August 2013

August 2013 Print Post Approved PP 400063/0010

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Qld vs WA QUEENSLAND’S BLIND BOWLER WORLD CHAMPS

DYING BREED

IS THE WRITING ON THE WALL FOR QUEENSLAND’S GREENKEEPERS?

AUSTRALIAN INDOOR JUNIOR TEST SERIES TOP DRAW FOURS & NUDE BOWLING

Bowls Club Development Supplement page 19

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Australia’s premier lawn bowls magazine Volume 36/11

Volume 36/ Issue No. 11

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CONTENTS 06 Blind Bowls Champs

14 Nuddy Bowling

Aussies collect a swag of medals at the 2013 World Blind Bowls Championships in the UK.

Would you get your kit off for a good cause? Victorian bowler Bill Wigmore did.

07 Wild West Shootout

16 Australian Indoor

Queensland chalk up a clean-sweep win over WA in their three-test series at Perth’s Rossmoyne Bowls Club.

Queensland’s Maria Rigby came tantalisingly close to a second Australian Indoor crown at Tweed Heads.

12 Cover Story

19 Club Development

We speak with greens guru Rino Parrella about the dying art of professional greenkeeping.

Thinking of taking the leap to a covered synthetic green?

Hear from industry experts in our development supplement.

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From the with Chair Ron Chambers VALE - Des O’Neill

Many in the Queensland bowls community will be saddened to hear of the loss of Bowls Queensland Finance Director Mr Des O’Neill, who passed away on Sunday July 14.

Des was a well-liked and valued member of the administration of the sport in Queensland since 1997, always caring enough to ask the tough questions but never just for the sake of it.

Des served Brisbane District as treasurer and president, including 15 years as secretary.

He served RQBA for five years and Bowls Queensland since 2003, finally becoming a board member last year.

Des treated others with respect and was in turn well respected at all levels of bowls for his organising abilities and good nature.

Sincere condolences to his wife Pat and family from all the Board members and staff of Bowls Queensland and our bowling community.

COACHING COMMITTEE

Following the resignation of George Franklin from the State Coaching Committee, the board of management has appointed Barry Ward as his replacement.

George, 65, from Bribie Island Bowls Club has done a great job and we thank him for his service.

Barry, 73, from Algester Bowls Club is a respected bowler, having represented Queensland at state level and been a prominent performer at many tournaments.

BQ welcomes Barry to the State Coaching Committee and we wish him all the best in his new position.

COME AND TRY DAY

Bowls Queensland’s state development team is coordinating a statewide “Come and Try” day on Sunday, November 17 at bowls clubs around Queensland.

Well done to the 125 clubs who have registered!

We have high hopes of increasing membership from people who come to this special day to try their hand at our marvelous sport.

(Any clubs keen to join in, contact BQ state development manager Brett Murphy.)

CORRECTION

Apologies for the mix up last month when naming the two clubs that merged to form the new entity, Northern Suburbs Bowls Club.

Of course, Kedron Bowls Club has not existed for many years, the two clubs were CLAYFIELD and WAVELL HEIGHTS. Thank you to Pat from Northern Surburbs for spotting my error.

It was a very proud occasion to attend the foundation day celebrations for the new, united club.

Northern Suburbs will play at the former Wavell Heights greens on Edinburgh Castle Rd as the Clayfield greens have been turned over for development.

Editor: Wayne Griffin Reporter: Naomi Cescotto Published by: Bowls Queensland

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Editorial: Queensland Bowler PO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051 Phone: (07) 3355 9988 Fax: (07) 3855 0010 Email: news@bowls-queensland.org Advertising: Wayne Griffin Phone: (07) 3355 9988

your say Dear Editor

In reply to the article “Ever thought of becoming an umpire”, June 2013.

Joan Brotherton invites fellow bowlers to join the dwindling ranks of volunteer umpires and measurers but forgets to inform us in regards to the reason bowlers are reluctant to become umpires/measurers and why our numbers are dwindling.

An umpire or measurer has to re-sit the three-hour exam and on green assessment every four years.

Joan writes down a good argument for the recruitment of more umpires and appeals to the younger bowler to take up the position, but does not realise that if a bowler aged 30 joins the family of umpires, by the time they reach 65 they would have undertaken the re-accreditation exam eight times...eight exams, eight on-green assessments and who knows how many compulsory workshops.

Do other sports so rigorously scrutinise their volunteer officials?

I am 66 years old and I will not be re-accrediting when my term as umpire expires, unless the governing body of bowls changes their reaccreditation policy.

Many bowlers seem to agree with me, citing this as their main reason for not becoming an umpire or re-accrediting.

If any of your readers agree or disagree with me I would like to hear from all parties, for and against.

David Hill Kallangur Mem Bowls Club Turn to page 41 for an interesting article on umpire accreditation by Leichhardt DMBA secretary Dave Ling.

Letters to the Editor: Queensland Bowler PO Box Alderley, Q 4051 or via email to news@bowls-queensland.org

Fax: (07) 3855 0010 Email: advert@bowls-queensland.org Subscriptions: To subscribe, send your mailing details, together with a cheque for $26.80 (inc gst) to: Queensland Bowler Subscriptions PO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051.

queensland bowler | 5

Australia’s blind bowlers ready for action at world championships in the UK

Aussie Stars shine at Worlds Australia’s blind bowlers brought home 10 medals from the 2013 World Blind Bowls Championships at Worthing in England.

“Our results are a credit to all players that have worked so hard and every player has achieved a medal,” Clements said.

Queensland’s Joy Foster from Chermside Bowls Club won gold in the B2 Women’s Singles and Christine Henry from Moorooka Bowls Club won bronze in the B3 Women’s Singles.

“The other thing everyone noticed about the Aussie Stars was our stunning yellow uniforms, they stood out on the greens of England and outshone the other teams.”

After a two-week campaign, the national blind bowls team, known as the Aussie Stars, came in second overall behind South Africa.

Joy’s director was Bruce Jones and Christine’s director was Ruth Telfer.

In the Mixed Pairs, Christine won silver with B3 partner Tony Scott from Victoria, who also won Australia’s only other gold medal of the tournament, in the B3 Men’s Singles.

Joy and partner Ralph Simpson from Victoria narrowly missed a bronze medal in the B2 Mixed Pairs.

Aussie Stars national coach Graeme Clements said the final day of the championships was very exciting for Australia in terms of the medal haul, with an extra five medals won on the last day, but South Africa were too good for Australia to snatch the overall trophy.

6 | queensland bowler

“Joy has played exceptionally well throughout the tournament, excelling in her final round against the toughest opponent South Africa to clinch the gold for Australia.

Aussie Medal Winners Gold Medals

Joy Forster B.2 Singles Tony Scott B.3 Singles Silver Medals

Ralph Simpson B.2 Singles Christine Henry B.3 Pairs Tony Scott B.3 Pairs

David Goddard B.4 Singles David Goddard B.4 Pairs Sharon Dunk B.4 Pairs Bronze Medals

Wayne Thomson B.1 Singles Maree Fenech B.1 Pairs

Wayne Thomson B.1 Pairs

Christine Henry B.3 Singles Sharon Dunk B.4 Singles

Top: Singles gold medallist Joy Forster with Australian Blind Bowls president Dr John Vance and director Bruce Jones. Above: Pairs silver and singles bronze winner Christine Henry (right) with director Ruth Telfer. v36/11

Queensland won the wild west shootout with WA at Perth’s Rossmoyne Bowls Club in July, but the Sandgropers got in enough good shots to keep the eastern raiders humble.

It was a quick raid and run three-test series for the Maroons, arriving on Thursday July 25, a quick look around Fremantle on Friday morning, the first test Friday evening, two tests on Saturday and the red-eye flight back east on Saturday night.

Queensland were quick on the draw, chalking up five rink wins to one across men and women in the opening test.

Lynsey Clarke’s girls clocked up a 13-shot victory over WA skip Therese Hastings, 27-14.

Louise Witton and Tracy Foster had tighter wins, beating Noelene Abe and Kathy Gobbart 21-20 and 15-13, to seal the series opener, 63-47.

The men, meanwhile, couldn’t complete the clean sweep, but comfortable wins to Brett Wilkie and Nathan Rice ensured they claimed the first test, 62-44.

Wilkie’s team beat Clive Adams 22-15, while Rice’s crew demolished Anthony Provost 26-11.

Alex Murtagh was the only Queensland skip to drop a rink in test one, going down 14-18 to WA’s John Slavich.

“It was a good start to the series,” state coach Bill Cornehls said.

SERIES SWEEP Qld put Sandgropers to the sword in Western Australia

“It’s important to get that first win under your belt, it gives you a bit of breathing space.”

In the second test, Alex Murtagh played a huge shot to help keep the team in front in the men’s match.

Murtagh was down five in the head and played a perfect conversion to get the shot and keep the momentum in Queensland’s favour.

As in the first test, John Slavich’s outfit had another great game for WA, engineering a 15-14 win over Nathan Rice’s rink.

However, Wilkie and Murtagh picked up the slack, defeating Anthony Provost and David Rankin 22-17 and 23-19, to clinch the second test (59-51) and the series for the Queensland men.

Meanwhile the women also won the second test and series, avenging their loss to WA at Australian Sides in Bendigo in May. It was a close call .

Lynsey Clarke edged out Noelene Abe 26-23 and

Louise Witton had joy against Kathy Gobbart 26-17, but WA’s Lisa Featherby was doing damage against Tracy Foster’s rink, with the girls down 11-25.

“We won the second test and the series on the last bowl,” Foster said.

“We needed two to draw, three to win, we got four.”

It was a magical moment for Foster, her rink going down 15-25 but her final bowl taking the team score from 63-65 down to a 67-65 test win and series clincher.

The third test might have been a dead rubber, but Queensland wanted the clean sweep and WA wanted to stop it.

The men had a torrid time in the first half, down 16-17 to WA after 25 ends.

By 50 ends they were more comfortable at 45-31, with a final score 60-41.

The women led from the start, up 31-17 after 24 ends, 54-40 at 48 ends, final score 64-52.

QLD WA vs

Team manager Betty Andrewartha (left) celebrates a Qld win with players, including a very excited Louise Witton. v36/11

queensland bowler | 7

Baptism of Fire

Newbies suffer the Blues as Qld struggles in U18 series It was a tough initiation to test bowls for Queensland’s U-18 first-timers, playing against New South Wales at Taren Point in July.

NSW won the test series 3-0, with Queensland managing only three wins and one draw out of 24 games.

Out of a side of 10, five were first time reps for Queensland and while they have talent in spades, they lacked high level match practise compared to their sharp NSW rivals.

Although NSW never looked in serious danger of losing the series, the Maroons’ efforts were better than the scoreboard suggested, with some wafer-thin losses.

Standout efforts for Queensland were the three impressive wins.

April Wilson shone in the girls’ singles and pairs, while Gold Coast duo Brendan Wilson and Braidan Leese showed their ability in the boy’s pairs.

Above: April Wilson was a standout performer for Qld at Taren Point.

Below: Queensland’s under-18 outfit. Back: Cohen Litfin, Nic Gosley, Hayden Vogler, Rikki-Lee Kemp, Taleah Putney. Front: Braidan Leese, Brendan Wilson, Connie-Leigh Rixon and April Wilson.

Queensland’s one draw, 14-14, came in the second test, with the fours outfit of Hayden Vogler (West Toowoomba, on debut), Cohen Litfin (Rosewood, on debut), Nic Gosley and Leese going one better than their first-test loss to NSW, where they dropped the match by just one shot, 16-17.

“The biggest challenge for our juniors is to get more high-level competition, many live in country towns and they don’t play the same volume of pressure bowls as the NSW juniors,” Queensland high performance coach Bill Cornehls said.

“NSW has a bigger membership base and the opportunity to pick from more juniors, also NSW juniors play more series against other states, which is good because they get to combine more often in a team environment.

“At present Queensland has only this test series where the team can combine prior to the Under 18 Australian Championships, which can be tough with a number of debutants.”

Junior Nugget Following their defeat

by New South Wales, Queensland’s junior state reps have a chance to get some much-needed big match experience before the Australian Championships in October, playing in the 2013 Junior Golden Nugget at Tweed Heads, August 3-4.

The indoors singles tournament for Under-18s was set up by Tweed Heads Bowls Club’s as a warm up event for the annual Golden Nugget Prestige Singles (August 6-9).

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VALE DES O’NEILL Bowls Queensland’s director of finance Des O’Neill from Ashgrove Bowls Club died suddenly on July 14.

He was farewelled in a quiet family ceremony on July 19.

Des had a pre-existing medical condition.

In a rare twist of fate, the week before Des died, he was liaising with Bowler staff over a new profile on BQ board members for the BQ website.

We received Des’s final copy about his honorary role as BQ Director of Finance only two days before he died.

In effect, Des O’Neill has written his own tribute to his life and service in bowls, and talked about the things most important to him in the sport.

The best wishes and kind thoughts of the bowls community around Queensland are with his wife Pat and their family at this sad time.

Des is well known and will be sadly missed by bowlers around the state.

MY LIFE IN BOWLS

By Des O’Neill

I was born in Bundaberg and started playing bowls 40 years ago, as a young man in my mid-30s moving around Queensland as a commercial manager with Westpac bank.

As director of finance, I’m involved with how money is spent within the administration of the sport in Queensland.

I liked getting outside and playing a sport in a social atmosphere.

The big challenge each year is the budget period, from the March AGM to the next general meeting of council in September, when the budget is set for the coming year.

I was introduced to my first game of bowls at Malanda Bowls Club in the tropical far north. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

My first club in Brisbane was Ashgrove, before moving to Newmarket and then on to Everton Park, where I committed to play pairs with a friend.

Since I now live in the Gap, my home club is again Ashgrove.

Swimming was my sport at school, as well as tennis.

I love bowls as a sport, for the competition, for the opportunity to meet people and because bowls administration is a great interest of mine.

My first role as a bowls administrator was secretary at Newmarket Bowls Club, then secretary of Brisbane District for 15 years, where I was honoured with life membership in 2002.

Back in 2000 I received an Australian Sports Medal from the Howard Government for my service to the sport of bowls.

I also served as treasurer and president of Brisbane District and was a director at state level before becoming director of finance for Bowls Queensland in 2012.

I’ve been president of the men’s section and I received a Distinguished Service Medal from BQ in 2011 for service over many years at the three levels of Qld bowls administration.

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I’m one of three people who sign cheques, the chairman, the CEO and myself, with two of three signatures a requirement for any money spent.

Our BQ finance manager Stuart Taylor capably gears the groundwork and it’s then an exercise of estimating the requirements for the coming 12 months and endeavouring to align our spending accordingly, arriving at a figure for the forthcoming yearly fees acceptable to all concerned.

At state level, I’m also deeply interested in attracting more juniors to our sport.

If we can’t do that, the sport won’t have a future.

Our older players are moving on, diversifying their interests, and we must look to young people to ensure our great game continues.

In that regard, if I had the means, I’d do whatever it takes to change the media’s negative perception of bowls as a sport for oldies.

It’s a wonderful sport and perfect for families, if only we could get the message across.

When I’m not on the greens or working for bowls, I enjoy my computer, my reading and time spent with the family. v36/11

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* Cover Story

Writing on the wall for greenkeepers Professional greenkeepers may be a dying breed, as a growing number of Queensland clubs make the switch to volunteer labour and synthetic surfaces in a bid to save money in today’s tough economic climate. Master greenkeeper and Queensland Bowler’s newest columnist Rino Parrella shares his thoughts on this dying art.

“ ”

There aren’t many greenkeepers aged over 50, it’s a dying art, the artificial greens will take over.

S

CARBOROUGH’S RINO PARRELLA can see the writing on the wall. For 35

years, he’s lovingly tended greens around southeast Queensland.

He’s considered a perfectionist and an innovator in his trade.

Yet he knows how labour intensive and how expensive it is to create and maintain a pristine green.

“There aren’t many greenkeepers aged over 50, it’s a dying art, the artificial greens will take over,” Parrella said.

As a former Queensland rep player, Parrella has played on both grass and synthetic and he can see the benefits of both.

He knows that when it comes down to money, the synthetic greens win by a landslide.

“People are going to synthetic greens because they cut costs, wages, chemicals and the water bill, on the grass here we use about 80,000 litres of water a week,” Parrella said.

The master-greenkeeper started in the family business at Scarborough Bowls Club when he was just 16 years old, following his dad John into the trade.

Since then, he’s worked at Toombul, Weller’s Hill, Bramble Bay and Redcliffe bowls clubs and he’s now come full circle, at 51, back to Scarborough again.

“Bowlers don’t usually notice a green unless they lose, but since Rino’s been here, complaints are rare,” Scarborough manager of six years Ken Secombe said.

“He’s pedantic, a specialist in his field.

“I came in early one morning and saw Rino over in the corner of the green, down on his hands and knees with his nose almost under the grass, and I knew he’d spotted something.

“I was going to give him a hard time about kissing the green but that’s Rino, he takes pride in his job and we’re lucky to have him.”

Rino has agreed to share his tips over the coming months in Queensland Bowler magazine, to assist volunteer green keepers around the state, most of whom do a great job in challenging circumstances.

“I’d be honoured to share my knowledge and experience, and if it makes life easier for my fellow greenkeepers, especially the volunteer ones, that’d be great,” Rino said.

WHO IS RINO PARRELLA? Rino grew up at Inglewood on the QueenslandNSW border with dad John and mum Gina.

His grandparents came to Australia from Benavento in southern Italy in the 1950s.

The family farmed tobacco at Inglewood and played the traditional Italian sport of bocce on the farm to relax.

When the tobacco industry was legislated out of existence in the early 1980s, the family moved to the Redcliffe peninsula and John took up a job as greenkeeper at Bramble Bay Bowls Club.

He also did greenkeeping at Caboolture and Scarborough and Rino followed his dad into the family trade, starting a green keeping apprenticeship in 1987 and doing TAFE at night.

Rino started both his greenkeeping and bowls careers at Scarborough, going on to work at Toombul, Weller’s Hill, Bramble Bay and Redcliffe Bowls Clubs.

“It’s a satisfying job, working outdoors and it’s a really friendly atmosphere at Scarborough,” Parrella said.

“The downside of the job is the heat and you can never get a decent holiday, it’s hard to go away for more than a week at a time.”

“I had a week off last year, the family went to Daydream Island and that was fantastic!”

Rino and wife Lisa have two girls, Emma, 19, and Melissa, 15, who don’t look like following in the Parrella family tradition, in either the sport of bowls or the profession of green keeping.

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Cover Story

*

QA &

Dumpers, disease and limited down time...just a few of the issues facing a master greenkeeper.

~ Best grass? Queensland Blue Couch...It’s magnificent! ~ Best thing about grass?

Grass has character, personality, it’s self repairing and kind to play on. ~ Worst thing about grass?

Vandals, crows and magpies, black beatles and bowlers who are “dumpers” (bowlers who throw from the hip) . Only about 1 per cent of bowlers are dumpers, it doesn’t sound like much but it makes holes in the green. I’ve got eyes like a hawk, I watch the rink they’re on and I’m out there with a screwdriver as soon as possible when they leave, lifting up the holes. ~ Any other annoying habits?

When bowlers collapse the edges of the green by standing on them.

And bowls shoes, they’re supposed to use approved flat soled shoes, runners shouldn’t be allowed on grass greens. ~ If grass is so good, why do people go to synthetic?

Grass greens are not economical with water, using some 80,000 litres/week. People are going to synthetic greens because they cut costs, wages, chemicals and the water bill. ~ How can you tell a good green?

Cockwise from page 12: Rino sharpening the blades on his mower; staying sun-safe on his shaded roller; proudly displaying the “green monster” (his homemade aerator) and marking the greens before a game.

You can’t tell a good green by the way it looks, you have to test it with a bowl, the way it rolls, turns and finishes, a good green will run at 15-16 seconds. ~ When is the busiest time for a greenkeeper?

January to March is the busiest time. Greens are running 6-7 days a week after the Christmas recess, with club championships and Super Challenge. ~ Essential tools of the trade?

Mow – every day or twice a day. Roll – every bowling day, 5-6 times/ week. Line Mark – every time they play. Black paint machine – use with the line marker. Fertiliser, fungicide, insecticide – regularly.

Spray with something like Bannamax in January-February to prevent problems in August-September. ~ Any diseases to watch out for?

Spring dead spot, Take all patch (this causes havoc if you get it!), Thatch collapse disease. I’ll share some special recipes with you to help deal with these nuisances if you get them. ~ Have you got some quick tips to get our readers through to next month?

The goal is always good grass coverage. Groom the greens and mow regularly to get a good smooth surface. Don’t over-fertilise, starve them a bit. Use fungicide monthly, starting somewhere between September to November, going through to April-May.

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queensland bowler | 13

Bill Wigmore getting his kit off for a good cause.

Inset: Bill in Vietnam

Nuddy Buddies

Vietnam vets bearing all for a good cause

WHAT ABOUT THE DRESS CODE IN THIS SPORT OF LAWN BOWLS? Essendon Bowls Club’s Bill Wigmore was happy to do his bit for a good cause, getting his gear off on the bowls green for a Vietnam Vets calendar fundraiser.

The Victorian Vietnam Vets did a nude calendar fundraiser for the first time in 2007, raising $65,000 for war veterans’ welfare services.

Since then former Vietnam Vet Greg Carter and wife Annie have set up a retreat for Vietnam Vets at Bairnsdale in the Gippsland Lakes north east of Melbourne.

They decided to do another nude calendar fundraiser, this time to raise money to run the retreat for Vietnam Vets.

The 2014 calendar featuring ‘Men at War and Peace’ will be launched by television identity and comedienne Denise Drysdale on October 7 at the retreat, Cockatoo Rise. (www@cockatooriseretreat.com.au) “It’s just the place for men who’ve been at war to find peace,” former Vietnam Vet Greg Carter said.

“It’s quiet, secure and peaceful, nights around the campfire, a round of golf, lots of walking tracks.”

14 | queensland bowler

Over the past year 30 Vietnam Vets have been photographed doing what they love doing best “at peace”.

They’ve also supplied photos of themselves as young men, when they went off to war.

Later this month, the ladies of Paynesville Bowls Club, the closest bowling club to the Cockatoo Rise Retreat, will vote for their favourite 12 to feature in the 2014 calendar.

Those not in the ‘top 12’ will still feature in the calendar, on a back page.

(We at the Bowler think Bill looks pretty darn good and well represents our sport.

We hope you make lots of money for the Vietnam Vets retreat, Bill, and that your photo is selected as one of the monthly winners.)

Greg and Anne Carter, who run the retreat, said if this calendar sells well, it’s likely they’ll set up another photo shoot for a future calendar.

“It won’t be an annual thing, that would be a full time job, we did one in 2007 for vets’ welfare services, and now one for 2014 for the retreat, but I hope we do another one down the track,” Greg said.

“If you have any Vietnam Vet bowlers in Queensland who wouldn’t mind getting their kit off for a good cause, they’re welcome to contact us and put their name on the list as possible models next time we’re recruiting!”

The Men at War and Peace Calendar, featuring Bill and the other tastefully naked Vietnam Vets will go on sale in October through RSL clubs.

There is also a website www. menatwarandpeace.com.au where the calendar can be ordered online from October.

“Your mum would love one for Christmas,” Greg said.

Price is $15 per calendar, $3 postage.

Discount for multiple orders.

Speak to Greg Carter 0409 418 332.

(And if you know one of the ladies at Paynesville Bowls Club, let them know that we reckon Bill the Bowler deserves one of the 12 feature positions on the Men at War and Peace calendar!) v36/11

April Wilson was a standout preformer for Queensland

AUSTRALIAN INDOOR

Photos courtesy of Bowls Australia

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AUSTRALIAN INDOOR

SO CLOSE

Magic Maria misses title but is a winner with the crowd MANLY’S MARIA RIGBY CAME TANTALISINGLY CLOSE to capturing her second Australian Indoor title at Tweed Heads on August 1.

The 51-year-old former Queensland and Australian rep cruised through the competition with straight-set wins and into the final opposite defending titleholder and five-time champion Karen Murphy.

Despite doing everything right in the final, Rigby just couldn’t wrest the title off the Aussie number one, with Murphy claiming her sixth Indoor crown in just seven years, 10-4, 10-4.

Murphy is now just two wins away from equalling Steve Glasson’s all-time record of nine Indoor titles, accomplished in 2005, the same year Rigby won her first and only Indoor championship.

While Rigby missed out on this year’s title, she was still a big winner with the Tweed Heads crowd.

“Maria was by far the most entertaining bowler out of the four finalists today,” said spectator Graham Beswick from Brisbane.

“She was the only one who gave us a smile, and even got us all laughing, something that ranks very highly in my opinion in a game often criticised as boring.”

“Yes, thanks to Maria brightening up the day, I decided not to streak!”

Manly Bowls Club secretary Lorna Wemyss said she was delighted to see Maria do so well.

“She’s very talented, our Maria, I’ve seen her down by a long way and she can pull off amazing shots to come back,” Wemyss said.

“She’s a good mentor for the up and coming players in our club because she’s so encouraging, she’s so laid back, it’s not surprising the crowd at Tweed Heads enjoyed seeing her play, she’s quite a character.”

A relieved Murphy was quick to praise her opponent, saying the one-sided score belied a very tight contest.

“I knew it was going to be a tough match and it was. Maria is such a great player and she played really well, the match was a lot tougher than 10-4, 10-4 suggests,” Murphy said.

“We know each other’s games really well and we are good friends so it was really nice to play Maria and I enjoyed the match out there.”

Rigby winged her way through the elimination rounds, beating Sarah Boddington 12-2, 7-4 and Carol Rowe 12-7, 11-3, before eliminating Debbie Howard in the quarter finals, 12-3, 9-5, and Lisa Mitchell in the semis, 11-5, 7-6.

Fellow Queenslander, Kawana’s Jane Bush also came to an inglorious end at the hands of the defending champ, 12-0, 12-4 in the quarter finals.

Bush was off to a great start, defeating Marie Moorhouse 8-8, 7-6 and Marion Crump 10-4, 10-5, before bowing out to Murphy, fresh from despatching another Queenslander, Bribie’s Natasha Jones 10-5, 9-5, in Round Two. In the opening round, Mt Gravatt’s Christine Baxter was outplayed by Corinne Crouche 13-3, 10-5 and Carla Odgers ousted Mooloolaba’s Barbara Townsend in a tiebreak, 12-1, 1-12, 3-2.

In the men’s comp, Broadbeach’s Paul O’Brien was the only Queenslander to reach round two, his last stand, where he was eliminated by little-known Victorian bowler Tony Wood, 9-3, 7-7.

Wood, from Clayton Bowls Club in Melbourne’s southern suburbs, went on to become the 2013 Australian Indoors champ, beating Tassie ace Mark Nitz in the final 9-6, 9-3.

“I’m lost for words, this result is just amazing and a great thrill to win a prestigious event like the Australian Indoors,” an emotional Wood said following his surprise victory.

“This is just incredible.”

Of the other four Queensland men who won coveted places in the field of 32, all were eliminated in the opening round.

Defending champ Mark Casey dismissed Pine Rivers Pirate Kurt Brown 8-7, 9-4, while Burleigh Head’s Gary Pearson was dispatched by Victorian young gun Aaron Wilson 11-1, 8-7

2010 winner Brett Wilkie was scalped by East Cessnock’s Michael Cronin in a first-round tiebreak, 4-12, 8-3, 5-0.

Defending champ Casey didn’t last much longer himself, going down to Chad Twentyman in the second round, 4-10, 6-7.T

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queensland bowler | 17

Top Draw Winners, Left to right, Event sponsor Jacques Fayolle from ANZ Mobile Lenders, Ken Luck, Kurt Brown & Paul Jopson, (absent Peter Leon)

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Mr Brown’s Boys bag $6k Top Draw title

A last ditch shot by skip Kurt Brown on the final end of the Top Draw Men’s Fours at Mooloolaba sealed the major prize of $6,000 for the Pine Rivers team.

A miss would have dropped them out of contention.

Brown, with fellow Pine Rivers bowlers Peter Leon and Paul Jopson and Bribie Island’s Ken Luck, went into the last round as three point leaders.

However a late falter saw Geoff Wyatt’s team jump to a 15-11 lead with an upset on the cards.

On the last end, Wyatt held two shots but Brown pulled out a gem.

“Better than fourth place,” said Brown following his win.

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Brown said he was pleased with his recent move to Pine Rivers, where he is employed as a section manager.

He won this year’s Queensland Champion of Club Champion Singles and is off to Adelaide in October for the Australian play-offs.

“High on my list of recent achievements is a win in the last State Mixed Pairs with my wife Emma,” Brown said, “we’d only been married four days.”

Emma, a teacher, has moved south from Marlin Coast (Cairns) to Club Kawana.

John See and Tim Smith (Bargara) combined with Coolum Beach’s Greg Brown and Greg Dale to jump into second place, after two 20point efforts on the last day edged out a New Zealand team skipped

by Neil Fisher for third.

Bonanza a big hit More than 1000 bowlers from around Australia and New Zealand converged on Mooloolaba to play one of their favourite bowls competitions, the two week Bowls Bonanza from June 12-27.

“This carnival continues to grow in popularity, with a series of half day and one day events for very good prize money, it is now the most sought after carnival on the Sunshine Coast,” Mooloolaba bowls development officer Barry Sullivan said.

“Following a strong promotional campaign in New 18 | queensland bowler

Zealand, many new contestants made the Sunshine Coast their preferred bowls and holiday destination this winter.”

Sullivan said an extra four events were added to the competition schedule this year and participation numbers were up 30 per cent on 2012.

“There were 15 events in total with three for ladies, three men’s, four open and five mixed, and for many it was a new bowling experience playing under cover and on the consistent speed of the carpet green,” Sullivan said.

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v36/11

club

DEVELOPMENT the future is now

BERRY BOWLING SYSTEMS

CLUB DEVELOPMENT

VENUES OF CHOICE FOR

bowlers these days are the clubs that have bitten the bullet and undertaken a major refurbishment to cater for undercover bowling on carpet.

Most synthetic green builders and shade suppliers will work out a staggered roll out, tailored to individual club needs and budgets.

Dawn of a Bold choices pay off as more and more clubs take

Mooloolaba has recently put the finishing touches on a $3.2 million dollar refurbishment, a True Draw carpet and Light Weight Structures wide span fabric shade cover.

“It’s received world wide attention, winning an industry award at a prestigious trade show in the USA,” club manager Troy Somerville said. (Outstanding Achievements prize at 2011 Industrial Fabrics Association International (FAI) Expo in Boston.)

“We’re very proud of ourselves for making the decision to go down this track and we’re very excited of where it will take us.”

Brisbane bayside club Manly gained a grant to help with the redevelopment of their club, reporting an immediate 11 per cent jump in membership with a Dale’s needle punch carpet supplied by Berry Bowling Systems.

“We travelled all over, from Cairns to Victoria, before we made our choice, we think we got the best product and best supplier,” Manly chairman Norm Broadhurst said.

“There’s no point sitting on your backside, do something to achieve what you need to do.”

Manly won Bowls Queensland’s Medium Club of the Year Award in 2012 for their proactive approach to driving membership through innovation.

Pine Rivers also went with a Dale’s needle punch and MakMax shade cover.

bit of detergent and a sprinkler, the drainage pods underneath are brilliant, you can put 20 litres of water on it and it’ll drain straight through.”

Wilson said the club paid someone to hand wash the shade structure frame once a year to get rid of cobwebs.

“You can’t use a gurney you have to do it by hand on scaffolding,” Wilson said.

But compared with the costs of maintaining a grass green, it’s cheap.

“We love the maintenance, it’s simple and cheap, we sweep off any leaves daily and vacuum once a month,” Des Wilson said.

Paradise Point on the northern end of the Gold Coast used Australian Bowling Constructions to handle their club redevelopment.

“They’ve been building a bridge just up the road and we were getting lots of dust from the trucks going past, but we can wash it with a

They chose a Greengauge woven carpet because they felt it played very similar to grass with respect to speed and draw.

Chairman Barry Alderdice said six and a half years down the track, he feels relief and pride the club made the decision to install a synthetic green.

Why do bowlers love synthetic greens and shade structures?

“Best thing ever, you can bowl 365 days a year. I just love it” Kevin Read, 66

20 | queensland bowler

“Playing on carpet has definitely sharpened me up a bit” John Evans, 70

“It takes a bit of getting used to, but mug bowlers like me don’t need to play on grass” Brian ‘Yap Yap’ Daglish, 75

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“Best thing is playing outdoors but not being out in the sun all afternoon” Noel Joy, 68 v36/11

CLUB DEVELOPMENT

a new era PRO

S

the leap from grass to covered synthetic greens “We’ve never stopped playing bowls one day in all those years on the synthetic green, it’s been invaluable, no matter what the weather throws at us, we’re out there,” Alderdice said.

“Anecdotally, clubs tell us it’s as much as 15 degrees cooler underneath the shadecloth, which makes a huge difference to their enjoyment of the game.

“And the green today runs at the same speed as it did the first day we bowled on it, the consistency has been great.”

“It stops 80 per cent of UV and stops the sun hitting the green and bouncing back up into bowlers faces.

Pioneer Valley Bowls Club, inland from Mackay, chose a Berry Bowling Systems retractable shade because of its superior quality and flexibility.

“A fixed roof is three to four times more expensive and not as flexible,” Berry’s David Aarons said.

The synthetic green builders, carpet suppliers and shade cover companies said it was a good time to put their products before the Queensland bowls community, to assist them in making choices going forward, as the sport of lawn bowls takes advantage of the latest technological advances to keep the sport relevant.

AND PITFALLS Get the facts before going for a new green at your club INSTALLING A NEW GREEN, synthetic or natural, is a massive investment for any bowling club.

Despite this, club officials are often unaware of the intricacies involved in the planning, preparation and installation stages.

To help give clubs a better understanding of the process, Bowls Australia has teamed up with the Sports Turf Institute’s Keith McAuliffe to produce a comprehensive guide for clubs considering installing a new surface.

The Bowling Green Construction Guidelines covers every step of the process, from selecting the right type of green for your club, through to financial planning, feasibility studies, tendering, construction, environmental and legal considerations, and so much more.

The guide also discusses the pros and cons of both synthetic and natural greens and the option of re-surfacing an existing grass green.

“By adopting the methodologies and techniques described in this construction guideline, bowling clubs across Australia will be confident that their new or resurfaced greens will be of a standard that the club will be proud of for many years to come,” Bowls Australia CEO Neil Dalrymple said.

To request a copy of Bowling Green Construction Guidelines, contact Bowls Qld on (07) 3355 9988.

“Wouldn’t be without it” - Lindsay Buglar, 82 (left) “Makes such a difference to play in the shade” Vince Sheraton, 79

v36/11

“People can get outside everyday in summer without overheating, it’s brilliant” Harry Betteridge, 53

Advertising Support Feature

queensland bowler | 21

CLUB DEVELOPMENT

Light Weight Structures Revolutionising bowls clubs across Australia In a recent publication, Queensland’s Minister for National Parks Recreation Sport and Racing, The Honourable Steve Dickson MP said,

RECEIVING WOLF WHISTLES FROM around the world, Queensland’s Mooloolaba Bowls Club (2011) and East Cessnock Bowling Club in New South Wales (2012) have become the undisputed benchmark in Australian bowls club development, with politicians, celebrity bowlers and patrons recognising the world-class facilities.

For the sport of lawn bowls, the bowling canopy covering Mooloolaba’s double green has been a game changer.

22 | queensland bowler

“The club (Mooloolaba) now hosts a fantastic undercover bowls facility that provides a world class experience, a wide span fabric structure that is a recognisable landmark in the Mooloolaba area”.

For bowlers visiting either Mooloolaba or East Cessnock the reason for this acclaim is obvious; the visual impact of the wide span fabric structure designed and built

by Queensland company Light Weight Structures is simply breathtaking.

Bowlers rave about the fabric canopy, identifying Mooloolaba’s single canopy

structure as the best bowling environment in Australia.

Offering column free open space over two bowling greens (3200sqmt’s) and with a height of 9.5 metres, Mooloolaba’s fabric canopy is a radical departure from the style of previous double-green structures.

No other supplier may build the copyright design, developed by Trevor Scott for Light Weight Structures.

In contrast to other existing fabric structures using trussed steel, the canopies built at Mooloolaba and East Cessnock offer simple design lines, utilising a valley and cable style canopy with curved ends, specifically designed to encapsulate night time light and offer bowlers protection from the hot summer, morning and afternoon, sun and rain.

Continued next page ►

v36/11

Advertising Support Feature

CLUB DEVELOPMENT

At night, 42 energy efficient up-lights provide bowlers with a shadow free nighttime bowling environment.

When designing the Mooloolaba structure, Trevor noticed that existing green canopies all encountered the same problem…sun and rain don’t always fall vertically from the sky.

The time of day and day of the year determines at what angle sunlight falls, while wind determines the angel of the rain.

Existing fabric structures with open ends allow weather to penetrate onto the greens, disrupting play.

Trussed steel, typically used to create strength within a roof frame over a 43 metre width, provides an inviting home for bugs, birds and dust, resulting in high cleaning costs for both the structure and greens.

This ongoing cleaning maintenance is significant over the life-span of the structure.

Furthermore, Trevor questioned why other suppliers built two small individual canopies, dividing the bowling greens facilities in half.

“All these negative factors could be resolved through thoughtful design,” Trevor Scott realised.

During the design development process for Mooloolaba, Trevor concluded there were v36/11

better ways to cover the full length of the two bowling greens.

Rather than using trussed steel, large diameter high strength pipe sections in a wishbone configuration would create the required strength to span the 43-metre distance.

Valley cables over the top of the fabric would deliver both strength and stability, while adding a full perimeter beam and creating curved closed ends would allow for the ultimate in sun, rain and wind protection.

It was through this process of design iterations and consultation that in 2011 the Mooloolaba Wide Span Structure was borne.

Proudly for Trevor Scott and Light Weight Structures, the company collected the 2012 ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ for the design of the Mooloolaba Bowls Club structure at the American IFAI Expo held in Boston, Massachusetts.

Following the success of Mooloolaba, in 2012 East Cessnock jumped at the opportunity to build the copyright Light Weight Structures design for their single green.

The design at East Cessnock, spanning a 44.3 metres width and 41.1 metres length, at a maximum height of 9.8 metres, connects to

Advertising Support Feature

the existing building offering a weatherproof transition from the clubhouse to the bowling green.

At the 2013 Australian Specialised Textiles Association (STA) Expo the design received an ‘Award for Excellence’.

The process in building a wide span fabric structure takes approximately five months, excluding any delays by council during the DA process.

However, much of the required time is spent on design, engineering and manufacture of the structural steel and fabric canopy, these processes do not effect the day-to-day management of the club.

The construction time on site, resulting in disruption to the clubs operation, is approximately five weeks for a single structure and seven weeks for a double structure.

Every building site is different, but the above times were achieved on the Mooloolaba double green site and the East Cessnock single green site.

Management at both the Mooloolaba Bowls Club and East Cessnock Bowling Club are thrilled with the Light Weight Structures service and are happy to speak with bowling clubs looking to construct an all weather bowling facility. queensland bowler | 23

24 | queensland bowler

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CLUB DEVELOPMENT

ROLLING WITH THE TIMES THE INTRODUCTION OF

synthetic greens and shade structures in Queensland bowls is making a huge difference to club bottom lines.

The big switch to carpet costs a lot of money and most boards and management committees go through a tortuous process before taking the leap.

Pine Rivers, north of Brisbane, bowling for 60 years, took six years to research the synthetic switch phenomenon.

The final year was spent visiting various outdoor undercover complexes around Australia before jumping ship.

There are no regrets.

“It’s the future of bowls,” tournament organiser Des Wilson said.

“We used to lose around 50 days of bowls a year due to wet weather and more than $10,000 in green fees.”

Now with two synthetic undercover greens, patronage has improved out of sight and down days due to bad weather are ghosts of the past.

“Membership has increased by at least 30 per cent, the main reason being sun protection and we’re not losing green fees due to wet weather,” said a delighted Pine Rivers president Ron Howden.

Howden looks after the grass greens at Pine Rivers and said most continue to play on grass when they’re preparing for tournaments.

But when they’re not, the undercover carpet is first choice.

“Ninety per cent of tournaments are still played on grass, it’s the surface most clubs still have, but if bowlers aren’t preparing for a tournament, they’ll choose the carpet every time,” Howden said.

Pine Rivers board director and bowler of 20 years John Evans said there was an unexpected benefit to bowling on carpet.

He’s had to learn new tricks and in doing so, he’s become a better all-round bowler.

“You have to think more to play on carpet, it’s different,” Evans said.

Brian ‘Yap Yap’ Daglish has also been bowling for 20 years.

Ambulance officer of 32 years and bowler of 12 years Harry Betteridge said the two new carpet greens had saved Pine Rivers.

“I used to have to call off bowls days all the time in the summer under the heatwave policy,” Betteridge said.

“Thanks to the shade cover, people can get out in the fresh air and play bowls every day without over-heating, it’s brilliant, especially for older players, they love it.”

There’s no doubt most clubs would install a synthetic green and/or shade cover if they could afford it, but with a price tag of $200,000 upwards for carpet alone, plus shade cover costs, it’s not the sort of investment that can be covered by selling a few beers over the bar.

“It’s nuts to be bowling outside on 45 degree days, it’s important to everyone to have shade cover and synthetic greens are no exception, they like the shade too,’ said David Aarons from Berry Bowling Systems.

But it’s a deal more clubs are chasing, whether through grants, loans, fundraising or a combination of sources.

Pine Rivers was fortunate to receive a 50 per cent grant to do both the green and shade cover at the same time.

He said the carpet took some getting used to because he started taking a lot more grass.

“That’s the ideal situation,” Australian Bowls Construction’s Craig Morris said.

“I don’t use ultra narrow drawing bowls but once you get the hang of it, it’s consistent, mug bowlers like me, we don’t need to be outside on the grass, we love it under here on the carpet,” Daglish said.

“Imagine if you left a plastic bucket or garden hose out in the elements for 10 years, there wouldn’t be much left of it, that’s why it’s important to get synthetic greens covered,” Morris said.

v36/4

At Pioneer Valley Bowls Club, inland from Mackay, they did the shade cover first, over their grass green, which worked for a while, but ultimately, grass needs sun, while synthetic greens (and most Queensland bowlers!) need shade in the height of Summer.

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queensland bowler | 25

CLUB DEVELOPMENT

True Draw Bowls Surfaces: Cutting edge design for Australia’s extreme weather

USA, with it’s boiling hot and freezing cold desert temperatures, Graeme knew he was onto a winner with his new True Draw Carpet System “When the weather is cool a synthetic green might run at 17 or 18, but in the heat of the day, when the polypropelene heats up, it grabs the bowl more and the green might slow down to 11 to 13 seconds,” Graeme said.

THE TRUE DRAW SYNTHETIC surface was developed by Graeme Clark, a prominent Australian bowler with over 35 years experience as a supplier and installer of synthetic bowls surfaces.

Graeme recognised that the running speed of competing bowls surfaces was adversely affected by varying temperatures.

After years of research and development, including constructing a test green in Arizona

26 | queensland bowler

“This lack of consistency was extremely frustrating for bowlers, but with the True Draw System we don’t need to worry about speed variations.

“When the weather changes, performance remains consistent in sunny, cloudy, wet or dry conditions.”

True Draw uses a specially blended polyester with a much higher boiling point, guaranteed to eliminate the extreme speed variation.

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The goal is less than half a second difference between hot and cool conditions.

With Mooloolaba, East Cessnock, San Remo and many other clubs around Australia having already installed True Draw surfaces, the rave reviews coming in from bowlers and club officials are testament to this outstanding new product.

It seems the issue of speed problems with artificial greens have been rectified with the development of this radical new surface.

True Draw carpets systems come with a 10-year warranty and save clubs lots of money on maintenence.

Clubs can save over 400,000 litres of water a year, and the carpet only requires one vacuum each week to keep it in prime playing condition.

v36/11

The future in bowls surfaces

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Talk to us about the next generation in retractable shades

retractable shades...

....An innovative design to allow maximum airflow for increased player comfort and decreased exposure.

CLUB DEVELOPMENT

Passion and Knowledge Australian Bowls Construction have got it all

IT’S AN EXCITING TIME FOR Australian Bowls Construction’s Morris family.

The passionate bowls family of greenkeepers and players, who have been building grass greens since 1982, were also in on the first wave of installing synthetic greens.

Their preferred product is Greengauge, a woven carpet synthetic surface.

“We can engineer and build all types of bowling greens, from natural grass greens, to complete indoor greens and outdoor greens, covered and uncovered, and we can install all synthetic surface types, but from a bowler’s perspective, we prefer the woven carpet surface,” owner Craig Morris said.

“We feel it’s the surface that most closely replicates natural grass.”

“The carpet likes a turning bowl, it likes to draw, the great feedback we get from players and clubs is that their bowlers have significantly improved and developed their skills on our woven carpet greens, to the point of winning pennant flags for the first time” “A woven surface is a great pleasure to play on and an exciting and serious investment for a bowls club, generally costing some $200,000 to $250,000, depending on size and site conditions.

One thing Australian Bowls Constructions (ABC) takes seriously is making sure your club gets the right product for its individual needs.

“Our consultancy business is a new development, we’ve had so much demand,” Craig said.

“We get calls from clubs all over Queensland and Australia for advice about synthetic greens, even from Bowls Australia.

“In May this year I was asked by Bowls Australia to produce a ‘Webinar’ training event for Bowls Australia’s Community Development Officers (CDOs) around the country on synthetic greens.

“I was humbled and honoured to be asked.”

Craig said a good synthetic green should pay itself off in three to four years.

28 | queensland bowler

“All the rest is cream, if the club is run correctly and green fees are set at the right level,” Craig said.

“Also some of the money from the increased volume of games and reduced maintenance costs should be invested into a green replacement fund, we don’t want clubs caught out 10 years down the track, realizing their green will need replacing but with no funds to do it, that would make for an unhappy customer and that’s something we do our best to avoid.”

Paradise Point Bowls Club at the northern end of the Gold Coast is very happy with their six and a half year old Greengauge carpet green.

Moama Bowls Club near Melbourne, host of the Australia V England International test series in 2010 & 2011, was so happy with their ‘ABC’ green, operational 2010, they ordered another for 2012!

“It’s a multi-million dollar-turnover, five green-club, and we won the contract over all other synthetic surface providers,” Craig said.

“They saw how well we build greens and how well the woven carpet performs at interstate and international level.

“But even a small club can afford a great synthetic green, with careful management.

“Undercover is always best in Australia’s extreme weather conditions - and not just for player comfort, think about what happens if you were to leave a plastic bucket or a garden hose out in the elements for a decade, how well would it last?”

Over the past three years ABC have developed a strong working relationship with MakMax, the company renowned for teflon fabric roof structures, and currently have projects underway and in planning around the country.

“The Makmax guys are total professionals and I firmly believe that together we are producing the best bowling facilities in the country,” said Craig.

“We are delighted to be working with a company that is as dedicated to detail and quality as we are.”

Craig and brother Chris grew up around bowling greens with greenkeeper dad Warwick.

“We learnt to walk on bowling greens as the house next door to the club came with the job in those days,” said Chris.

Mum Lorraine works in the office of Australian Bowls Constructions.

Chris played premier league at Taren Point (NSW) until he got too busy to play bowls, dedicated to the family business.

“We’ve built grass bowling greens with dad since 1982 and installed synthetic greens since 2003,” Craig said.

“We use our in-depth knowledge of greens with respect to civil engineering and drainage and call on geotechnical experts when necessary, to help us create the best product for each club.

“We generally set our synthetic greens to run around 14.5 - 15.5 seconds, that’s what most green-keepers aim for to keep most players happy,” Craig said.

“But we can adjust the tension on our surfaces when they’re installed, if clubs want a faster green, that’s another benefit of installing a more flexible woven green.”

Chris said some clubs apply for grants to help them install a synthetic surface and shade cover, others are self-funded, others take a loan, or a mix of all three. v36/11

Advertising Support Feature

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CLUB DEVELOPMENT

Turn-key solutions With a proven track record in making Qld clubs great

MAKMAX AUSTRALIA IS THE ONLY company in Australia which can offer a complete in-house ‘turn-key” solution to clients; providing design, fabrication and installation of membrane structures.

Our designs are all engineered specifically to your site in accordance with Australian standards and engineering codes.

MakMax products are competitively priced and made solely in Australia; we do not outsource fabrication, manufacturing or engineering outside of our Brisbane headquarters.

Disturbingly this practice of engaging multiple contractors for key services, including engineering certification, has become commonplace among our competitors, a trend that presents unnecessary risk to clubs and produces a substandard product for your site.

Trust the company with the longest history in the fabric roofing industry.

MakMax has been operating from Queensland since 1984, our experience and expertise ensures longevity in service for your project, great or small.

Before you consider engaging a builder or consultant to cover your project ask yourself:

30 | queensland bowler

• Will this structure be certified by a registered professional structural engineer?

previous project history and existing projects?

What was their role?

• Will the company I’m dealing with be around in 5, 10 or 15 years?

• Is your consultant capable of financing your project?

• Where is the company’s office? Can I call and speak to an engineer, draftsperson or production specialist if I need to?

We look forward to discussing your weather protection needs.

• Who have I contracted with and where does my warranty really come from?

Consultant, manufacturer or installer.

• Has the company been recognised by Bowls Australia as providing a quality product?

• Have you reviewed your consultant’s

With our extensive experience we are confident we can provide the highest quality solution to suit your club.

MakMax is interested in allowing clients to make an informed decision, if you have any questions please feel free to call us on 1800 777 727 to speak to our club development consultant, James Cummins.

v36/11

Advertising Support Feature

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CLUB DEVELOPMENT

AAES SOLAR SYSTEM FOR YOUR BUSINESS Several studies showed that the return on investment (ROI) is better than 20% in most cases.

WITH THE RISING COST OF ENERGY, solar is proven as a reliable and profitable alternative in reducing your energy expenses.

Energy is a LIABILITY that costs you money. Solar is an ASSET that saves you money. Money saved is money earned.

For example, a 10 kW solar system will generate in its lifetime over 350,000 kWh, including degradation over 25 years.

This electricity if purchased from the grid would cost over $85,000 at today’s prices.

The cost of the PV system is currently under $20,000 giving at least 20% (ROI).

As the process of quoting and sizing a solar system may be daunting to people who are unsure, it is very detailed and thorough as it factors in all of your expectations and requirements that befits your energy solutions.

In most cases the payback period is around four years.

To size a system that will be most beneficial to your business. We first need to identify the following:

Out of a need to provide high quality research, education and the expertise to design topperforming, cost-effective solar PV systems for the commercial and industrial sector, Australian All Energy Solutions (AAES) was created.

• What tariff you are paying?

• What your daily consumption is?

• Any expansions within your organisation?

This information will be analysed to identify a size that is compatible with Ergon infrastructure.

From here an IES application is submitted to Ergon for their assessment and a contract issued for a system that they deem practical for their network.

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34 | queensland bowler

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Advertising Support Feature

Doon Villa Bowls Club life member Joe Cook was honoured for decades of service recently on the occasion of his 100th birthday.

Joe joined the Maryborough-based club in 1960, aged 47.

He’s remembered as an outstanding bowler and competitor, the club honours board a testament to the titles he’s won.

“In Joe’s heyday, Doon Villa was the number one club in the district, competing and winning all three pennants titles year after year, blue, red and green, with Joe maintaining his position in the top blue division,” fellow life member and former club president and historian Bob Branch said In those days, the club had around 140-150 members, with 48 chosen for pennants.

Joe also liked the social side of bowls, turning up most Saturday nights to sing in the Doon Villa Men’s Choir.

“There were very few disagreements and many trips away,” Joe remembered.

Joe never missed the annual two-day Goomeri bowls carnival.

Honouring Joe Cook, from left, Doon Villa women’s president Kay O’Brien, life member Iris Ridge, Joe Cook, men’s president Peter Hunter, life member Eric Tanner.

Backbone of Doon Villa

The travelling Doon Villa teams would be invited to stay in a farmer’s barn, with Joe’s team usually taking home the trophy and the other Doon Villa team having to be content with a boot-full of farm fresh pumpkins.

“Joe would love to have a Friday night social game of pool and cards at his place,” Bob said.

“About a dozen of us would rotate around cards and pool, we’d listen to music on a cassette player and BYO drinks with a small donation towards the supper Joe would provide, Joe loved an old fashioned sing-a-long.

“He also wasn’t above slipping two Jokers into the pack on occasion.”

Bob said looking out at the synthetic greens of Doon Villa, the younger members might forget the upkeep that went into the former grass greens.

“Doon Villa greens were equal to the best in the district and members formed 30-strong working bees to top dress the greens on a Saturday, screening, wheeling, shovelling and levelling vast amounts of soil,” Bob said.

“The ditches were cleaned out and levelling wire stretched tight on pine pegs driven in every two metres across the green.

“Joe was foreman elect of his section, he carried out the final levelling.”

“Being a first class tradesman, Joe had a golf buggy with two rubber tyre pram wheels and a two-metre aluminium blade.

“He would walk backwards across the green pulling the blade along the levelling wires.

36 | queensland bowler

“He also trained other maintenance crews to do the jobs so the knowledge wouldn’t be lost.

“Of course, all the maintenance work was done in the hottest part of the year, mid-December, a good president would always ring the bell at lunch time and ensure the crews got a well earned break for refreshments after a 5am start.

“Joe’s achievements at the club include helping to build a concrete retaining wall fence on the town side of the river green, and a crib wall between the two greens, putting in steps from the club to the river, installing an underground drainage system, reclaiming the river bank (mammoth task), driving in piles and railway sleepers to keep back the mountain of soil that had to be wheelbarrowed to the edge (more than one barrow and man went over this edge in the process!).

Merle died 26 years ago when she was just 71, which made it even more important to Joe to preserve his ties to the bowls club, which he continued to donate to quietly a number of times over the years.

“There’s a saying a club is only as good as its members and this is true of Joe Cook and Doon Villa,” Bob said of his life long bowls friend.

Joe’s wife Merle also bowled at Doon Villa and his daughters Gayle and Merelle and Gayle’s husband Tony Fergusson still live in Maryborough and play bowls.

Joe’s son Dennis chose golf.

Joe was a very independent young man and he is still stubbornly independent at 100.

He came out from England by himself when he was just 15 years old, living on trains and working where they stopped.

He joined the Army and fought in New Guinea and worked at a hot, hard trade in a moulding shop for Walker’s Engineering in Maryborough, where he married his beloved wife Merle.

Joe was proud to settle in the family home in Alice St where he took charge of the maintenance and vege garden, his delicious strawberries becoming legendary. v36/11

A beacon of light in the Tablelands The small rural club of Yungaburra on the Atherton Tablelands has recently notched up some impressive statistics.

Firstly, the men’s division one pennants team has just won district pennants for the third consecutive time.

Before their winning streak started in 2011, they’d never won a district division one pennants title.

The women’s pennants teams also had wins this year, in first and second divisions.

“We’re all very excited and proud,” women’s games director Pam Jonasson said.

And on July 11, another piece of history.

After 40 years playing bowls at Yungaburra, life member and club vice president Bob Pritchard was given the honour of “Turning on the Lights”.

“We had a great roll up, more than 60 club and community members, for a celebration roll up on our new flood lit greens, but sadly, the weather turned on us, so we had to be content with a free sausage sizzle, put on by club member Ron North and women’s president Pam Fox,” club PR Robyn Williams said.

“Thanks to Rod Bidewell and the other members who did the catering, the contractors who installed the lights and the past and present management

committees who pulled this momentous project together.”

The club is located centrally in Yungaburra and local residents and businesses have been supportive of the concept of night bowls coming to the historic country village.

“So you can see we’re delighted with our little club, almost everyone plays pennants,” Robyn Williams said.

“We’re especially proud of our youngest bowler, Corey Johnson, 15, who did very well amongst his elders.

“There are no other juniors in the club and Corey puts up a good fight.

“Congratulations to all and to our other Tablelands clubs, we’ve been delighted to win against such worthy opponents.”

Hat trick, Yungaburra men win third successive Atherton Tablelands Division One Pennants at Mossman 2013, back row: Doug Sweedman, Neil Stubbin, Jack Lanham, John Beu, Greg Johnson, Peter Mahar, Ashley Jones, Davey Jones (son and father), Dennis Skinner, front row, Mal Brown, Gary Pritchard, Gavin Johnson.

Yungaburra women, District winners Division 1 2013, Robin Johnson, Robyn Williams, Pam Fox, Suzie Hemmensley, Yvonne Milevskiy, May Hubbard, Joan Parker, Jeanette Molloy, Bev Titlow, Margaret Pointon, Pam Jonasson, Maryke Dobe. v36/11

queensland bowler | 37

Ingham Side Finds Macknade Sweet Spot A team from Ingham has won the 2013 Macknade Bowls Club’s annual Tropical Mixed Fours challenge, sponsored by Zest Financial Services.

The competition is five games of 18 ends, two on Saturday, three on Sunday, played mid-July each year, in the quaint sugar haven of Macknade, 15km east of Ingham.

Competition is always tight with the 2013 trophy going to a local Ingham side, skip Brad Wilson’s team of Ren Canatore, Elsa Piotto and Janice Casanovas (4 wins, plus 36).

Runners-up was a Mystic SandsMacknade combo of Peter Hall, Irma

Watts, Mary Young, Michael Blake (skip) (4 wins plus 32).

Third place went to a Noorla-Macknade combo, Mauel Arnaiz (skip), Pedro Rodrigues, Francesca Rosadi and Jan Leach (4 wins plus 18).

“Ours must be one of the few bowls club in the world playing alongside an active sugar mill in the middle of crushing season,” club secretary Jan Leach said.

(Nearby South Johnstone Bowls Club also has an 8-rink green on South Johnstone Mill land.)

“We played in challenging conditions this year, strong coastal winds, heavy skies and even some rain whipping around, but

we’re a hardy lot up here, it was a great weekend, the social side is always bright.”

Teams came from Mareeba, Townsville, Giru and as far away as Bulli and Port Macquarie in New South Wales.

Guests enjoy a spit roast on the Saturday night with a traditional Italian style lunch of chicken and spaghetti on Sunday.

“We’re only a small club, about 20 men and 15 women bowlers, but there’s always something going on at Macknade between the Mill and the bowls,” Jan said.

The August 3-4 weekend is another big one for the club, with 64 players registered for its annual ‘state of origin’ bowls weekend, Queensland V The Rest.

Last Hurrah High Tea More than 40 past presidents from bowls clubs south of the Brisbane River met for a special High Tea at Coorparoo Bowls Club on July 12.

After 15 years of regular meetings and social bowls days at clubs throughout the district, it was the Southside Districts Past Presidents Association’s last meeting before closing the books.

“We’ve had a great time together over the years, and thanks to everyone involved, especially life member Dolores Gray from Coorparoo, who set up the association in 1998, and life member Pat Ware from Victoria Point,” said the association’s final president Carol Rance from Wellington Point.

38 | queensland bowler

Brisbane Ukulele Band played to mark the bittersweet end and members sung Happy Birthday to Sunnybank past president Bridget ‘Biddy’ Kehoe, who recently turned 100.

“Bid wasn’t well enough to make our final meeting but what a great job she’s done for bowls over the years, including 40 years at Sunnybank, serving as president and patron, and on the roster committee of QLBA for many years,” Carol said.

The association is being wound up because some of the older members wanted to play bowls closer to home and others wanted more time off to go traveling.

Leftover funds were donated to charity, Multiple Sclerosis and Care Flight.

v36/11

Not Playing for Peanuts

Top teams flock to Kingaroy chasing $4000 fours prize purse The $4000 Kingaroy Bowls Club annual Men’s Winter Fours Carnival was hotly contested with eventual winners ‘Bowlers Paradise’, Neil Henricks, Paul Henricks, Tim Diedricks and Troy Somerville taking home the prize purse with 5 wins, plus 57.5 ends).

The carnival drew 32 teams from as far away as Rockhampton and throughout south-east Queensland.

“With prize money of $4000 augmented by a highly successful Calcutta, there was plenty to play for, and from the banter around the club, it was clear some old rivalries would be revisited,” club PR Geoff Clutterbuck said.

The competition consisted of five games over 18 ends.

At the end of day one, five teams were undefeated on three games apiece, including two local teams.

“Day two, sunny skies, greens running true, the cream started to rise, after the first game, two of the previously undefeated teams had succumbed,” Clutterbuck said.

At the end of the tournament, three teams remained undefeated, with the Bowlers Paradise boys going a few ends better.

The Queensland peanut capital holds its annual tournament in mid-July each year.

Runners up were Kawana’s Ian Kennedy, Roy Williams, Peter Johnson and Joe Wood on 5 + 53.

Third was a local Kingaroy team, Danny Holligan, Trevor Turner, Glen Turner, Errol Dionysius.

Pictured: Kingaroy champs Neil Henricks, Paul Henricks, Tim Diedricks and Troy Somerville

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OVER-60S COMP

a big hit with bowlers The inaugural Brisbane-Gold Coast district clash at St Lucia Bowls Club in October last year was a great success, with the two sides vowing to do it again in 2013.

It’s the Gold Coast district’s turn to host and, as always, the glitter strip likes to do thing bigger and better.

Instead of two sides meeting at Beenleigh on October 27, the 2013 over-60s comp has become a four-way affair, with Brisbane, Gold Coast, Gateway and Cunningham districts all signed up to do battle.

Brisbane District Bowls Association chairman of selectors Keith Brown said it was an exciting progression.

“Each district will field four rinks, 16 players in total, we’ll organise some mid-week training sessions because that’s something many over-60s can do, it’s easier to get green time mid-week and we’re out to be competitive,” Brown said.

Brisbane District men’s division president and keen over-60s competition supporter Tony Burton said last year’s comp had been raved about by both sides and everyone was keen to do it again.

“It just shows you how well it went last year that in hosting this year, the Gold Coast district had no trouble convincing two extra districts to join in,” Burton said.

District Over 60s comp promoters,Tony Burton and Keith Brown

“They loved coming to our club last year, the history and tradition of St Lucia was charming for them, not to mention the delicious lunch put on by the ladies.”

With many of the visiting Gold Coast over-60s from big clubs with poker machines, the compact St Lucia club with its old-fashioned decor and home cooked lunches was a refreshing change.

“They said it was like stepping back in time and it was a beautiful day of bowls,” Burton said.

“We decided then and there the competition would be on again every year.”

Burton said Brisbane was out-played in 2012 by the Gold Coast with its bigger player pool, but the bowls was competitive enough to make the experience worth repeating, and many friendships from state sides years earlier were revived.

Brown said he would like to see the over-60s competition grow, if there was interest.

“The over-60s are probably the largest group in the bowling world and so far we’ve had an enthusiastic response to the idea of competing against each other at district level,” Brown said.

“We’ll just have to wait and see how popular this concept turns out to be, it may turn out to be even more popular as a mid-week event.”

Districts interested in joining an over60s inter-district competition should contact Keith Brown 0408 499 413 krdmbrown@bigpond.com Pictured right: Inaugural Over-60s Challenge winners, Gold Coast Tweed, and above, runners-up Brisbane.

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v36/11

Shelves empty of umpires

T

rying to find an accredited umpire in a district that is 672 kilometres wide can prove a challenge without records readily available.

Trying to find an umpire when you do not actually have any, is even a bigger challenge.

That was the situation that Leichhardt faced recently.

Like most items on our pantry shelves, umpires do have an expiry date – and like the items tucked away on the lower shelves at the back, our umpires had passed their ‘use-by date’ by at least three years.

When you run out of shelf items, you simply duck down to the corner store and buy a replacement.

When you run out of umpires, replacement is not as simple…or is it?

A few calls to Bowls Queensland and expression of interest flyers distributed to district clubs was basically all it took.

Within weeks Leichhardt held ‘stage one’ of an umpiring course in Emerald.

Bowls Queensland’s State Umpires Co-ordinator John Dawson flew up, and over a weekend he introduced the 12 trainees to the law book as well as completing measuring sessions on the green.

Stage two of the umpire course was by correspondence, with the trainees completing three exam papers over two months in the comfort of their own homes.

This stage developed the skills of each trainee with referencing the law book, enabling them to find the correct answers quickly, to avoid embarrassment and delays in the future on game days.

Stage three saw John return to Emerald to complete the final written examination and on green practical measuring assessments.

In a space of four months, we have ‘re-stocked our shelves’ at minimal expense to the district and clubs.

Each trainee had to pay $35 to attend the course, an expense covered by clubs, while the district shared the flights and accommodation expenses with Bowls Queensland.

Unfortunately we lost a few trainees along the way, due to other commitments, but we did have seven trainees who completed and passed the course making them ‘Nationally Accredited Umpires’.

The district is planning on having John return next year, for refresher training.

This will also allow past ‘out of date’ umpires who feel inspired to return, to complete their refresher training as well.

I encourage all ‘bush’ districts and clubs to use the assistance of John and his team in keeping their shelves stocked with accredited umpires, at minimum cost to all parties.

Thank you John (and Lynda) for answering the numerous calls and emails from the trainees.

Underdogs take titles in Ingham fours showdown South Townsville’s Angus Miller, John Gray and Kerry Martin (skip) joined up with Thuringowa’s Gary Costigan to knock the favourites off their perch in the 2013 Ingham Invitation Fours (July 27-28).

Ingham’s Phil Kite, Rico Basaglia, Ren Cantatore and Brad Wilson had to be content with the runner up spot.

Both teams were four gamesall coming into the last game with the Townsville team ahead on aggregate.

“As luck would have it, they were drawn against each other in the final game,” Ingham’s Tony Koop said.

“Whoever won was going to take the title fair and square, since there were no other teams on four games.

“The Ingham favourites were well ahead halfway through the decider, but Martin’s team fought back to win and take out the major prize.”

Clubs from Proserpine, Charters Towers, Townsville and Cairns took on local sides in a dress rehearsal for the North District’s premier competition, the Dunn Cup, in October.

The Invitation Fours winner and runner up bowlers have all played Dunn Cup previously, which showcases the best

four from each club playing off over three days for district supremacy.

Invitation Fours host club president Ren Cantatore has a string of Dunn Cup wins to his credit, having played for Ingham over many decades.

This year’s Dunn Cup will be hosted by 2012 champions Thuringowa on the Labour Day long weekend in October (5-7).

Results (skips names only) K. Martin (S/T/ville) 5 + 77 B. Wilson (Ingham) 4 + 44 S. Richards (Ingham) 4 + 37 Scruffy (Cutheringa) 4 + 36 D. Wells (Jubilee) 3 + 31 J. Gardner (Cutheringa) 3 + 14 T. Koop (Ingham) 3 + 13 G. Accornero (Noorla) 3 + 10 J. Hamlyn (Ingham) 2 +30 G. Jones (Cairns) 2 - 7 T. Garate (Noorla) 2 - 25 Perko (Proserpine) 2 - 46 Chip (Cutheringa) 1.5 -6 B. Bowen (C/Towers) 1 - 102

B. Watkins (T/ville) 0.5 - 56 B. Walker (C/Towers) 0 - 40 Pictured top: Winners Below: Runners-up

Your communication skills and passion during the sessions made the course a pleasure to attend.

By Dave Ling, Secretary, Leichhardt District Men’s Bowls Association. v36/11

queensland bowler | 41

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Coaching Reaccreditation Four years on most coaches seem to be onboard with the new national reaccreditation system

It’s been four years since the new coaching accreditation model was rolled out.

After a somewhat shaky start it appears most coaches, both new and old, have accepted the new way of doing things.

As it has been four years, those coaches who were accredited under the new system back in 2009 will soon be due for reaccreditation.

Needless to say we have been fielding lots of phone calls regarding what is involved in the reaccreditation process.

Initially Bowls Australia issued a policy for reaccreditation which contained practical coaching, personal development and an on green assessment.

After consultation with all states, the personal development component of the reaccreditation has been removed.

The new reaccreditation process requires the coach to have performed 200 hours of practical coaching over the four year period (1 hour per week), which can be documented on a coaching activity log.

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Reaccrediting coaches also require a letter from their club recognising them as a competent and necessary coach within that club, an undertaking from the coach to view coaching videos, which will soon be available on the BA website, and an on green assessment carried out by one of our own Presenters and Assessors.

I think this is a much easier process than the need to accumulate all the personal development points and also makes it easier for coaches who are actively working within their own clubs to reaccredit.

Reaccreditations have already been taking place and they are normally held in conjunction with the Competition and Selection Modules.

To find out where and when your next opportunity to reaccredit or attend a coaching course or module is, check out the Bowls Queensland website under the Coaches tab http:// www.bowlsqld.org/Coaching. aspx

There are a number of scheduled courses and modules coming up, particularly in the Downs and Gateway Districts, where we have had numerous requests from members for these to be held.

It’s that time of the year when the development team start preparing for two of the biggest events on our calendar, the Multi Disability State Championships and the All Schools Cup Challenge.

MDC

The Multi Disability State Championships will be held from September 8-11 at Aspley Bowls Club in Brisbane’s North.

Last year we had 77 entries for this event and with the closing date for entries upon us we are hoping for similar numbers again this year.

The event is held in four separate categories for Blind Bowlers, Deaf Bowlers, Lifestream (Intellectual Disability) and Sporting Wheelies (Physical Disability).

Within each category there is a men’s and ladies singles and open pairs event with the winners from the individual singles events selected to represent Queensland at the Australian Open event held in February 2014 in Melbourne.

This event has helped increase the profile of players with a disability and the increased competition has given us a very strong squad of players, who have proven incredibly successful at past Australian Open events, winning more than their fair share of the medals.

Entry forms for the 2013 Multi Disability State Championships are available on the Bowls Queensland website http://www. bowlsqld.org/DisabilityBowls. aspx ASC

Unfortunately the response to the All Schools Cup hasn’t been as positive as we would have liked with only 13 districts confirming entry, compared to 16 in 2012.

Sixteen entries is an ideal number when it comes to conducting the draw and means that no teams end up with a bye and for that reason we will accept late nominations from any of the districts who have not yet entered.

For details of the competition and eligibility criteria go to the Bowls Queensland website under the Juniors tab http:// www.bowlsqld.org/Juniors.aspx As always, if you have any questions regarding any of the areas discussed in this column please feel free to contact me on 3355 9988 or email brett@ bowlsqld.org

queensland bowler | 45

We had a great response to a comprehensive article on Marking in last year’s Queensland Bowler (June 2012). The article covered the duties of a marker before, during and after a game, keeping in mind that a good marker can make a good game better, while a bad marker can spoil it for everyone.

As it’s been 14 months since then, and as we are playing singles again at various levels, I thought it might be timely to revisit this important role. Problems regarding marking a singles game seem to recur. I hope you find the following list of DOs and DON’Ts a good refresher. Of course, you should always be conversant with the full rules (Law 55 – The Marker’s Duties).

DOs:

› Be correctly attired and equipped – spray chalk/chalk, pen or pencil, coin, and card. › Introduce yourself to both players.

› Be conversant with the ownership of the bowls. › Align the jack AFTER it has come to rest.

› Challenge the length of the jack roll if in doubt, if the players agree, return the jack for re-rolling. If they don’t agree, call the umpire. The minimum length is 21 metres. › Check the mat is correctly laid and aligned before play starts.

› Stop bowls from adjoining rinks from displacing bowls on your rink.

› Retire to a position about one metre behind the jack and one metre to one side. Keep your shadow away from the head and from that of the adjoining rink. › Remain motionless, with eyes fixed on the player in possession of the mat.

› Watch for signals from the player in possession of the mat. Be alert and in a position to observe if a bowl becomes a toucher. › Mark all touchers immediately they come to rest.

› Answer all questions briefly, with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ if the answer is not misleading and use commonsense. › If asked ‘Am I shot?’, the number of shots can be advised.

› Only answer questions asked by the player who has possession of the mat.

› Advise the player if asked ‘Is a bowl jack high?’. If bowl is not exactly jack high, you may advise how far short or past jack high it is.

› Remove all dead bowls immediately from the ditch after agreement by the players. The status of bowls near the boundary should be determined by agreement by the players, or they should call the umpire to decide. › Move to the front of the head when a running bowl is delivered so that you can focus on the bowl.

› Keep clear of the head when the players arrive – they determine the result, not you. › Call the score-card every end.

› Walk from end to end midway between the centre of the rink and the boundary. › Place the score on the scoreboard every second end.

› Sign the score card and record the time after each player has done so and hand to the proper official after the match.

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MARKING

with

joan brotherton

DON’Ts:

› Move about when the player is on the mat. › Stop the jack before it completes rolling.

› Raise the jack above your head before you place it on the ‘T’ mark two metres from the front ditch. If the jack is rolled long, simply pick it up and place it on the T. › Move in to see who has the shot unless asked.

› Answer questions being asked in an adjacent rink.

› Lift a bowl on your rink to allow passage of a bowl from a neighbouring rink. › Say a shot is doubtful if it is not really so.

› Invite the player to inspect the head. Players can go to the head of their own accord provided there is no Player Restriction of Movement in the Conditions of Play. › Give a misleading answer to a badly worded question. Ask the player to rephrase the question. › Supplement your answer with information not asked for. › Watch the game alongside.

› Talk to the spectators on the bank. › Applaud either player.

› Lean over sideways as if to ‘assist’ a bowl to wick or miss. Some shots can be very exciting and it’s a natural reaction but you should endeavour to always maintain a neutral stance. › Sit on the bank or seat. If you’re tired, get a replacement marker. › REMOVE THE SHOT BOWLS OR DISTURB THE HEAD IN ANY WAY.

› Tell the players who has the shot when they arrive or by how many. › Carry more equipment than you need. › Indicate a bowl with your feet.

Note: If the use of shot indicators is requested, you will need to inquire as to the correct procedures required for each particular event.

I hope the above is of help to you when next marking and that you continue to improve your skills and enjoy the experience.

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classifieds

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48 | queensland bowler

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Welcome to the Queensland Bowler August edition of Henselite’s Spot the Jack competition.

Simply put an X where you think the missing jack was located in this picture, fill in your details below and send this page to:

Queensland Bowler August Spot the Jack PO Box 476, Alderley 4051 The first correct entry drawn will receive a free set of Henselite bowls.

Winners can choose from a selection of bowls, colours and sizes.

Name........................................................................

Address.................................................................... .................................................................................

State........................................Postcode..................

Entries must be received by August 31. Winner will be announced in the October issue. Multiple entries allowed.

Original entry forms only, no photocopies accepted.

Daytime telephone.................................................... *email........................................................................

This month’s winner Congratulations to: Phil Wregg Brookwater, Qld You will receive a free set of Henselite bowls of your choice from a selection of bowls, colours and sizes. * By supplying your email address you agree to receive a copy of the next Henselite eNewsletter containing details of discounts, specials, new products and bowls information.

You can unsubscribe at any time.

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queensland bowler | 49

Gaming Grants

Helping clubs and communities Gaming grants provide funding to not-for-profit community groups in Queensland.

The objective of the gaming grants are to invest in the community sector, enhancing the capacity of community organisations and groups to provide services, leisure activities and opportunities to Queenslanders in their local communities.

These funding programs allow taxes received from gambling activities to be distributed directly to the community.

By redistributing gambling taxes, the government seeks to ensure that the whole state benefits from gambling.

In addition to the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, which provides funding to community groups throughout Queensland in the amount of $39million per year over four rounds, there are segmented regional based community benefit funds including Jupiters Casino, Reef Hotel Casino and Breakwater Island Casino.

Obviously these grants are a great method of providing funding directly to the community.

It may be worthwhile for a hotel to inform community groups that such funding is available and has a relatively easy application process.

Providing access for community groups to gaming grants can reflect positively on the hotel.

Eligible not-for-profit groups can apply for grants up to $35,000, however larger grants may be awarded to more complex applications that provide significant community benefit.

with

Curt schatz

Such grants have a significant positive impact on the community and in turn can reflect positively on the hotel.

The gaming grants provide one-off payments to approved organisations which meet the following objectives:

► participation by initiatives which have a beneficial influence in the community

► achieving a measure of community acceptance and/or involvement in approved projects ► to be attuned to the needs of the community

► to approve general or specific projects providing facilities which have an obvious community benefit.

While clubs do not directly partake in the funding grants, the gaming operations within the club, do allow for such grants to exist.

Clubs have the opportunity to assist local community groups in obtaining the gaming grants by simply letting them know they exist and assisting them in knowing how and where to undertake the application.

This community assistance can reflect positively on the club’s community profile.

If you require any further information on the above please contact Curt Schatz on 3224 0230 or Rose Locke on 3224 0273.

We also direct you to the OLGR website where the applications can be made.

Each application is assessed on the overall merit of the project, the benefit to the community, the amount of funds sought per region and the amount of funds available for distribution for each region.

The latest funding rounds for the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund and Reef Hotel Casino Benefit Fund opened 16 July 2013 and close 31 August 2013.

All applications are made through the OLGR.

The application process requires the community group to register their organisation and go on to complete the application process.

The last round of funding grants saw hundreds of not-for-profit community based organisations receive funding for such things as kitchen renovations, purchasing equipment, upgrading facilities and training.

Coaching Column

We’re working on a new look coaching column. Coaching tips will return to Queensland Bowler magazine in due course - Ed

Hospitality law requires the best heads in the business.

When it comes to legal advice for a club, you need more than just legal advice you need lawyers who know your industry.

With specialist divisions in hospitality and business services, we understand your industry and all its legal requirements.

We minimise your risk and help grow your business.

For more information contact: Curt Schatz, Partner

Level 21, Riverside Centre 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane Qld 4000 Telephone 07 3224 0230 cschatz@mullinslaw.com.au

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September 18, 2013

bowls expo Giveaways and specials on the day

Bowls apparel and equipment trade day When: September 18, 2013 from 10.00am to 6.00pm Where: North toowoomba bC, Cnr elsworthy & Lemnos St toowoomba InvIted: All bowlers and club committees.

Cost: Free entry and parking.

ProvIded: Free morning and afternoon tea and sausage sizzle at lunch time.

Graphic artists on hand to desiGn your cluB Gear

Format: bowls Australia licensed manufacturers showing the latest teamwear and non teamwear apparel with sizing kits and design staff on hand to help in designing your club uniforms. try the latest bowls and bowlers arms on the demo green and see a huge range of shoes, bags and bowls accessories