NOMINATIONS FOR BAC POSITIONS 2025-2026/7 RECEIVED
MARK HORAN - VICE PRESIDENT - VISION STATEMENT
Having been a proud member of Castle Hill Bowling Club for nearly 13 years, I’ve had the privilege of serving fellow members through the Men’s Committee prior to the amalgamation and as a club representative for Zone 10 I regularly participate in a range of club events winning less than I’d like, but always enjoying the challenge Most importantly, I value the strong social connections within the club and take great satisfaction in encouraging new bowlers as they develop their skills and confidence on the green.
As Vice President, my hope is to simply be a calm, reliable support for the club and its members. I see this role not just as one of leadership, but of care being someone others can turn to, who listens well and helps things run smoothly behind the scenes. I’d like to work quietly but resolutely alongside the President and the wider BAC to help fostering a sense of belonging within the club.
I am a highly proficient senior logistics leader with deep expertise in Operations Management, Operational Excellence, and Continuous Improvement With over 25 years’ experience in Australia and international 3rd Party Logistics environments, I have designed and led impactful programs that deliver measurable commercial outcomes and strong employee engagement
Known for driving results in complex and fast-paced settings, I bring a balanced blend of strategic planning, disciplined execution, and governance My broad operational background enables me to navigate change, engage, uplift performance, and embed lasting improvements
I thrive on leading and supporting teams developing talent, encouraging diversity, and fostering a collaborative culture. Respected by peers and team members alike, I am committed to building robust business capabilities while ensuring an exceptional customer experience.
Cheers, Mark
SUE O’CONNELL - VICE PRESIDENT - VISION STATEMENT
I have been a member of the Caste Hill Bowling Club for over 20 years, taking a more active and involved role since 2022 when I retired from full time work. My previous five-year stint as a board member allowed me to gain insight into the workings of a club such as ours, and this, along with my brief role as Chair of Match, my 2 years as BAC Secretary and my 1 year as Region delegate, means I am ready to take on the role of Vice President.
I am thorough and thoughtful when dealing with issues and I make sure that I have garnered all the information required to make decisions considering a variety of viewpoints. I am a hard worker, show due attention to detail and I consider myself to be a quick learner, which will be an asset with the upcoming building and development programs. My previous working career involved developing and leading a strong team to implement new programs in the ever-changing world of education, a skill that equips me well for the Vice President position.
Castle Hill Bowling Club is a unique club in the region. We have faced changes over the last few years, but at our core we remain an inclusive and friendly club In our Region we are leading change through our amalgamation to a unified club and, as we embrace the many changes growing into a strong and vibrant bowling club in the region, we need to ensure that we remain a club for all members, regardless of gender, age, skill level or any other discriminator As Vice President of the BAC, I will endeavour to keep this principle front and centre in all decision making.
I look forward to representing you, as a club member, on the BAC.
Yours in bowls,
Sue O’Connell
PAUL HODKINSON - VICE PRESIDENT - VISION STATEMENT
I have nominated for election as Vice President of the Bowling Advisory Committee, at the bequest of several members who must think I have the right qualities to undertake the role based upon my previous roles within the Club
For those who are new to the club, some background about myself Sometimes I’m referred to as “Hoddo” for those who don’t recognise my full name above. I commenced playing at the Club in October 2017 and in 2019 I took on the role of Bowls Secretary. I held the position of Bowls Secretary, now known as the Bowls CoCoordinator, from 2019 to 2022 and was a member of the Castle Hill Bowling Club Management Committee during that time
I was a Director of Castle Hill Bowling Club Limited for the period 2020 till 2022 when I decided not to recontest the position due to family reasons.
I believe I have the right qualities to undertake the role based upon my previous roles within the Club, namely that of Bowls Secretary and Director, as outlined above And now that my health is back to normal, I am more than ready to bring the skills I possess to the role.
With that said, my previous positions have allowed me to deal with several points listed in the job description for the position of Vice President
Namely:
I was able to monitor and highlight eligible grants which may have been applicable to our club;
I have coordinated many bowls events, not to mention social bowling days; I have organised updates for the Honour Board;
I have finalised the Bowling Calendar for the Club for a number of years;
I come from a Management Accounting background where procedures and processes are paramount when it comes to business acumen I’d like to think that I’m a much organised person, with a great attention to detail, which means that nothing gets missed that needs attention. This will be important in the next phases of the Amalgamation process to ensure that all our members’ interests are looked after and I believe I am a person that can adapt to these changing circumstances.
Communication is the life blood of any organisation and one area I’m passionate to see improve, together with feedback This is one area I made a difference in when I was the Bowls Secretary. Members need to understand what is happening and be kept abreast of information that may impact them.
Thank you for considering me as a Vice President of the Bowling Advisory Committee I will leave it up to the judgement of the members as to who they consider to be the best fit for the role, given I have nominated for two positions and this role would be my preference.
PAUL HODKINSON - SECRETARY - VISION STATEMENT
I believe my past experiences in the role of Secretary will help me fulfill the current requirements expected as Secretary of the Bowling Advisory Committee
In saying that; I have held the position of Bowls Secretary, now known as the Bowls Co-Coordinator, from 2019 to 2022 and was a member of the Castle Hill Bowling Club Management Committee during that time, undertaking the duties of Secretary. Previous to that I held the position of Secretary of the Holy Cross College Soccer Club for over 20 years
I’d like to think that I’m a very organized person, with a great attention to detail, which means that nothing gets missed that needs attention to ensure that all our members’ interests are looked after and I believe I am a person that can adapt to changing circumstances, should they arise.
Another important responsibility is Communication and one area I made a difference in when I was the Bowls Secretary Members need to understand what is happening and be kept abreast of information that may impact them I feel this is an area where improvements can be made.
Thank you for considering my nomination for the position of Secretary of the Bowling Advisory Committee
GAIL CARUSO - COMMITTEE PERSON - VISION STATEMENT
My vision for the club is to secure its long-term future!
I believe the future lies in the youth of the community This can only be achieved if school sports teachers are made aware of the benefits of Lawn Bowls They need to accept that not all kids can run, can catch a ball, kick a ball, however they could have the talent for bowls, no need to run, catch or kick! Kids also need to be educated in the game, not to see it as an old person’s sport! There are also many youth clubs in the community that could also be approached I’d like to see a Youth Development Program
I also believe there is a need to promote the benefit of bowls to the community as a whole; exercise, social interaction, etc As a Committee Person I would put forward suggestions on how we could achieve this. We know our membership is ageing and we need to find ways of increasing our numbers now!