LAWN BOWLING AND LIFESTYLE Aug/Sep 2020 | Volume 11 Issue 4
FEE RELIEF FOR NSW KEEPING YOUR MOJO The best bowls exercises to give you the edge
City of Echuca’s
COVID STORY
START ‘EM YOUNG
KIDS ON THE GREEN HEALTH ADVICE – LIFESTYLE – TRAVEL – HISTORY
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IN THIS ISSUE
TA LK TO U S A BOU T C HA N G I N G OU R A DVE RTISIN G TO YOU R SPONS OR ’ S OR C LU B’ S RE QU IR E M E N TS Please call Jane on 0477 083 888 to discuss the criteria for Bowling Green Supplies to remove our advertising off the lawn bowls scoreboard bottom advertising panel, and replace it with your specific needs
Time to get back on track P6
Encouraging children to play bowls P8
Perfect pizza P16
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on the cover
SA Super League P20 LAWN BOWLING AND LIFESTYLE Aug/Sep 2020 | Volume 11 Issue 4
FEE RELIEF FOR NSW
Brothers give back to barrier-breaking sport P21
KEEPING YOUR MOJO The best bowls exercises to give you the edge
How to get children enjoying bowls now and in the future.
City of Echuca’s
COVID STORY
Australian war history
P32
START ‘EM YOUNG
KIDS ON THE GREEN
Interview with Disco P34
HEALTH ADVICE – LIFESTYLE – TRAVEL – HISTORY
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Volume 11 Issue 4
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IT’S TIME TO GET
NEW MEMBERS
Now that bowls clubs are almost back to normal, some members might be wondering how they can drive members to their club as soon as possible. Why not hold an open day? The day to choose If your club wants to run an event during the week, it must be after work hours to cater to workers, children and families. Why not tie this in with a night your club’s restaurant is open as this can raise some extra revenue for the night. If you don’t have an operational restaurant, consider approaching local foodtruck owners or get members to host a sausage sizzle. Weekends are usually the choice for clubs to run such events, but it’s important to remember that Saturday is traditionally a day for sport and can limit the number of participants. If you want to run your open day on a Saturday, it would be important to hold this late afternoon/ evening to attract more people.
Create a Facebook page If your club does not have a Facebook page, then create one as it can be one of the best marketing assets for the club. It’s free and a lot of your members already use Facebook and can become your followers. If you already have a club Facebook page, you should ensure it is regularly updated as it can be used as a great tool to keep current members not only informed, but engaged with the club.
Sundays traditionally work best to hold an open day and maximise your participants.
This helps promote a healthy club community and this ultimately helps maintain a club’s membership base.
How to advertise
A good social media strategy can have a positive effect on sales as it increases the overall exposure of your club, and it can help you promote your club’s deals and services to a far wider audience.
For a day like this to be successful, it’s very important to advertise this in your community. The following ways are best to advertise your event. • Social Media (Facebook)- through posts, shares and paid boosts for your club page advertising the upcoming event. • Local radio • Surrounding school newsletters and noticeboards • Local library noticeboards • Local newspaper • Club website • Club’s social membership database • Local community and council websites • Community groups and sports clubs. 6 BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020
Because social media is such an efficient way of connecting with people, you can use social media to conduct market research. You can conduct surveys or polls which will enable you to find out what service or deal you should be offering next. Take a look at what the bigger and more established clubs are doing on social media as this can be helpful when you plan your strategy.
• Letterbox drop • Advertisement in local shop fronts. • Encourage members to bring their family, friends or work colleagues along to try bowls. • Advertisement inside your club - TV screens, during raffles and with flyers on tables and bars. What you can do on the day • Collect visitor information from those who arrive and the club so you can connect with these players once the day has finished. • Choose your volunteers carefully as we want the participants to have fun and enjoy themselves without overwhelming them with rules and tips. • Make sure you have an array of bowls sizes that can cater to women and children. • Don’t let the visitors walk away empty-handed. Produce a brochure with information about their club for all participants to take home. This should include info on how much is membership costs, as well as info on what days the club plays social bowls and what are the costs. You should also include club contact info, as well as restaurant opening hours (if relevant) with a discount coupon for a meal to entice people back to the club. Important points to consider • Encourage your club members to bring their family, friends or work colleagues to the club. • Keep the event to a few hours only, not the whole day. This will give you a better chance to gain more volunteers as they won’t be giving up their whole day. Everyone in attendance is to sign the function sheet. This is how we can communicate to the participants to get them back to the club. Also, this can be used for feedback to gather ideas on what we did well and other areas we can improve on. • Encourage members to bring their coloured bowls down for participants instead of using old black and brown sets. This will make it more appealing for the players and at the same time easier to handle the bowls. Most of all, make your open day fun and friendly. If people have a good time, they will be back. BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020 7
TIPS ON ENCOURAGING
JUNIORS
Getting junior participants actively involved in sport is an integral component of a healthy active lifestyle. Sport at a junior level needs to be fun, positive and enjoyable and inclusive. Bowls Australia have come up with some ideas on how to get juniors playing and loving bowls.
Tips on creating an atmosphere of fun within a team • Get down to the junior participants level andunderstand what they see as fun; • Don’t take yourself too seriously, get involved, don’t be afraid to fail; • Maintain a fun attitude with lots of laughter and a sense of humour; • Create training sessions that provide maximum activity, skill development and enjoyment; • Treat all junior participants equally, while meeting their individual needs; • See the lighter side of mistakes, through encouragement and praise;
Bowls is an attractive option for junior participants with varying athletic and physical abilities. Bowls as a sport
• Create opportunities for all skill and ability levels;
provides an opportunity for junior participants to develop physically, socially and emotionally with a wide variety of skills transferable to non-athletic environments, such as leadership, team work, concentration and strong ethics and values.
• Be well planned, organised and resourced (equipment); • Improve the club environment for junior participation
BA’s collective goal is to provide safe, enjoyable environments to encourage the long-term participation of junior participants and their families.
• Provide recommendations, resources and programs that focus on providing a simple, fun, accessible and affordable introduction to bowls
Fun is the major motivating factor for junior participants to play sport. Although junior participants like to compete, the emphasis on the competition is always related to the fun and excitement experienced in the competition, not necessarily a win.
• Create and promote family bowls initiatives that encourage participation by the whole family in various forms • Create, promote and provide non-traditional forms of bowls participation • Develop projects, resources and programs that assist deliverers in introducing the game through primary and secondary schools in a fun manner • Assist with the provision of junior sized bowls for new participants • Collect participation data to show trends in participation aligned with the various programs and initiatives delivered by clubs, schools, community and STA’s • Praise in public. However, never criticise in front of their peers; and • Inform juniors of the pathway for a junior participant.
8 BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP2020
BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020 9
SKIN CHECKS ARE YOU PUTTING THEM OFF? By Kirsten Braun
During the recent COVID-19 crisis, many people avoided visiting their doctor for fear of being exposed to the virus. Consequently, people have put off having various symptoms investigated, including skin changes. Now that restrictions are easing, it is important to resume having these vital health checks. Cancer Council Australia encourages people to become familiar with their own skin and see their doctor if they notice a change in shape, colour or size of a skin lesion or if they develop a new skin lesion. People identified as being at high risk of skin cancer should undergo a skin examination by a doctor every 6-12 months. This includes those with: • Fair skin, a tendency to burn rather than tan, freckles, light eye colour, light or red hair colour; • Increased numbers of unusual moles • Depressed immune systems • A family history of melanoma in a first degree relative • Previous melanoma or keratinocyte cancers (basal cell carcinomas or squamous cell carcinomas). The most dangerous form of skin cancer is melanoma. In 2015, 13 694 people were diagnosed with melanoma. In the same year, 1 498 people lost their life to the disease. Many people believe that melanomas come from an existing mole that changes in some way (in size, shape or colour). A recent study, however, found that less than one third of melanomas came from an existing mole. The majority of melanomas (71%) appeared as a new lesion. It is, therefore, extremely important to 10 BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020
visit the doctor if you develop a new skin lesion. In existing moles, changes to look out for are asymmetry (the two halves of the mole do not mirror each other), irregular borders, colour (change in colour, mix of colours) and diameter (mole increasing in size). While melanomas are most deadly, the most commonly diagnosed skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). These types of skin cancers are often referred to as non-melanoma skin cancers. BCCs grow slowly and usually appear as small, round or flattened spots that are red, pink, pale or pearly in colour. They may look like a scaly or shiny area and can be confused with eczema. BCCs are usually found on the upper body, head or neck. SCC grow over months but they can spread if they are not treated. They appear as scaly red areas that bleed easily, ulcers or as non-healing sores that are often painful. Typically, they are found on the
lips, ears, backs of hands and lower legs. BCC and SCC are treated in a variety of ways, depending on the size of the cancer, its location and at times, personal preference. Treatments may include surgical removal, the use of ointments or creams, cryotherapy (using liquid nitrogen to freeze the skin cancer) and radiotherapy. As the majority of skin cancers are caused by our exposure to the sun, the best way to prevent them is to always practice sun safety, using a SPF 30 (or higher) broad spectrum sunscreen, wearing sunprotective clothing, a broad brimmed hat and sunglasses and seeking shade.
BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020 11
ONE CLUB’S Y E N R U O J 9 -1
D I V O C
City of Echuca Bowls Club will receive another $10,000 in several months from the Cash Flow Boost. Ian has also submitted applications to the Victorian Government for both the Business Support Fund ($10,000) and the Community Sport Package Grant ($1,000). The club is still waiting to see if we are successful with these state grants and will apply for any relevant grants that become available. When the restrictions were eased, Jade had one green ready for roll-ups and the members have been back using it following all the guidelines. Now Jade is happy to be working three days and was hopeful that the guidelines will ease again, and some competitions will resume. However, with latest outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria, restrictions are once again in place in Victoria. Please check the Bowls Victoria or Bowls Australia websites for the most recent information.
Story by City of Echuca Bowls Club’s Pat Schram
The City of Echuca has four high quality, tift-dwarf greens, which are at their best during autumn, the club employs one full-time greenkeeper, who is passionate about his work and the club. During the three months of the lockdown, like the majority of bowls clubs, City of Echuca Bowls Club lost a major period of income. The following events were scheduled at the club during that time: Edinburgh Shield (RSL weekend of full greens), API (Australian Postal Institute 4 days of full greens), 2020 Women’s Country Bowls Carnival (a day of full greens and 2 days of knock-outs), our own May Carnival (12 days of full greens), and overflow from the Moama Carnival (5 days), as well as social events scheduled to support these bowls competitions. The club was fortunate to have an excellent treasurer, Ian Whiting, who was right on the ball to implement strategies to protect the club. Ian has a son living in Spain, and as COVID-19 was hugely impactful there before Australia, Ian was more aware than many others of what could happen. The board met and Jade Bennett, the club’s greenkeeper, went on to limited hours. This was done so that when the restrictions were limited, the club could get the greens back to playing standard relatively quickly. From the Federal Government, Ian applied and was successful with Jobkeeper ($3,000 per month), and the club received the Cash Flow Boost ($10,000) with the automatic adjustment to BAS return by the Tax Office. 12 BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020
BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020 13
DE VASTATI O N AT
CUDGEN L EAGUES Stor y by B owls NS W ’s Tr i c i a Breuer
In the aftermath of the recent fire that engulfed Cudgen Leagues Club, the sense of disbelief at the devastation that occurred continues among the club members. Since Cudgen Leagues Bowling Clubs first commenced activities - early 1986 for the men’s club and the women’s club later that year - members have amassed a wonderful history of successes on the greens at club, district and state events. Even though access to the club has been declared ‘off-limits’ at present, it is quite evident from a distance that the bowlers’ lounge overlooking the greens has been destroyed and the bowls office is completely gutted. Many bowlers have lost their bowls stored in the locker rooms, which were also razed during the inferno. A report on the greens indicates that Green Two (opposite the greenkeepers shed) has escaped unscathed. The keepers shed has also been declared 100% OK. However, Green One, even with the firies impeding on the area whilst fighting the fire, appears to be in reasonable condition. Although, what looks like singeing is visible approximately two metres from the bank.
B O W L S C L U B S B A G M U LT I P L E C L U B S
QUEENSLAND AWARDS The Bribie Island Bowls Club, Kirwan Sports Club, Redlands Sporting Club and The Waves Bundaberg all received gongs at the 21st Keno & Clubs Queensland Awards for Excellence event. Kirwan Sports Club picked up the Best Bowls Club award, as well as the Best Dining award (one to 50 seat capacity), the club also finished third place in for the Club of the Year: Intermediate category and the Best Bowls Club category. The Waves Bundaberg also scored highly and took home the Best Multi-Sports Club award, Club Chef of the Year award for Glenn Whitehurst, their director Tony Castro finished second place in the Club Director of the Year category. Bribie won the Club of the Year award in the Grand category, the category for clubs with 100 to 199 gaming machines, and received second place in the Best Bowls Club award category as well as the Heart of the Community Award category for their NYE laser light show event. Camp Hill Bowls Club finished second in the Club of the Year: Non-gaming category, Beenleigh Bowls & Recreation Club also received a mention as they finished third in both the Support of Sport category and the Special Achievement Award - Responsible Gambling. Redlands Sporting Club finished runner-up in both the Responsible Gambling and Responsible Service of Alcohol Special Achievement Award categories. In the Health & Wellbeing honours, Weipa Bowls Club and Coolangatta Bowls and Recreation Club finished second and third, respectively, in the Best Dining (51-100 seat capacity) Club Pine Rivers’ Sparkes Cafe finished in third place. 14 BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020
The fightback spirit Cudgen Leagues bowlers display when ‘down’ on the green will, for sure, be seen again in the re-establishing of their clubhouse.
DELICIOUS healthy
Pizzatostry for you
We’ve put together a list of great pizzas to try this month that won’t make you feel too guilty about eating! Pizza dough
Caramelised onion and goat’s cheese pizza For the topping •
2 onions, halved and thinly sliced
•
2 tsp olive oil
•
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
•
160g baby spinach leaves, chopped
•
2 large garlic cloves, finely grated
•
50g soft goat’s cheese
•
4 pitted Kalamata olives, quartered
•
new soft thyme leaves
•
1 tsp sunflower seeds
•
2 handfuls rocket
Method:
Pizza base ingredients and method for all the pizzas below For the topping
Method
•
1. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas.
250g wholemeal flour, plus a little for kneading if necessary
•
1 tsp instant yeast
•
¼ tsp salt
•
1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing
2. Tip the flour into a mixer with a dough hook, or a bowl. Add the yeast, salt, oil and 200ml warm water then mix well to a very soft dough. 3. Knead in the food mixer for about five mins, but if making this by hand, tip onto a work surface and knead for about 10 mins. 4. When the dough is sticky, try not to add too much extra flour. 5. Leave in the bowl and cover with a tea towel and let it sit while you make the topping. 6. Take the dough from the bowl and press into the base and up the sides of an oiled 25x35cm Swiss roll tin. 7. Don’t knead the dough first otherwise it will be too elastic and will keep shrinking back.Knead in the food mixer for about five mins, but if making this by hand, tip onto a work surface and knead for about 10 mins. 8. When the dough is sticky, try not to add too much extra flour.
Cajun prawn pizza Ingredients:
Method:
•
1. For the topping, heat the oil in a nonstick pan or wok. Add the celery and pepper and fry for 8 mins, stirring frequently, until softened. Tip in the tomatoes and paprika then cook for 2 mins more. Set aside to cool a little then stir in the prawns.
• • • • • • • • 16 BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020
1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing 2 large sticks celery, finely chopped 1 yellow or green capsicum, deseeded and diced 225g can chopped tomatoes 1 tsp smoked paprika 165g pack raw, peeled king prawns 2-3 tbsp chopped coriander ½ - 1 tsp Cajun spice mix 2 handfuls rocket
2. Spread the base with the tomato and prawn mix then scatter with the coriander and sprinkle with the Cajun spice. Bake for 10 mins until golden. Serve with a green salad.
1. Tip the onions into a non-stick wok and add the oil, 4 tbsp water and balsamic vinegar. 2. Cover with a saucepan lid that sits inside the pan to help the onions soften, then cook for 15 mins, stirring about 3 times and replacing the lid quickly so as not to lose too much moisture. 3. After the time is up, the onions should be golden and all the liquid gone. Tip onto a plate. Add the spinach and garlic to the pan and stir-fry until the spinach has wilted. 4. Spread the base with spinach followed by the onions, then dot with the cheese and scatter with the olives, thyme and sunflower seeds. Bake for 15 mins until golden and the base is cooked through.
BBQ chicken pizza For the topping •
pack of 3 peppers
•
1 large onion
•
1 tbsp rapeseed oil
•
1 tsp fennel seeds
•
2 tbsp barbecue sauce
•
2 tbsp tomato purée
•
1 large skinless chicken breast fillet (about 225g), diced
•
175g baby plum tomatoes, quartered
•
50g smoked cheese, grated
Method: 1. Halve and slice the peppers and onions, then toss the peppers and onions with the oil and fennel seeds then roast for 15 mins. Meanwhile, mix the barbecue sauce and tomato purée with five tablespoons of water. 2. Spread with two-thirds of the barbecue sauce mix then add the remainder to the chicken and toss well to coat it. 3. Take the roasted pepper mixture from the oven and spread on top of the pizza. Scatter over the tomatoes then evenly spoon on the barbecue chicken. 4. Scatter with the cheese and bake for 15 mins. Serve with a salad or healthy coleslaw. BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020 17
NSW
COVID-19 BEST PRACTICE In the last eight months since the arrival of COVID-19 to this country, there has been a lot of change and uncertainty within the bowls community as well as the wider sporting world at large. As we continue to return to the greens we need to collectively work together to reduce the chance of a full-blown second wave of the virus, as we have already seen in both Victoria and New South Wales, the virus is still out there in our community, so we will all need to be vigilant. To do this we will need to ensure we are adhering to the best practice when it comes to how we go about our daily lives to ensure we not only protect our fellow bowlers but the community at large as well. How do I ensure COVID-19 best practice? •
Have a minimum of a 2-metre space between each rink in use.
•
The responsibility lies with individual clubs to ensure that they are fully aware of and compliant with the QLD State Government advice and all guidelines are adhered to. Strict safety and health protocols must be in place. Clubs must engage any staffing/volunteers required as necessary to fulfil the guidelines including any marshalling to achieve social distancing
•
Ensuring that the 1.5 m social distancing rule is to be observed at all times.
•
Implementing a changeover between groups to ensure gatherings are avoided and allow cleaning and sanitising of communal and shared facilities.
•
Disinfectant spray must be made available, all mats and jacks must be thoroughly cleaned by players, volunteers or staff between each session.
•
Not sharing bowls equipment between players (e.g. bowls, cloths etc), players should not touch other people’s bowls.
•
Making sure hand sanitiser is available at the entrance to the club and beside each green in use.
18 BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020
•
Bowlers should practice safe hygiene at all times, including washing hands for at least 20 seconds before and after bowls.
•
Clubs must have in place, and follow the Outdoor Sport Industry COVID Safe Plan checklist.
•
•
Clubs need to regularly review the effectiveness of the steps put in place to measure success or evaluate risks. Review systems to make sure they are consistent with current directions from QLD Health.
Masks
JOINT UNIFICATION UPDATE Bowls NSW and Women’s Bowls NSW have released an update on the potential unification of both associations, they want to assure all the members of the NSW bowling family that they have been working hard ‘behind the scenes’ to safeguard and protect the sport in the coming months. As part of this work, both boards have managed to meet virtually to start to build towards what bowls could look like in NSW under a unified body. Although at the very early stage of this process both boards have committed and are looking forward to working together exploring all the available options that will eventually lead to the betterment and improvement of the sport in NSW. WBNSW and BNSW say they are dedicated to ensuring all members are kept updated as discussions progress, so you will notice more regular joint communications coming from both associations.
While masks are not mandatory, they have been scientifically proven to reduce both the transmission of the virus and your chance of catching the virus from others. Although they are not 100 per cent effective, they are still better than not having one at all, this is important as even asymptomatic people often can unwittingly spread the virus to others. Our main goal should be to limit the transmission of the virus by taking any steps necessary to reduce our own risk and the risk of those most vulnerable in our community. Keep checking the news in your state, the Bowls Australia website and your state body’s website to keep up to date on the latest updates on COVID-19.
BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020 19
SA SUPER LEAGUE 2020 DRAFT The SA SUPER LEAGUE will be coming back in October 2020, thanks to the continued support from City of Salisbury, West End and SportsCentre. Bowls SA say this is your opportunity to play with and against the best players in the state regularly, in the most incentivised team competition in the state. It doesn’t matter what your age, ability or club, EVERYONE has the opportunity to be involved in the SA Super League. The league has raised the profile of bowls in SA, creating a fast paced, short seasoned format with initiatives such as super ends, different disciplines, weekly live streaming of matches, a weekly bowls show consisting of results, selections & match previews, a live player draft, statistics and a league best and fairest award! This year Bowls SA have made some additional changes to make the league bigger and better than the first two seasons for players and spectators alike. The season is shifting to the warmer months with the league being staged from October 16 and concluding on December 18. Franchises will have ‘home clubs’ with each franchise having a steering committee responsible for the appointment of coaches and compliance with league rules and regulations. For the first time some league matches will also be played at varying venues with an opportunity to bring the league to different bowling clubs. Squads will be raised to 15 players per squad with the league now consisting of an SA Super League and SA Super League reserves competition meaning 12 of the 15 players will be selected to play each week. There will also continue to be a separate SA Super League Under 21 league consisting of up to five squad members with two players playing each week. Squad selection requirements will be reduced to four local players from each franchise’s local zone (must be two country / two metro) and three players of each gender, squads will also have the ability to pick their best available team each week. Each team has been asked to retain six players who played for their squad in the previous season with these players being announced prior to the draft in early August.
BROTHERS GIVE BACK TO ‘BARRIER-BREAKING’ SPORT Story by BA’s Paul Hotlschke (RBM - Metropolitan Melbourne/Geelong
Local Legends can be found anywhere around the country and from any upbringing or background – and Camberwell Central Bowls Club brothers Kevin and Tom Woon are perfect examples of that. Kevin, 24, and Tom, 21, have no family connection to bowls, but starting as young boys have now become key individuals at their club. Kevin began playing bowls through his high school, picking it up as a summer sport about 11 years ago. “When I started I was semi-good, so I just kept going,” he said. “It’s one of those sports that is really hard to master, so being a perfectionist I enjoyed the challenge. “There is always a different scenario and different tests to face.” Tom followed his older brother, joining Camberwell Central after several years of ‘pestering’ from Kevin. “I joined a good 5 or 6 years later,” Tom said. “I also came down to Camberwell Central as part of a school program, it was a bit of stress relief from studying and it was just something different to do.” Having both come through school programs in their teens, both brothers have become engrained at Camberwell Central, with Kevin now serving as the club’s bowls director and Tom involved in running school programs. “I’ve had exposure with running school programs like the one I went through, from that I realised I enjoyed teaching which
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is why I shifted my career ambitions (from being a commercial pilot) to flight instruction,” he said. “It’s so important to get that passion out there and foster it just like it was for us.” Kevin said it has been an easy decision to work and give back to his club. “I handled a bit on the IT side, implementing new systems and setting up social media accounts, after that someone approached me about being bowls director,” he said. “It was a good opportunity to give it a go, give something back and it’s panned out pretty well so far. “I’ve been here since I was 13, everyone here has watched me grow up, it’s been such a supportive environment and I am so thankful for this club to get me to where I am, not just in bowls but also as a person.” “I have also been able to break through some personal barriers and reach those goals I’ve wanted to reach.” One of those barriers is on green success, with Kevin going on to be crowned Camberwell Central club champion in December. “It was quite nerve-wracking but it was a real honour to win,” he said. Kevin said he and his brother will continue to give back to the club and sport that has been able to be a home for them. “Bowls is probably one of the best things that has happened to us,” he said. “It doesn’t matter your race, age, gender, you can fit in anywhere.” BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020 21
C O V I D -1 9: V O L U NT E E RS ST E P UP
BASSENDEAN
MAKES THE MOST OF COVID-19 With clubs shut down and many people stuck at home, the Bassendean Bowling Club took the opportunity to give their club a complete once over with fantastic results.
The club’s office was stripped, repaired and repainted and filled with new office furniture. The club also added a history walk between the hall and the toilets area, which included all trophies, photos and historic documents displayed for all to see as well as the replacement of some pennant shields now displayed above bar area;
Club secretary, Dave Snelgar, says the club’s renovation was completed thanks to the staff on the Job Keeper payment as well as the executive team and the club’s president. “We have seen it as a blessing as some of this bar work could not have been done without some period of shutdown,” Snelgar said.
The whole place was given a touch up with new paint including the hall area walls and skirting, the club also removed blinds and heaters.
“A small contingent of people have been at the club during shutdown working in multiple areas, once the restrictions eased a little we had more members volunteering their time to improve the premises. “The Town of Bassendean has worked with us to replace the bar flooring and future projects are being discussed. “There are literally too many people to thank individually regarding all the works done at the club. “The atmosphere since returning has been fantastic and great to see the reactions of members and guests which makes it that much more worthwhile.”
The Men’s and Lady’s toilets were completely repainted and had small repairs made, the boardroom was stripped, carpet cleaned, old documents destroyed and general tidy up. The pillars on all greens have been stripped, primed and painted by volunteers and the bench seating was renewed, cleaned and painted. While a lot of work was completed, the club still has projects still to be completed, some of which are already underway.
The club has completed a lot of work over the past few months and has upgraded a number of its facilities. Bassendean has updated their audio sound system with music and messages to the entire club (including greens), they have also had a new bore installed under insurance after they found that the old bore had fused. The club has also refurbished the bar, removing the water damaged MDF under the bar counter and replacing it with aluminium sheeting and capping, as well as replacing the vinyl flooring behind the bar and they repainted the entire bar area. New storage cabinets were also installed behind the bar, along with additional cool room shelving.
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The two BBC Signs on top of the building are to be replaced as they have fading sponsor logos, a concrete walkway between A/B green will replace the uneven pavers. The club’s hall wood floors will be sanded and sealed and there will be air conditioning added to the entire premises. Bassendean Bowling Club turned a tricky situation into a positive leading by example as to what can be achieved during difficult periods. Source: Bowls Victoria BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020 23
then opening them out as wide as you can, this is then repeated 10 times.
The warm-up also activates the nerve signals to your muscles, which results in faster reaction times.
Big nods are done by looking down at your toes and then up to the sky 10 times, this will help strengthen your neck muscles.
Performing gentle repetitive movements, such as arm swings, where one gradually increases the range of motion of the movement, but always remains within the normal range of motion.
Looking behind, while sitting in a chair, place both hands on one hip then turn your body towards that side, you then repeat five times each side with a 10-second hold.
Getting back into it After waiting such a long time to get back onto the green, all bowlers need to be mindful of the fact that their body may be weaker if they have not been doing regular exercise during their time away from the sport. Even a few months of non-activity can rapidly reduce your overall cardio fitness and muscle strength. Stretching and exercising before your roll up will help strengthen key muscles around your knee and can help prevent injury when playing for long periods, improve flexibility and increase the ability of a joint to move through its full range of motion. There are many different types of stretches and strength exercises you can do to help limber up before a game which will help reduce any pain and stiffness you may have. It is important to focus on the areas that endure the highest stress while playing bowls, mainly the knees, back and arms. Strengthening exercises: Utilising exercise regimes to focus on strengthening these areas will help improve your overall balance and posture to ensure you are in top shape when you step out onto the green. Knee extension exercises can help you maintain balance and can assist you during your delivery, they can also improve your knee’s overall range of motion. 24 BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020
A knee extension exercise is done by sitting in a chair with feet flat on the floor, you then straighten out your right knee and hold for a few seconds, this is followed by your left knee and you repeat this 10 times on each leg. This is best done by moving slowly without jerking your leg, ensuring that you bring your toes back toward your body to engage the quadriceps more using your full range of motion.
Ballistic or bouncing stretches involve going into a stretch and performing bouncing movements to increase range of motion.
Shoulder Rrolls are another easy strengthening exercise to do, all you have to do is roll your shoulders back 10 times then forward 10 times.
Hip circles can be done by standing on one leg, using a countertop for support, and gently swing the opposite leg in circles out to the side.
The calf stretch involves having your hands against a wall for balance, placing one leg in front and one leg behind making sure both feet are pointing forwards.
Perform 20 circles in each direction, before switching legs and progressively increasing the size of the circles as you become more flexible.
You then bend your front knee until you feel a stretch in the back leg, hold this position for 10 seconds and repeat five times for each leg.
Arm circles are another great stretching technique, to do this stand with feet shoulder-width apart and hold arms out to the sides, palms down, at shoulder height. Gently perform 20 circles in each direction.
Stretching: Dynamic stretching is typically done before you start your roll up and involves active movements that help get your muscles warmed up and ready for exercise, dynamic exercises stretch the muscle in a more functional way. These movements are often similar to the type of activity you’ll be doing during your roll up. While the exact mechanics of what happens are not fully understood, regular stretching is thought to increase flexibility, both by making muscles more supple and by retraining the nervous system to tolerate stretching further. Flexibility from regular stretching gradually disappears once you stop stretching, typically after four weeks.
Progressively increase the size of the circles as you become more flexible. Arm Swings are done by standing with arms out in front, parallel to the floor, palms facing down. Walk forward as you swing arms in unison to the right so your left arm is in front of your chest and fingers point out to the right. Keep the torso and head facing forward – only move at the shoulder joints. Reverse the direction of the swing (as you keep walking) to the opposite side. Repeat five times on each side.
Do this by bringing your heel fully back as far as comfortable then extending as far as comfortable.
The purpose of warming up is to prepare mentally and physically for your chosen activity.
To do lunges with a twist, stand with feet parallel to each other and take an exaggerated step forward (keep one hand on a wall for balance, if needed) with your right foot, planting it fully on the floor in front of you, allowing the knee and hip to bend slowly; keep the torso upright.
Once comfortable with the technique you can add a small amount of weight to your ankle, use one to twokilogram weights to start and this will accelerate your strengthening.
A typical warm-up will take at least 10 minutes and involve light aerobic movements and some dynamic stretching that mimics the movements of the activity you’re about to perform.
Keep the right knee directly over your ankle, do not allow it to pitch forward over your foot. Slightly flex your left knee as you lower it toward the ground until it is a couple of inches above the floor (or as far as flexibility allows).
Standing knee flexion is another great exercise to do to boost your balance as it strengthens your hamstring muscles, to do this all you need is a chair and a safe place to practice. Stand using a chair to balance yourself and bend your right knee backward as high as you can before returning to the starting position, you repeat 10 times before moving onto the left leg.
Gradually increasing the range of motion of these movements during the warm-up will prepare the body for more intense versions of those movements during the sport itself.
In this position, reach overhead (skip the overhead reach if you’ve recently had shoulder surgery) with your left arm and bending torso toward the right side, return to upright and step forward with the left foot. Repeat five times on each side.
Hugging no one, this is an easy exercise that involves simply putting your arms straight in front of you and
This process will raise your heart rate and increase the blood flow to your muscles, thereby warming them up. Warm muscles are less stiff and work more efficiently, as the increased blood flow enables more oxygen to reach the muscles and produce energy.
Regular exercise will strengthen your game so you stand a better chance of beating your mates on the green.
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AUSTRALIAN BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS
GREAT BARRIER REEF
We’re incredibly lucky to live in such a geographically diverse country which draws millions of visitors from overseas every year, often though we can neglect the amazing spots on our front door, so we’ve put together a list of five bucket list locations every Australian should visit at least once in their lifetime.
Uluru
As the world’s most extensive coral reef ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef is a globally outstanding and significant entity, nearly the entire ecosystem was inscribed as World Heritage in 1981, covering an area of 348,000 square kilometres. The Great Barrier Reef includes extensive cross-shelf diversity, stretching from the low water mark along the mainland coast up to 250 kilometres offshore. This wide depth range includes vast shallow inshore areas, mid-shelf and outer reefs, and beyond the continental shelf to oceanic waters over 2,000 metres deep.
Perhaps the most iconic landmark Australia has, Uluru is one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Not only is it a spectacular natural formation, but Uluru is also a deeply spiritual place, with many saying that you can feel a powerful presence the moment you set eyes on it. At 348 metres high, Uluru is one of the world’s largest monoliths, towering over the surrounding landscape and some 550 million years old. For the local Aboriginal people, the Anangu, World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park holds a special cultural significance where earth and memories exist as one. Some feel the connection to the land as this iconic rock formation hides ancient wisdom and diverse plant and animal life.
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There are some 2,500 individual reefs of varying sizes and shapes, and over 900 islands, ranging from small sandy cays and larger vegetated cays to large rugged continental islands rising, in one instance, over 1,100 metres above sea level. Collectively these landscapes and seascapes provide some of the most spectacular maritime scenery in the world. This diversity of species and habitats, and their inter-connectivity, make the reef one of the richest and most complex natural ecosystems on earth. There are over 1,500 species of fish, about 400 species of coral, 4,000 species of mollusc, and some 240 species of birds, plus a great diversity of sponges, anemones, marine worms, crustaceans, and other species. No other World Heritage property contains such biodiversity. BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020 27
TWELVE APOSTLES Rising abruptly from the tempestuous Southern Ocean, these seven limestone stacks are the highlight of the Great Ocean Road Seven of the original eight stacks remain standing at the Twelve Apostles viewpoint, after one collapsed in July 2005, they are best viewed at sunset when the yellow rock turns red, orange and every shade in between. At dusk, you may also see Little Penguins coming ashore on the beach far below. Created by constant erosion of the limestone cliffs of the mainland beginning 10–20 million years ago, the stormy Southern Ocean and blasting winds gradually eroded the softer limestone, forming caves in the cliffs. The caves eventually became arches and when they collapsed rock stacks up to 45 metres high were left isolated from the shore. The Twelve Apostles is one of Australia’s most popular attractions all year round.
BAROSSA VALLEY With hot, dry summers and cool, moderate winters, the Barossa is one of the world’s great wine regions and an absolute must for wine fans. It’s a compact valley, just 25 km long, but the Barossa produces 21% of Australia’s wine, and it makes a no-fuss day trip from Adelaide, 65 km away. Dating back to 1842, Barossa towns have a distinctly German feel. Fleeing religious persecution in Prussia and Silesia, settlers (bringing their vine cuttings with them) created a Lutheran heartland where German traditions endure today.
KAKADU Kakadu is a living cultural landscape, it has been home to Aboriginal people for more than 65,000 years and is the oldest living culture on earth. It is the largest national park in Australia, covering almost 20,000 square kilometres, approximately nearly half the size of Switzerland! The park is dual World Heritage-listed for its outstanding natural and cultural values. Kakadu’s incredible biodiversity is recognised all over the world and the park’s World Heritage-listed landscapes change dramatically from one end of the park to the other, encompassing mangrove-lined coastlines, sweeping stone country and endless floodplains and wetlands. Its savanna woodlands and lowlands, which make up about 80% of the park, house a huge variety of plants and animals. Kakadu is home to 2,000 plant species, around one-third of all Australian bird species and about one-fifth of all Australian mammals. Some of these animals are threatened or endangered and many aren’t found anywhere else in the world and it said that there are other species still waiting to be discovered.
Cultural legacies of the early days include a dubious passion for oompah bands, and an appetite for wurst, sauerkraut and pretzels.
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VETERAN SPORT AUSTRALIA ENTERS EXCITING BOWLS PARTNERSHIP Bowls Australia announced their partnership with Veteran Sport Australia in June, the collaboration aims to create opportunities for veterans and their families to get involved in bowls across the country. The partnership’s first on-the-ground initiative will launch later this year in NSW’s Hunter region with a Veterans Family Day at Raymond Terrace Bowling Club. BA CEO Neil Dalrymple said he is excited by the chance to encourage veterans and their families into the sport. “The Australian Defence Force has a great history with bowls and current and former serving veterans make a big contribution to our sport every week right around Australia,” he said.
“Bowls is unique in that people of all walks of life and disability can participate – I can’t think of any limitations to preclude participation. Bowls can also be very social and there’s nothing better than social therapy.” Veteran Sport Australia General Manager Michael Hartung said the partnership is ‘a match made in heaven’. “We know how popular bowls is throughout the veteran community and we see a big opportunity to introduce more and more veterans and their families to the sport,” he said. “We’re particularly excited about the potential to work with the extensive network of bowling clubs around country Australia.
“Most of the bowling clubs are based in the regions and “We’re looking forward to working with Veteran there’s no better way to bring a community together than Sport Australia and can absolutely see huge potential a friendly bowls competition.” to grow our community.” As part of the new partnership, current BCiB Australian Jackaroos national coach Steve Glasson will serve as the Australian Defence Force’s Honorary Bowls Patron. He said that bowls is the perfect medicine for veterans, their families and support crews and that engaging with the sport can provide rewarding health benefits – by getting active and improving lifestyles through participation. “It would be amazing to promote bowls and increase participation for our veterans,” he said. 30 BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020
With many members of the RSL across the country also active and highly valued members of the Australian bowls community, RSL National Lawn Bowls Council President Jack Abernethy said he hopes to see more active and retired ADF members to get involved with bowls. “The camaraderie when you are bowling at the RSL is exceptional. We all have a common background and because of that, we relate so much better. It’s one of the reasons why we play together,” he said.
Murphy and Glasson headline tour of fire-affected regions Bowls Australia Hall of Fame members Karen Murphy and Steve Glasson OAM will join BA CEO Neil Dalrymple and BA President Daryl Clout on a tour of bowls clubs across South-East NSW and Eastern Victoria, including areas affected by last summer’s bushfires. This July trip is being supported by BA partner BCiB, with BCiB Managing Director Ian Hopper also joining the visit. The group will visit clubs impacted by bushfires over the summer that were recipients of BA’s Bowls Disaster Relief Fund, including Adelong, Tomakin, and Mallacoota Inlet Bowls Clubs. Club Malua, Narooma, Merimbula, Lakes Entrance, Metung, and Lindenow are also on the visit list. The tour will give members the chance to meet some icons of Australian bowls and chat with the figures at the top of BA. BA CEO Neil Dalrymple said he is looking forward to hitting the road and meeting with bowlers. “This is a great chance to get to see some of the faces on the ground in clubs across different regions,” he said. “We know some of the clubs were terribly impacted by the bushfires, so getting to visit those clubs with Karen and Steve can hopefully put a smile on some of their faces.” Mr Dalrymple said tours such as this can help reinvigorate the sport after several tough months during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We know that clubs will definitely be feeling the effects of this pandemic for a while. Steve and Karen are great people and can hopefully help lift some spirits, especially in some areas hit with a double-whammy of the bushfires followed by the pandemic,” he said. National coach Glasson said he is excited to be hitting the road to meet some bowlers. “We have obviously been locked in our houses for quite a while, so I’m really looking forward to the chance to get out and about and hit some greens in some different towns,” he said.
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The building of Hellfire Pass The Burma-Thailand railway was built in 1942–43 to supply the Japanese forces in Burma, bypassing the sea routes that were made vulnerable when Japanese naval strength was reduced in the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway in May and June 1942. Once the railway was completed the Japanese planned to attack
the British in India, and in particular the road and airfields used by the Allies to supply China over the Himalayan Mountains.
This iconic drawing by British artist Jack Chalker shows prisoners of war at the dysentery latrines at Konyu River Camp, Thailand. An image of compassionate mutual support, it also depicts the terrible conditions during the monsoon when latrines would overflow, posing a serious health risk to the prisoners. [AWM ART90855]
Begun in October 1942 and completed on 16 October 1943, the railway stretched 415 kilometres between Nong Pladuk in Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Burma (now Myanmar). A rail connection between Burma and Thailand had been proposed decades before World War II. In the 1880s the British had
surveyed a possible route but abandoned the project because of the challenges posed by the thick jungle, endemic diseases and lack of adequate roads. The Japanese also carried out a survey in the 1920s and, after completing a further survey in early 1942, decided in June to proceed, using the large workforce of Allied POWs now at their disposal. At this time Japanese engineers were assisted by small numbers of prisoners marking and roughly clearing the route of the railway. Aiming to finish the railway as quickly as possible the Japanese decided to use a massive workforce of prisoners and Asian labourers or rōmusha. The railway was to be constructed by units working along its entire length rather than just from each end. The terrain the railway crossed made its construction very difficult. However, its route was not entirely the dense and inhospitable jungle of popular imagination. At either end, in Burma and Thailand, the rail track travelled through gentle landscape before entering the rugged and mountainous jungle on the border between the two countries. When the track reached Wampo, about 112 kilometres from the Thai terminus, it started to meet jagged limestone hills, interspersed with streams and gullies. During the monsoon season, the land became waterlogged and unstable. This posed problems for construction as well as for transport and supply. As far as possible the railway track proceeded at a gentle gradient, as steam trains could only climb a slight incline. Where the railway met unavoidable hills, cuttings were dug to allow the line to proceed. Often the line emerged from a deep cutting onto a series of embankments, and bridges. In all, 688 bridges were built along the railway. In addition, over sixty stations were built to allow trains to pass one another, as well as refuelling and watering points. More than 60 000 Allied prisoners of war were employed in the construction of the Burma-Thailand railway, including British Empire troops, Dutch and colonial troops from the Netherlands East Indies and a smaller number of US troops. About 13 000 of the prisoners were Australian. In addition, the Japanese enticed or coerced about 200 000 Asian labourers (rōmusha) to work on the railway. These included Burmese, Javanese, Malays, Tamils and Chinese. Over 12 000 Allied prisoners died during the construction of the railway, including more than 2700 Australians. Around 1000 Japanese died. It is difficult to determine precisely how many rōmusha died, as record keeping was poor. The number is estimated to be between 75 000 and 100 000. Despite being repeatedly bombed by the Allies, the Burma-Thailand railway did operate as a fully functioning railway after its completion. Between November 1943 and March 1944 over 50 000 tonnes of food and ammunition were carried to Burma as well as two complete divisions of troops for the Japanese offensive into India. This attack, one of their last, was defeated by British and Indian forces. As the railway was used to support the Japanese in Burma until the end of the war, prisoners of war and rōmusha continued to work on maintenance and repair tasks after the railway construction was completed. Reprinted with permission from the Department of Veterans Affairs: Building of Hellfire Pass, DVA Anzac Portal, accessed 20 July 2020, http://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/burma-thailand-railway-and-hellfire-pass-1942-1943/events/building-hellfire-pass 32 BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020
f e i l e r Fee
FOR BOWLS NSW MEMBER C L U B S A N D A F F I L I AT E D MEMBERS The Bowls NSW Board has announced it will reduce all annual fixed fee amounts for member clubs and affiliated sub-clubs by a base amount of 25 per cent. Prior to COVID-19 shutting down clubs and the association, it had been resolved that there would be no fee increase for 2020/21 annual fees. As such, Bowls NSW say the 25 per cent reduction will be based on the club’s 2019/20 annual fee amount and will apply for the 12-month period starting from March 2020 up to February 2021 so that all clubs will receive the discount. This represents an amount of over $560,000 in fee relief being provided to clubs, and a significant amount of revenue which the association will forgo in the 20/21 financial year. Some of this loss will be offset by the cancellation of several events and the receipt of Government stimulus grants. To provide additional time for clubs to be able to pay their annual fee to Bowls NSW, clubs with Financial Year ending March 2020 through to August 2020 will have up to September 2020 to pay their annual fee.
Bowling members of clubs who have had their annual fee deferred due to COVID-19 from March 2020 to August 2020 will remain eligible to compete in Bowls NSW Association Events in the interim until September 30 2020, when payment is due from the club. It is hoped that this 25 per cent reduction will go some way to alleviating the financial stress that many of our clubs will experience as we begin the recovery phase of our sport. Clubs with existing fee relief applications currently being considered will be contacted by Bowls NSW regarding the status of their application. Bowls NSW has encouraged all zones and districts to also consider offering clubs a fee reduction where possible, zones will issue advice directly to clubs on this matter. Invoices for all annual fees which have been deferred from March 2020 will be issued on 1st July. Any member club or affiliated sub club experiencing financial hardship is encouraged to contact Bowls NSW to discuss via email enquiries@bowlsnsw.com.au. BOWLS PLUS AUG/SEP 2020 33
AARON WILSON ANSWERS THE TOUGH QUESTIONS How old were you and why did you first take up bowls: 11 years old. My older brother Matthew introduced me to the game. Thought it was great, especially driving the jack in the ditch. First tournament victory: North Bendigo Turkey Triples. Toughest Singles opponent: Aron Sherriff. Who has had the most influence on your career: Parents. Always there for me 100 per cent.
Favourite meal after a day on the green: Slow-cooked curried sausages, vegetables & rice. What meal is your speciality to cook: Can cook some delicious pasta. Chocolate in the fridge. Yes or no: Yes Milo. Hot or cold: Cold Pineapple on pizza. Yes or no: No
Favourite bowler while growing up: Parma or Parmi: Brett Dodd. The original ‘Dogga’. An outstanding talent on the Parma green. Funniest Jackaroo teammate: Retired now, but Mark Casey.
Coriander. Yes or no: Yes
Three things left on your bucket list: – The Vegas Trip – Have kids – N/A
Cats or Dogs. Dogs
Favourite holiday destination: Phuket, Thailand Favourite movie: The Shawshank Redemption
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WANT A PRINTED
Who inspires you: My family and partner. Proudest non-bowls accomplishment: Owning a bowls shop – Resting Toucher (Brighton, VIC)
Favourite TV series: Spartacus
If you could appear on any reality show, which one would you choose: The Amazing Race
Favourite band or musician: Musical Movie – The Greatest Showman
Who would you like to swap places with for a day: Leonardo DiCaprio
Jackaroo with the best taste in music: Wayne Ruediger
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