MARCH 2024

MARCH

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David Barnes on thinking outside the square to

COMING UP: PRESIDENTS’ XII CUP

April 19 & 20 at Capalaba Sports Club

The ANZAC Test Series commenced in 2014 to mark the centenary of the ANZAC legend. It commemorates the efforts of our soldiers over the past 100 years, since World War I started in 1914, with the centenary of ANZAC honoured in 2018. Due to the success of this series it has continued each year and will be held again in 2024.

The Bowls Queensland Presidents XII test side is a combination of Queensland’s aspiring and experienced representatives, while the Defence team is comprised of the elite bowlers of the Australian Services Bowling Association.

Each side comprises of 12 players, with best of three matches determining the winner.

Will the Australian Services Lawn Bowling Association claim the title for the first time since 2015, or will the maroon team hold onto the shield for another year?

PREVIOUS WINNERS:

2023 – Bowls Queensland Presidents’ XII

2022 – Bowls Queensland Presidents’ XII

2021 – not contested due to COVID 19

2020 – not contested due to COVID 19

2019 – Bowls Queensland Presidents’ XII

2018 – Bowls Queensland Presidents’ XII

2017 – Bowls Queensland Presidents’ XII

2016 – Bowls Queensland Presidents’ XII

2015 – Australian Services Bowling Association

2014 – Bowls Queensland Chairmans’ XII

From the President with BQ’s Peter Williamson

I attended the Bowls Australia State Consultative meeting with Presidents and CEOs. Bowls Australia (BA) President Matt Burgess and CEO Matthew Kennedy outlined the financial substantial deficit that had accumulated over time, and the way forward BA was undertaking to turn around, with related projects and also including culture and strategy.

An overview and discussion was held referencing the new policies adopted by BA, roles and responsibilities on the National Integrity Framework given by the Sports and Integrity Manager and BA National Integrity manager.

The Australian Sports Commission senior advisor, Sports Governance addressed the assembly outlining principals of governance. They touched on a one management model, which would not suit the State bodies in light of the loss suffered by BA as opposed to the federated model which is currently in use and sustainable.

It is quite noticeable the increased number of clubs and districts requesting information on unification (amalgamation).

There are not enough people available to take up committee positions and unification is seen as the best option possible to utilise the human resources at club level. I agree.

The casual vacancy on the BQ Board has now been filled with Wendy Wilson accepting the position. Wendy brings to the board a good knowledge of the bowls world and also has first hand experience as a director of a large club.

2023 ANZAC Test Series participants

Peter Williamson

with BQ’s Brett Wilkie CEO REPORT

BQ Board and AGM: The Bowls Queensland (BQ) AGM and Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 20. Nominations have closed for four positions this year on the BQ Board. Multiple nominations have been received for each position with all up for election. This will be a two-year term for those who are successful.

Each of the 20 District Men’s and Ladies’ Associations vote for these positions with the results announced at the BQ AGM. Thank you to those delegates who give their time to attend the AGM and Council Meetings at BQ Headquarters. These meetings are great for our delegates to come together, discuss all things bowls in QLD and report back to their respective districts.

2024 Bowls Queensland Board Nominations:

Vice President - two nominations received, one to be elected:

• Brian Marshall - Beaudesert BC

• Kerry Green - South Toowoomba BC

Director of Finance - two nominations received, one to be elected:

• Graham Lewis - Salisbury BC

• Greg Flynn - Enoggera BC

Director - four nominations received, two to be elected:

• Joan Brotherton OAM - Victoria Point BC

• Carmel Gibb - Club Helensvale

• Alan Thorp - Solander Lake BC

• Colleen Ryan - Paradise Point BC

Bowls Queensland Registered Member Card: This card will be back again in 2024 with a new colour signifying the new year.

The “Bowls Queensland Registered Member Card” is for all declared members of each club. These cards will be distributed to all affiliated clubs in QLD for distribution to their declared members.

This card signifies its bearer is a registered member of an affiliated bowls club in QLD. When another affiliated bowls club other than the individual’s declared club is

visited, they may be asked to produce this card to prove they are a “Bowls Queensland Registered Member”.

Being a “Bowls Queensland Registered Member” entitles the bearer to participate in structured games of bowls at any club(s) affiliated with Bowls Queensland, so long as they meet that clubs event conditions/criteria.

Bowls Queensland reminds clubs that anyone who participates in regular structured games of bowls must be a registered member of an affiliated bowls club in QLD (as per the Bowls Queensland Constitution).

Bowls QLD Event Hosting: Thank you to clubs who showed expression of interest to host Bowls QLD events. Successful clubs will be announced in March.

2024 State Championships: Entries for this year’s $50,000 QLD State Championships are open and close on Monday 11 March. This event will be played on the Gold Coast from Monday 13 – Sunday 26 May with all finals at Club Musgrave. Thank you to Experience Gold Coast and Club Musgrave for their support of this event to be held in the Gold Coast Region. Sectional play will also be held at various clubs on the Gold Coast. More event information: www.bowlsqld.org/events/statechampionships/

The 2024 District Sides Championships will be held at the Club Musgrave, Club Helensvale, Paradise Point and Broadbeach Bowls Clubs from May 8-11, 2024.

Queensland High Performance Academy:

Congratulations to the 16 players invited to be in the second year of this academy, which is designed to nurture, educate, mentor and support Queensland’s next generation of stars. Well done to Lynsey Clarke and Alan Thorp for leading this program with great feedback from all involved. See page 9 for more details.

Coaching and Umpiring Courses: Bowls Queensland was fortunate to receive a grant from the QLD Government to assist in travel costs to run coaching and umpiring courses/sessions in various regional areas in the next two months: Weipa - March 9 & 10; Thursday Island - March 12; Mt Isa – March 23 & 24; Charleville’s dates have been moved to April 13 & 14. Thank you to the QLD Government for its support of this initiative.

Brett Wilkie

Proudly sponsored by

SUBMITTING VALES/OBITUARIES TO THE QUEENSLAND BOWLER

Obituaries/Vales are a way to celebrate and honour a person who has passed away.

The Queensland Bowler receives numerous submissions from clubs about much-loved members who have passed away. Unfortunately, we are unable to publish all of them, much as we would like to. We recognise how important these people were to their club and how much club members would like to see them acknowledged in the magazine. However, we are often very limited for space and if we published every contributed Vale, we would have little room for event coverage, club news and other stories.

We make exceptions for past/present State representatives and officials, past/present BQ Board and committee members.

Please continue to submit your news to us on your (living) life members, events held, club volunteers, club anniversaries, achievements and special occasions.

Contact us if you’d like guidance on how to submit a story to the Queensland Bowler at media@bowlsqld.org or visit the BQ website at: https://www.bowlsqld.org/how-to-get-published-in-the-bowler/

BOWLING GREEN CANOPIES

AUSTRALIAN DEAF GAMES

Deaf Lawn Bowls Queensland (DLBQ) recently participated in the 19th Australian Deaf Games (ADG) which was held at Lake Macquarie and Newcastle from January, 13-20. The ADG is the pinnacle multi-sport event for deaf people in Australia, involving up to 20 sports and attracting more than 1,000 competitors and participants from all over Australia and the South Pacific.

The Games, which are organised by Deaf Sport Australia, give deaf and hard of hearing people an opportunity to be exposed to a national competition format that promotes the development of deaf sport. The competition had 36 men and nine women from QLD, NSW, SA, VIC, WA, ACT and a team from NZ. The Men’s and Women’s Singles and Open Fours were played at Club Charlestown on its two brand new, undercover synthetic greens.

All the QLD bowlers put in a sterling performance over the five days of competition, with great support from Treasurer Caroline Price and Liza Lorenzo, who encouraged the bowlers each day. QLD’s Janet Hogan and Suellen Tappenden competed in the Women’s Singles with Suellen winning all her section games and going on to receive the bronze medal. Robyn Larkin from VIC was the winner of the Women’s Singles. In the Men’s Singles, QLD’s Alan Summerville, Brian Taylor, John Price, Petrus Van Der Walt, Russ Jackson and Barry Lynne competed with Brian, Petrus, Barry & Russ winning through their sections to the knockouts. Russ progressed through to the final where he was defeated by Andrew Turner from NSW.

In the Open Fours, the two QLD teams performed well throughout the six rounds, with a couple of wins each and several 1 and 2 shot losses.

A great time was had by the players and supporters and the camaraderie shown between teams was outstanding. The players look forward to the Deaf Bowls Australian Nationals in Sept 2025 and the next Australian Deaf Games which is proposed for Queensland in 2026.

QLD Team Back L-R: Russ Jackson, Alan Summerville, Petrus Van Der Walt, Barry Lynne, John Price. Front L-R: Janet Hogan, Brian Taylor & Suellen Tappenden

Medallists Suellen Tappenden & Russ Jackson

2024 HIGH PERFORMANCE SQUAD ANNOUNCED

Sixteen athletes, from across the State, have been identified to join forces for Season 2 of the Academy which is designed to nurture, educate, mentor, and support the Next Generation of Queensland Superstars who have ambition to represent at the highest level.

The incoming squad will include seven new recruits, in addition to the nine athletes retained from 2023, who will work closely with Academy Manager and Queensland Pathways Coach Lynsey Clarke, as well as Bowls Queensland Coaching Committee Coordinator Alan Thorp.

“We have a wonderfully diverse and talented range of athletes in our Program this year, scattered from the tip of Queensland, all the way down to the South-East corner,” Clarke said, “we are excited to see what the next 12 months brings for them as they embark on this fantastic development opportunity and experience.”

With 2023 being the first year of the Academy initiative, the Program has already provided a platform and pathway for athletes on their representative journeys - with five elevations taking place from within the Squad.

Congratulations to our 2023 Graduates – Stella Palmer and Dale Mcwhinney Shillington, who were both selected in the National Pathways Squad for 2024; and to Nic Gosley, Amy Evans, and Julia Brownie who have all become Queensland Open Representatives over the past 12 months.

“Our inaugural Academy Program has been an exciting and progressive initiative that has already made great impact with the young Queensland athletes involved in the squad this year,” Thorp said, “we developed strong connections, experienced great learnings, and enjoyed some remarkable success across the board. 2024 will build upon these solid foundations, and aim to provide an enhanced experience for the new squad coming in.”

Congratulations to the incoming Queensland High Performance Academy Squad for 2024:

GIRLS

Dekota Brindle – Lowood

Emma Rowbotham – Yungaburra

Holly Anderson – Cunnamulla

Jacinta Weier – Hamilton

Lexie Foot – Northern Beaches Mackay

Madi Styles – South Townsville

Olivia Rothwell – Northern Suburbs

Sophie Kiepe – Club Helensvale

BOYS

Brendan Wilson – Pine Rivers

Hayden Leslie – Hamilton

Hayden Oster – Algester

Jack Chirgwin – Algester

John Hammond – Roma

Justin Cribbin – Jubilee

Mitch Mears – Broadbeach

Riley Gerick – Capalaba

The Queensland High Performance Academy Squad has been selected for 2024 – the second instalment of the highly successful development program which was launched in January last year.

IS THERE A HIDDEN GEM AT SOUTHPORT BC?

Southport Bowls Club has much to be proud of. Founded in 1914, it is the oldest club on the Gold Coast and is known locally to be the friendly club. However, what many people don’t know is that the club has a gem hidden in plain view: Venue Manager Glenn Stevenson.

Support worker Katie Freeman has been in contact with us and would like Glenn, an “awesome human,” to be recognised within the community. Katie is a support worker for Marilyn Clayton and wished to show appreciation and gratitude for giving Marilyn a purpose and love for life again.

Marilyn is the mother of bowls legend Kelsey Cottrell, and those of you who know her or Kelsey will know that Marilyn suffered a stroke six years ago. A keen bowler herself, Marilyn can no longer play bowls at a high level.

Over the past four years, Marilyn’s support workers have tried to access different clubs but due to her brain injury, Marilyn can get overwhelmed at times. The community doesn’t always understand, or have empathy for, how hard things can be for Marilyn.

Marilyn began accessing the Southport Bowls Club last year and Katie tells us that Glenn made Marilyn welcome right from day one.

“His inclusion, patience, passion, friendly and caring nature has been absolutely incredible,” Katie said.

“Glenn has knocked down barriers and paved the way for Marilyn, teaching club members to also be understanding, patient and include people with a disability,” she continued.

The thing is, Glenn doesn’t see himself as having done anything extraordinary.

“Obviously, being the friendly club, when people come in for a roll up or a barefoot bowls occasion, we are keen no matter who they are to give them a chance,” Glenn said.

“Mazz (as she is affectionately known) came in one day with her carer, and because we’d also had a few other people with mobility issues coming in with carers, I was only too happy to see them out there having a go,” he said.

“For us able-bodied people, the minute there is a little bit of rain or wind, we don’t want to bowl, or if we have a sore shoulder, we don’t want to bowl.

“But seeing people out there who have got bigger issues than our sore knees and whatever, just puts a smile on my face.”

On first meeting Marilyn, Glenn said he didn’t know who she was.

“I had no idea she was Kelsey’s [Cottrell] mum,” he said.

“I think it was about four or so weeks after she had been coming in that I introduced Mazz to our Ladies’ Bowls President and Mazz asked her if she knew her daughter.

“That’s when I found out and it has just evolved from there.

Southport BC’s Venue Manager, Glenn Stevenson & Marilyn Clayton

“I don’t think I treat her any differently for who she is, as it’s more about getting people out there to have a bowl.”

Glenn has been at the club for two years, but seeing people getting enjoyment out of an activity when they have limitations almost brings a tear to his eye.

Katie said there have been countless positive outcomes when accessing the club for Marilyn.

“We feel safe and included every single time we walk in the doors,” Katie said.

“Glenn is super invested in Marilyn’s journey and goes out of his way to personally greet her, making sure she is well, happy and will sometimes join Mazz for a quick roll up.”

Glenn told us that when Marilyn first started visiting the club, it wasn’t quite as busy as it is now. Normally, around the third Sunday of each month, the Gold Coast Tweed District All Abilities group uses the club. Also, rookie bowlers and beginner users of bowling arms go along for some tuition and a social game.

Glenn recommends anyone wanting to play bowls go along to their local club with their support worker and see what’s available to suit their bowling experience.

Southport BC hasn’t needed to make any changes to include bowlers of all abilities.

Glenn’s message for clubs is to embrace it because these amazing people bring joy to the club because they are always happy and have a smile on their face.

“Once we know a person’s story, as staff members, we can let members know if there are behavioural situations to be aware of and explain it, otherwise, they just don’t know,” Glenn said.

“Once I knew the Marilyn’s circumstances, I let other bowlers know and we would try and give her a separate area to help her anxiety, rather than make her bowl where she didn’t want to be,” he said.

“The carers ring through and, if we have a busy day, we let them know it probably wouldn’t be a good day to come down.

“Communication is key with everything, 100 per cent.”

Glenn does not expect or want recognition, but instead wants to get the message out that bowls is a great game for everyone to play.

Good on you, Glenn and thank you for what you do!

Marilyn has always been Kelsey’s top supporter

tips on promoting your club

Now that the dust has settled after the holiday season, it’s a good time to think about what your club can offer to new and existing members. Could your club diversify while promoting bowls? For a recent example on how a club has done just that, go to pages 18-19 of this edition of the Queensland Bowler (March 2024) to see how Kandanga Country Club has had great gains in revenue and boosted its bowls activities by 22 per cent.

Here is a short guide for you to consider how you can help promote your club this year.

Do a health check

Before you can make any big decisions on the future direction of your club, you should assess the health of your club. The assessment will allow you to find out whether you will be able to ensure revenues will meet strategic targets and shed some light on your business costs, so you can work to achieve greater levels of efficiency and effectiveness.

Clubs, like all businesses can fall into the trap of not appreciating the critical nature of some activities undertaken in an organisation and even more so, not appreciating that some activities are not just costs today, but investments in tomorrow.

Bowls Australia has rolled out the CLUBMAP Health Check survey, which allows community bowls clubs to identify specific areas of club operations that may need improvement. This could include aspects such as facilities, membership, sponsorship or other areas of operational effectiveness.

By collecting feedback directly from club volunteers and administrators, the survey can pinpoint weaknesses or areas that require attention, providing a clear roadmap for the club’s committee to follow. The Health Check also sheds light on the club’s strengths and what is being done well. This data-driven approach ensures that the committee can allocate resources, time, and effort strategically.

Once complete, CLUBMAP’s Health Check displays all survey results in a clear and concise report. This concise report is not only easily digestible for decision-makers, but also facilitates easier communication of survey results to members and other stakeholders.

To learn more and register your club for a health check, head to bowls.clubmap.com.au, register for an account and follow the ‘request a health check’ prompts on the home page. https://hub.clubmap.com.au/course/bowls-resources-hub

Understand what brings capital into your club

While we all would like bowls to be the incentive that draws people to the club, unfortunately, that isn’t always enough for our smaller clubs. Even the bigger clubs have shifted their focus from promoting bowls to promoting their club as a social venue for drinks, dining and other activities alongside bowls. Pivoting your club into a thriving social hub will increase your club’s bowling membership in the long term, as it allows you to convert them while they are already through the door. Clubs are generally in prime spots and a savvy club can, and should, take full advantage of their location.

Revamp your venue

Is your club still an inviting place? While bowls clubs almost always have a cordial and welcoming community, at the same time the club itself is often dilapidated and in need of repair which is understandable considering the age of the club. However, often a lot can be achieved with a club’s aesthetic on a limited budget with ingenuity and hard work. Is it time you gave your club a fresh lick of paint, installed new lights, bought newer seating or replaced that old carpet? Grants could be your solution to help reduce the financial burden on your club’s finances. Investing in your club today will help ensure that it will not only be there tomorrow but that it will be thriving too.

Create a marketing plan

Clubs need to use marketing techniques to attract new members and to engage in ongoing communication with them to ensure they are receiving the services they expect. With entertainment and unstructured sports gaining popularity at the expense of traditional participation in sports, clubs have had to adapt and become far more proactive in promoting to the next group of members.

Through the development of a marketing plan, a club can segment the market into different groups based on demographics and identify a target market of people they want to attract. An effective marketing campaign can then be created that speaks to the needs of the target group.

Although marketing can be perceived to be expensive with no guarantee of an immediate return in revenue, it is important nowadays, just as in all business, that clubs set aside some money specifically for marketing.

Targeted marketing and communication can attract new members and retain existing members at your club. The more people who know about your club, the more opportunities that might come your club’s way. Effective communication means both doing more with less, but also ensuring your messages are being seen and heard by the appropriate audiences.

There are many ways to deliver these messages, including the club website, event presentations, meetings, noticeboards, newsletters, emails, SMS, media releases, local and community newspapers and radio, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and other community forums.

Also, the Queensland Bowler has recently launched a “club-only” classified section where you can share your message for a fraction of the cost of usual print advertising (see page 15 of this issue, March 2024). The key is for communication to be regular, and not just interacting with your members. Engage with prospective members by ensuring your local community is aware of your club and its activities.

Another important consideration is for the club to meet the needs of all their customers (WHO = members, guests and visitors) by understanding WHAT people want to know about, and the WHEN and HOW they want to receive that information.

This is particularly important when needing to deliver messages to customers about events, competitions, facilities or club announcements.

Create a Facebook page

If your club does not have a club Facebook page, you should create one as it can be one of the best marketing assets for the club and requires no financial investment.

If you already have a club Facebook page, you should ensure it is regularly updated as it can be used as a great tool to keep current members not only informed but engaged with the club which helps promote a healthy club community and this ultimately helps maintain a club’s membership base.

A good social media strategy can have a positive effect on sales as it increases the overall exposure of your club, and it can help you promote your club’s deals and services to a far wider audience.

Because social media is such an efficient way of connecting with people, you can use social media to conduct market research. You can conduct surveys or polls which will enable you to find out what service or deal you should be offering next. Take a look at what the bigger and more established clubs are doing on social media as this can be helpful when you plan your strategy.

Planning an open day

Take some time to start planning your club’s open day. Here are some suggestions:

• Start organising and planning for your club’s open day ahead of time.

• While you will not be able to set a date just yet, you can still plan out how the day will proceed and you can work out what kind of budget you want to set aside for the day.

• Sign up to Bowls Queensland’s “Come & Try” Day. This day is usually held in October, but contact us and we can help with promoting your day at any time of the year by supplying customised flyers and posters.

• Important points to remember:

• Encourage your club members to bring their family, friends or work colleagues down. This will guarantee you more participants on the day.

• Ensure you do not run your open day for too long. This will give you a better chance to gain more volunteers as they won’t be giving up their whole day. A suitable time during the week could be from 4 pm- 7 pm or a Sunday could be 11 am- 2 pm.

• Everyone in attendance is to sign the function sheet. This is how you can communicate to the participants to get them back to the club. Also, this can be used for feedback to gather ideas on what you did well and other areas you can improve on.

• Encourage members to bring their coloured bowls down for participants to use instead of the older black and brown sets. This will make it more appealing for the players and at the same time easier to handle the bowls.

• Make sure all participants don’t go home empty-handed. Develop a club brochure to take home. Other ideas to get them back could include 10% off their next meal at the club, free barefoot bowls, a free drink when next at the club or half-price social membership.

Advertising

Online:

The cheapest and most effective form of advertising is through targeted paid Facebook advertisements. You can target potentially thousands of people in the local area around your club which will help raise awareness of your event over the space of a week for less than $100. You can also encourage current members of the club to share the ad on their personal Facebook page for free to help increase the reach of your advert, as well as posting on the club’s page and local community group pages.

Word of mouth and letter drops:

Another great way to advertise is through word of mouth, members can invite family members and friends to the event to help boost numbers. Letter drops around the neighbourhood and canvassing in high traffic areas also help promote the event when selling the event. It is important to let them know there will be free food, music and a relaxed atmosphere (as well as beverages available at your club’s bar if your club has one).

TV/Radio stations and Newspapers:

Try and see if you can get a small shout out for free on local media outlets about your day, it’s also a good idea to invite them along to the event as they may come down to cover it as a news story which will help provide the club with extra press and exposure. Get to know the right contact person for your local community newspaper and radio station. Any story you can get about your club is free advertising! We hope that this has provided some ideas for you to help promote your club in 2024.

SPECIAL RATES FOR CLUBS

Do you have an event you’d like to promote in the Bowler? Or perhaps you would like to encourage bowlers to have a social rollup and have a meal at the club’s restaurant? Do you have a job available at your club? A small advert in the Bowler could help bring people to your club.

The Queensland Bowler magazine is offering a classified section specifically for clubs to promote their services, events and tournaments. We recognise that traditional advertising can exceed a club’s budget, so we will be dedicating a section in the Queensland Bowler to club promotion with heavily discounted rates. The news is even better if you are a club wanting to sell/swap/donate equipment, as these equipment classified ads are completely free! Choose from:

EQUIPMENT Classified Ad

Free to clubs for equipment swaps, donations and sales. Your advert will appear in the classified section in a standard running text format. Approx 50 words and one image. Free.

Classified Text Ad

The most cost-effective form of advertising. Your advert will appear in the classified section in a standard running text format in columns. Rate is charged per column line of text. Enhancements like icons, images, colour, large font, or borders lead to extra charges.

Rates start at just $12.50 per line, with a minimum of four lines - minimum spend $50 (excl GST).

Classified Display Ad

More visually appealing than classified text ads. You can add different colours, logo or image to make the ad visually more effective for the target readers. These ads are charged on the basis of per column cm.

Rates start at just $11.95 per column cm, minimum spend $100 (excl GST).

Display Ad

The most extravagant and eye-catching form of advertising. They can occupy any amount of space in this promotional section. Display ads are ideal for publishing your flyers.

Rates start at just $250 (excl GST) for a display ad depending on the size. Artwork/high-resolution PDF flyer to be provided. Discounts apply for multiple bookings.

Contact us at media@bowlsqld.org with your request.

getting to know bq director gary costigan

Gary has been a Director on the BQ Board since March 2023. Born and bred in Townsville and living in Townsville, it’s no surprise that Townsville Bowls Club was his first club.

Having previously played tennis, badminton and squash, Gary decided to take up bowls in the early 1980s because his mother started playing bowls. His dad also joined the club, but said he was never going to play ‘this game’!

Along the way, Gary has spent the last 30 years at Thuringowa Bowls Club.

In his early days, his bowling was modest and he had no visions of going anywhere with it.

Being a shift worker in the electricity industry for 40 years didn’t make it easy to have holidays or time off and sync them with bowling hours.

However, once the children were off his hands, retiring and his wife passing away in 2012, he found he had a bit more time and he put that extra time into bowling.

Gary started to seek being involved at representative level and began at club level. He was board chairman for four to five years as well as being games director, but he never wanted to be president or a club selector.

“Once you get involved in representative level, you tend to travel a lot more and meet up with people from Bowls Queensland and that started up another opening,” Gary said.

With several grandchildren, Gary is adamant that there is no chance of any of his children or grandchildren being interested in bowls as they have their own careers and sports interests.

When asked what he would say to younger bowlers to encourage them to bowl, Gary responded with, “the way I encourage people to play now is what my father told me - it’s an old man’s game that young people can play and young people can excel at”.

“It’s a sport with lot of stigmas attached to it because it is generally perceived that old people play.

“However, young people can play and enjoy it and excel.

“It is a hand/eye coordination sport, which people don’t realise.

“It is skill, body strength, having good eyesight and being able to bend over!”

The other thing that changed the bowls world for Gary, was when he did a coaching course, which he would highly recommend as it teaches you and makes you think about what you teach others.

“Thorpy and Dennis are absolutely brilliant and blew me away,” he said.

Gary added that once you play at district level you will never go back and social bowls is never the same. Currently, he doesn’t play a lot of bowls, mainly because he is involved in a lot of other things too and believes you really have to monitor your own burnout factor.

He enjoys it when he does play and doesn’t want to stop playing. However, he doesn’t want it to become a chore, just because he loves it.

Gary has met a “hell of a lot of characters in the game and I have a thousand stories I could sit down with. Collectively, they are memories”.

BQ Director Gary Costigan

ASHLEE KNIGHT ACADEMY SPIRIT AWARD

Congratulations to Hayden Oster, who is the inaugaural recipient of the Ashlee Knight Academy Spirit Award for 2023.

The Ashlee Knight Academy Spirit Award has been created to ensure Ashlee’s legacy and exceptional qualities continue to live on and inspire the Academy Squad.

Ashlee, a much loved and respected inaugural Academy Squad Member, lost her courageous battle with cancer on January 4, 2024 at the age of 20.

This award will be presented annually, upon the conclusion of each season, to an athlete who epitomises the academy spirit.

That is someone who has been 100 per cent committed to the program and learning, has embraced the continual pursuit of excellence and exhibited exceptional personal qualities of the highest standard.

Well done Hayden!

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Development with David Barnes

Kandanga Bowls Club featured in ABC Rural News Article

ABC Rural News Reporter Jennifer Nichols recently wrote a fantastic article about the Kandanga Country Club on what the club could offer to make it sustainable.

The article focuses on how the club has been offering camping facilities and the positive outcomes that have occurred as a result, from not only a facilities point of view but also out on the green.

The club has improved membership and bowling activity, and this has led to meals being served six nights a week and, as a result, giving

employment to some school-based trainees as

The article also talks about how, as a result of the camping option, the community uses the club to have functions. In particular, a wedding reception held at the club was a great success. Everyone had a great time with a number of guests not having to worry about travelling home due to the camping facilities available. This has also led to return visits to the club and the word being spread about what Kandanga Bowls Club has to offer.

The Roma Bowls Club also features in the article about how they have to look at different ways to make a sustainable club for the future.

The word ‘sustainable’ is used by both clubs as they are thinking about how to survive moving forward, not just for today’s members but for future generations too, which is how clubs thrive and become part of the community.

While not all clubs can offer camping facilities, it may be time to reflect on what your club can do to bring people through the door. Diversifying your business, so that you are not reliant on just one or two things, is the key to success.

To read the full article please visit this link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2024-01-29/bowls-club-camping-revitalises-queensland-venue/103314326

Contact your CSMs David Barnes at 0429 442 818 and dbarnes@bowls.com.au or Micheal Sorrensen at 0447 507 040 or msorrensen@bowls.com.au

The campsite at Kandanga Bowls Club

part of the team.

CAMPING A HIT AT KANDANGA COUNTRY CLUB

The fixed costs associated with running a club must be covered and unfortunately, bowls alone doesn’t cover it.

As many times before, Kandanga Country Club experienced a major flood in 2013, with 450mm of water inside the clubhouse and 1.5 metres over the green. Around that time, with bowling numbers on the decline, there was a realisation that something had to change. Many options were considered, but something unexpected evolved over the next couple of years.

Our green keeper was living in a caravan beside the club and, occasionally, bowlers would request to park their vans overnight for bowls carnivals. Other campers saw the vans and also requested to stay. Eventually, we realised we could charge a fee, accumulate funds and make improvements accordingly. We’ve added power and water to 18 sites, improved shower and toilet facilities and found ways to make the campers feel welcome. Free barefoot bowls for campers is included to nurture bowls and we encourage campers to go onto the green whenever it is free. Some leave their bowls on the side of the green and come back three or four times during the day.

Once the flow of campers increased, it was important to open the doors so that we were there to collect the fees. The team worked on a strategy of finding 363 reasons to come to Kandanga Country Club (we close on Christmas Day and Good Friday). Bowls makes up around 100 days, so we improved our dining experience, offering weddings, family parties, seminars, special events, even degustations featuring seven wines and seven courses with a French chef showcasing local foods. There’s now a bottle shop, a café for that morning coffee, local fruit and vegetables on sale, trivia nights, local art on display, pokies and cold beer.

Camping was up by 32 per cent in 2023, with an average of 14 vans per night for the year and those fees collected have a multiplying effect as we now employ eight locals and serve meals six nights a week. Kitchen sales in the last year are up 26 per cent and bowls increased by 22 per cent.

Our team has developed contact lists of camping and sporting groups, car clubs and music groups. We market to them regularly and we have some bookings up to 18 months in advance. Camping groups come to visit for up to a week and they make the place feel like home. They sit on outdoor seating and play cards until late at night. We lock the building, tell them where to turn the lights off and we go home.

Wedding parties and guests book for up to four days at a time, using the popular Double Bridge adjacent to the club as a backdrop for the wedding ceremony, the clubhouse for the wedding breakfast without the hassle of organising transport for guests.

Visitors can wine and dine, play free barefoot bowls, join in on bowls events, swim at the nearby pool, go for long walks and even become members of our club. The team is trained in tourism information to encourage visits to other local hotspots. We give variety in our meals with Monday Steak Night, Tuesday Fish & Chips, WICKED Wednesday, Thursday Roast and Friday and Saturday A La Carte.

Four of the eight members of our team are local school students given the opportunity to complete Hospitality or Sports Tourism Traineeships. By the end of Year 12, these students receive a qualification and are confident and skilled workers.

The most common compliment we receive is, “we love the ambiance of the clubhouse and the parkland”. Overlooking the Double Bridge, the club is located on the banks of Kandanga Creek and celebrates 75 years of bowls this year!

If your club is interested in knowing more, phone the manager Julie Worth 0438 843195 or come for a weekend or special occasion. You can also find a video on the Kandanga Country Club YouTube channel.

Contributed by Julie Worth

Bowlers and campers enjoying a roll up at Kandanga Country Club

A refresher on the laws of bowls

As we begin a new bowling year, I know that many clubs have new members and I thought I would update a list of basic laws for new bowlers with the new laws and page numbers. However, I am sure that the following laws will be of assistance to all bowlers who may need a brush-up on the laws we must use in every game. It is important that we all know the basic laws. I have included the domestic measurements for Australia, as the Laws of Sport of Bowls relates to international measurements.

Law 40: Players’ duties: (page 56)

40.3: The Lead:

The Lead of the team to play first in an end must:

• 40.3.1: Place the mat as described in Law 6.1.1 and

• 40.3.2: Deliver the jack and make sure that it is centred before delivering the first bowl of the end.

Law 6: Placing the Mat: (page 21)

6.1 At the start of each end:

• 6.1.1 Before the start of play in each end, the player to play first must place the centre line of the mat lengthwise along the centre line of the rink, with the mat line at least 2 metres from the rear ditch and at least 23 metres from the front ditch or 21 metres from the “T”.

• 6.2.3 If the mat is off the centre line, it must be moved to that line.

Law 10: Improper delivery of the jack: (page 25)

10.3: If the jack is improperly delivered once by each player in any end, it must not be delivered again in that end. Instead, it must be centred with the nearest point of the jack to the mat line being 2 metres from the front ditch and the mat must be placed as described in law 6.1.1 by the first player to play. (Please note that the mat may be moved by the Lead when replaying the jack).

10.7: After the first player to play has delivered the first bowl, no-one has the right to challenge the legality of the original position of the jack.

Law 7: Position on the mat: (page 23)

7.1: Before delivery, a player must be standing on the mat with all or part of at least one foot on the mat. At the moment they deliver the jack or a bowl, the player must have all or part of one foot on or above the mat.

Law 13: Possession of the Rink: (page 27)

• 13.1: Possession of the rink will belong to the player or team whose bowl is being played.

• 13.2: As soon as each bowl comes to rest, possession of the rink will transfer to the opposing player or team after allowing time for marking a toucher as soon as it comes to rest.

Law 19: Dead Jack: (page 32)

• 19.1: If the jack is moved by a bowl in play, it is a dead jack if it:

• 19.1.1: Passes completely outside the boundaries of the rink of play.

• 19.1.2: Comes to rest in any hollow in the face of the bank, or

• 19.1.3: Comes to rest at less than 18 metres, as measured in a straight line, from the centre of the mat line to the nearest point of the jack.

Law 14: Touchers: (page 28)

14.1: A bowl in its original course which touches the jack, even though it comes to rest in the ditch within the boundaries of the rink of play, is a live bowl and is called a toucher. If a bowl in its original course does not touch the jack, it is called a non-toucher.

Copy of the new Law Book

• 14.2: A bowl is also a toucher if, after having come to rest:

• 14.2.1: It falls and touches the jack before the next bowl is delivered or

• 14.2.2: In the case of the last bowl of an end, it falls and touches the jack within the period of 30 seconds that applies under Law 23.1.

Law 15: Marking a Toucher: (page 29)

15.1 A toucher must be marked with chalk by a member of the team that delivered the bowl or by the marker as soon as it comes to rest.

Law 20: Dead Ends: (page 33)

• 20.1: A dead end is not counted as a completed end even if all the bowls required to be played have been played.

• 20.3 If the skips or opponents in Singles or the Umpire declare an end dead, the first to play in that end must also play first when the end is replayed.

Law 22: Result of an end - The shot: (page 34)

• 22.2 A bowl must not be moved until the opponents have agreed whether it is a shot or not, except where a bowl has to be moved so that another bowl can be measured.

• 22.3 As the shots are agreed, each shot bowl can be removed from the head (by hand not foot).

Note: When the result of the end is finalised – all players at the head end are to help kick all bowls back to a position behind the mat.

Law 29.1: Playing out of turn: (page 39)

29.1.1: If a player plays out of turn, the opposing skip can stop the bowl and return it to the player to play it in the proper order.

Law 29.2: Playing another player’s bowl: (page 39)

29.2.1: If a player plays another player’s bowl instead of their own, the other player’s bowl must be replaced with the player’s own bowl.

Law 32: Leaving the green during play and Substitutes: (page 41)

32.1 A player must not delay play by leaving the rink of play or their team unless their opponent agrees, and then only for no more than 10 minutes.

Law 12: Position of players: (page 26)

• 12.1.1: Players at the mat end of the rink who are not delivering a bowl must stand at least 1 metre behind the mat.

• 12.1.2: Players at the head end of the rink and who are not controlling the play must stand:

• 12.1.2.1: Behind the jack if they are members of the team which is in possession of the rink.

• 12.1.2.2: Behind the jack and away from the head if they are members of the team not in possession of the rink.

• 12.1.2.3: On the surrounds of the green if the jack is in the ditch.

• 12.1.2.4: Well clear of the head if it is not possible to stand on the surrounds.

DR.3.2: Duties relating to scorecards: (page 115)

• 3.2.1: In singles, the marker is responsible for keeping, completing and dealing with the card.

• 3.2.2: In pairs, the skip of each team.

• 3.2.3: In triples, the skip of each team.

• 3.2.4: In fours, the second of each team.

A refresher on the laws of bowls - continued

Continued from page 21

Definitions: (page 11)

C.15: Jack or bowl in its original course: A jack or bowl from its delivery until it comes to rest, no matter how many times (for a bowl) it comes into contact with the jack or other bowls before it comes to rest or becomes dead.

C.16: Jack or bowl in motion: A jack or bowl which is moving during play after it has been at rest as part of the head.

C.20: Mat Line: The edge of the mat nearest the front ditch. All measurements involving the mat and a jack, or a bowl will be taken from the centre of the mat line.

Types of Games: (page 15)

Law 1: Play arrangements:

• 1.1: Singles game

• 1.2: Team game

• 1.3: Side game

• 1.4: Series of singles games, team games or side games, or

• 1.5: Tournament of games.

Distances in the direction of play: (page 102)

• A. 2 metres – minimum distance of a delivered jack from the front ditch.

• B. 14 metres – minimum distance of a live bowl from the mat line.

• C. 18 metres – minimum distance of a rebounding jack from the mat line.

• D. 21 metres – minimum distance of a delivered jack from the mat line.

I hope the above is of assistance to you and wish you all enjoyable and competitive bowls.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING FOR SALE

Model ATM 10 line drilling machine. Three years old. 3-phase connection . Good condition.

Call Mob: 0415 486 587

Graceville Bowls Club

EQUIPMENT Classified Ad

Free to clubs for equipment swaps, donations and sales. Your advert will appear in the classified section in a standard running text format. Approx 50 words and one image. Free. Contact us at media@bowlsqld.org

Classified Text Ad

The most cost-effective form of advertising. Advertise your events or club restaurant for special club rates!

See p15 for prices.

Tony Bonnell is Australia’s first para bowler to amass 100 international matches at the 2024 Trans Tasman Series. Congratulations Tony!

AUSTRALIA TAKES 2024 TRANS TASMAN

Final standings

The

Home Jackaroos clinched the 2024 Trans Tasman series after taking out four of the five competitions in tricky conditions on the sensational last day.

Played at Naenae bowling club in Wellington, New Zealand from February 2-4, 2024 Australia took home the open men’s and women’s trophies as well as both development events.

The Blackjacks para trophy win was their only salutation of the three days.

Right at Home Jackaroo women: Kristina Krstic, Natasha van Eldik, Ellen Fife, Kelsey Cottrell & Dawn Hayman

Right at

Right at Home Jackaroo men: Aron Sherriff, Corey Wedlock, Aaron Wilson, Carl Healey & Aaron Teys

Right at Home Jackaroo development men: Nathan Black, Matt Lucas, Nick Cahill, Ben Twist & Cody Packer

Right at Home Jackaroo development women: Jamie-Lee Worsnop, Brianna Smith, Chloe Stewart, Kylie Whitehead & Cassandra Millerick

Images: Bowls Australia

RIGHT AT HOME JACKAROOS 2024 LEADERSHIP TEAM

The Right at Home Jackaroos 2024 leadership team has been appointed after a player vote was conducted among the Open and Para squads. Six members have been selected and will act as the conduit between the athletes, coaches and high performance staff in order to enhance the program and create even stronger connections within the already cohesive squad.

The team consists of Kelsey Cottrell, Carl Healey, Ben Twist, Cheryl Lindfield, Serena Bonnell and James Reynolds.

Cottrell has been one of the most in form players in the world over the past two years and her international record speaks for itself, amassing three World Bowls Championships titles and a Commonwealth Games gold. Off the green, the 33-year-old is one of the most respected leaders within the Australian lineup and conducts herself with grace and humility in victory or defeat. The Helensvale product established that when she and her Australian fours teammates stayed on the green to watch Jacky Hudson and Jake Fehlberg for the conclusion of the vision impaired mixed pairs final of last year’s World Championships despite going down to England in their own decider moments earlier.

Healey has been a beacon of positivity and tenacity since his inclusion within the squad at the end of 2020. Waiting more than a year to make his debut, the New South Welshman quickly became a mainstay within the team, being selected for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and Gold Coast World Championships. The 36-year-old clinched a silver in Birmingham before making history and notching two gold medals in Queensland in the men’s triples and fours, while also exhibiting magnificent leadership qualities both on and off the rink. Whether it be his calmness and patience in tricky situations or his support of his teammates despite suffering heartbreak, the Cabramatta member’s team first mentality embodies the Jackaroos 24/7 mantra.

Twist is a natural leader in his own right, taking up a coaching role within the sport to ensure that the next generation receive the same guidance that he did coming through the ranks. One of the most humble individuals within the Jackaroos squad, Twist has been instrumental in upholding the standards of the team and playing the game in the best spirit. On the green, he has been one of the most consistent players within the squad that culminated in a silver medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games with Healey and Barrie Lester.

Bonnell and Lindfield have together made themselves mainstays of the lineup, selected for the para women’s pairs for both Birmingham and the Gold Coast. The duo made history as the nation’s first female para pairs teams at the Commonwealth Games and World Championships, earning a silver medal in the United Kingdom and a bronze on home soil last September.

Bonnell is a trailblazer for para bowls not just in Australia, but globally, and is one of the most team orientated athletes within the sport. A pioneer of inclusivity, the Club Tweed product ensures that each team member is valued and heard, while exhibiting tremendous leadership qualities.

Lindfield is much of the same, a much loved member of the team that has a wonderful way with people thanks to her background in human resources. She is always team first, and like Bonnell, remains with the squad even when her disciplines have concluded to support her compatriots.

Finally, Reynolds is an inspiring teammate for the rest of the Australian team, able to perform with excellence under extreme pressure. Making an international comeback after retirement, the Cabramatta product managed to clinch a remarkable gold medal in the men’s para pairs with Damien Delgado at last year’s World Championships in one of the most heartwarming stories of the year. Reynolds’ leadership within the team is superb, as he is also the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory Pathways Coach within the high performance setup. He understands athletes and utilises his experience to get the best out of everyone around him.

National Coach Gary Willis is thrilled with the team selected, and labels being a member of the leadership team one of the greatest honours that can be bestowed upon a Jackaroo.

“Being selected as a leader is a huge honour and a great show of respect to them from their teammates,” he said.

“We look forward to working with this wonderful group of knowledgeable people to see what new innovations and further support they bring to our program to keep us moving forward.”

THINK YOU KNOW

As lawn bowlers we think we know everything, but how often is our bowls knowledge put to the test? We’ve created a lawn bowls quiz to get your brain whirring, see if you can correctly answer all of the questions below!

1. Which famous sailor was said to be playing bowls at the time of being informed of an impending attack?

2. What is the name of the oldest affiliated bowls club in Queensland?

3. Which two Aussie women bowlers set a new Guinness World Record together in December 2023?

4. Where were the 2008 outdoor World Bowls Championships held?

5. Potters Leisure Resort is a famous bowling venue in which country?

6. Which film directed by Mel Smith and released in 2003 is all about lawn bowls?

7. Which major US city is home to Bowling Green Park?

8. Why do they call it a ‘jack’ in lawn bowls?

9. Which Australian bowls club has a gorilla as their mascot?

10. The annual Golden Nugget competition is played at which bowls club?

11. Which bowler took off their shirt following their Commonwealth Games win in 2006?

12. ‘Lurch’ is the nickname of which well known Australian bowler?

13. The standard length of a lawn bowling green should be between how many metres?

14. What is the name of Australia’s most northern bowls club?

16. What was the name of Jack Simpson’s special move in the film Crackerjack?

17. Which Australian actor played Stan Coombs in Crackerjack?

15. On which Brisbane street is BQ’s head office?

18. Which former Jackaroo has their own brand of wines?

YOUR STUFF?

19. Which high school has won the Secondary Schools Cup for the past three years?

20. Who was Australia’s first bowler to be titled world number one in men’s singles?

21. The world’s oldest surviving bowling green is located in which city?

22. In what year was Bowls Australia formed?

23. In the 2018 Commonwealth Games, how many gold medals did the Australian bowlers win?

24. Which year was para bowls first included in the World Bowls Championships?

25. Bowls Australia’s head office is located in which city?

26. Which Qld bowler is affectionately known as ‘Omar’?

27. Who was the 2019 Australian Open Women’s Singles winner?

28. Which team took out the Bowls Premier League Qld (PLQ) title in 2023?

29. Bowls Australia was originally known as what before it changed its name?

30. The World Outdoor Bowls Championships were first held in which year?

4.

3.

WHAT’S YOUR CLUB BEEN DOING?

QLD’s Oldest Affiliated Club turns 130!

Doon Villa Bowls Club celebrated its 130th anniversary in December 2022, making it the oldest affiliated club in Queensland.

Doon Villa Management decided to keep this anniversary an in-house affair and invited senior non-playing members and current players. Following a delicious lunch, members congregated on the green for a group photo, after which a game of bowls was enjoyed by all.

The club has a fascinating history. Lawn bowling was first introduced into Maryborough by a Scottish immigrant named James Fairlie during the 1870s after he installed two rinks behind his home on the south-western corner of Queen Street and March Street.

Bowls became popular with the people of Maryborough and the sport was soon played every Saturday as well as public holidays. Fairlie used his Ligina Wita wooden Bowls which he had obtained from Glasgow based manufacturer Thomas Taylor.

It was only a few years later when another Scottish national, Andrew Heron Wilson decided to build a two-rink bowling green at his home too.

His house named “Doon Villa” was situated at 335 Lennox Street, on the northern bank of the Mary River about one mile from the township centre and offered commanding views of Maryborough. The name Doon Villa means River Villa in Scots.

It was customary for Wilson to invite his friends to join him in games and it generated much interest at the time. So much so, that players decided to form an official club and name it the Doon Villa Bowling Club.

Spirits high at the 130th anniversary match

Board Chairman & President Wayne Raguse

Wilson was patron, president and supporter of many societies in the Maryborough sporting sphere. He was also captain of the first cricket club formed in Maryborough and was patron of a number of football clubs and cricket clubs.

On December, 8 in 1893 the Doon Villa Bowls Club was inaugurated with the Honorable A. Heron Wilson becoming the club’s first president.

The bowling green was saved for special use of gentlemen players of Maryborough, who met at intervals for a friendly game of bowls. Many an exciting game was played on the green to the delight of not only themselves but the spectators as well.

Among those who honoured the establishment with their presence were Sir Henry and Lady Norma Lamington (one time Governor of Queensland).

On July, 5 in 1900 the Governor of Queensland Lord Lamington visited Maryborough and found time to indulge in a game of pairs on the Doon Villa green.

His Excellency teamed up with Wilson against G. Stupart and John Young and the game finished in favour of Lord Lamington and Wilson by six points.

Doon Villa’s membership base grew and by 1905 consisted of 30 members. Under Wilson’s auspices and with the assistance of expensive gardeners “Doon Villa” became one of the prettiest and most elegant Homesteads in Queensland.

In 1906, Mr Wilson passed away and the club was granted lease of the green but within a few years the maintenance of the site became too expensive to sustain with the fees from the small membership base.

The club decided to relocate from there to the Orcadia green located on the corner of Kent and Prospect street which was situated besides the home of John Young.

In 1911, the club decided to look for a new location once again and located the new Doon Villa green where the club currently resides.

A 1,000 gallon tank and pipes had been installed in readiness for the move, although funds were once again getting low and it was therefore decided to increase the annual subscription to £3.30 a year per member with an entrance fee of £2.26.

When the club moved from Prospect Street to Lennox Street in September 1915, the new site consisted of a clubhouse with an eight-rink grass green.

The club remained in use until 1975 when a fire destroyed the club house and a new clubhouse with pavilion was built in its current location in 1977.

At this time a second grass green was introduced to cater for the growing numbers of bowlers.

Doon Villa Bowls Club consisted of a Men’s club and Ladies Associates which later became a Men’s club and a Ladies’ club, which operate as separate entities from the same clubhouse.

In 1996, the two clubs amalgamated and now operates under a board of management with a Men’s section and a Ladies’ section and was incorporated in the same year.

In 2007, the Doon Villa Bowls Club decided to install a carpet surface and the second green at Doon Villa Bowls Club was then changed to a carpet surface in 2014.

“It’s great to be a part of a club with such a long history behind it and there’s a great camaraderie between all our members,” Doon Villa chairman Wayne Raguse said.

“I hope the club will still be here in another 130 years.”

Contributed by Sheila Jensen

Statue of founder A H Wilson

Tully and Stratford Bowls Clubs Face Big Cleanup

After the two recent tropical cyclones in Far North Queensland, there was some damage to our district bowls clubs’ greens.

Tully Bowls Club, the first to do repairs, sent out the call for volunteers to assist the contractors in moving the mat. On the first day, 35 helpers turned up to assist the contractors to roll the mat to halfway. What a wonderful community effort. After hearing that 10 of the first day volunteers would not be able to return the next day, another call went out and, on the second day, 50 volunteers turned up to do the other half. What a

great effort by the bowls family and friends.

The Stratford Bowls Club was inundated by the significant overflow of the Barron River and is still in the recovery process. The club house is operating but the green will need work to recover as it is a grass green. Approximately 4.5 metres of water, including a king tide, had flooded the green which has been a part of the Stratford community for 71 years. The greenkeeper’s specially designed equipment, comprising eight machines, was also damaged.

The continuing closure of the green due to ongoing repairs has been extremely expensive and time consuming, affecting revenue and causing great financial difficulties. Stratford Bowls Club is a small member, non-for-profit organisation. All workers are volunteers and most work full time.

However, Stratford are optimistic that the green will be reopening mid to late March. As anyone would understand, closure of a club for three months is not ideal.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, Tully received 450ml rain on Saturday, February 24, which has re-damaged the greens. The Board, management and staff of Bowls Queensland are thinking of all bowlers and their families from Far North Queensland and wish them all the best in their recovery efforts.

Above and below: Volunteers helping the Tully Bowls Club after flood damage

Above: Stratford Bowls Club is repairing the damage caused by flood waters and is expecting to reopen in March

Contributed by Eddie Czarnecki, Secretary Bowls TFNQ, Rod Bradley, Tully & Simone Miller, Stratford

Queensland Bowler March

Weipa’s New Shades

Weipa Bowls Club recently held the official opening for the installation of new shade structures around their two grass greens, as the previous shade structures did not provide full coverage of the banks surrounding the greens.

The Queensland Government provided $370,000 in funding via the Minor Infrastructure Program and the Club funded the rest.

The new shades stand as both a physical structure and a symbol of progress, growth and the enduring spirit of camaraderie that defines the Club. The shades will shield players and spectators from the harsh Far North Queensland sun, and become a gathering place, a spot for friendly conversations and a witness to countless memorable moments on the greens.

Weipa Bowls Club has a long history. The initial site of the Club and one bowling green, was built in 1967 with the first game played in May 1968. The current site with two greens was established in 1975 and the Club has continued to grow since then.

The new shade structures surround both the Jim Martin & Nev Brown greens; both men having played significant parts in the history of the club and been championship bowlers..

Jim Martin, as “the best greenkeeper in North Queensland”, was entrusted to lay the first bowling green for Weipa Bowls Club and became green keeper there for some time. He was also involved in the construction of the two new bowling greens at the present site.

Nev “Bomber” Brown was the Club President and was in his fourth term in 1973 when he and another bowler got to the semifinals of the state pairs in Brisbane. Nev was later selected for the Queensland State trials, giving Weipa Bowls Club recognition all over the state.

A highlight of the club’s playing calendar is the annual

Bauxite Classic competition held each August. Ladies’ pairs are held over

fours the following. This is a strong and immensely popular

local club and interstate to compete for their share of the prize

Shades on the Jim Martin Green

2023 Weipa Bauxite Fours players

Centre bank shades

Shades on four sides of the Nev Brown Green

Weipa bowlers with the new shades

Contributed by Karen Phillips

the first weekend and men’s

competition with players coming from the

money.

99 Years for Musgrave Hill’s Bill!

Musgrave Hill Bowler, Bill McDonald, celebrated his 99th birthday on Thursday, February 2 with Chairman Lou Maffie (to left of Bill) and fellow Men’s Thursday Bowlers.

Bill still bowls twice a week, Mondays with the Friendship Club and social bowls on Thursdays, and it doesn’t look like he’s slowing down.

He has mastered the Bowling Arm and is quick to give advice on the green (especially if you are short).

Congratulations, Bill, we look forward to seeing your letter from the king next year!

Contributed by Trevor Love

Keeping Cool at Jubilee BC in Townsville

What a summer it has been. The extended run of hot weather has made us wonder how we could keep our members safe in the heat.

For our Tuesday afternoon jackpot self-selected Triples, we reduced the time on the green from 21 ends to 18. But even then, with the mercury hitting the high thirties, and the humidity making it feel like the mid-forties (under our shade) we needed more action.

The ideal solution was for players to return to the air-

Managing the heat with icy poles

conditioned clubhouse for a short break after playing six ends, where they were provided a frozen icy pole.

After another six ends, players returned for refreshments before heading out to complete the final six ends of the game.

This format has been well accepted, and with some of our regular players in their 80s, there were no heat-related issues. Instead, there were plenty of smiles after an afternoon enjoying the game we all love.

Contributed by Glenda Mann

Musgrave Hill’s Bill McDonald (centre front) celebrating his 99th birthday with club members

Coaching with BQ Coaching Committee

Gateway District Coaching Session Enjoyed by

By Alan Thorp

A coaching session was conducted by Dennis O’ Toole and Alan Thorp (Thorpy) with the Gateway District ladies at the Victoria Point Bowling Club on Friday, February 2.

Twenty-five players from the Gateway District Ladies Bowls Association were introduced to front and back end drills, shot selection, team work and team building.

Many other aspects of team play were covered, including preparation for competition, team roles, engagement and the mental toughness and mindset necessary to be competitive and successful.

The six-and-a-half hour program also included the constants and variables associated with bowls delivery. An overview of the importance of warm up and warm downs was also covered.

All

The correct way to use the stress ball and methods to overcome anxiety, and loss of concentration/focus during a game, was also addressed along with many other mental aspects that may be encountered.

District selectors were in attendance with Dennis and myself thanking Leslie Mitchell and President Kay for the opportunity to work with the potential Gateway Ladies District side.

Dennis and I wished them all the success in May and hopefully they go one or two better than last year having won Division 3.

From feedback received, the players in attendance really enjoyed the material presented and Leslie was positive about getting the BQ Presenters & Assessors back prior to Pennants for further training in May or early June.

COURSES IN LONGREACH, WEIPA, THURSDAY ISLAND, MT ISA & CHARLEVILLE

Bowls Queensland was fortunate to receive a grant from the QLD Government to assist in travel costs to run coaching and umpiring courses/sessions in various regional areas. BQ encourages members of these clubs and surrounding areas to support these visits by completing the training on offer:

• Weipa - 9 & 10 March

• Thursday Island - 12 & 13 March

• Mt Isa – 23 & 24 March

• Charleville – 13 & 14 April

Thank you to the QLD Government for its support of this initiative.

If you are distracted,step off the mat and start your Pre Shot Routine again. Refocus and ensure your preparation for the shot is not distracted by something outside your control.

ECKA’S TIP