14 minute read
Kelsey Cottrell’s Return to Bowls
from AUGUST 2021
KELSEY’S RETURN TO BOWLS
Kelsey Cottrell with husband Andrew Howie with daughters Sienna (3) & Ava (6 months)
By Dee Ayre
There are many layers to Kelsey Cottrell. Certainly, her name is prominent in the world of bowls; astoundingly she even started playing for Australia at the age of 15. Fast forward to 2021, she has a total of 483 international appearances to her name, racking up achievements and medals, and has most recently won the Most Valued Player award for the 2021 Australian Open, following a fruitful fortnight which brought her the women’s pairs and fours titles.
Alongside her bowls career, so far she has purchased her first house (at age 20), gained two degrees, met her partner Andrew through junior bowls and has two young children, Sienna age three and six-month-old Ava. Kelsey has recently returned to bowls after a 12-month break, currently playing with the Broadbeach Bulls. Kelsey’s dual career has gone down a few different paths. With encouragement from her mum, her early start with bowls in 2001 as a kid on the Sunshine Coast gained her considerable media attention. By the time Kelsey was in year 11, she wanted to be a sports journalist. Years 2007 and 2008 were big for Kelsey as she was in the Australian Squad, played in many international events and had a wonderful inroad to the world of bowls. It was exciting for the teenager to have the opportunity to win prize money at Grand Prix events all over the country. By nature, she was very studious and always loved school, even thinking she was going to be a school teacher for a while. However, she also enjoyed bowls, travelling and had a taste for elite sporting events. She is grateful to have people in her life who had been in similar situations and her school was very supportive. She visited the school careers advisor on an almost weekly basis to help keep her on the right track to complete year 12 with good grades. Her friends and family were keen on pushing her toward bowls but were very aware she must have something to fall back on. This was the same advice Kelsey’s mum gave; in that she was happy to support her sports ambitions but encouraged her to put a plan in place as well. With these steadying influences all around her, she took a year off to concentrate on finishing school, knowing she had to knuckle down and finish year 12 and get the marks she required to be accepted for the degree she wanted at university. When she finished school, she moved to the Gold Coast, and the timing proved right. With ongoing support from Greg Brown from Tewantin Bowls Club who had guided her from when she started, she spent a year playing Premier League and ladies’ pennants for South Tweed Sports and was then offered a monetary contract from St Johns Park to join them in 2009. This was the start of becoming a professional; time to focus on bowls again and squeeze in some travel, which she loved. Never had she imagined as an 18/19-year-old she would have financial contracts on the table.
However, Kelsey had other goals as well. With a scholarship in place, she started a Bachelor of Journalism degree at Griffith, a university which is supportive of elite athletes. The first year was tough as she wanted to play bowls, study and have fun as well. She realised she still had decisions to make as to whether she was to be ‘in this
bowls environment’ full time. Luckily for Kelsey and for bowls, her university was very flexible and, with supportive people to guide her, she was able to fit subjects in tandem with her bowling opportunities and still compete overseas. Her three-year degree took her about five and a half years. Time management was key and she had to learn how to balance a futuristic five-year plan with the reality of taking things yearby-year. At the beginning of each year, she would work out her bowls opportunities, where she would be playing, when her down time was and then align these over the next 12 months with her long-term goals of winning gold on the international stage. Within a blink of an eye, she had been at St Johns Park for 11 years, then working at Bowls Australia where she received strong support. The last subject of her journalism degree was to do an internship, so she approached BA, which seemed like a good fit. Next thing she knew she was playing in the Hong Kong International while reporting on the event from there. She considers she was lucky to be kept on after her internship and stayed on with BA for a further five years until she decided she was going to have a slight change in career path. She went back to university to complete a Bachelor of Business, majoring in marketing before baby number two. Kelsey believes her mix between the bowls world and business skills has further developed her time management ability, given her opportunities to get the best out of people, gained her experience working in teams and be a good leader. Again, it was important to her to always have someone to talk things through with and she is grateful to those who have helped her along the way, both on and off the green. Her advice would be to always believe in yourself and never think you must pick between your sport or your career. “Sometimes you might spread yourself a bit thin trying to do everything,” Kelsey said. “It can be tiring, but it’s worth it. “You can have it all; a career away from bowls and be an Australian Jackaroo.”
Winning at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Photo: Stuart Taylor
2021 State Pairs Champions Kelsey Cottrell & Cassandra Millerick
Winning the first gold medal for Australia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games for the Women’s Fours was the superstar team of Kelsey Cottrell, Carla Krizanic, Rebecca Van Asch & Natasha Van Eldik
By Gai Cole
Graham Tuckwell joined Aspley Bowls Club on 20th June 1971, at the age of 34. He has had continual membership for 50 years and is the club’s current longest serving member.
Sport has always been a priority in Graham’s life. During winter months he played Australian Rules football and took up umpiring and coaching, with a premiership success. Summer saw him playing the game of the “flannelled fools”(as he calls us). He first played lawn bowls whilst living in Adelaide. After moving to Brisbane in 1971, his sporting time was devoted to the Aspley Memorial Bowls Club. He was a member of the Brisbane Metropolitan Division 2 pennant winning team in 1988, the final year of the RQBA before the formation of the districts today. He continues to represent the club in BNDBA Pennant teams with Division 4 wins in 1992 and1998. He has also enjoyed great success in the club championships with wins in A Pairs – 1978,1981,1986; Triples – 1996; Fours – 1976, 1987, 1989 & 1994.
Born in Albury 6 July 1937, the eldest of five children, Graham had a loving family life. Growing up in a country town in the 1940s was tough, but it was also filled with much fun and adventure. Graham completed his apprenticeship as an electrical fitter-mechanic in 1958. National Service intervened in 1956 with his training in the Armoured Corp at Puckapunyal Army Base followed by two years CMF service in Victorian Mounted Rifles.
Graham married his sweetheart, Maureen Shanahan in 1958. They have two sons, a daughter, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. His work and developing career with Cablemakers Australia meant numerous relocations for the family, Mildura in 1960, back to Albury for two years as regional manager, followed by Adelaide as regional manager for South Australia and Northern Territory until 1970. Next was Brisbane in 1971, when he joined the club.
In 1978, Graham chose to test his hand in the timber panel products industry and joined the Mallinson group. He set up their new wholesaling operation in Queensland. In 1985, when Mallinson was the subject of a takeover he, with several other team members, started their own wholesale company. The new company, Timbermark, grew to be one of the most respected players in the industry, with operations in four states. The business was then sold, and Graham joined the ranks of the retirees.
Members and guests of the club were delighted to celebrate Graham’s 50 years of dedication to our club and the sport at a celebration lunch with him.
We thank him for his hard work and commitment to his role as a selector and games co-ordinator over much of that time. Most importantly, we acknowledge and thank him for his most valuable advice, wisdom, and mentoring prowess for so many of our new and less experienced players.
Congratulations Graham, we look forward to many more years ahead.
Celebrating 50 years of membership with Graham L-R: John Lang, Gai Cole, Graham Tuckwell, Alan Carr & Rob McPherson
Presidents Dennis Agnew & Joclynn Stebbings
Licensed trading hours: A recap
As Queensland’s economic recovery from the initial COVID outbreak continues, we have observed that a number of clubs are experiencing a sustained increase in trade. Capitalising on an increased level of trade or providing more flexibility to members whilst maintaining compliance with the COVID Safe Checklist can prove difficult. For some clubs, it may be worthwhile to consider whether applying to Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) for approval to sell liquor and/ or operate gaming machines outside the standard 10am to 12 midnight trading hours may assist in making the most of a recent uplift in patronage.
Permanent extension to liquor trading hours prior to 10am
Whilst OLGR cannot allow clubs to operate gaming machines before 10am, community clubs are actually uniquely placed to seek OLGR approval for liquor sales prior to this time. Community clubs can apply to have their licensed trading hours for on-premises liquor sales extended to include 7am to 9am. These applications are best suited to bowls clubs and golf clubs, as other clubs will need to demonstrate there is a genuine community need for the earlier trading hours. In addition to the 7am to 9am time period, all licensees can apply to have their trading hours for on-premises and takeaway liquor sales commence from 9am. As touched on above, the applicant will need to demonstrate a genuine community need for the trading hours and this is done via a written submission to OLGR, but again for bowls and golf clubs this requirement is waived.
Permanent extension to liquor and gaming trading hours after 12 midnight
Subject to meeting the relevant eligibility criteria, the OLGR can also approve an extension of trading hours under a community club liquor license to 2am.
If the premises are located within a designated safe night precinct, this can be extended further to 3am. Clubs will need to provide a community impact statement regarding the potential impact on the local community from the extended trading hours.
The process to extend gaming hours is similar although it does involve a separate application. Generally, most operators that hold both liquor and gaming licences will want their trading hours to align however it is worth noting that OLGR also considers applications for gaming hours to be extended to be two hours after the ceasing of liquor trading hours. This means that clubs could have their liquor trade cease at the standard time of 12am but seek approval for gaming machines to operate until 2am.
Temporary (one-off) extended trading hours
Licensees can alternatively apply for one-off approvals for extended trading hours when the specific need may arise. OLGR will approve a maximum of four early morning extensions and six late night extensions per year. In addition, OLGR will only grant one late night extension per calendar month and it must be for a ‘special occasion’. A ‘special occasion’ is defined to mean the following: • a unique or infrequent special public event of local, state or national significance. Examples of special public events include a local music festival or a televised international sporting match involving an Australian team; or • a private function closed to the public, such as a wedding or birthday.
Last words
If you are considering extending your licensed trading hours to take advantage of increased patronage or you want to offer more flexibility for your members, and you want a better understanding of the OLGR application process, please don’t hesitate to give me a call on 07 3224 0353.
If you require any guidance or advice, please contact Matthew Bradford at 07 3224 0353.
Summer time is calling!
Lesley Wade Micheal
By Wade Mutzelburg
As we make our way through the colder months and easing of Covid-19 restrictions here in Queensland, it’s the perfect time to look at your clubs summer calendar to make sure your club is making the most of this time of year. Does your calendar include barefoot bowls, Come & Try Days, Christmas functions and corporate competitions? If not, consider arranging a special purpose bowls committee meeting and invite your local RBM. Even if your club facilitates all of these programs, there are always new ideas or ways to improve on last year’s events.
Planning additional functions/events at your club for later in the year and re-engaging with your club’s sponsors is a great place to start. It is also an opportune time to invite new groups previously not approached by your club such as local netball, soccer and football clubs. These functions should be aimed at bringing the broader community back to your club. We should also include local community centres (YMCA etc.) and the groups operating out of these. This may not only potentially bring new members to the sport but regular patrons to your club. At the end of the day I’m sure all clubs could do with an additional event to generate income at the moment.
Your club should consider: • Open Days (BQ Come & Try Month) • Bring a friend day • Corporate/Jack Attack Competitions • Barefoot bowls availability & scheduling • Christmas Functions & Packages
Bowls Queensland’s Come & Try Month is a great initiative that gives clubs ready access to editable posters, letterbox drop leaflets and Facebook advertisements to help promote their events. So, what do you need to do next? Jump onto Bowls Queensland’s website and under the Events tab select Come & Try. This is where you will find all the club open days that will be held this year. This is also where you will find the Starter Kit to allow you to register for the event.
The Starter Kit includes: • Helpful Hints – How to hold a club Come & Try Day • Sample Promotional Poster • Sample Letterbox Drop leaflet • Club Registration form to be part of the Statewide
Come & Try Month
There are also additional club resources on the Bowls Australia website to help with planning for your open day. Go to the Bowls Australia website > Club Support > Resources > Open Day Tip Sheet. It’s also important to note that the resources section also includes a number of other helpful documents to help your club with sponsorship, strategic planning and junior recruitment.
There has never been a better time to get a Jack Attack competition up and running at your club with competition/participation incentives offered by Bowls Australia. If you have a Jack Attack License or would like to talk about getting one, please contact your local RBM to discuss these incentives and how running these competitions can financially benefit your club.
Don’t forget Bowls Australia’s Regional Bowls Managers Micheal Sorrensen, Lesley Bates and myself are here to help get your club events off the ground. Please feel free to get in touch.
RBM - NORTH QLD
Lesley Bates 0429 213 207 lbates@bowls.com.au RBM - CENTRAL QLD
Wade Mutzelburg 0429 442 818 wmutzelburg@bowls.com.au RBM - SOUTH EAST QLD
Micheal Sorrensen 0447 507 040 msorrensen@bowls.com.au
