Six Little Stories

So, apart from becoming a Sorrento Swan, what does Willie think of our Club and how is he enjoying the experience? “The people here are awesome and they are very warm and friendly and I could see the difference (from other clubs) straight away.”

And you can’t help but compare the distance Willie and Rhett travel and their enthusiasm about playing for Sorrento with the situation and sentiments of Ron and Kerry Hutchinson and Jeff Thomson and Lesley Hughes who also all drive past countless other bowling clubs to play for us.

But what you see from Willie on the green on Thursdays and Saturdays is just the tip of the iceberg. Behind the scenes he is a fully qualified coach and coaching assessor and umpire as well as running a junior coaching program where he introduces bowlers from years 3-6 to the game of bowls. Willie is currently undertaking an International Technical Officer course which, when he graduates, will qualify him to umpire international matches.

When he first came to Australia, Willie found work at a Comalco factory involving sliding windows and then made heavy duty chains for roller doors. These days he describes himself as a “semi retired gardener” which easily fulfils his passion away from bowls. But Willie says gardening also keeps him fit. He is certainly a perfect fit for our Club and now he has sown the seeds at Sorrento, maybe he will become a perennial.

– Jim Woodward

Six Little Stories

1. Once all villagers decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer all the people gathered, but only one boy came with an umbrella.