Back L-R: Kevin Cook (Club Coach), Kerry Lappin (Club Coach), Zach Flood, Charlie Menz, Todd Brain, Caysee Wilson, Bill Tumbridge (Club Coach)Front L-R: Chloe Runge, Riley Paterson, Josh Williamson, Jack Chirgwin & David Hayes (Clubs Games Director and Super Hero)
GLASSHOUSE COUNTRY JUNIORS ON TOP FORM Located in the beautiful town of Glass House in the Sunshine Coast Hinterlands, one could be forgiven for thinking that the Glasshouse Country Bowls Club was a small country club. Small? Perhaps. Mighty? Definitely. Glasshouse Country Bowls Club is a thriving club with an even mightier thriving junior team. Home to accredited national coach and umpire who is now age 17, Chloe Runge talks the talk and walks the walk as far as bowls is concerned. In fact, Chloe was instrumental in encouraging Bill Tumbridge to start a junior program at the club. They have never looked back. The junior program is thriving under Bill’s leadership and Jacqui Hineman’s coaching expertise, with their U18s attending and claiming medals at State level. The Queensland Bowler caught up with Bill Tumbridge and Jacqui Hineman to find out more about the junior program. Bill started the junior program after being encourage by young Chloe Runge and her mentor, previous long-term president/coach/umpire and general all-round champion, Mr Jim Tatum. “I would like to thank and congratulate Jim for his many, many years of dedication to the club and its juniors,” Bill said. “Unfortunately, Jim has had to move onto another area with his family, but he will always be remembered for his dedication and support to our club and his passion for helping our juniors. “This encouragement for me to start a junior program came some six years ago, at a time when my grandson, Jack Chirgwin, was looking for an outlet following a serious health diagnosis. Bill would also like to credit John McSwain, now aged 93, for pointing out to him that “75 per cent of the people at their bowls club won’t be here in 10 years time,” so the next generation of players is needed for the sport of bowls to continue. There are currently 10 juniors registered at the club: Chloe Runge, Caysee Wilson, Todd Brain, Jack Chirgwin, Riley Pollock, Riley Paterson, Josh Williamson, Charlie Menz, Zacharie Flood and Olivia Guest (new). All of the juniors except for Chloe Runge, Caysee Wilson and Todd Brain have been coached and mentored by Bill. Chloe and Caysee have been coached and mentored by Jim Tatum and Jacqui Hineman and Todd has recently been acquired as a dual member with Cunnumulla Bowls Club. He attends boarding school Churchie in Brisbane and was looking for an outlet to continue playing bowls. 24 Queensland Bowler April 2022
