Sorrento Bowling Club Magazine Issue 90 September 2022

Sorrento Bowling Club’s Quarterly News Magazine No 90 September Quarter 2022

At Bowls WA's Annual Awards Night Bruce Eagles was awarded the 2021/22 Over 60s Bowler of the Year.

Well done Bruce!

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Contents From your Editors 4 Our Outgoing Acting President’s Report 10 Thank You Pauline Marsden 13 Election Results 15 Dash for Cash Winners 22 Scroungers Mid-Season Wrap 25 Hello is That…? 26 Why We Need a Synthetic Green 26 Synthetic Green Project Update 28 Alex and Team Sow Seeds for the Future 30 Sorrento Ladies do well in Carnivals 32 Anna! 34 95 Years Young 35 Dart Report 35 Darts Singles Championship 38 Croquet Report 39 Stopping a Bowl in Motion 40 Update from Kerry Hutchinson 42 Some Help with Medical Terms 43 Morning Tea for the WA Cancer Council 44 Neville Odell – New Life Member 46 Clubs WA Ceases Club of the Year Awards 47 Tribute to Kevin Scammel (1930-2022) 48 Volunteer Report 49 Barbara and Betty – Our Pillars of Social Bowls 50 A Double Act Hard to Match 52 Guess Who? 54 Our 2013 Men's Novices 55 A Fitting Farewell for a Selfless Man 56 Wendy's Darts Word Search 59 Letter to the Editor 60 Annual Father/Mother/Son/Daughter Day 62

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From your Editors Welcome

Hi to all our readers and we hope you enjoy reading our September Quarter edition. In order to reduce printing costs fewer magazines are now being printed so in future please read the electronic copy. If you prefer the printed copy please return the booklet to the Club when you have finished reading it as this will reduce the numbers we print.

We would love to receive more contributions for our news magazine as we are running out of topics and ideas. Please call us on 93093108 or email us at nevodell@bigpond.net.au Thank you Special thanks to Jim Woodward who has written a number of articles for this edition. We also thank Denis Croker, Brian Lucas, Jan Paniperis, Ian Lucas and Wendy Flack who are always prepared to assist with our news magazine. Thanks to those members who send us Match reports, We get suggestions and contributions from Mike Berecry, Ian Wittber. Alan Rolls, Ray Stapledon and Trevor Orton.

Some more "Did you Hear" Did you hear that in April 2022 Greg Taylor did well in the 2021 Australian Champion of Champions at Broad Beach, Qld.? He reached the bronze medal playoff but unfortunately lost. This event had been postponed from November last year due to Covid-19 restrictions, border closures and lock downs.

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Did you hear that Jan Konig and Liz McTaggart represented our Club in the Champion of Champions Novice Singles. Liz was unfortunately eliminated in the sectional play. Jan was successful in his section, playing some outstanding bowls to defeat all his opponents to progress to Morley for the finals. Jan convincingly won both his quarter final and semi-final, progressing to the final where his brilliant run unfortunately come to an end as he went down 14-21 in a closely contested final. Congratulations on a very fine effort. \

Did you hear the World Bowls will move their headquarters from Edinburgh to Australia, as the bowls global governing body signaling the arrival of a new era? Their headquarters in Australia will be located in the same premises as Bowls Australia who will handle all ongoing Marketing and Communications operations on behalf of World Bowls. This move shows how important and significant Bowls Australia is in the big picture!

Did you know that in June Bruce Eagles won the 2021/22 Men's Over 60s Bowler of the Year? (See picture on cover.) On his journey Bruce: • Won the Over 60s Men’s Singles • Was a semi-finalist in the Men’s Pairs (with Greg Taylor) • Won the Men’s Triples (with Greg Taylor and Ian Linford) • Was a quarter finalist in the Mixed Pairs (with Lee Bunney of North Beach).

This is the second time Bruce has won this Over 60s award, having also claimed it in 2018. Well done to Bruce!

Did you hear that recently Trevor Orton ordered a glass of wine with his dinner and the waiter asked him for his ID? He tells us that he replied, “Do I look that young?’ And the waiter said, “No, I just wanted to see whether or not you qualified for the Senior Citizen discount”.

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Did you know that over the past weeks 50 new members have signed up with Sorrento following the promotions of the Club by Ian Lucas on Facebook and in particular with his link to the Duncraig Neighbourhood Chat Facebook group? Going on the number of likes (108) and comments (34) it appears that this has been a very successful promotion of our Club. The increases are clearly evident with the growth of people attending the Friday night meals and entertainment.

Did you know that "Collections" over the bar through the Club’s BePoz point-of sale system topped over $1 million this last financial year, and amazingly, when reconciled, the cash component of over $400,000 showed a difference of only $6.22? Our calculator shows that this was a 0.0015% error. That is truly amazing by anyone’s standards. Well done to Ian Lucas and his team.

Some words of wisdom written in 1894 • “To be a Skipper demands that you have expertise in psychology, counselling, poise, determination, intestinal fortitude and it will help if you can bowl.”

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“If bowling is to become a popular amusement, those who desire to promote such an end must take care to have the bowling green established away from the atmosphere of public houses, which, in a very short time, would make the game only an excuse for drunkenness and dissipation in strong liquors. Bowling is too good a pastime to be thus dragged down into the mud . . .”

– Edward T Ayers from Bowls, Bowling Greens and Bowl Playing 1894

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Around Our Club Jan Konig represented our Club in the Champion of Champions Novice Singles and was runner up

In the "Men's Premier Pennant Wind-up" Rhett Butler finished ahead of Chris Lander by only half a point. Dan Nicholls finished in 3rd spot Winners of the Quality Resorts sponsored Handicap Triples: Bruce Eagles, Jennifer Page and Matt Sharrett

Alan Anderson using his home made poly pipe/ plunger stick

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Finally

Thanks to Ray Stapledon for the above poems.

Did you know that the oldest computer can be traced back to Adam and Eve? It was an "Apple" but with extremely limited memory – Just ONE byte and then everything crashed.

And remember that "Our days are happier when we give people a bit of our heart rather than a piece of our mind."

– From the two octogenarians Denise and Neville Odell

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Members in Action Shona Carter, Liz Marshall, Wendy Saul, Pauline Bourne and Robyn van Mosseveld after playing in the Inter Region Round Robin Right: Brian Lucas, Rodger Palmer, Bruce Eagles and Gary Bayne at the Bowls WA Awards Night

Peter Flack and Ian Linford who played in the Men's Over 60s Pairs at the Australian Open Championships on the Gold Coast

Ross and Nerrida Porteous at the Bowls WA Awards Night. We are thrilled that Nerrida will be rejoining Sorrento

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Our Outgoing Acting President’s Report (As tabled at the AGM held on 3 July 2022)

I, Wayne Gray present this President’s Report as the outgoing Acting Club President and Vice President of Operations. I sincerely wish I could be at the Annual General Meeting to personally thank the outgoing Governing Council, Committee members and Volunteers for their efforts and achievements over the past seven years.

The introduction of the Governing Council by the then President Mr Barry Bradshaw in 2015, created a level of management that included President, Vice President Operations, Vice President Sport and Participation, Office Manager and Treasurer. The members of the Governing Council were given the overall responsibility of ensuring that efficient and effective governance and operations were carried out within their portfolios. They were tasked to ensure compliance with various Authorities and Local Government Regulations and the Club Constitution and By-laws for all sporting sections and members but not get directly involved in the day to day operations of the Bowls, Croquet, Darts and Club Facilities, this was made the responsibility of the two Vice Presidents.

Other areas the Governing Council are responsible for are Administration, Strategic Planning, Financial and Asset Management, liaison with Authorities, and sourcing and securing grants for improvements to the Club facilities for the members. The Vice President Operations has the overall responsibility to control and coordinate all activities within the Club facilities and grounds that do not relate to sports. The Vice President Sport and Participation is tasked with the day-to-day operations of the Bowls, Croquet and Darts Sporting Clubs within Sorrento Bowling Club.

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This restructure has proven to be an outstanding success but not without the tremendous efforts and dedication of our 100 plus volunteers and staff. Some of those achievements include; • Numerous Bowls WA and Clubs WA awards for Club of the Year over the period • The Club’s induction into Clubs WA Club of the Year Hall of Fame and Runner Up in Bowls Australia Club of the year • Formal recognition by the City of Joondalup of the Club’s achievements at a publicly attended City Council meeting • Kitchen refurbishment • Covered BBQ area and covered pergola area • Solar power system to clubrooms • New offices and meeting room and expansion of the bar area • State of the art point of sales system • Furniture replacement throughout the bar area • Upgrading of the hall and external area lighting to led lighting • Upgrading the information technology system and replacement of computers • $200,000 in Grant Funding (excluding synthetic green) • New front entry gates and signage, which is in the process of being completed • State Government and City of Joondalup approval and over $300,000 Grant assistance to construct a synthetic green on E Green. We are awaiting a proposal from the City of Joondalup to construct the synthetic green which is to be presented to the membership for their consideration Succession planning has always been a major objective of the Governing Council but unfortunately, like most clubs recently, attempts to encourage members contemplating taking on a management role have not been successful. I am sure the incoming Governing Council will also address this strategy, hopefully with more success.

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Members should have no doubt that the Sorrento Bowling Club is a business, and quite a complex business, with a turnover exceeding $1 million requiring careful management of Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Hospitality and Function Facilities including catering, five bowling greens and two croquet courts, compliance with Authority rules and regulations and a range of stakeholders that must be engaged for ongoing funding and support. All this in the face of years of Covid and Covid restrictions and the stress that these have caused.

I would like to thank the Darts Club for their annual donation to the Club. This year making a significant contribution to the recently erected shade sails and the replacement of the Mahjong tables.

I cannot thank enough the members of the Governing Council, Committee members, Volunteers, staff, and the general membership who have supported your Club during this difficult time and I acknowledge their sacrifice and efforts.

As the Treasurer has advised, the Club is in a very strong financial position which has seen revenues increased and costs contained which has also allowed membership fees to be kept unchanged for several years. Since the introduction of the Governing Council model to the Club in 2015/16, our cash position has doubled to over $200,000 with net equity also increasing by over 20%. Without the negative impact of Covid on the Club’s patronage our cash position would have been significantly more.

I would like to acknowledge the individual efforts of the Governing Council’s outgoing members; • John Abercrombie who resigned earlier this year after leading the Club for over six years, including throughout the very difficult Covid period • Pat Dichiera who managed the Club finances navigating through

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many changes in tax and superannuation laws, single touch payroll and the many financial difficulties caused by Covid Pauline Marsden who has worked tirelessly in the role of Office Manager spending an enormous amount of time in the office and at home dealing with Club matters.

Brain Lucas who resigned earlier this year as an Independent Director on the Governing Council. Brian has provided crucial governance and compliance services and was heavily involved in securing over $200,000 in grant funding for the Club, not including the grants for the synthetic green which totalled over $300,000.

I have enjoyed my 20 years of service on the Club’s Management Committees, the Executive, and the Governing Council. I would now like to spend my time enjoying the Club and my bowls.

I would also like to thank all our Volunteers again sincerely, because without their efforts we could not have accomplished such worthy achievements.

In closing, I wish to congratulate the incoming Governing Council and Committee members. I look forward to the new management continuing to provide a facility that is inviting and enjoyable for all the Club members and promotes all the Club’s sporting efforts.

– Wayne Gray

Thank You Pauline Marsden

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he third of March 2010 was an important day for the Sorrento Bowling Club. It was the day that Pauline Marsden decided to join tour Club and what a wonderful asset she has proven to be. A skilled practitioner and with qualifications highly valued in bowling clubs, primarily counselling people, she fitted in perfectly.

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Always willing, Pauline quickly assumed volunteer responsibilities and in 2015 formally took on the role of Appointed Director with the newly formed Governing Council, plus serving as Match Chair in the Women’s Bowls Committee.

As fate would have it, our Office Manager at the time Ian Wittber proceeded on an extended holiday and Pauline took on the role, later being formally elected to the position at the 2016 AGM. She remained in this position for six years until July of this year.

The role of Office Manager is particularly challenging and time consuming and few people would have put in the effort of Pauline nor withstood the challenges presented for such a long period, which incidentally included the most stressful Covid period. Working up to 30 hours per week in a volunteer role is by anyone’s standards, well beyond the call. Additionally, Pauline has added a fabric of professionalism, care and commitment that will be very difficult to replace.

At the July 2022 AGM Trevor Orton, continuing Vice President of Sport and Participation, presented Pauline with a bouquet of flowers as a token of the Club’s appreciation for her many years of professional service and her commitment to the Club.

Pauline is now free to enjoy her love of the arts and mosaics and of course her love of bowls and the social merriment that the Club offers, and of course time to devote to her adoring family. Thank you, Pauline. The Club is indebted to you and richer for your services. Thank you for your tremendous contribution.

– From all your friends

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Election Results

Governing Council President Barry Bradshaw Vice President (Operations) Glenn McCarthy Vice President (S & P) Trevor Orton Office Manager Trevor Orton filling in Club Treasurer Volunteer required

Men’s Bowls Committee Captain Peter Flack Vice Captain David Dunstan Match Committee (5) Paul Doherty, Dan Greig, Brian Staples. Two more required.

Selectors Malcolm Burton, Roger Palmer, Chris Lander. Two more required

Women’s’ Bowls Committee Captain Charmain Harris Vice Captain Shona Carter Secretary Anne Lilley Match Committee Larraine Brickell, Shirley Palmer, Sandra Minnett, Robyn Woodward Selectors Janice Cook, Carole Ford, Elizabeth Marshall, Coral Smith Croquet Committee Croquet Captain Vice Captain Croquet Secretary

Diana McGivern Terry Craddock Sandy Boon

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General Member

Jan Craddock

Appointed Positions Assistant Treasurer Ron Taylor / Graeme O’Brien Bar Volunteers Graeme May, Alan Susta, Lindsay

Baker, Ron Taylor, Kevin Coffey and Glenn and Trish McCarthy Coaching Coordinator Bruce Eagles Events Coordinator Volunteer required Function Hire Coordinator Volunteer required Greens and Grounds Volunteer required Occ Health and Safety Officers Volunteer required Sponsorship Barry Stewart Membership Denis Croker Member Welfare Jim Woodward Newsletter Editor Denise and Neville Odell Umpires Coordinator Derry Ellis Volunteer Coordinator Ken Giles Web Master Wendy Flack

Match Committee Report Anzac Day Two-up Drawn Pairs Twenty eight players turned up to play and were ranked and placed in two pools, with one name from each pool drawn to play together. The scoring system for this annual event is that zero points are awarded for each end where the team is less than “two-up”, with one point awarded for every end over two-up. To add to the excitement, each team was entitled to nominate a “power play” end where any shots scored were doubled on that end. The greens were running well, and over the 18 ends played, all pairs scored points ranging from the winners’ 17 points to a couple of teams scoring 4 points.

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The winners were Carol Booker (from North Beach) and Keith Minnett with 17 points. Shirley Palmer and Trevor Orton one point behind. Interestingly Paul Doherty and Brian Collins who played the winners managed to run third in what was a high-scoring match.

Betty Stern and Sandy Everest earned the fourth and final prize money with 13 points. Thanks to Perth Denture Centre who sponsored this event.

Veteran Mixed Pairs Championship On April 24 players participated in an enjoyable day on our well maintained greens and in the beautiful weather we turned on for them. Two games of 15 ends were played. Our winners were: • Bruce Eagles and Coral Smith with two wins and 27 shots up • Runners up were Evan Cosh and Carole Ford with two wins +9 • Third place went to Pauline Marsden and John Sturk with one win, one draw and 12 shots up.

Congratulations to all winners, we are sure everyone enjoyed the event.

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Special thanks to John Sturk who was called upon at 8.30am on the day and agreed to play in the event. Also, Gerald Hanna and Beryl Tutt who were late additions to even up the numbers and your participation was appreciated. Thanks also to Selection Committee who donated drink vouchers, enabling us to award the AM and PM winners with a hard-earned drink.

Veteran Men's Singles Championships In late April, in glorious autumn weather, 18 players competed in this prestigious event. Many of the games were closely contested, with an incredible turn around by Stan van Mosseveld after being 15-0 down to win 18-17. Dan Greig, Stan van Mosseveld, John Sturk, Keith Minnett, Alan Gallagher and Barry Stewart were the section winners.

After an alignment round the four semi-finalists were Stan, John, Dan and Barry.

In the first semi-final match, with the scores tied at nine apiece after 10 ends, Stan applied the pressure and came through comfortably 21-9 against Dan. The second semi saw John well ahead early on, leading 18-9 before Barry Stewart staged a comeback to get the score back to 18-16, at which point John moved the jack back for three shots and the game. The final between Stan and John was a high quality and tight affair through 17 ends at which time John was leading 13-12. However, from that point, Stan found his line and length, while John started to find the gaps or move the jack, resulting in a final score of 21-13 to “Stan the Man” the 2022 Men’s Veterans Champion.

Trevor Carpets Men's Fours This very successful carnival, again generously sponsored by Trevors Carpets, was held in late May under sunny and warm skies. This

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PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MAJOR SPONSOR

Trevors Carpets The best knowledge – the biggest range – the right advice Osborne Park 9202 4545 Paul Waite

Joondalup 9300 3633 Rob Crane

event, which had to be rescheduled from last year due to Covid lock downs, had to do without the main man from Trevors Carpets, Ray Green who had contracted Covid.

Thirty-six teams from as far away as Bunbury competed in two matches of 13 ends of fours, plus two matches of 11-end pairs. Apart from a couple of delays with the lunch and the final scoring, the event went off without a hitch.

Thanks to: • The organisers Dan Greig, Ian Wittber and Trevor Orton • John Godfrey who organised the raffle • Wendy Saul and her band of helpers who provided the morning tea and served the lunch provided by Chicken Treat • Anne Orton who helped with recording the scores • Ian Lucas for his help and who expressed his appreciation for some very good bar sales.

Once again, our thanks to Ray Green of Trevors Carpets for his support of this carnival. We will endeavour to secure further sponsorship for this very popular event in the future.

The winners were: • 1st: John Slavich, Justin Opie, Ross Bresland and Kyle McIlroy with four wins and 56 shots up • 2nd: Glen Pauling, Callum Alberti, Blake Heldt and Scott Walker • 3rd: Ryan Moyle, Brandon Heta, Simon Deering and David Cosgrove • 4th: Vic Orchard, Phil Fettes, Phil Leyland and W Hinchcliffe

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• • • •

Rd 1: Rhett Butler, Terry Ball, Steve Mulhall and John Godfrey Rd 2: Norm Shannon, Steve Dobie, Peter Munday and K Swift Rd 3: Tristan Massang, Paul Kelly, Ben Judge and John Motts Rd 4: Vic Barbato, Peter Vakovic, Errol McGrath, Errol Rabey.

Safeway Security's Dash for Cash Women's May 2022 What a fabulous day! It was great to see 144 ladies playing in this event.

The weather was perfect, greens excellent, and soup and roll lunch served by John Smith, John Godfrey, Colin Jasper, Jeff Thompson, Colin Bangs and Brian Saul was delicious.

The competition was fierce but friendly. Congratulations to: • 1st: Caroline Soro, Lynn Moffat, Deb Saunders and Lily Rughoobur • 2nd: Pat Boardman, Tracey Newman, Margaret Seez and Karen Weir • 3rd: Pam Chalmers, Maureen Cooney, Amanda Masters and Shaan Saunders.

A huge thank you to Shirley Palmer and our Ladies Match Committee for all their hard work and to our wonderful sponsor Barry Bradshaw from Safeway Security Screens.

Men's Dash for Cash May 2022 The weather was perfect for our first Men's Dash for Cash 2022. In

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Dash for Cash Winners Winners Dash for Cash #1: Paul Bradshaw, Murray Hulbert, Bruce Eagles and Barry Bradshaw. It was great to see our Sponsors in the winning team

Runners up Dash for Cash #1 with our sponsors: Brett Marshall, Roger Palmer, Alan Davies, Gerald Hanna

Winners Dash for Cash #2: Matt Sharrett, Peter Flack Gary Bayne and Barney Fleiser with Sponser Paul Bradshaw

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total, 24 teams took part, playing four games of 10 ends each. It was great to see our members doing well. Sorrento bowlers highlighted in red. Final results were: • 1st: Bruce Eagles, Murray Hulbert, Paul Bradshaw, Barry Bradshaw (12 points) • 2nd: Alan Davis, Roger Palmer, Brett Marshall, Gerald Hanna (9 points +27) • 3rd: Blake Nairn, Matt Sharrett, Barney Fleiser, Gary Bayne (9 points +25) • Morning winners: Bob Mulroy, Lindsay Baker, Mick McCavana, Phil Bilich (6 points +15) • Afternoon winners: Peter Flack, Alan Anderson, John Godfrey, Jim Welch (6 points +16) • Rd 1: Barry Stewart, Alec Third, Peter Blake, Russ Lockwood (+14) • Rd 2: Paul Knight, Stephen Fewster, Stephen Beckwith, Gary Cox (+16) • Rd 3: Michael Hughes, David Scammell, Andrew Lewis, Bernie McNamara (+13) • Rd 4: John Bartorillo, Garry Booker, McMahon, John Cowl (+15) Dash for Cash June 2022 A bright, sunny but cool winter’s day greeted the 22 teams of men that took to the greens at the end of June. After the two morning rounds of 10 ends each, six teams had won both games. Resuming for the afternoon rounds, only one team managed to win all four games, with eight teams achieving three wins. With help from Anne and Trevor Orton, over $2000 in prize money was determined and distributed.

The winners were.

• 1st: Matt Sharrett, Gary Bayne, Barney Fleiser and Peter Flack (4 wins +22 shots)

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• • • • • • • •

2nd: Bob Jeffs, Glenn McCarthy, Spider Webb and Trevor Orton (3 wins +19 shots) 3rd: JJ Landman, Jan Konig, Peter Morgan and Rhett Butler (3 wins + 18) Am: Larry Perry, Keith Grainger, Colin Campbell and Allan Gallagher (2 wins +15) Pm: Peter Wilson, Trevor Hines, R Thomas and Bert Straw (2 wins +11) Rd 1: Gerry McKenna, Bill Brown, Graeme Mac Kenzie and Mark Douthie (+7) Rd 2: Bob Steven, Jeff Thomson, Mike McGeehan and Dan Greig (+13) Rd 3: Ian Munro, Paul Bradshaw, Murray Hulbert and Bruce Eagles who tied with G Grieves, Stan van Mosseveld, Brian Saul and Paul Knight both +6 Rd 4: Pat Dichiera, Alex Third, Ken Giles and Tony Sabatino (+15) Delicious soup being served at D4C #1 by Wendy Saul, Liz Marshall, Anne Orton, Coral Smith and Jan Cook

It is traditional that the players adjourn for a soup and a roll lunch, again generously provided by our volunteer ladies. On behalf of our bowlers, enormous thanks to you, ladies, especially Wendy Saul who coordinates the day.

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A huge thank you to our long term sponsor. Dash for Cash has been running for 11 years now, and continues to be sponsored by SAFEWAY SECURITY SCREENS (thanks to Barry and Paul Bradshaw). These events now attract significant numbers of “foreign” bowlers from outside Sorrento. Please note that the next D4C is on 30 July 2022.

– Match Committee

Scroungers Mid-Season Wrap

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he Scroungers season commenced in mid May. Since then, we have only had one washout due to bad weather and on the whole we have enjoyed sunny days with the odd windy one blowing in.

The season started off with Ronny Rogers defeating Shona Carter and since then we have had different winners on each occasion. They were, in order of play, Peter Flack, Al (Dreads) Walton, Mark Douglass, Denis Croker and Paul Knight. The other runners up from Round 2 onwards in order being Ron Rogers, Paul Knight, Kevin Coffey and Jan Paniperis.

Players have enjoyed many highlights from wrong bias to out of bounds bowls and jacks but I think the highlight of the season thus far would definitely go to Helen Teasdale with six jacks in a row going into the ditch. Even when she put the mat back on the tee, the jack still kept on travelling into the ditch, much to everyone’s enjoyment at her misfortune.

Another highlight of Scroungers has been the sausage sizzle, drinks and conversation after the games.

Since the start we have had two ladies make the finals, Shona Carter and Jan Paniperis, so come on girls, lift your game and get some brag-

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ging rights over the guys. Remember if you enjoy a Sunday morning bowl (10:15am for 10:30am start) come on down and join us. The more the merrier.

–Glenn McCarthy

Hello is That…?

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n cyberspace they make fun of companies that automate the path to customer service. Here are some suggestions for when you ring the Psychological Services Hotline:

• • • • • • •

If you are obsessive compulsive, press 1 repeatedly If you are co-dependent, please ask someone else to press 2 for you If you have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5 and 6 If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want: stay on the line so we can trace your call If you have short term memory loss press 9. If you have short-term memory loss press 9. If you have short term memory loss press 9.

If you have low self esteem, please hang up. Our operators are too busy to talk to you.

If you are menopausal, put the gun down, hang up, turn on the fan, lie down and cry. You won’t be crazy forever.

– Thanks to Trevor Orton for this contribution

Why We Need a Synthetic Green

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eville has asked me to write a paragraph on why we need our synthetic green before the start of the next Pennant season. There is no question the installation of a synthetic green at Sorrento is something our members would agree is necessary. Reasons for, are many, but how many members realise that the Premier division next season will see five of the ten sides having only synthetic surfaces and four

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of the remaining five having at least one available, with North Beach virtually using only their artificial green.

Sorrento is the only Premier club without a synthetic surface. South Perth, Cambridge, Kardinya, Gosnells, Mount Lawley, North Beach all have synthetics. Clubs with synthetic available are Doubleview, Osborne Park and Manning There is no question that having a similar surface to practice on during the week before an away game at a synthetic club will benefit those playing on the Saturday, in all divisions. Having good grass greens does give Sorrento a slightly bigger home advantage, but to capitalise on this and be in the hunt for the top two or three spots at the end of the year, a club will have to be able to pick up two or three wins on synthetic greens.

– Paul Knight Editor's Note: Other benefits of a synthetic E green are: 1. Allows play during winter when grass greens would be closed 2. Quicker to restart play after rains 3. The proposed eight rinks will allow for two Pennant games when grass greens are unavailable 4. Holds speed when grass greens are slow 5. Avoids problems with tree shade 6. Allows bowls to be played at night on a fast floodlit green 7. Provides better linkage between E-Green and BBQ/outdoor area.

8. Allows for practice on a synthetic green 9. Assists with grass green renovations and rest periods 10. Makes E green into a more popular place to play bowls

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Synthetic Green Project Update

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am sure that we were all very disappointed when the City of Joondalup informed the Club in 2019 that they would not support our undercover synthetic green proposal because necessary infrastructure services like sewerage and high pressure water are not being made available to Percy Doyle Reserve. They did however suggest a smaller project without the roof.

We were buoyed when informed that the City’s Council, at their 18 August 2020 meeting, had endorsed our grant application for the smaller scale project (no roof) that still enabled increased participation (a requirement of the Community Sport and Recreation Facility Funded (CSRFF) grant) through the installation of an extended eight rink synthetic surface and flood lighting on E green. Council’s cost estimate was $463,835, with funding met by equal contributions of around $154,600 by the City of Joondalup, State government and the Club.

The downside was that, despite the Club having the necessary skills and capacity to run such a project, Council informed the Club that the project would be managed in its entirety by the City.

We received an early Christmas present on 23 December 2020 when we were informed that the grant application was successful. However, over the next six weeks or so we started to become concerned that we had received no detailed cost breakdown or time line of the project and certain expenditures that were part of our original grant submission were seemingly being excluded, meaning that Sorrento would have to fund these items on top of the $154,600.

After numerous attempts to obtain a timetable and project detail, we

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were advised by Council on 9 June 2021 that construction will be in 2022, with construction required to be completed at the latest by June 2022, with construction occurring between March 2022 to June 2022.

In August 2021 we were further advised that City officers had commenced the planning for the construction phase of the project (March 2022 to June 2022) which includes synthetic turf works (removal of old grass, new base preparation and all associated works), fencing, retaining walls, shade structure extensions and repairs, reticulation, floodlighting the E green, tree removal and replacement as per the CSRFF funding agreement.

It was also confirmed that the project does not include maintenance equipment nor storage. These would be at the Club’s expense (around $11,000) and would require a Club Funded Facility Upgrade application to implement.

Over the remaining months of 2021 the Club tried largely unsuccessfully to get further information on the detail of the project such as the type of synthetic surface being proposed, sprinkler systems and water treatment, lighting, shade sails, green layout etc.

At this time, pressure was also being applied for the Club to sign off on a Project Contribution Agreement (a legal commitment to funding) that was light on detail, especially in relation to the type of surface proposed, and sought to make Sorrento responsible for all cost overruns (despite the project being managed entirely by the City). Naturally, the Club refused to sign the Agreement.

Council finally went to tender in January 2022. At a subsequent meeting with the Club held in February 2022, Council revealed that the project cost had blown out primarily because of significant cost

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escalation occurring since their original cost estimate of August 2020.

As a consequence, they said that while the City’s and State’s contribution of $154,600 would remain unchanged, the Club’s contribution would more than double to over $300,000. Not surprisingly the Club was appalled.

At the suggestion of the Club at an April 2022 meeting, Council agreed to reconstitute the project to reduce the size of the green, removing the need for retaining and hopefully bringing the project back within budget. They indicated that because much of the work had already been undertaken, they would respond quickly by providing a project scope and full costing. Despite, many requests for a progress report, no information has been received since.

Council cite Covid related resourcing issues for causing the project to be delayed to the extent that it has and for the consequential cost escalations. Needless to say, that without a project plan and costing and given the need to issue a range of supplier contracts, we cannot possibly provide an expected completion time line or costs nor refer to the Club’s membership for approval.

– Wayne Gray

Alex and Team Sow Seeds for the Future

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e might have the most apt surname of any Sorrento bowler but Alex Third is more a lead when it comes to helping in a venture which could benefit our Club down the track.

For three years now Alex and a band of helpers have been working with Year 10 students from

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Carine Senior High School in a program that just might lead to some of them retaining an interest in the game to the point of joining our Club as much needed young players.

Sharing the workload in providing these 15 year olds with an introduction to bowls are hard workers like ex school teacher Tony Bourne and qualified coach Ray Stapledon as well as Jennifer Page and Ken Foggo.

All had to obtain “working with kids” clearances to participate. Also closely involved in the project are Volunteer Coordinator Ken Giles and Tony Friedlieb, who organises the bookings and greens to be used.

Ray says he has been quite impressed with what he has seen. “Some of them are really quite adept, starting with an excellent delivery”, he said. “On one occasion I decided to offer a little prize to anyone who could manage a toucher and almost straight away one boy and one girl did just that.”

Alex has also observed that some of the group of 20 students who attended separate lessons in the AM and PM on a Wednesday are quite skillful. “Whether they keep their interest in bowls is uncertain, a girl in one of my classes is brilliant at sport and plays golf off a handicap of two”, Alex said.

Alex has contributed considerably to our Club after noticing an advertisement Sorrento had placed in the Wanneroo Times in 1997.

Hailing from the fishing village of Cairnbulg in North East Scotland about 40 miles from Aberdeen, Alex moved to Bronte Park in central Tasmania at the age of 14 in 1952 when his father took a job as a fitter and turner. Alex remained in the Apple Isle where he held a job as an electrician with the Hydro Electric Commission for 40 years until made redundant when the decision was made not to dam the Franklin River.

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Continued on page 34

Sorrento Ladies do

Betty Stern, Charmain Harris, Jennifer Page, Liz McTaggert, D Greig, Beryl Tutt, Lorraine Hyde, Wendy Saul, Larraine Brickell, Joondalup/Wanneroo Trophy In mid April this annual event was held at Merriwa. Sixteen Sorrento ladies competed in our four teams, with another two of our players helping out other teams short on numbers. With seven clubs from within the two shires represented, competition was fierce but friendly.

Sorrento brought home the trophy finishing with 17 points, a narrow win over Merriwa 15, Joondalup 14, Wanneroo and Yanchep 11.5, Warwick 9 and Quinns Rocks 8.

Next year we will defend our title at Joondalup. Congratulations to all who participated and to the selectors who were on the phone up until the start of play, organising players between clubs.

Victoria Park/Carlisle "Touch of Style" Seven of our ladies accepted an invitation to play fours in this year's two-day event at the end of April. Each team comprises two country and two metro players as selected by Vic Park Carlisle. The first morning started off wet and windy but quickly cleared and, although the

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o well in Carnivals

Diane Cox, Wendy Flack, Shona Carter, Helen Teasdale, Cheryl , Jan Power-Tuke, Carole Ford, Jan Siney and Robyn Woodward greens remained a little heavy, a full day's play of three games was completed. The following day was clear and sunny, with two more games before the playoffs for the final results. Coral Smith was a member of the composite team to win the two-day event, pictured here holding the trophy.

Wendy Flack, Jan Cook, Wendy Saul, Coral Smith, Robyn van Mosseveld, Pauline Marsden and Liz Marshall

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Continued from page 31 He had arrived in Perth in 1994 and, on deciding to join Sorrento, immediately came under the care of the legendary Arthur Richards who passed away not so long ago at the age of 99.

For two years he played social bowls with Joe “Fatcat” Stowe before being flung into second division as a Lead in Pennants – an experiment he said that lasted only three weeks. Over the years Alex filled many positions on the green and for two years (1999-2000) was Chairman of the Match Committee. It has been known to amuse opposition Pennant players that Alex used to indeed play third, but in more recent times, with Jim Portwood his able lieutenant as third, he has been a successful skipper.

Last season Alex was part of the fourth division squads on Thursday (Gold) and Saturday (Blue) that, although missing the finals, finished well clear of the relegation zone. Alex may have taken a long time to find us but as far as Sorrento is concerned the wait has been worth it.

There are plenty of members who will second that.

– Jim Woodward

Anna!

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nna was 79 years old and lived on the third floor of a boarding house. Despite her age, she was still a real pistol packin’ mama.

However, one day she fell and broke her leg. An ambulance drove her to the hospital where a doctor put a cast on it. When he was done, he warned her, “Now don’t be walking up or down any stairs, okay?”

Anna nodded, and thought that this sounded reasonable.

A few weeks later, the doctor took off the cast. “So, can I climb stairs now?” Asked the little old lady. “Yes,” he replied. “Thank goodness!”

She said. “I’m sick and tired of climbing up and down that drainpipe!”

– Thanks to Ian Wittber for this contribution

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95 Years Young

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he lovely Pat Frawley played bowls for our Club for many years. Her style was quite unique as when she played (either Lead or Second) she went down on her knee when delivering the bowl. She was a very consistent player earning her name on the honours board several times. Quite often she joins bowlers (past and present) for a luncheon but on the last occasion she cancelled the luncheon as she had hurt her back. On being asked how this occurred the reply was "I was sawing a tree down!" Her reaction to our horrified ears was "It was only a little tree!" Accolades to you Pattie you are an inspiration to all. From your many friends.

– Annie Taylor

Dart Report

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t the end of June our Dart Club celebrated its first annual wind-up and trophy presentation since 2019. The well- attended event recognised the achievements of players competing in two separate darts associations and across both winter and summer seasons.

Dave and Adel Maunders received a gift of appreciation for their service in selling the meat pack raffles on Friday nights and then Dave accepted the SBCDA’s (Sport and Bowling Club Dart Association) 2021 trophies for his side winning the Second Division as well as the coveted premiership.

Well done to Dave Maunder’s team Davindra Chavda, Marty Daly, Jason Higgins, Stuart Davie, Stan James and Tom Dowling.

Awards for the Blue Water A Grade winter competition went to Chris

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Patterson (highest average 68.28), Stuart Davie (Most Pegs with 21) and Doug Lorencs with the highest peg of 112. B Grade’s highest average went to Davindra Chavda with 51.92 who also shared the most pegs of 30 with Gordon Penny. Kevin Cook took out the highest peg with 114.

Lochlan Best topped the averages in the B Grade summer competition with 42.61 while Harry Dudhia got the daily double with 22 pegs and the high peg of 70.

Finally, in a year of achievement, Davindra Chavda headed the averages in the Bowling Club B Grade league with 51.2. Marty Daly had the most pegs with 27 and Stan James the highest peg of 115. Davindra was also the SBCDA’s 2022 B Grade singles winner, beating Brian Lucas in the final.

From left to right: Doug Lorencs, Keith Cooper, Wayne Raffaele, Tony Kay, Brian Collins, Ray Beard (Deceased), Brian Lucas, Des Bennett (Deceased) The Dart Club has operated since the commencement of our Club in 1976. The photo below was taken in 1997, 25 years ago, and demonstrates how some of our current Club members have been able to pre-

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serve their youthful handsomeness. Sadly, Des Bennett, Ray Beard and Ron Nielsen, all excellent lawn bowlers, have passed away.

The Dart Club’s Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 2 July with Dave Maunders (our primary Friday night meat pack raffles seller) elected as the Club’s president and Davindra Chavda its secretary.

– Brian Lucas

Darts Singles Championship

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n Saturday 2 July after the AGM of the Sorrento Bowling Club Darts, the Club played its annual singles championships.

After some tough matches it came down to Spider Webb playing Dav Chavda in the best of five for the singles championship. It came down to the fifth and final match as both Spider and Dav had won two games each.

Spider became the Club singles champion by beating Dav in the final match to win three matches to two.

– Denis Croker

Croquet Report Tournaments and Competitions Sunday 15 May saw the Annual George Parslow Cup 2022 being played at Cambridge Croquet Club. Jenny Wilmot and Cheryl Saul entered this doubles competition and were delighted with their performance by being Runners up. They missed being the Winners by a single hoop on a count back of net hoops. Congratulations to them both on an outstanding result.

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In May, the Novice Star Singles GC Competition was played. This competition is open to only those players who have been playing croquet for two years or less. There were 13 eligible players with seven of these being available to play. Every player played against every other player with the final winner being Wendy Price who won all six of her games, and the Runner up was Margaret Windle winning four of her six games. Congratulations to Wendy, Margaret and all other entrants, who helped to make the event one of the most enjoyable days of friendly competition. Also, thank you to Jan and Terry Craddock and Sandy Boon who all helped enormously with setting up, providing eats, and clearing away. These contributions all made for a most successful event.

Jan and Terry Craddock, Jenny Wilmot, Cheryl Saul and Di McGivern were all entered to play in the WA “B” and “C” Grade Competitions held at Nedlands Croquet Club on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 May; with Di also being the nominated referee for day on Monday. Sadly, Jenny tested positive for Covid virus on the Sunday and had to withdraw. Di, being a close contact, went into isolation pending her test result for the virus.

Di was appointed as Referee for the GC Croquet Competition of "The Masters’ Games" which were held in Perth from 26 to 29 April. Robyn Dart from Busselton was the Women’s Champion; with David Williams from Cambridge Club being the Men’s Champion.

Members We have been delighted to have seen a number of long time members back at the Club after time away due to personal circumstances. We wish all those members who are currently unable to attend, a speedy recovery back to full health, and look forward to welcoming them back onto the Courts.

– Diana McGivern

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Stopping a Bowl in Motion

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ome years ago, during a competitive bowls event a Skipper found himself in the situation of having the last bowl of the game that needed one additional shot to win. He had the option • Not to deliver the final bowl and take a draw • Or attempt to draw another shot and win the game.

The head was tight but after discussion with the third he decided to have a go. As his bowl approached the head it became apparent to the Third that the incoming bowl was likely to hit an opponent’s bowl in for shot, resulting in losing the game. The Third then stepped forward and stopped the Skip’s incoming bowl to save a draw.

Under the Laws of the game, if a bowl in its original course is interfered with by a member of the team that delivered the bowl, that bowl is declared dead. However, in this situation this law favours the defaulting team. There is no specific Law covering this situation except for appealing to the Controlling Body under Law 36 – Deliberate non sporting action.

There would however be considerable debate between the Skipper and his Third and the opposing players, based around providing psychological counselling and a lecture on sports etiquette.

You may not be aware, but there are some other circumstances where

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a bowl can be legally stopped in “its original course”. A bowl in “its original course” refers to a bowl from its delivery until it finally comes to rest. It transpires that a bowl in its original course can only be stopped in the following circumstances.

•

If a player plays out of turn, the opposing skip can stop the bowl and return it to the player to play it in the proper order, provided it has not come to rest or disturbed the head, in which case further laws apply.

•

If a bowl at rest on the rink is in danger of being disturbed by a bowl delivered from a neighbouring rink any player at the head may either stop the bowl delivered from the adjacent rink or secondly lift the bowl at rest to allow the other bowl to pass.

•

If a bowl in its original course is not a toucher and rebounds back onto the rink from the face of the bank, then it is a dead bowl and shall be stopped and removed.

•

If a bowl in its original course passes outside the side boundary on the wrong bias which would prevent it from re-entering the rink of play it is a dead bowl and should be stopped and removed.

– Jim Ironside

Update from Kerry Hutchinson

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any members have continued to ask after both myself and my daughter and how we are progressing with treatment. As I am back bowling at the club everyone can see how I continue to bounce back after treatment, a bit of a longer road than I thought but I am well and truly on my wellness journey with just a few minor kinks to iron out before I am fully recovered.

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For my daughter Nicole, well let’s just say that her determination, grit, mental toughness and an attitude that says ”I will conquer this and I will not be defined by my diagnosis”, saw Nicole compete in the Margaret River Ultra Marathon just like she planned before diagnosis five days after her second round of double chemotherapy, and with a caution from her oncologist, she completed the 80kms in 13 hours and 21 minutes an absolute incredible achievement.

Are we proud of her, you bet we are, is she an inspiration to those around her, you bet she is and is she planning another marathon, she most certainly is but not for a while? She continues with further rounds of chemo followed with six weeks of radiation and hopefully, treatment will be completed by the end of October. Thank you again to everyone at Sorrento. You are an awesome community to belong to.

– Kerry Hutchinson

Some Help with Medical Terms

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ow that we are all getting a bit older Trevor Orton thought that this list might help us "Oldies" get the correct diagnosis:

Artery Bacteria Barium Benign Caesarean Section Cat scan Cauterize

The study of paintings Back door to cafeteria What doctors do when patients die What you be, after you be eight A neighbourhood in Rome Searching for Kitty Made eye contact with her

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Colic A sheep dog Coma A punctuation mark Dilate To live long Enema Not a friend Fester Quicker than someone else Fibula A small lie Impotent Distinguished, well known Labour Pain Getting hurt at work Medical Staff A Doctor's cane Morbid A higher offer Nitrates Cheaper than day rates Node I knew it Outpatient A person who has fainted Pelvis Second cousin to Elvis Post Operative A letter carrier Recovery Room Place to do upholstery Rectum Nearly killed him Secretion Hiding something Seizure Roman emperor Tablet A small table Terminal Illness Getting sick at the airport Tumour One plus one more Urine Opposite of you're out – Thanks to Trevor Orton for the useful list

Morning Tea for the WA Cancer Council

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rom little things big things grow and I was blown away by the success of the Biggest Morning Tea held at Sorrento at the end of May. Over $3,500 was raised for the Cancer Council’s biggest fund raising project with nearly 20000 Morning Tea events registered and total funds raised so far is $9.4 million.

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Our guest speaker, Fiona Dyball told us that all funds raised in WA stay in WA. The money raised is used to fund projects, research and to support patients and their families during their cancer journey.

Our aim was • to raise much needed funds and to bring communities together • to share experiences • enjoy each other’s company with lots of fun, laughter and tears.

Did we achieve all this, yes and much more? From the threat of a pole dancing demonstration to the beautiful Blessing and the singing of Amazing Grace, we all felt that sense of achieving something special.

When I stood at the microphone to welcome everyone, I was overcome with what I saw in front of me. So many people, so many friends and family and each and everyone of them so willing to do their part to make the morning a success. The culmination of six weeks of preparation was in front of me and I was humbled by the feeling in the room.

Our incredible group of Bumble BEEZ Buzzing, along with their friends both far and wide, hand crafted over 90 beautiful hand knitted and crocheted beanies to donate to the Cancer Council, underarm support pillows and drain bags and beautiful handmade toys. Hand writ-

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ten notes with words of encouragement have been added to the beanies so that the recipients will know that somewhere out there, people are thinking of them and wishing them well on their cancer journey.

Our voices rang out with a rendition of Rachel Platten’s ‘Fight Song’ which will also be included in the beanie packages. Donations from the Bowls and Wellness Bowling community provided some fantastic raffle prizes which were very much appreciated by the winners.

A massive THANK YOU to each and every one of you who helped me grow my small idea into the huge success it was. Everyone I approached was more than willing to give their time or their expertise to the morning and there were so many people who just came up and asked, “what can I do to help”. I am eternally grateful for you and your unwavering generosity in supporting this cause.

– Kerry Hutchinson

Neville Odell – New Life Member

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t our July 2022 AGM, Life member and Acting President, Trevor Orton said it was an honour to award this modest and committed volunteer with the Club’s highest honour. Deputy Mayor Councillor Christine Hamilton-Prime then presented him with his well-deserved badge.

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He said that it was only two years after Neville and wife Denise joined Sorrento in 2005 that Neville volunteered to take over the production of the Club’s newsletter.

But, to transform the newsletter into a 64-page, highly regarded professional magazine that has other clubs gobsmacked takes a huge amount of research (gathering information to place in his trusty notebook), composing well written and interesting stories and articles, and then having the editing and publishing skills to produce such an amazing document, takes time, skill, patience, and tenacity. Having done this for seventy editions covering fifteen years is something that is truly worthy of a life membership of the Sorrento Bowling Club.

In presenting his life membership badge Trevor also highlighted a wide range of other activities that Neville has performed over the years. This started as a member of the “2007 Membership and Marketing Business Group” that was instrumental in the development of the Club’s first strategic plan “2020 Vision”. He also served three years as our Sponsorship Manager.

Neville has also been instrumental in producing and maintaining a range of Club publications such as our Information booklet for new members, our annual Fixtures booklet and our recent Etiquette booklet as well as pamphlets like our Partnership and Wake brochures and much more.

Trevor congratulated Neville, on behalf of all members, for his sterling and selfless contribution to the Club and his richly deserved recognition with Life Membership.

In an emotional reply Neville thanked the Club for making him a life member. He said it was a great honour and that he and Denise often

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tell people that they made three good decisions 18 years ago. One was to come to Australia, two was to come to Perth and the other was to join the Sorrento Bowling Club. Neville went on to thank Denise, Brian Lucas, Jim Woodward, Jan Paniperis, Denis Croker and all the other contributors to our Club magazine, our booklets and our various leaflets.

–Trevor Orton

Clubs WA Ceases Club of the Year Awards

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he recent announcement by Clubs WA that their “Club of the Year” award will not be featured in future awards for excellence means that Sorrento becomes the last club to have won this prestigious award.

Interestingly, Sorrento will have won the award every year since 2015 except for 2019. This was the year that we became the first club (and now only club) to be inducted into Club WA’s Hall of Fame for Medium Club of the Year, and therefore we were not eligible to apply for the award in 2019. An impressive performance by anyone’s standard.

– Brian Lucas

Tribute to Kevin Scammel (1930-2022)

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evin and his golfing friend Kevin Cook joined the Sorrento Bowling Club in 2008 seeking a change of sporting challenges.

I was fortunate to meet them at that time and we soon became good friends. Kevin commenced playing in our social bowling afternoons where he was regarded as a tough competitor and a great guy to play with or against.

As often happens in clubs’ special relationships begin. Kevin and Beth fit that category. They were together for some 12 years and enjoyed several holidays together. Their 47 river cruise from Amsterdam to

Budapest was the highlight. At the Club his highlights were winning the Plate in the 2012/13 Mixed Pairs Championship with Beth. A great achievement. They went on to win the 2013/14 Veterans' Mixed Pairs.

Kevin and I had quite a few lunches together with his rules in place. The rules were if I drove, he would pay and if he drove, I would pay. It was a good arrangement. Kevin liked his fish and chips and it became a ritual for Beth and Kevin to share Barramundi after Sunday bowls. My last memory of Kevin was lunch on the last Friday when fish and chips were on the menu. He did not want to go to the dining room he wanted his Barramundi from Seacrest. What a great member and always the real gentleman with smile on his face.

Volunteer Report

– Ron Taylor

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n our June Quarter 2022 magazine we listed and acknowledged some of our volunteers. In this edition we would like to recognise some more of our volunteers viz: •

• •

Rose Gannaway continues to look after our coffee machine. She does an amazing job cleaning and maintaining this unit which requires a deep clean once a week and topping up supplies several times a week Our outgoing Governing Council for all their efforts over many years. On behalf of all our members we thank you all Jim Woodward who is always prepared to write articles for our news magazine and is now also preparing regular reports on members' welfare

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•

Betty Stern and Barbara Spence who continue to organise social bowls on Friday and Sunday afternoons • Alan Walton who is always prepared to help around the Club.

During Covid he installed the barrier rails at the entrance to our Club • The following volunteers who took down the shade cloth at the end of the season – Bob Jeffs, Denis Croker, Colin Bangs, Alan Gallager, Brad Marshall, Colin Jasper, Evan Cosh and Stan Brickell • All the volunteers who help on a Friday evening Sheila O'Reilly, Helen Cook, Mel Withinson, Glenn McCarthy, Pauline Marsden, Annie Taylor, Frank Gandras, John Godfrey, Rose Gannaway and David Maunders • Denis Croker who volunteered to takeover Membership Matters from Geoff Murray who had been doing this for many years • Matt Sharrett who now produces our weekly newsletter • Graeme May, Alan Susta, Lindsay Baker, Ron Taylor, Kevin Coffey and Glenn and Trish McCarthy our volunteers who help behind the bar.

We will however continue to mention in future editions the contribution our volunteers continue to make to our Club.

– Ken Giles

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Barbara and Betty – Our Pillars of Social Bowls

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omeone must be doing something right when people turn up out of the blue from other clubs to play social bowls at Sorrento. That members of the bowling fraternity have walked through the doors of our Club from South Perth, Warwick and North Beach, to name just a few, to enjoy our social bowls experience is heartwarming. Likewise, bowlers from interstate and overseas have been known to rock up because the word has got out that Sorrento has social bowls available on Fridays and Sundays. Very few other clubs do.

But it doesn’t happen automatically. Without a solid core of volunteers to run our social bowls on those days the opportunity to enjoy a game of bowls without stress would be lost to dozens of people, mostly in their older years.

The very first article I wrote for Neville Odell to put in this magazine when I joined the Club nearly 15 years ago was a piece on Chris Tibbits and Barbara Spence, with an accompanying photo, at work running the Club’s Friday social bowls, with another photo of Stan McCullagh and Betty Stern hard at work on a Sunday afternoon. Stan has passed away and Chris relocated to another lucky club south of the city but, amazingly, Barbara and Betty are still at it.

Jennifer Page now shares organising Friday’s social bowls with the evergreen Barbara who has been doing the job for a staggering 20

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years. Betty, who has been filling the job for almost as long as Barbara, is these days helped by Carole Ford and Liz Young on Sundays. For a while a roster system was tried with Stan Wood prominent but for the most the above mentioned have done all the heavy lifting.

Of course, they had a pretty hard act to follow because the bar had been set very high by Joe and Barbara Stowe who ran, for a very long time, both the Friday and Sunday social bowls. "Fat Cat’s Corner" in our clubhouse was named after the indefatigable Joe, who had a nickname for just about everyone – some of them quite wicked.

Many of our current Pennant bowlers cut their teeth playing social bowls while the reverse has occurred for many others. Bowlers who like to scale back can still enjoy a game of social bowls and enjoy the camaraderie afterwards after giving the Club many years of valuable and loyal service in Pennant Bowls.

The people who run our social bowls are pure gold. As Chris Tibbits said at the time, “Social bowls at Sorrento is a community within a community – a family affair and the very fabric of our Club”. Stan McCullagh also had very strong feelings on the subject. “Mixed social bowls has been the backbone of our Club for many years and many of us started our journey playing at this level,” Stan said. Wise words from wise people and their legacy is still alive and well thanks to the current “true blues” of our Club.

– Jim Woodward and Ron Taylor Note from Denise and Neville Odell Joe and Barbara Stowe, who were running social bowls when we joined, made us feel so welcome and we will always remember and appreciate what they did for us.

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A Double Act Hard to Match

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hen it comes to quality commitment you don’t have to look any further than Roger and Shirley Palmer to find shining examples. In an amazing and valuable double act there wouldn’t be too many at Sorrento who would disagree that the pair have taken on two of the most demanding, complex and time consuming jobs you will ever find at a bowling club Both filling their respective jobs for the first time during the 2021-22 season, Roger drew a deep breath and joined Sorrento’s Men's Selection panel while Shirley took over from Lee Leach as chairperson of the Ladies’ Match Committee. And both performed at a dazzling level of efficiency. Roger, always calm and sensible, blended in well with his fellow selectors under the chairmanship of Rob Tozer to deal with a multitude of problems including Covid drop outs and bowlers who left it until the very last minute before pulling the plug on a game of Pennants.

The highly organised Shirley, and her fellow Match Committee members, are always under the pump by virtue of the clock to collect the money, allocate players to various greens and making sure the cards match up. Then follows the procedure of collating the results at considerable speed and working out the winners. Those who complain about what the Selectors are doing and how the Match Committee goes about its work should think twice – or themselves put their hand up for these vital roles. For a number of years Roger and Shirley have also been involved with the organising of Community bowls.

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We are just as lucky that Roger and Shirley ended up at our Club as they themselves ended up together. Back in 1974 Roger was rushing along the footpath on Plain Street in the Perth CBD when he turned a corner and ran into a woman travelling in the opposite direction.

“I literally bumped right into her,” Roger recalled. “She said she was going to this show, so I said to her ‘I’ll come with you". That woman was none other than Shirley – and the rest is history.

But that fortuitous collision was a long time in the making. Roger was born on the outskirts of London and Shirley hailed from Townsville in Queensland. After an adventurous journey to Australia which involved a plane trip to Singapore and completed in a rundown but seaworthy boat to Perth, Roger and his mates, one of them a Scotsman he met on arrival, ended up working in a mine out of Mt Magnet.

Back in the big smoke, Roger held a variety of jobs over the years including in the Government's Department of Public Works workshops where he worked with Gary Bayne close by. Then came stints at the Orbital Engineering Company at Balcatta and with the RAC maintaining their fleet of mobile vehicles. In between times, Roger and Gary raced catamarans, including at national titles, with Roger also heavily involved in racing motor bikes at Wanneroo Raceway.

Not only that, Roger and seven other mates who had played golf at Wanneroo, were heavily involved in forming the Carramar Golf Club slightly to the north, where Roger played off a handicap of 15.

Shirley, in Perth on a working holiday with a couple of girlfriends, got a job with the ANZ Bank and later as a receptionist at a medical centre in Padbury before becoming the Practice Manager.

As far as bowls goes, Roger and Shirley started their journey at the

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Beaumaris Club (now Joondalup) and after three years moved from Kingsley to Dawesville and played with the strong Port Bouvard Club for two and a half years. But the arrival of four grandchildren lured them back to Kingsley and the Sorrento Bowling Club was the lucky benefactor. Roger and Shirley might have bumped into each other on Plain Street, but there is nothing plain about their contribution to the Sorrento Bowling Club.

– Jim Woodward

Guess Who?

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here is a bottle of wine for the person who identifies the following members. Send an email with your answers to nevodell@bigpond.net.au Guess Who?

#2 #1

#4

#3

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Our 2013 Men's Novices

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n February 2013 this photo was taken of the men who played in that year's Novice event. It is a bit sad to note that a number of these members are no longer with us!

Back: Dick Merton, Ken Vercoe, Alan Susta, Rick Munt, Dave Bradley, Peter Balcombe.

Middle: Derek Smith, John Foster, Alan Walton, Alan Bishop, David Wurtze.

Front: Graeme May, James Baker, Ben White, Ray Green, Mike McGeehan, Phil Bilich (Missing from the photo – Dion Smith)

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A Fitting Farewell for a Selfless Man

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ichly-deserved tributes and his own renowned sense of humour were entwined at the funeral of much loved Sorrento legend Brian Self. A large contingent of Sorrento bowlers in Club uniform, forming a guard of honour, set the scene for a warm farewell to a man who had little trouble making friends wherever he went.

Our own Bruce Eagles who conducted the funeral service with incredible passion painted an enlightening picture of both the suffering and resilience involved in Selfie’s long battle with cancer. Bruce was followed by Brian Lucas and Ron Rogers who delivered heartfelt eulogies, the contents touching, but not surprising, to those in attendance.

Brian’s son Jason then spoke of the love for his dad and three of his four grandchildren joined in to pay tribute to the man they clearly adored.

Bruce Eagles, who for a long time was the Chaplain at Hollywood Hospital where Selfie underwent a lot of his treatment, provided an anecdote which revealed Brian’s sense of humour no matter how serious the situation. “Quite often I would drop in to see Brian just as a nurse was preparing to administer his chemotherapy treatment”, Bruce said.

“Just about every time he would turn to the nurse and say ‘why have you called the Chaplain, is there something you are not telling me?"

Brian Lucas told of his impressions of Selfie when he first met him at

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our Club in 2009. “I quickly learned that Brian was a straight shooter – right to the point,” he said. “Uncompromising but at the same time willing to listen to the opinions of others. You were never left wondering where Brian stood on an issue.” As an example, Brian pointed to Selfie’s decision to become a Selector, a position he held for more than six years. “Arguably the hardest Club job is to pick 36 compatible and competitive teams twice a week from 150 players, with some having inflated opinions of their own ability and others reluctant to play with certain players,” Brian said.

Brian then recalled how Selfie took selling raffle tickets to another level after only about 80 tickets were being sold on each occasion.

“Selfie decided this wasn’t nearly good enough,” Brian told the mourners. “He took on this responsibility and increased sales to more than 300.” Nobody escaped Selfie’s eagle eye and he was quick to berate anyone he caught walking around the side of the building and coming in through the back door to avoid putting their hand in their pocket.

“True to his nature, when Brian’s cancer started to get worse, he never complained, remaining stoic and determined to do his best to fight it,” Brian Lucas said. “I asked him on many occasions how he was travelling and received the same response, ‘I’m going alright mate, what’s happening with that Red side’, or something else to change the subject."

Ron Rogers told of how he and his family’s association with Brian and his wife, Joan, developed slowly and how they forgave his shortcomings of things like coming over from South Australia and being a Port Adelaide supporter. Their friendship developed, firstly through bowls with tournaments played on the Gold Coast, Dalkeith Nedlands, Swan and even out to Beverley. Later Ron and his wife, Barb, caught up with the Selfs in Scotland while Brian was visiting his native Wales. On

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one occasion during that trip, one of Brian’s American friends, while talking Italian, (with his hands) knocked a full glass of red wine all over Brian’s favourite grey hoodie. “Joan thought, great,” Ron recalled.

‘He will finally throw it away’. “But bad luck Joan, because an instant application of soda water and a trip straight to the hotel dry cleaner saw it come back as good as new.”

Later caravanning came to the fore with the Rogers and Grays helping Brian and Joan set up their rig as trips to Coral Bay and Exmouth (which had already been booked again for this year) followed. Typical of Selfie, where thereis a will, there is a way and at Coral Bay bowls were played on a marked out rink using the base of a nearby saltlake as the green. “It ran pretty well,” Ron recalled. “The only trouble was that if it rained, it was no good.”

Selfie and Joan were half way around Australia, in their van but had to abandon their trip in Queensland and fly home when Brian got his dreaded diagnosis. As has already been described by his greatest mates, Brian fought the good fight right up until 17 days before his 74th birthday. And after the final farewells at Pinnaroo on 3 May were delivered and after Brian’s coffin had disappeared from view, his spirit lived on as the Chapel reverberated to Freddie Mercury belting out “Another One Bites The Dust.”

– Jim Woodward

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Wendy's Darts Word Search

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Letter to the Editor Hugs on the Green I am eighty and wonder why, these days, when something special happens on the sporting field, we are subjected to players enthusiastically hugging, elbow bumping, cuddling, kissing, neck nuzzling, hair ruffling, high fiveing, low fiveing, patting each other on the buttocks, loud deafening bellowing, whooping or hollering and or doing stacks on the mill as pictured on page 61. I'm worried that lawn bowls will soon be subjected to this modern way of celebrating success. Bowls is really no different from any other sport. You either win or you lose. Do you have any suggestions about how this can be avoided in our civilised, courteous, genteel and well mannered game of lawn bowls? What about the good old fashioned hand shake?

– " An Oldie Concerned Lawn Bowler" Dear "Concerned Lawn Bowler", You are too late. It's already in our game!

The cartoons alongside show some examples of how lawn bowlers carry on when on the green. I suggest you toughen up mate and grow a pair! Don't be a Snowflake!

Let's just get on with the game and ignore those who like to cuddle and kiss. A big smile like the two alongside will help you enjoy your bowls!

– Your Editor

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When our Skipper played the winning shot our entire team swamped the dear man with “stacks on the mill” affection

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Annual Father/Mother/Son/Daughter Day

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his competition was played early in May and was well supported with 36 entrants, young and old, battling it out over two games of eight ends of three bowl pairs. After the first round, the players were separated into two groups based on results from the first round and went out to play off for the second round.

After some close contests and very good bowls by some of the less experienced bowlers, the winner of the first group was Tony Sabatino and his grandson Matt Sabatino with seven ends plus eight shots closely followed by Craig and Ken Marshall on six ends plus two shots up. The second group winner was Frank and Brendan Bomford with six ends and nine shots. It was great to see Frank back at our Club.

Unfortunately, we did not manage to get a photo of the winning team.

While we gave out some prize money to some of the players, it appeared that all participants had a win with the great weather, good greens and friendly competition.

– Brian Staples

Winners: Tony Sabatino and Matt Sabatino, his six foot three 16 year-old grandson

Runners Up: Craig and Ken Marshall

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Second group winners: Frank and Brendan Bomford

The Bomford Clan: We have Leah, Josh, Abbie, Stephen, Frank, Craig, Brendan, Kerry and Tania– all Bomfords

Braydin Horsle, Charmain Harris, Jan Paniperis and Nicholas Paniperis

The Staples Clan: We have Brad Shapleski, Vann Shapleski, Naomi Shapleski, Kye Shapleski, Brian Staples and Thea Staples

The Woodward Clan: From left to right we have Saskia, Jack, Glenn holding Toby, Robyn and Jim holding Mitch and then Brad Marshall and his daughter Alexis Marshall

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