Alex and Team Sow Seeds for the Future

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

He 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.