Footy Fun Day at Warwick

Mikey’s Chook Run at Nambour Heights

Sunday afternoons at the “Heights” has continued to gain interest. This is when new, novice and experienced bowlers get together for a fun afternoon. It is only $2 to participate for a couple of hours. Funds raised are given to a local charity and, so far, $1,000 has been donated each year. The winning team takes home a chook (no, not a live one). Since this began, the club has gained

Players participating in Mikey’s Chook Run

new bowling members. Sadly, the person who strived to make it such a success recently passed away. However, his legacy will live on with the event to be known as “Mikey’s Chook Run” His name is now proudly displayed on the player’s shirts.

Contributed by Ron Price

Footy Fun Day at the Cross

It was a good NRL Bowls Fun Day at the Southern Cross Bowls Club in Warwick where most people wore NRL club colours and were sorted into football club teams for two games of competition.

Team Parramatta Eels were slow starters, but picked up some points in the second half. The Storm started well, but petered out as the competition got stronger. The Broncos had the talent, played well, but needed more than a new coach to get them over the line.

Matt Shepherd, Cita Weier & Gordon Assay receive the trophy presented by organiser Clark Davidson (right)

Contributed by Geoff Davis

Last year’s bowls winning team at the Cross, the Dragons, were just too cocky to get enough points this time to do any good. The Bunnies put their best rabbit’s foot forward but got stuck on 13. The Cowboys had a good team, but unfortunately had some bad calls against them. The Bulldogs had a bit of bark but no bite and weren’t in it at all, especially after another forward pass from the Eels. Manly Sea Eagles thought a dozen points in each game would be good enough, but needed twin turbos to get them over the goal line. Just like a ref, the poor old jack was the centre of attention but was knocked about severely throughout the day and was found in the gutter more than once. The top scorers and winners were the Gold Coast Titans team players of Matty Shepherd, Cita Weier and Gordon Assay who won the mighty trophy that was kindly donated by Patrick Gainey, Clark Davidson and Dave Scotney. They will also receive Titans themed dot paintings from Pat as soon as the paint dries.

Thanks to our members as well as Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys for supporting our footy day with their generous donations. For barefoot bowls, social and competition bowls, functions and bar, it is hard to go past the Southern Cross Bowls Club Inc. opposite St Mary’s Church in Warwick.

Gympie ladies celebrate 90 years

Gympie ladies back row L-R: Diane Stone, Julie Sauer, Gloria Browne, Gillian Murphy, Kay Boston, Linda Collins & Betty Lawrence. Front row L-R: Ellen McDermott, Elva Haylock, Carol Reedman, Daphne Davies, Jenny Crerar, Lynda Lovett & Pat Shurety. Absent Betty, Audrey & Marie

Friends from surrounding clubs gathered in August to celebrate Gympie’s 90th birthday. Members from the club first took to the greens in August 1932 and the club was accepted into the QLBA in February 1934. We started the day with great bowls and ended with a beautiful lunch prepared by our volunteers from both Sunshine and Gympie clubs. Betty Lawrence, a member since 1974, dressed in an old club uniform. How things have changed! The event was proudly sponsored by Bendigo Bank and attending guests included The Honourable Tony Perrett and his wife Michelle, The Mayor Glen Hartwig, Linda Morish from Bowls Queensland and Janelle Westlake, President of the Fraser Coast Ladies District.

Contributed by Gillian Murphy

BQ’s Linda Morish (right) was the winner of a beautiful patchwork cushion made and donated by Betty Davis, the club’s treasurer.

L-R: Elva Haylock (Patroness), Betty Lawrence & Pat Shurety

Ashes Test at South Toowoomba

After South Toowoomba Bowls Club (Souths), sold their bowls club to Club Toowoomba and West Toowoomba Bowls Club (Wests) sold to the St Ursula’s college adjoining their club, they both made Club Toowoomba their home venue. It worked well; however, there was a small problem. There wasn’t any room for their honour boards in the club rooms. They decided to digitally record the honour board, burn the oldest one from each club and place the ashes in a friendship trophy the two clubs had played for in the past. The ‘Burning Ceremony’ was originally held on Friday, September 10, a week before the

L-R: West’s representatives Graeme Wockner, Heather Browne & Larry Taylor with South’s representatives Phil Schultz, Kelly Cassidy (Club Toowoomba Mgr), South’s Gina Hawkins & Glenda Jeans

first test of “The Ashes”. Souths Tigers won the first test. However, the Wests Lightning were determined to win the second test this year, played on September 17. With 72 bowlers on the greens, everyone enjoyed the day - a great meal, good weather and the camaraderie. Wests Lightning struck, Souths Tigers were tamed and The Ashes is now held by West Toowoomba for the year ahead. Congratulations Wests - bragging rights are yours. The sharing of the Club Toowoomba venue has worked very well, with very few hiccups. Both clubs are building their membership numbers and Club Toowoomba has been motivated to keep all their members happy, so the venue is a bustling hive of activity. Contributed by Rod Scollen

The Wests squad after a hard fought victory (Souths’ Chairperson Trevor Green holding The Ashes trophy) The Ashes trophy

Coaching with BQ Coaching Committee Coaching Presenters and Assessors meet to share information

By Jacqui Hineman

Our coaching Presenters and Assessors (P&As) have been busy this year conducting accreditation courses, re-accrediting coaches and running skills days throughout Queensland. Therefore, they appreciated the chance to catch up for a two-day workshop at Chermside Bowls Club. As our P&As are scattered across the State and usually catch up monthly via conference calls, it was a great opportunity for everyone to meet face-to-face. Everyone felt like they were a part of the team whose job it was to inform and educate new coaches in an engaging and inclusive manner. This is something in which the P&As pride themselves. The role of our coaching P&As is to deliver the National Coach Accreditation courses for introductory and club coaches, as well as present selection and competition modules. In Queensland, the P&A has the extra role of delivering skills days to help bowlers improve their on-green performance. It is in this role that Queensland coaching presenter and assessors spend most of their time. All our accredited P&As have the knowledge and experience to deliver these sessions to all bowlers, including bowlers who use a bowling arm. Some of the information shared at the Coaches P&A workshop included • Sports methodology • Communication • Constants and variables and the role they play in player performance • Using methodology to assist in developing technique • Working with players to set and achieve goals • Training for different positions (front-end, back-end skills) • Collecting, analysing, and recording data • Mental strength strategies • Pre-shot routines Queensland currently has nine accredited P&As spread throughout the state, with another two-awaiting accreditation. Below is a list of BA accredited Coach Presenter and Assessors. • Alan Thorp, Solander Lakes Bowls Club • Dennis O’Toole, Chermside Bowls Club • Jacqui Hineman, Burrum Heads Bowls Club • Eric Tomsene, Coolum Bowls Club • Mal Mackney, Atherton Bowls Club • Felix Purcell, Mackay Bowls Club • David Hatfield, Rockhampton Bowls Club • John Krebs, Chermside Bowls Club • Graham Woolley, Beenleigh Bowls Club • Peter Bryan (awaiting accreditation), Club Musgrave

Please contact Cath at Bowls Queensland at (07) 3354 0777 if your district would like to book a any of the following courses: Introductory Coach Course, Club Coach Course, Re-accreditations or Skills Day (including armed bowlers).

On a cold and very wet day at the Waves Caloundra, 30 participants attended an advanced skills session indoors, with Eric “Ecka” Tomsene, Chris Harper and Bert Peperkamp. Thanks to President Brian Green and Barry “number one” for organising the day. Congratulations to Tony Bonnell (left) and Dennis O’Toole (right) on becoming certified National Technical Classifiers. Pictured centre is Medical and Technical Classifier, Alan Thorp.

ECKA’S TIP

Mental tip: Stay with your shot timeline; remember to switch off between games/bowls; remain positive and focused on the process of delivering a bowl shot-by-shot, game-bygame and not get overwhelmed.

UPCOMING COURSES

• Sunshine Coast DBA Room, Club Coach Course 12/11/2022 & 13/11/2022