RBM

Happy retirement to Lesley!

Lesley Bates pens her last column for the Queensland Bowler magazine and prepares for her retirement. Thank you for all your contributions to the magazine and to bowls in general, Lesley!

In September 2018, I was fortunate enough to become Bowls Australia’s Regional Bowls Manager for North Queensland. I had been doing a six-week house sit in Cairns and decided that I no longer wanted to live in a large city. I was alerted to the opportunity to relocate north whist I was engaged as New Farm Bowls Club’s secretary and within a month, I had the job. My keenness was so great, I paid my way to Townsville for a personal interview instead of doing it remotely. Everything fell into place and I have rented the same three-bedroom townhouse for $260 per week just a 10-minute walk into the heart of town.

I “hit the road” within a week. My first visit was to Proserpine where the new board was holding their initial meeting. Heather Brown, champion of Bowls Administration is club and district secretary as well as being the ladies’ club president. I learnt so much about governance, protocols and everyday challenges faced by small country clubs from her. Heather has been my sounding board on many occasions. I could add a very long list of other volunteers that are the backbone of our clubs and from whom I have gained extra knowledge and understanding of club world which has helped me perform my duties.

Attendance at district ladies’ and men’s delegates’ and AGM meetings has been fruitful as I have made valuable relationships and individual club meetings are always a source of information and ideas to pass onto other members.

Within the first 4 months of my appointment, the monsoon and floods hit Townsville so my relationship with the Sport and Recreation officers was invaluable in sourcing small grants and larger projects such a Magnetic Island and Ingham’s artificial surfaces renovation. I have solid and ongoing contact with Local, State and Federal politicians which is very important and I stress to them the need for extra resources to be directed to our sport and clubs.

During my tenure, I helped many clubs with grants and at this point $4 million (300 grants) have been given to my clubs. Highlights have been:

1. Three North versus South Tests (hopefully the venues will remain in the North) 2. Sports Expos in Rockhampton, Mackay, Airlie Beach, Townsville,

Cairns and Mount Isa 3. Three successful bids for Bowls Australia annual awards: • 2021- Bev Rush, Volunteer • 2019 - Gary Costigan, Volunteer • 2018 - Suburban Townsville, Club 4. National and State titles for multi-disability bowls championships at South Suburban Mackay 5. Marked increase in Primary Sporting Schools’ participation with

Rookie Rollers 6. Increase in coach and umpire accreditations 7. More awareness of how to obtain grants 8. The opening of Queensland’s newest club, West Tigers in Mackay district 9. Supply of Rookie Roller kits to many clubs 10. Friendships made during my tenure

Having Townsville as the base for my 82 clubs allowed me to drive the distances required to service my six districts. North West and Leichhardt district visits requires a seven to 10 day absence from home. I would love for the creation, within the next year, of a fourth Regional Manager’s position to cover Central, Leichhardt, Port Curtis and Bundaberg, with a base near or south of Rockhampton. Our 16 RBM positions throughout Australia are supported financially through licensing of products, grants and other sports based funding.

Volunteer grants - Victoria Park Bowls Club

RBM - NORTH QLD RBM - CENTRAL QLD RBM - SOUTH EAST QLD

Lesley Bates pictured above at various expos and promotional events

I am thankful for the support of the Bowls Australia team who have a priority and commitment to keep the RBM program going. Brett Wilkie and his team from Bowls Queensland have also contributed to the successes of Wade, Micheal, our new member David and myself in assisting clubs.

I have been so fortunate to have been in a position where I have travelled, given clubs the tools to be better off financially, provided sound advice and had the addition of many friends to my life. Thanks to the many people who have embraced me as your RBM.

When I had my interview with Brett Wilkie, John Emerson and Deborah Bruce, Debs asked me, “Where do you see yourself in five years, Lesley?” My response was totally frank. It went something like this, “Retired, playing a lot of bowls and travelling around Australia”. So it was never a surprise that I would leave the position at my retirement age with my departure being at Easter.

As the longest serving female Regional Bowls Manager in Australia and for North Queensland, I trust my replacement will be given the same support and encouragement that I have experienced. The new appointee will take over my phone, so when you call 0429 213 207, they will be able to answer you by name if you are on my data base.

Key considerations for managing and protecting your volunteer workforce

Like most grassroots sporting organisations, bowls clubs are often reliant on the contributions of volunteers. In fact, Sport Australia estimates that volunteers donate 158 million hours to sport in Australia each year, or the equivalent of almost 90,000 full-time jobs. In the words of the former Sport Australia CEO Kate Palmer, “Research has conservatively valued that contribution at $3 billion, but to me and the Australian sporting industry our volunteers are priceless – they are the backbone of the Australian sport industry.” Despite so many volunteers contributing their time to bowls and other sporting clubs, these organisations sometimes overlook many of the legal issues and requirements surrounding volunteers. As such, this article provides insight into some of the key questions your bowls club should consider in relation to the use of volunteers.

Are your volunteers truly volunteers?

Clubs often get themselves into trouble when they do not properly consider this question. The general rule is that true volunteers are not paid for assistance they provide, and do not have any legal obligation to provide ongoing assistance. However, merely labelling someone as a volunteer does not make them so. In particular, you should be cautious about situations where someone starts out performing work free of charge, but your club then later decides to start making some sort of payment to the person. If your club gets this wrong, the person may be regarded as an employee at law and may therefore be entitled to benefits such as superannuation, annual leave, and the like.

Volunteer safety

There are four main aspects to volunteer safety: 1. Even in situations where a volunteer is providing assistance to your club, it is important that workplace health and safety considerations are front of mind. Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), your club has various obligations to ensure the health and safety of all workers, including volunteers. Moreover, volunteers themselves also have certain duties to take reasonable care to ensure their own health and safety, and the health and safety of others, and volunteers must comply (so far as they are reasonably able) with any reasonable instruction given to them by your club to ensure the safety of the workplace. 2. In Queensland, volunteers are protected by various laws prohibiting discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment, so it is important that your club has suitable policies and procedures in place to protect volunteers against such behaviour. 3. Remember that your club owes a duty of care to its volunteers and as such, if a volunteer suffers loss or injury as a result of your negligence, they may have a claim against your club. 4. In some situations, your club may be “vicariously liable” for the actions of volunteers performing work on behalf of your club.

In light of the above, it is important your club has appropriate insurances in place to protect not only against harm suffered by volunteers while performing work for your club, but also to protect against harm caused by volunteers acting on your behalf.

Service of liquor by volunteers

If your venue or event is exempt from requiring a liquor licence or permit under the Liquor Act 1992 (Qld), then volunteers are not required to have responsible service of alcohol (RSA) certification.

If your venue does have a liquor licence or permit in place, then volunteers serving or supplying alcohol are not required to hold RSA certification if performing duties under one of the following licence or permit categories: • community club licence (which will apply to most bowls club premises); • community other licence; • community liquor permit; or • restricted liquor permit. In this instance, however, your club must ensure a person with current RSA training is available to supervise the volunteers. Penalties apply for noncompliance. As Kate Palmer so aptly described, volunteers are indeed “the backbone” of the industry. Therefore, given the important role they play and the invaluable contribution they make to a club’s culture, it is essential to ensure you are correctly dealing with the above issues to not only look after the interests of your club, but also the interest of your volunteers.

Is it time to relook at your club’s volunteer framework, policies and procedures? If so, please feel free to call the author, Matt Bradford on 07 3224 0353 to ensure your club is compliant.

BOWEN MEN’S FOURS CARNIVAL

Winners: Team Saggs L-R: Allan Brown - General Manager Abbot Point Operations, John Fielding, Gavin Milne, Bowen’s Peter Bruce, Barry Saroglia & Luchie Gardel

Runners-up: Team Brease L-R: Bruce Macs, Maric Hawkins, Jeff Brease, Steven Mottin with sponsor Allan Brown

By Linda Scells

The Bowen Men’s Fours Carnival was held on February, 12-13. This annual competition has been running for at least 31 years and is always fully booked. There are 16 teams, a full green, eight rinks and five games of 18 ends. The event is sponsored by Abbot Point Operations. The Col Scully Memorial Trophy came into place in 2016 and is awarded to the winning team in this event. Col was a previous president and honour board playing member before his passing. His mother was also a long-time member. Congratulations to all who participated and particularly the 2022 teams who made it to the winning spots. Winners: Team Saggs John Fielding, Gavin Milne, Barry Saroglia, Luchie Gardel Runners-up: Team Brease Bruce Macs, Maric Hawkins, Jeff Brease, Steven Mottin Third place: Team Delaney Mark Defranciscis, Tony Sera, Greg Delaney, Adrian Peno Fourth place: Team Spanny Barry Jackson, Wally Kleidon, Shane Spann, George McDonnell

Members from Gladstone Bowls Club have been busy planning a $50,000 Festival of Bowls Open Fours to be held from May 30 to June 3. The 84 members of the club would like to extend a warm welcome to bowlers across Australia and invite teams to come and play on the club’s well-kept grass greens and enjoy the modern clubhouse. The winning team will score a huge first prize of $20,000 and many other prizes will be on offer, including ‘last day winning team prizes’ and a Sportsman’s Prize.

For more information, see pages 18-19 in this issue of the Queensland Bowler magazine (March 2022) and make a plan to visit one of the most beautiful regions in Queensland, or you can call the club at (07) 4972 1191 or email gladbowls@westnet.com.au for more information.

Gladstone Bowls Club welcomes all bowlers to their upcoming Festival of Bowls

Bowlers enjoying a day on the green Gladstone Bowls Club’s pristine grass greens

By Ged Hall (On behalf of Gary Lynd)

Billy McDonald, much loved member of Musgrave Hill Bowls Club, recently celebrated his 97th birthday. Bill was born in Brisbane in 1925 and worked as a coal miner in Ipswich. At one time, he drove the main ‘Dip’ under the Bremer River and was also a fitter and turner making mining equipment. Joining Musgrave Hill around 2001, Bill won a flag for the club in 2005. Betty, Bill’s 95-year-old sister, also bowls and meets up with her brother when she visits the club from Laidley. Bill has been married to his wife Leila for 43 years and has lived on the Gold Coast for 45 years. Bill is such an important part of Thursday Afternoon Triples that recently, when the club’s courtesy bus became unavailable, our Secretary Manager, Brian Baldwin, jumped in his car to pick him up. Happy Birthday, Billy.

Bill McDonald

Bill McDonald celebrating his birthday with clubmates at Musgrave Hills Bowls Club

HELP NEEDED FOR MORANBAH BOWLS CLUB

Moranbah Bowls Club needs your help. The club has announced that it is financially failing and it needs all the support it can get. The club’s motto is “Where everyone is welcome” so any support will be greatly appreciated. How you can help: • If you are in the area, enjoy an evening at this great community sporting club • Join the committee! If you have a love for lawn bowls, then the members ask you to please become part of a community team and help bring the club back to its former glory.

By Rod Curtis, Coaching Co-ordinator

Bongaree Bowls Club ‘Beginners’ Bash’ One-Off Knockout 2022 Singles Competition took place recently and was a great success. This new bowler competition concept has been running consecutively since 2017. It teaches, encourages, promotes and encompasses all aspects of bowls competition to the new bowler. All of the participants are new members of the Bongaree Bowls Club who have taken up bowls within the last 12 months. There were 30 nominees for the event this year. Congratulations to the winner, Bob Edwards, and the runner-up, Kim Hagan. It proved to be a wonderful spectator day, achieved with the support of 15 markers, umpires and senior members. The focus, friendliness, sportsmanship and professionalism showed the great job our 17 club coaches (yes, 17!) are continually achieving with our bowlers. Thank you to everyone who was involved in the ‘Beginners’ Bash’.

L-R: Runner-up Kim Hagan & winner Bob Edwards

Thirty beginner bowlers at Bongaree Bowls Club

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By Trish Hansen

January saw the return of the QRI Bundaberg Branch Lawn Bowls Social Club to Burnett Bowls Club. QRI President, Keith Ware, was happy with the rollup on the day, with all the regulars plus a new member, as well as some friends who were visiting. Thank you to Roy and Vern Eggmolese who sponsored the day. This year marks the 69th anniversary of the QRI Bundaberg Branch. Congratulations to the winners Breeanna Pegg and Graham Mc Lennon, as well as runners-up Mark Kulikovskis, John Lodge and John Brazier.

L-R: Sponsor Vern Eggmolesse, winners Breeanna Pegg & Graham McLennon with sponsor Roy Eggmolesse

The winning Bowen team L-R: Allan Rolf, Mark Drummond, Margaret Wilson & Robyn Stitt

BUSHMAN’S BAKERY ‘under the shed’ at goosies

By Tony Allsop

Over the weekend of February 19-20, we played our major event of the year, The Bushman’s Bakery ‘Under The Shed’. This event has $12,000 in prize money and is a tier three event, giving winning players higher points towards Bowls Australia rankings. It was a very popular weekend, with the full 32 teams of four people participating after selling out within two weeks of opening nominations, with a reserve list of five teams. Teams entered from as far away as Innisfail in the north to the Gold Coast south, west to Biloela and included teams from Brisbane, Townsville, Bundaberg, Yeppoon and, of course, the Mackay district. The Friday evening Calcutta proved very popular and was drawn just before the major presentation. Top prize went to sponsor, Peter Grant’s team, showing that what goes around indeed does come around. The overall winner was the Bowen team of Allan Rolf, Mark Drummond, Margaret Wilson and Robyn Stitt, who also won the CMR Goosies $10,000 last year. Second came the team of Wayne Hadley, Jason Borg, Don and David Peet, and in third place was Rob Spence, Paul Foot, David Blackburn and Steven Mau.