

The Eys teamed up with two past presidents from South Australia and ended up taking out the tournament, jointly, with another SA team.

The travelling past presidents play two games a day on Thurs-Fri, have the weekend free for social trips, and play again on Mon-Tues.

The tournament is held biennially and hosting duties rotated.

The next event will be held in the ACT in 2018.

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CEO REPORT

with Bowls Queensland’s Warren Birks

From a sport to a game I’M SURE ALL OF OUR READERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE KEY ISSUES FACING OUR SPORT. IN ITS MOST BASIC FORM, THE TOP OF THE LIST IS FALLING BOWLS MEMBERSHIPS. THIS ISSUE IS FAR MORE COMPLEX THAN IT SEEMS. Clubs have been faced with falling memberships for many years and this has put a strain on their financial situations.

Clubs should be congratulated for these moves and their efforts to stave off extinction.

Some have not survived – too many for our liking – and it is a tragedy to see some clubs with wonderful bowls histories closing their doors for a final time.

However, these efforts too have some devil in the detail.

On the other hand, some progressive and proactive clubs have determined that they cannot survive on the ‘old business model’, based on lawn bowls alone.

They have become community or sports clubs and changed their offering to attract new and different clientele.

These days, clubs need more sources of income than just bowls.

Many have leapt aboard the surge in barefoot and social bowls.

Clubs that have been leaders in this area are now thriving financially, but they have become essentially barefoot venues.

“If current trends continue, it is highly likely that the very initiatives that clubs are taking to enable their survival could in fact assist the demise of the competitive game of lawn bowls.”

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In actual fact, participation in our sport has never been higher; and yet memberships are falling at an alarming rate.

Just six years ago there were 45,000 registered bowlers in Queensland, but this number has declined to near 30,000 today.

If current trends continue, it is highly likely that the very initiatives that clubs are taking to enable their survival could in fact assist the demise of the competitive game of lawn bowls.

Rather than a competitive “sport”, played between clubs, districts, states and even the Commonwealth countries, lawn bowls could become a non-competitive “game” played in a very social environment, with few rules and regulations, but lots of colour, music, laughs and jungle juice.

I’m sure this is not what bowlers want as a long term outcome for the sport.

Most bowlers take up and play the game because of either the social or competitive aspects, or both.

From the competitive side, Pennant remains the ultimate contest for many bowlers.

What a shame it would be to see the annual Pennant competition diminish even further (as it already has to some degree).

Therefore, it is essential that governing bodies, like BQ, exist and have a focus on keeping the competitive elements of the sport alive.

When bowlers say that BQ and BA (and other governing bodies) are focused “only on the elite bowlers”, this is generally true (if you define ‘elite’ as ‘competitive’).

What about the bowlers that ‘just want to play on a Wednesday afternoon’ and not compete in anything beyond that social game?

Some of these bowlers feel they should pay a reduced membership fee, specifically to be exempt from paying any contribution to their District, BQ or BA, since they feel they won’t use or access any of these services.

However the boundaries are not finite.

Most bowlers who see themselves as only ‘social’ are benefitting from the structure of bowls and the administrative initiatives, although perhaps not in the same direct sense.

Part of the issue is that some clubs started breaking down how the club membership fee was calculated, which caused a perceived lack of value for money on the part of social bowlers, who felt BQ wasn’t expressly doing anything for them, so why should they pay anything at all?

To my view, a club’s membership fee goes to the maintenance of the club and the sport, which is why there is (and should be) a contribution to the governing bodies as part of the general access fee to the sport, the ‘normal’ membership fee.

Both social and competitive members access the significant social and health benefits that playing bowls brings.

If we end up with only a game and not a sport because social bowlers don’t want to pay anything to help maintain the sport, we need to be realistic about where we will end up.

Essentially, what ‘social’ bowlers want is to play once a week without having to pay any affiliation (or maintenance) fees to the governing bodies of the sport.

(It’s a bit like wanting to drive on good roads and go to a good hospital when you’re sick, but not wanting to pay any taxes because usually you ride a pushbike and are healthy…)

There is not much in life you can ‘belong to’ that you only get to pay for what you specifically use.

Not other sports, not insurance, not taxes.

We all have to give a little bit to make the whole work.

“If all bowlers do not support the sport financially, the competitive aspects of the sport are at risk.”

If all bowlers do not support the sport financially, the competitive aspects of the sport are at risk.

Is it fair that the majority of the bowls community who pay into the maintenance of the bowls structure enable those who want to enjoy the trappings of the sport but not contribute anything towards its upkeep?

Is it fair that occasional bowlers don’t contribute anything to the greater good of bowls, in the interests of keeping the competitive sport alive?

I guess we will all have our views on this, I’m just asking you to think about it.

GUARDIANS OF THE SPORT

So what do you think? Do we all have a responsibility to be guardians of the sport?

JACK ATTACK

Governing bodies, supported by various clubs, are looking at new and different forms of the game in an attempt to convert some social bowlers to be more competitive.

The BA initiative Jack Attack is an example of this and some clubs have found it very successful as a ‘corporate’ competition in its own right and in developing new ‘bowling’ members.

THE SOUTHPORT EXPERIENCE

Southport Bowls Club is the home to one of the most successful Jack Attack programs in Australia, and also hosts many other social and barefoot bowls events.

Southport Bowls Club has successfully run eight Jack Attack tournaments to date, including a twilight/evening format because so many competitors work during the day.

The $400 prize money has brought out the competitive spirits and bowling skills have improved.

Southport have found Jack Attack to be an enjoyable format which has attracted new people to the sport and increased club membership at Southport, as well as being very good for the restaurant and bar takings.

The Jack Attack format came out of the Australian Premier League (APL), held in November each year at Club Pine Rivers, and broadcast on Fox Sports.

Located within the heart of the Southport area and surrounded by high rises, Southport Bowls Club is the oldest bowls club on the Gold Coast, established in 1914.

The club has three greens, a large clubhouse and off-street parking for visitors.

Several “Jack Attackers” have joined the club and become regular bowlers, including Marcus Yost and Troy Perdue (pictured below with Troy’s twin sons Taj and Jay).

From their first touch of a bowl in February 2015 during Jack Attack, both went on to play Pennant for the club in the same season.

Marcus went on to be one of the starts of a BLK Premier Sevens team, one of three teams entered by Southport Bowls Club.

Troy plays as often as he can and has introduced his 10-year-old twin boys to Jack Attack, hopefully stars of the future for Southport.

Some others who rose from Jack Attack to be regular players are Kerry Williams, Kyle Bennett, Bryan Forsyth and Sharon and Glenn Cogill.

A few of the Jack Attackers have had new bowls made featuring their favourite footy team colours and logos.

– Jill Peters

It would be great to see some of the great bowls minds and energies out there directed at the positive and proactive tasks of retaining affiliated members and attracting new ones instead of expecting the administrative arms of the sport to come up with the definitive solution.

Of course the first step is obvious, to welcome all inquiries at our clubs and do our best to cater to bowlers’ social and competitive needs, within our capabilities.

We all have a role to play in stopping the diminution of our sport into just a game.

Warren Birks CEO Bowls Queensland

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Umpire with Joan Brotherton

BACK NEW LAW FROM BOOK THE DEAD Here is an interesting photo from Alan McEwen at Northern Beaches Bowls Club (Mackay).

Alan says: “A recent game at Mackay Northern Beaches resulted with an end that finished up as per the photo.

“The orange bowl is a toucher, the black bowl finished leaning on both the toucher and the green. The black bowl was declared “dead” but on further advice after the game, the bowl was declared still “alive”, because it still had contact with the green and had not touched the bottom of the ditch.

“An interesting photo and probably won’t happen again for years.”

This is indeed an interesting photo and I would really like to have seen it for myself.

There is a law to cover this situation: A bowl is not dead re Law 17.2.5 if it comes to rest on top of the jack or any bowls that are at rest within the boundaries of the rink.

So we can only go by what was said that it did not touch the bottom of the ditch and was leaning on both the toucher and the green. (Although from the photo it does look like it is in the sand.)

There have been some recent issues with substitutes and replacement players in breach of the provisions and BQ coordinator of umpires John Kirkpatrick has kindly written the following article to address this issue, which I hope you will find helpful.

Substitutes and Replacement Players

by BQ Umpire Committee Co-ordinator, John Fitzpatrick The provisions for substitutes and replacement players are contained in the Domestic Regulations of the current law book, Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Crystal Mark 3rd Edition.

The relevant definitions are: 2.1.3 Nominated Player: one whose entry has been lodged and will remain a nominated player until entries for that particular event close.

2.1.4 Intended Player: one whose entry has been accepted as a player, team or side for a particular competition from the time entries close until the member is constituted.

2.1.6 Constituted Player: a singles player or member of a team who has commenced their first game in a competition (when the jack is rolled in the first end as per Law 5.3) or has become constituted as per the provisions of DR 2.2.

2.1.7 Replacement Player: a player who is appointed to take the place of a constituted player who cannot play in any round after the first round of that competition for a reason accepted by the controlling body

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2.1.8 Substitute: a player who is appointed to play in the place of an intended player or constituted player who is unavailable or physically incapable of attending, playing in or continuing in any part of any game for a reason accepted by the Controlling Body.

Constitution of Players - see the provisions of DR 2.2.

A player is a nominated player from the time that nominations for a competition are called until nominations close.

Players can be changed at this time without consequence.

Once nominations close and the draw is conducted the nominated player becomes an intended player until the player becomes constituted.

If an intended player becomes unavailable for whatever reason and withdraws from the team, the team is entitled to a substitute only, for the first game of the competition.

After the first game, the substitute, or any other eligible player can become a replacement player.

If the missing player has no intention of or can’t return to the team, a replacement player can fill the player’s position after the first round.

The team can then, if necessary and approved by the controlling body, utilize a substitute.

Each team is entitled to utilize one substitute and one replacement player per game in a competition except in the first round when only a substitute can be utilized.

The following should be noted: 2.2.6 If an intended player, team or side withdraws without being constituted, the intended players are regarded as not having entered the competition and are eligible to act as replacement players or substitutes in that competition.

2.3.7.2 In a pairs team, if a replacement player is used, then a substitute can only take the place of the replacement player.

2.4.4 Only one replacement player is allowed per team in any competition.

It’s not work when you do what you love

Matt Lucas talks about his plans for Brisbane bowls institution

Queensland’s oldest bowls shop, Fred Fern Bowls Centre, is under new management, with Helensvale bowler Matt Lucas taking over the reins of the Brisbane bowls institution.

Matt feels he is well placed to offer exceptional service to Queensland bowlers, having grown up in the sport in country Victoria and spent his working life in hospitality management.

“The bowls club was a brilliant environment for us youngsters to grow up in,” Matt said.

“If you are ever unlucky enough to meet any of the people I call close friends, they would probably tell you that I am never short of a word, sometimes overambitious, and probably that I need to have a shave…

“Having said that, they are the people I most enjoy playing bowls with!”

Like many bowlers, Matt’s love of the game started with his family.

“Growing up in the western suburbs of Melbourne in a place called Taylors Lakes, I was the last in a line of six

children, boys at the book ends and girls in between.” Matt said.

do his apprenticeship in each of the sides before being promoted to the next.

“As a youngster I played junior Aussie rules and Cricket, but being the last addition to our family my father was nearly 50 by the time I was born.

By the time he was 14, he was attending district and group trials and state junior trials, making the U18 side in 2002 by the age of 17.

“By the time I was old enough to start playing competitive sports he was past playing rugby /football /cricket, but he had taken up playing lawn bowls in the A1 Pennant side (as it was called in those days) for Keilor Bowls Club.

“The next season I won the club singles at Keilor and I felt the time was right for a move to continue my progress.”

“My mother was an ICU nurse and worked a number of night shifts and as a result Dad would take us kids down to the bowls club to give mum a chance to rest.

“This was my introduction to bowls.

“I joined Keilor Bowls Club for the 1995/96 season when I was 11 years old.”

Matt’s dad was a club selector but there was no easy ride for his son; he had to

Matt moved to Lalor Bowling Club in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, skipping in the top side which fluctuated between Division 1 and Premier League, also making various appearances in the state U18 side.

“Bowls to me is about the relationships you get to build, the excitement you get to share with one another after a good win and galvanisation when the chips are down.”

“Bowls to me is about the relationships you get to build, the excitement you get to share with one another after a good win and galvanisation when the chips are down,” Matt said.

It was time for Matt to get a real job and he chose hospitality management, spending the next decade running pubs, nightclubs and finally a bowling club before moving to the Gold Coast in 2015.

“We live not far from Club Helensvale and knowing a few of the members there, it was an easy decision to join the club,” Matt said.

“From there I was lucky enough to stumble across the vacant position at Fred Fern Bowls Centre.

“With my background in management and desire to spend more time in the bowls world, it’s like it was meant to be.

“I intend to continue the quality advice and customer service that is synonymous with the Fred Fern Bowls Centre.”

Matt looks forward to meeting many Queensland bowlers at the Australian Open (June 11-24) where Fred Fern Bowls Centre will have a stall.

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CLUB LAW

Curt Schatz

FAMILY BUSINESS

partner

This month my partner Michael Klatt, who is an Accredited Specialist in Succession Law, has written an article on what I believe would be a very important topic for most of your members who have a family businesses.

Family businesses are all faced with the difficult issue of succession at one time or another. Proper succession planning should be continually on the agenda of matters for consideration by family businesses.

One of the most difficult issues for parents is whether to transfer of ownership of the business or part of the business to a child or children prior to their death.

There are a number of issues to consider:

Most families will find that children who are committed to a family business will want an ownership interest in the business at some stage prior to the death of the parents.

Any successful child will aspire to asset ownership and, if the opportunity is not presented to them, may consider moving on from the family business to acquire their own assets and develop a successful career elsewhere.

Should all of the children participate in owning the family business even where some of the children may not be working in the family business?

From an estate planning point of view leaving assets via a person’s estate after their death provides the most cost-effective way of transferring assets.

2.

What interest should be transferred to the children?

3.

Should there be unequal ownership interests between children depending on what level of involvement they have with the family business?

Most times, the transfer of assets during the parents lifetime, will result in transactional costs, potentially stamp duty and capital gains tax implications.

1.

4.

Should the children pay market value for an interest in the business or be gifted an interest or pay a reduced price for an interest in the busines

5.

How is the business structured, is the business held in a company or a trust? If it is owned by a discretionary trust, how can an interest be transferred?

6.

What sort of control will the children have prior to the death of the parents?

7.

What documents are necessary to effect the succession?

8.

How will the family keep business matters separate from private family issues?

However, children may not be accepting of this being an impediment to the transfer of ownership and many times, depending on the structure, there can be ways of minimising transactional costs.

Families need to have open discussions about the ambitions of the children working in the business and those not, and their expectations in relation to acquiring an interest in the business or not, and the parents’ own intentions in relation to an active involvement in the business, semi-retirement, full retirement from management, but a retention of ownership or part ownership.

Any child working in the family business should be remunerated appropriately for the work that they do with proper employment contracts in place, regardless of whether they will have an ownership interest or not.

mullins lawyers

Most families take the view that children should be expected to pay for an interest in the business either at full market value or a reduced amount and, potentially, the parents or the business will assist the children with funding internally or externally with guarantees provided.

It is extremely important to document the relationship between the owners, whether that might be by a shareholders agreement, family constitution or some other document to regulate the relationship.

If there are children who are not working in the business and the parents wish that they have an interest in the business, frank discussions need to occur with the child or children working in the business as to whether having children not working in the business as passive investors is workable.

Would those not working in the business allow the children working in the business to manage the business appropriately without undue interference?

Sometimes people have different priorities, depending on their involvement.

Those working in the business would generally be supportive of further investment in the business; those who are not, might be more interested in maximising dividends from the business.

There is no simple solution to dealing with the succession issues, but an appropriate discussion facilitated by experts with experience in succession matters can generally assist the process.

If you require any further information on this topic, please contact Michael Klatt directly on 07 3224 0370.

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

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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 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 models, colours and sizes.

Name..............................................................................................

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

State.........................................................Postcode........................

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

Entries must be received by June 30. Winner will be announced in the July issue. Only one entry per household.

Original entry forms only, no photocopies accepted.

APRIL WINNER Lynn Turgeon from Kooralbyn

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Kiss Cam

Kiss Cam was one of the highlights of the first day of Bowls Queensland 2016 State Championships, as plenty of sweethearts took the opportunity to play the first event, the Mixed Pairs, together – and in a spirit of good fun, offered each other a little sweetener on request when the camera came their way.

“It was really fun, we’re glad we got the chance to play together at state level.”

Rose Rixon.

Clockwise from top left, Dot and Barry Cook (Rathdowney), Maree and Albert Gibbs (Milmerran), Wayne Brown and Annica McGill (Coolum Beach), Faye and Ray Whittaker (Coolum Beach), David and Brenda Balchin (Coolum Beach), Alan and Lyn Thorp (Bribie Island), Gary Costigan and Wendy Jones (Thuringowa), Rose and David Rixon (Club Maroochy).

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