December 2016/January 2017

STATE PENNANT SUMMER EDITION

BQ BRINGS YOU ALL THE ACTION!

DEC 2016/JAN 2017

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PLENTY TO CELEBRATE! State Pennant Winning Skips Chloe Stewart And Nathan Rice Get Festive At Bribie Island Cover pic: Naomi Cescotto

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CONTENTS

Volume 38

Issue 11

09

16 31

15

42

09 Pennant Sizzler All the goss on the Division One Final at Bribie Island, 16 of the State’s best club Pennant teams battling for the flags.

14 Top gongs Ben Woods, Ray Ganderton, Len Brunt and bowler Ryan Bester win best in category at National Awards Night.

20 Summer Comps Have you signed up to play this Summer? In the southeast corner, PLQ, BSC, GR8, 7s keep thousands on the greens.

21 Buying for Christmas Our advertisers tempt you this month with their latest and greatest for your Christmas shopping pleasure.

15 Birthdays at the bowlo

27 Considering amalgamation?

Centenarians Alf Organ and Ollie Hackel celebrate their 100th birthdays at their bowls clubs Pine Rivers and Tugun.

The former Lynndon and Holland Park Bowls Clubs talk to the Bowler about their merger experience.

Editorial: Naomi Cescotto

Editorial contact: E: media@bowlsqld.org

Editorial assistant: Tom Sharman

Ph: (07) 3355 9988 Advertising: E: ads@bowlsqld.org

Layout: Jackie Ryan

Ph: (07) 3355 9988

Subscriptions: To subscribe, send your contact details, together with a cheque for $44 (inc gst) to: Queensland Bowler Subscriptions PO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051.

Bowls Queensland Patron: His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland

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GETTING STUCK IN Representing Bowls Queensland, chairman Peter Williamson and I attended a Queensland Government Minister-Industry function, hosted by state treasurer the Hon. Curtis Pitt MP (also the Minister for Sport and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships).

This function was held to network and mark two important industry announcements: State Development Program 2017–2019 funding and the ‘Start Playing, Stay Playing’ Minister’s Excellence Award.

In fantastic news for our sport, the State Government has confirmed Bowls QLD’s funding for the next three years.

I was also invited to attend the Commonwealth Games Presidents Dinner at Jupiters Casino, hosted by president of the Australian Commonwealth Games Assn Sam Coffa AM. These are exciting times as we seek to achieve a higher profile for our sport in Queensland, being a core Commonwealth Games sport, in the lead up to the 2018 Games at Broadbeach.

I have also met Brisbane City Council’s chairman for lifestyle and community services Cr Matthew Bourke and Clubs Queensland

By BQ CEO Brett Wilkie CEO Doug Flockhart. Both were productive meetings and I look forward to working with them both on behalf of BQ in the future.

I also attended a Sports Community Forum at QLD rugby league headquarters along with Bowls Australia’s QLD RBMs Andrew Howie and Peter Nixon.

This was a great opportunity to meet administrators from other sports, Sport and Rec personnel and many representatives from various Councils.

Currently I am working on building extra value into the 2017 QLD State Championships and QLD Junior State Championships, including gaining sponsorships, increasing prize money and perhaps live streaming of finals.

Well done to Club Pine Rivers and Bowls Australia on hosting the fantastic BPL04 which was a great promotion for our sport live on Fox Sports.

Gotcha!

Friends and family of Toombul club manager and former QLD rep Darren Mullens and his sweetheart Tina Bellis were in for a big surprise at the happy couple’s engagement party on November 5. Turns out they were already married - on a beach in Hawaii on September 25! The intimate ceremony was captured on video to share with those at home. Congratulations, Mr and Mrs Mullens!

In closing, I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, enjoy the time with family and friends, stay safe over the holiday period and all the best for the New Year ahead.

Many Happy Returns Club Maroochy president Beryl Stone celebrated her birthday on Melbourne Cup Day (Nov 1) in the company of 100 other well dressed guests who came to watch the race that stops a nation at Club Maroochy.

Pic: Brett Wilkie

Club secretary Molly Nagle said everyone had a great time over lunch and enjoyed the calcutta, horse auction, lucky dips, spot prizes and music.

Pics: Birthday girl Beryl Stone on Melbourne Cup Day at Club Maroochy; dance floor revellers; dining out on fun.

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B u de r im La die s ce l e bra te 60 years When the first jack was rolled at Buderim on November 20, 1956 by the president Doris Chapman, there were 24 lady members and the annual subscription was one pound, one shilling.

Buderim Ladies is known for its annual July Fiesta, its twice a year Mixed 5-A-Side Medley, it’s regular Open Pairs events and dress-up St Patrick’s Day bowls.

Buderim Ladies have won District Pennant Dress rules were strict: long flags in all divisions, the most recent being in sleeved white dresses, length Division 4, 2015, after a long drought of 16 between knee and ankle, flat years.

“Dress rules soled white shoes, white The oldest bowling member is Elsie were strict ... Fast Kelly, stockings and a white hat aged 88, and the youngest is with a closed crown. forward 60 years to Leona Johnson, 53.

“Fast forward 60 years 2016 and the only item Special guests at Buderim Ladies to 2016 and the only 60th anniversary lunch on November still required from that item still required from 8 included patroness, life member list is the flat soled and that list is the flat soled past president Alma Smith, two shoes,” president Sandy shoes” other life members and past presidents King said.

Pam Chadwick and Jan Muir, and six Over 60 years, membership at other past presidents, Sonia Nicholls, Cheril Buderim Ladies has varied greatly.

Alexander, Etta Hall, Marian Richards, Helen Hawthorne, and Lorna Cowan.

In the late 1990s, more than 200; a couple of decades later, the number is around 80, Pic: Celebrating 60 years with a stunning with only half of that number playing regularly. cake and party, Buderim Ladies president “This is more a sign of the times than a reflection on our club; the modern woman works more, babysits grandchildren more and generally has more demands on her time,” Mrs King said.

“What we still have is a very vibrant club which is welcoming to all visitors.”

Sandy King and immediate past president Lorna Cowan; president Sandy with some past presidents back to 1995, back row, Cheril Alexander (2000), Marian Richards (2012), Lorna Cowan (2014), Helen Hawthorne (2013), Jan Muir (1999 & 2011), front, Sonia Nichols (1995), Pam Chadwick (2004) Alma Smith (2002), Etta Hall (2009 & 2010).

Time travel in Taroom

Pic: Taroom Club in old uniform: John Phipps, Wendy Adcock, Noel Chaplin, Terry Williams, Veronica Gook, David Rose, Denton Clarris, Carol Swift, Barb McDonald, Harry Johnson, Debbie Swain, Brian Williams, Fay Platz, Tod Newton, Stan Clarke, Keith Richards, Val Bradshaw, Peter Hay, Dawn Cressey, Brendon Williams, Jennifer Bradshaw, Rita Parsons, John Standing, Delacey Kehl, Michael Newton, Marg McAdam, Gary Newton, Graham Rose, Malcolm Williams, Ross Christiansen, Peter Newton, Aaron Pigdon, Lou Reiser, Graham Adcock, Kerry Green, Ken Donner, Kevin Kelly, Nev Ferrier, Tom Poole, Graham Sharp, Angus Moffat, Graeme McAdam, Greg Mundell, Lisa Adcock, Neil Johnson and Ashley Adcock.

Taroom Bowls Club took a trip back in time to celebrate more than 60 years of bowls in the town, as members relived the formative years of the club in a special anniversary event (Oct 8-9).

To mark the major milestone, the club set up a memorabilia room to display club trinkets and equipment used since the club officially opened in 1956 and guests donned traditional style bowls attire to pay homage to the club’s history.

The club’s roots date back to the 1940s and 50s when Taroom residents would

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travel to local Ted Barkla’s place “Malara” to play on a ‘green’ constructed out of loam and sawdust.

Enough interest was shown in the sport for a public meeting to be called at the Town Hall to form the Taroom Bowling Club on the 4th October 1952 and shortly after, Ted purchased land in town and donated two blocks to set up the new bowls club in Martin St. The first membership of 18 people paid 3 pounds, 3 shillings (men) and 2 pounds,

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2 shillings (women) - and if you donated a beast you automatically became a member!

Four years after purchasing a clubhouse for 350 pounds, the Taroom Bowls Club was ready to be officially opened and on October 21,1956, Mr HW Harrup from Cunningham District Bowls Association did the honours.

The clubhouse served until 1980 when it was moved off the site to become a private residence; the club built a new clubhouse, which is still in service today.

The fight for

the flag

State Pennant 2016 Bribie Island, Nov 26-27 Proudly suppoerted by Moreton Bay Regional council

The top eight men’s and women’s Division One Pennant teams in Queensland fly their colours at Bribie Island. Team managers receive a state finalist pennant for their clubs. Pictured above, Men’s team managers Les Miller (Helensvale), Harold Waldron (Chinchilla), Mav Sparkes (Greenslopes), Gary Nugent (Hamilton), Jim See (Across the Waves, Bundaberg), Brett Mackie (Maryborough Services Memorial), Bruce Currie (Souths Suburban Mackay), Doug Laycock (Edge Hill, Cairns); Women’s team managers Robyn Singleton (Pine Rivers Memorial), Dennis Margan (Broadbeach), Shirley Green (South Toowoomba), Trevor Barbara (Coolum Beach), Judy Nowell (Bargara), Hazel Chiconi (Souths Suburban Mackay), Joan Brotherton (Cleveland), Marion Sellwood (Marlin Coast).

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the opening parade It looked to be a wet and windy weekend at Bribie Island Bowls Club (Nov 26-27) for the Division One State Pennant Final but the storm blew past and play fired up not more than an hour behind schedule.

“The wet track will be a great leveller,” Hamilton’s Jason Moore said.

Special guests included Moreton Bay Regional Councillor Brooke Savige who officially opened proceedings, Bowls Queensland deputy chairman Kerry Green who presented managers of the top eight men’s and women’s Pennant teams with their State Group Winner flags, and representatives from Bribie Island who made sure all went well for the competitors, chairman Peter Patrikeos, general manager Kevin Bertwistle and bowls coordinator Mick Cherry.

Caboolture District presidents Bill Rumph and Rose McCormack lent support, also BQ Board director Colleen Ryan, BQ Match officials Nev Galbraith and John De Erneste and coordinator Ron Somerville, and BQ Umpires coordinator John Kirkpatrick.

The Rounds - MEN By the end of Day One, Helensvale was the clear leader in Section 1.

The Hawks had a close call in Round 2 against Hamilton 55-51 and Greenslopes had a close win against Souths Suburban Mackay 58-55 but with the No 2 and No 3 teams facing each other in the final round, Helensvale was always safe.

In Section 2, debutantes in the State Final Chinchilla had a surprise opening win against Colin Kelly’s Edge Hill boys 63-57.

“We love the rain, we’re going to channel bush energy to win this thing,” Chinchilla’s Peter Jones said, although Bundy outfit Across the Waves put a dampener on that bush energy in Round 2, winning 64-52.

However the opening day of play belonged to Maryborough Services Memorial, two convincing wins against Across the Waves 64-39 and Edge Hill 76-59.

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Going into Day Two, the money was on Helensvale and Maryborough Services to contest the final - until Chinchilla pulled the rug out.

Nobody gave them a hope of beating the slick Fraser Coast unit by 25 shots or more but they won in a thrilling 71-37 upset.

What often happens when small clubs have an upset win in a state title fight is the qualifying round takes it out of them and the final itself becomes a lacklustre, one-sided affair.

The bets in the back room were Helensvale to win by 20 shots or more.

“If a country side like Chinchilla can keep to within 10 shots of a side like Helensvale, they’ve won,” said BQ Match’s Jim See, a keen statistician.

The Rounds - WOMEN There was an upset on the opening day, Section 1 favourite Coolum Beach suffering two losses, ruling themselves out of finals contention.

The magnitude of Cleveland’s victory 70-46 was the shock, and then Bundy club Bargara compounded the misery, 62-46.

At the end of Day One, Bargara was a nose ahead on the section ladder, with Cleveland and Pine Rivers within striking distance.

But in Round 3, Bargara was devastating against Cleveland 74-49 to line up a finals berth against defending champs Broadbeach, who dominated Section 2 as expected.

The Gold Coast powerhouse dispatched debutantes South Toowoomba 74-42 in the opening round and had a tougher time against Marlin Coast in Round 2 but pulled away in the second half 72-45.

Souths Surburban Mackay took second place in Section 2 by defeating Marlin Coast by three shots 58-55 but Broadbeach was a cut above all.

The Final Gold Coast teams feature in most finals of most state competitions such is their strength and depth (which is both frustrating and inspiring for the smaller club teams who come up against them).

It’s no surprise that Helensvale and Broadbeach won 2016 State Pennant but both paid tribute to the competition they faced and said it wasn’t as easy as it looked to win.

“It’s been six years since we won a State Pennant flag so we definitely wanted it, we knew Chinchilla’s confidence would be high and they had nothing to lose, I’m very proud of our boys,” Helensvale skip Nathan Rice said.

“It’s always harder to do it again, we’ve got two out of two, but it’s definitely harder the second time,” Broadbeach third Dee Robertson said.

Broadbeach was blistering in the women’s final against Bargara, winning on every rink for an over all score of 80-33.

“It’s a bit hard for a small country club to win against a club like Broadbeach which gets the best club bowlers from everywhere,” Bargara president and skip Julie McInally said.

“But we’re the second best in the state - just goes to show we country girls can bowl!”

“The scores don’t reflect the quality of the game,” Broadbeach skip Julie Keegan said.

The surprise of the men’s final wasn’t that Helensvale won but how close Chinchilla came.

They’ve won Maranoa Warrego District Pennant for seven years in a row but didn’t get a chance at the State Final until this year.

Chinchilla won two rinks against Helensvale in a tough final, super skip Brian Turner outclassing former ACT skip Andrew Howie 22-19 and Billy George outplaying former TAS skip Adam White 19-18.

“How good is this?” Chinchilla skip Gerard Bellgrove said.

“I played Nathan Rice, he smashed me (1827), but we never get to play against teams of this quality, it’s brilliant for our club.”

The oldest bowler in the Chinchilla side was 86-year-old Des Obst; most of the Helensvale “boys” are still in their 20s and 30s.

How they finished

State Pennant 2016

Division One State Final

MEN

Helensvale (Gold Coast Tweed) 6 points, +76 Chinchilla (Condamine) 4 points, +28 Maryborough Services Memorial (Fraser Coast) 4 points, +8 Greenslopes (Gateway) 4 points, -17 Edge Hill (TFNQ) 2 points, -6 Hamilton (Brisbane North) 2 points, -8 Across the Waves (Bundaberg) 2 points, -30 Souths Suburban Mackay (Mackay) 0 points, -51

WOMEN

Broadbeach (Gold Coast Tweed) 6 points, +117 Bargara (Bundaberg) 5 points, +41 Souths Suburban Mackay (Mackay) 4 points, -11 Pine Rivers Memorial (Brisbane North) 3 points, -12 Cleveland (Gateway) 2 points, -3 Marlin Coast (TFNQ) 2 points, -7 Coolum Beach (Sunshine Coast) 2 points, -26 South Toowoomba (Downs) 0 points, -99 Pictured clockwise from top left, Ron Somerville BQ Match, Cr Brooke Savige Moreton Bay Regional Council, Peter Patrikeos Chairman Bribie Island Bowls Club; Coffee time Jenni Kerr and Joan Carey; Bargara takes shelter; Marlin Coast V Souths Suburban Mackay; Maryborough Services Memorial; Cleveland’s Joan Brotherton; Bargara’s Tulu Chippendale and Cleveland’s Sandra Banks call the end; Greenslopes V Souths Suburban Mackay; Final - Broadbeach V Bargara; Cleveland’s Karen Goldsworthy and Mary Ross; Final - Helensvale V Chinchilla; Two fathers and sons for Chinchilla, Pete and David Jones, Gerard and Peter Bellgrove; Chinchilla skip Brian Turner about to win his rink on the final end of the state final; Susan Williams with Pine Rivers mascot Miss Penny Pine; Maryborough Services Memorial brothers Mick and John Roy; Supporting Pine Rivers Brisbane North’s Dorothy Field, Rosemary Bierge and Pam Van Homrigh; Consulting the form guide, Helensvale’s Braidan Leese and Mark Thatcher; First time for South Toowoomba girls at the State Final, Marlene Hannant and Sandy Beresford; Coolum Beach beauty; Greenslopes Wayne Masters and mascot Winston; Bribie Island umpires Sue Mitchell, Bev McPeake, Colleen Ebert, Kim Ford.

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Pics: Women’s Winners Broadbeach, back row from left, Dennis Margan (manager), Dee Robertson, Cheryl Hutchinson (reserve), Chrissie Pavlov, Julie Keegan, Sue McKenzie, Lyn Cuthbertson (reserve), Cassandra Millerick, Anne McClure, Val Jackson, Greg Bostock (coach), front row, Chloe Stewart, Bolivia Millerick, Jessie Cottell, Emma Brown, Cheryl Heaps; Women’s Runners up Bargara, from left, Tulu Chippendale, Jess Cannon, Lenna Lynch, Sandy Bianchi, Jenny Hearn, Adele Pershouse, Judy Nowell, Jean Schumacher, Bev Parker, Julie McInally, Gail Crompton, Val Norris, Chris Long; Men’s Runners up Chinchilla, from left, Bruce McGuire, Des Obst, Gerard Bellgrove, David Jones, Billy Reid, John Gray, Dean Gesler, Andrew Raguse, Peter Jones, Geoff Lyson, Brian Turner, Peter Bellgrove, front, manager Harold Waldron; Men’s Winners Helensvale, from left, Des Cann, Shane White (reserve), Nathan Rice, Mark Thatcher, Stephen Sail, Matt Lucas, Les Miller (manager), Rohan Wilson, Jayden Christie, Andrew Howie, Mathew Bell, Braidan Leese, Anthony Kiepe, Adam White.

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Well done, QLD! Three “best of” national awards Queensland was well represented at this year’s BA Awards Night (Oct 27) with a top bowler, two top volunteers and a top club all winning national recognition.

Broadbeach’s Ryan Bester was named “Male Bowler of the Year”, finishing top of the national rankings for a second consecutive year.

“I’m very pleased to have won the award and it means a lot to be recognised as the best bowler in a country with such amazing and competitive talent,” Ryan Bester said.

“It has been a big year for me and there is still more to come with the BPL and the 2016 World Bowls Championships.” (Bester will play singles and pairs for Canada.)

Bester won the 2016 Golden Nugget men’s singles and achieved top placings in QLD state events, including State Singles and Pairs, and State Champion of Club Champion Singles and Fours.

Volunteers Ben Woods from Musgrave Hill and Ray Ganderton from Broadbeach shared the “Volunteer of the Year” award for giving so much time and dedication to bowls.

“It’s fantastic to have been given the award, I’m very proud,” Woods said. “I spend all my time at the bowls club and I

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love working in the club, I’m currently in my fourth year serving as a games director.”

Bowls Australia credited Woods for playing a pivotal role in the delivery of the 2016 Australian Open; as the venue coordinator of Musgrave Hill, he helped facilitate the Bowlers-with-a-Disability events.

Broadbeach’s Ray Ganderton was recognised as an unsung hero who contributed greatly to the staging of the 2016 Australian Open, as well as driving the recent Australia v Scotland series.

“It feels very good to have been awarded and I’m honoured,” Ganderton said. “I just love being at the club and helping out with the marking, green maintenance and watching the great bowlers play.”

Gold Coast powerhouse Club Helensvale was named “Club of the Year", recognised for its facilities and being a successful host to many state, national and international events, including the World Champion of Champions singles in 2015 (which it will host again this month).

Helensvale was one of the major venues for the 2015 and 2016 Australian Opens on the Gold Coast and also commended for its successful annual National Club 5-A-Side Challenge.

“It’s absolutely great to be given this award,” Club Helensvale general manager Len Brunt said. “I believe we have deserved the recognition, we spend a lot of time trying to support bowls and the local community.

We are trying to move forward with the times and build the popularity of the sport."

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(Western Australia’s Manning Memorial shared the best club award with Helensvale.)

The full list of national awards winners and sponsors is on the BQ and BA websites.

2016 Award Winners Male Bowler of the Year - Ryan Bester (Broadbeach) Volunteers of the Year - Ben Woods (Musgrave Hill) and Ray Ganderton (Broadbeach) Club of the Year - Helensvale (QLD) and Manning Memorial (WA) Female Bowler of the Year - Natasha Scott (NSW) International Bowler of the Year - Aron Sherriff (NSW) Disability Bowler of the Year - Josh Barry (VIC) Coach of the Year - Therese Hastings (WA) Official of the Year - Sandy Wallace (SA) RBM of the Year - Josh Barry (VIC) U18 Bowlers of the Year - Tiffany Brodie (VIC) and Jono Davis (NSW) Pics: BA president Nigel Smith; Best Clubs award Ken Jolly (Manning Memorial), Amy Hogan (Stockland), Len Brunt (Helensvale); Amanda O’Connor (Cruiseabout) and Ryan Bester; Volunteers of the Year Ben Woods (Musgrave Hill), Mark Bellhouse (Blamey Saunders Hears), Ray Ganderton (Broadbeach Bowls Club). PICS - Bowls Australia.

Happy 100th!

Pine Rivers Alf Organ received his Centenarian badge from BQ chairman Peter Williamson on Oct 30 and Tugun’s Oleg (Ollie) Hackel received his badge from BQ deputy chairman Kerry Green on Nov 23 Ollie Hackel had an interesting start to life, being born in Harbin China on November 23, 1916.

Ollie was a brilliant student and athlete but grew up quickly at 16 when his father died.

He taught himself music, sax and clarinet, and played in well-known orchestras throughout Asia (and later in Australia, with the Sydney Symphony).

During the Japanese occupation of China, Ollie made money by going through no-man’s land both ways, exchanging Chinese silver for American dollars to support his family.

Alf Organ

In 1949, Europeans were encouraged to leave China under Chairman Mao.

Ollie Hackel

Ollie, wife Lydia (a pianist) and son Wally arrived in Sydney and bought their first house through Chinese connections.

They later move to the Gold Coast, studied podiatry and set up their own business on Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise.

Ollie bowls at Tugun, where he is much loved by all.

Alf Organ joined Pine Rivers Memorial Bowls Club in 1978 (38 years ago) when the club was located on land now occupied by Westfield Shopping Centre, Strathpine.

When the club moved to its current location at Bray Park, Alf was a regular at working bees and helped establish three grass greens and garden surrounds.

Alf was a top bowler for many years, in one memorable season (1981-2) winning all four club championships.

From the Chairman Looking back on the past nine months, it’s been a time of change and challenge, I’m sure not only here at BQ but in your clubs and districts also.

The mission of the Board is to listen and hear how we can assist to meet the needs of our Queensland bowls community.

by BQ Chairman Peter Williamson No challenge is too great, your Board is here to serve and lead by example.

On behalf of the Board, I’d like to wish you all greetings of the season.

We are diverse and far-flung but we have much in common.

We hope the New Year brings many blessings to you, your family and friends.

We all want to enjoy the physical and social benefits our great game affords, as well as do our bit so that the sport survives for the next generation.

Pic: BQ Board 2016 Carmel Gibb, Allen Bennett, Diana Wenham, chairman Peter Williamson, deputy chairman Kerry Green, director of finance Greg Flynn, Colleen Ryan.

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Caloundra win 2016 Ladies Team Challenge The Caloundra Honey Bees were buzzing after their sensational win in the 7th annual Ladies Team Challenge (pictured above from left) Estelle Welsh, Andrina Naish, Helen Doherty, Lorraine Willmott and Kim Mearing.

They battled it out against 16 other teams from Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba/Downs and Gympie (new zone this year) over five weekends,

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leading into a hotly contested finals weekend at Paradise Point (Nov 12-13).

Semi finals saw Across the Ages (Gold Coast) defeat Team Goddess (Coolum defending champs from 2015).

The other semi came down to the last bowl, Honey Bees (Caloundra) getting over the line by one shot over Splash (Mermaid Beach).

Honey Bees surged in the final against Across the Ages, taking the 2016 title 49-28.

The LTC started in 2010 specifically set up to cater for working women looking for a high quality weekend competition, the team pairs competition the first of its kind.

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Organiser Michelle Russell said LTC will be back in 2017 for women everywhere and she would love more zones to join in.

Inquiries to LTC admin at email ltcadmin@ iinet.net.au or visit the LTC website.

Pics: LTC organiser Michelle Russell (front) with the 2016 team lineup; below, winners Caloundra Honey Bees; at play, Annie Tough and Ruth Perry; runners up Across the Ages Lesley Silver, Ruth Smith, Amanda Haevecker (front), Sarah Duffield, Lenore Rutley; bottom, Janelle Walker, Merryl Christensen, Coleen Dobson, Ruth Benson; Helen Bernarden, Marilyn Larsen, Janet Healey, Dawn Denford; Linda Mitchell, Susan Williams, Gaye Doohan, Sue Bond.

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Barry is the Greens Keeper at his local bowls club.

He believes the friendships made are more important than the final score.

Sydney Lions pounce

First BPL trophy in four years They were named for the King of Beasts but in the jungle that is Bowls Premier League, the BCIB Sydney Lions have barely raised a whimper, going home with their tail between their legs for the past three years, including the wooden spoon in the inaugural season (2013).

This year they shook things up and got their kill, the $25,000 winner’s cheque.

The surprise tactics worked, team stalwart and national coach Steve Glasson retired from duty, Australia’s most capped international Karen Murphy given the maverick ‘sub’ duties, and Australia’s International Bowler of the Year Aron Sherriff leading for young gun Ben Twist.

The Lions pack roared through the rounds against seven other city sides of top rep combinations, including three other BPL champion sides, Brisbane Pirates (2013), Moama Murray Steamers (2014) and NZ Blackjacks (2015).

Going through to finals day on top of the table, the hunter became the hunted, the Steamers (featuring QLD’s Ryan Bester) winning the qualifying semi in a tiebreak, taking the first confirmed finals berth.

The Lions got a second chance against the most consistent finalist in BPL history, three-time runners up Adelaide Endurance.

Skip Max Kleinig had already produced something special for the Endurance, trailing the jack in the tiebreak of the preliminary semi to deny the Melbourne Roys, confirmed as fourth place finishers.

Who would face the Steamers in the final, the Endurance or the Lions?

The Lions roared, Sherriff and Twist mixing up the lead and skipping honours brilliantly, the Endurance having to accept third place and the Steamers on notice if they wanted a second BPL title.

The smell of victory for the Lions came when the Steamers went down by five on a fortuitous Power-play, doubling the trouble to 10 shots and giving the Sydney franchise six-shots going into the final end.

Australia’s No 1 ranked bowler Ryan Bester tried to work his magic but the challenge was too great, the Lions pouncing on their first BPL title.

“I think we’re all a bit stunned that we were actually able to do it, it’s just fantastic!” Sydney Lions coach Gary Willis said.

Bester didn’t go home empty handed, honoured with his first BPL “Most Valuable Player” award for consistent performance, as voted by the coaches over 14 rounds.

The two QLD teams Brisbane Pirates and Gold Coast Hawks finished at the bottom of the table, to their disappointment.

clubsuper.com.au

“We were in the top four for the first five rounds but we let it get away in Round 6 against the Roys and we didn’t win another one, it’s frustrating to be so close and yet so far,” Gold Coast Hawk Brett Wilkie said.

Home-side the Brisbane Pirates had three popular wins against the NZ Blackjacks, the Endurance and the Hawks but were no chance of replicating their inaugural win.

“There’s not a lot between the teams to be honest, but yes, I’ve been at the top and at the bottom and I know which feels better,” Pirate captain Kelvin Kerkow said.

Club Plus Qld. Pty. Ltd. (ABN 30 010 892 396), the Trustee of Club Super (ABN 12 737 334 298) is Corporate Authorised Representative No. 268814 under Australian Financial Services Licence No. 238507 and is authorised to provide general financial product advice in relation to superannuation. Club MySuper Authorisation Identifier:12737334298988

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Pics: Clockwise from top, Special guest at Club Pine Rivers Dawn Fraser AO, MBE; Brisbane Pirates Sean Baker; Wayne’s Can Bar; Gold Coast Hawks Nathan Rice and Brett Wilkie; winners Sydney Lions, Aron Sherriff, Karen Murphy, Ben Twist, coach Gary Willis; 2016 BPL line up, every team had a female member. Pictures courtsey of Bowls Australia

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PLAYED IN GR8 SPIRIT The inaugural Great (GR8) Bowls Challenge for teams of eight was a smashing success for bowlers from Bribie to Gympie this year and it will be back again in 2017.

More than 80 teams have already signed up, the number of divisions has increased, and there will be a reduced number of teams per section (to try to prevent teams from the same club facing each other in section finals).

“The aim of the Great Bowls Challenge is to provide a competitive and enjoyable competition and get bowlers back on the green!”

GR8 founder Darren Colburn said.

“It’s cheaper to enter this year, down to $600, with an increase to $50 for a rink win.”

The GR8 runs over six weeks from Feb 4 (three home games, three away) on Friday nights, Saturdays or Sundays, travel time is limited to an hour, and each team fields a four and two pairs (eight players).

The 2017 competition will offer an Open, 3rd and 5th Division for men and for the women, an Open and Restricted (Pennant Div 3 and below) division; clubs can nominate more than one team in each division.

The finals will be played at Buderim Bowls Club on March 25-26.

Last year’s inaugural winners were Men’s Open Division Nambour Bowls Club and Men’s Restricted Division - The Albert Bowls Club (Gympie), pictured below.

“After winning the inaugural Gr8 open competition in a nail-biting finish - which went down to the last end in one pairs game - we are thrilled to be defending our title next year in the greatly expanded competition,” Nambour’s Neil Brown said.

“We loved the format and are looking forward to playing some of the new teams that have entered for 2017 - Gr8 bowls played in Gr8 spirit by all who compete!”

PREMIER LEAGUE QUEENSLAND 2017 Premier League Queensland (PLQ) will be hotter than ever with more than 400 of the south-east corner’s top bowlers booked by their clubs to do battle for more than $200,000 in prize money and the glory that comes with being PLQ champ.

The top dozen clubs competing each year have about threedozen bowlers on call.

Each week from Jan 7 for 11 rounds, three rinks will play in the Premier competition and four rinks in A-Grade, a total of 28 bowlers from each club on the green each week.

New teams this year are Kawana and Tweed Heads, with Bribie Island and Bramble Bay departed from the league.

Hamilton Power is defending champ in Premier grade and Helensvale Hawks in A-Grade.

2017 PLQ sides are Helensvale Hawks, Swifts, Pine Rivers Pirates, Greenslopes Geckos, Kawana Thunder, Broadbeach Bulls, Enoggera Eagles, Tweed Heads, Hamilton Power, South Tweed Sharks, Capalaba Comets and Belmont Blaze.

AERO Bowls has donated a set of bowls to each team as a fundraiser and Club Helensvale will sponsor the finals series on Sunday March 26.

Club Pine Rivers will hold a Check out the PLQ sponsors day on Thurs December 15 from 10am, where the general public can have a roll up against some big names.

Check out the PLQ website for more information and to follow competition results.

PREMIER 7s More than 200 teams from 80 clubs will play Premier 7s in 2017.

The competition starts on Jan 9 and runs for 10 rounds, home and away. Finals weekend is April 1-2 and Grand Finals weekend is April 8-9.

There are two new divisions (4th and 6th) this year, but there will be only one Over 60s Division.

Chairman Owen Bradley said more than $150,000 worth of prize money will be distributed in the competition’s ninth year.

GR8 defending champs Michael Craigie, Neil Brown, Alan Owen, Peter Nixon, Ian Hatch, Alan Sandercock, Lorry Axiak, Barry Langdon from Nambour.

BOWLS SUPER CHALLENGE 2017 Bowls Super Challenge (BSC) will see 52 teams take to the greens for 10 rounds of home and away, with finals in early April.

Five Men’s Gold teams will play for a winner’s purse of $15,000; Six Men’s Silver teams will play with top three going through to finals, winner $10,000, second $5000, third $2000; Seven Women’s Silver teams will play seven rounds, top three going through to finals playing for $6000, $2000 and $1250.

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Last year’s Division One winners were Wellers Hill Wasps, Over 60s winners were Salisbury and Brighton, Div 3 winner was Ipswich Miners and 5th Division winner was Mermaid Beach.

It’s the second year BLK Sports Clothing will support Premier 7s, and a new sponsor is Jason Curry’s Lawn Bowls 2 U shop on the Sunshine Coast.

Two sections of Eight Bronze Women’s teams will play seven rounds, top four going through in each section; prize money from first to seventh, winner’s prize $5000.

Two sections of 10 Men’s Bronze teams will play nine rounds, top five from each section in play offs; prize money paid from first to ninth, top prize $7000.

Playoffs for Bronze Men and Women will be on April 1-2, winners progressing to the Finals weekend with the Gold and Silver Divisions on April 8-9 at Musgrave Hill (Teams not making the finals in Silver and Bronze will be paid match and rink wins.)

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“Even though numbers have declined, it will still be a very strong competition in all Divisions, the prize money will outweigh entry fees and registrations, the surplus coming from accumulated funds,” organiser Des Wilson said.

“We believe the decline in Super Challenge is due to teams not wishing to travel, and some crossing to Premier 7s because it’s easier (and cheaper) to find seven good players than 12 - we believe it doesn’t matter what competitions clubs play, as long as they play something to keep our clubs and sport alive.”

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CLASSIC • URBAN • CASUAL • STOCK SERVICE For enquiries call 02 6621 2365 or email office@ccaaust.com.au

Simply Beautiful Bowls Gear

If you’re on the Sunshine Coast or passing through, you’ll get great advice and selections at the one stop bowls shop at Club Kawana. Lawn Bowls 2 U will make up a special pack to delight your special bowler on Christmas Day.

Stocking Stuffer

Jubilee Townsville inventor Dave Goode says the Bowls Eye is the simplest stocking stuffer you’ll find for the bowls tragic in your life. Take the guesswork and strain out of working out which bowl is closest. Buy online, $25.

Bowls need a checkup?

Bowls Doctor Barry Cox is your local bowls tester on the Sunshine Coast. Barry has a range of Christmas specials you can pick up while you’re there, including comfy bamboo socks, super trolley bags and your heart’s desire in bowls sets.

Christmas Q & A with AERO What were your highlights of 2016?

• Having the two finalists of the Australian Open Singles using Aero.

• Introducing 7 new colours to our range of more than 30 colours (bowlers are very particular about their colours!)

• Ellen Falkner winning World Singles again (Ellen runs Aero UK) • Obtaining a patent for our manufacturing process and registering our biggest selling Z Scoop grip • Moving to new premises in Lindsay St Rockdale (near Sydney airport). If you’re in the area, you’re welcome to come and see our bowls being made.

What are you looking forward to in 2017?

• Aero CURVE - a new range of lower cost, no frills bowls suitable for the barefoot bowler. They will carry a World Bowls stamp and have an Optima trajectory - perfect for bowlers just starting out • Playing in the Ballina Pairs and Singles - I’m playing with Australian Jackaroo Barrie Lester, so other competitors beware!

• We will have the perfect bowls shoe for everyone - a choice of six styles Thanks to all bowlers who supported us in 2016 and we look forward to welcoming new customers in 2017. We promise you unrivalled service and quality.

- Aero CEO Walter Jacobs

Christmas Q & A with City Club What is your best-selling product?

Our tailored bowls trousers are still selling strongly.

Your most popular colour?

Royal Blue is our best performer but our new colour ‘Junior Navy’ is also selling well.

Something we may not know about you?

City Club sponsored the ‘Official of the Year’ (Sandy Wallace -Holdfast Bay, SA) at the recent Bowls Australia Awards Night 2016 The City Club brand was established in 1946.

It has grown and expanded throughout the years, specializing in manufacturing, wholesaling and distributing men’s

tailored pants and shorts, from workday to weekend and beyond.

Hallmarks of the brand are classic styling, quality, value and service.

For maximum comfort, City Club offers a unique flexi waist system and, for easy care, many City Club garments are machine washable.

City Club has brought years of tailoring experience into designing the Bowls Colours range, which first launched in 2006.

These tailored garments feature all the advantages of City Club’s quality combined with the benefits of easy care and quick dry fabrics.

For your nearest City Club stockist, email our friendly customer service team at office@ccaaust.com.au or call on 02 66212365.

Christmas Q & A with Henselite What’s been great about 2016?

• The company celebrated its 85th year of manufacturing in Australia • Henselite’s best selling bowl the Dreamline XG is the choice of champions • 10 out of 14 Open titles at the Australian Open at Broadbeach were won using Dreamline XG • 2 Australian Singles Champion of Champions used Dreamline XG to claim their titles - making it 7 out of the last 8 winners since 2013.

• Jo Edwards and Jeremy Henry won Golden Nugget with the Dreamline XG at Tweed Heads • New model introduced - CRUZE What are you looking forward to in 2017?

• Seeing our CRUZE on the fast greens of Queensland and northern NSW • CRUZE is for bowlers who usually play on greens over 15 seconds • It’s an ideal second set for users of Dreamline XG who need a narrower line or straighter finish for the times they play on a quick surface We wish you all a Merry Christmas and the best of bowling in the New Year. We’ve got plenty in the pipeline for 2017: new concepts, new products, new colours - so watch this space!

-Henselite managing director Mark Hensell and staff

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HELENSVALE LADIES PRESTIGE PAIRS Playing on home turf, Natasha Jones and Georgia White showed nerves of steel to survive some last-end thrillers and become the only team to win all five matches at the 2016 Helensvale Ladies Prestige Pairs (Nov 6-7), taking home the winner’s prize of $1500.

The impressive elite field included runners up Adele Pershouse and Mary Geary ($900), third Ester Regan and Maria Rigby ($500), fourth Australian Jackaroos Kelsey Cottrell and Rebecca Van Asch ($350) and fifth, Linda Morish and Margaret O’Rourke ($200).

Bonus prizes of $150 for highest margins went to Yvonne Lovelock and Sam Wilson (Rnd 4) and Sally Hickman and Chrissie Pavlov (Rnd 5).

Sponsors were Grand Motors Toyota Southport and Harbourtown.

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Tweed Heads will run an Open Pairs Tournament for arm bowlers on Feb 27, with a coaching roll-up session the same day from 9am, under the watchful eye of bowls coordinator and recent Asia Pacific Triples and Fours gold medal skip Paul Girdler and QMAB games director and chairman of selectors Arthur Collins.

Interested arm bowlers should contact Arthur 0419 707 644 or email Paul paul.girdler@thbc.com.au

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Open Pairs entry fee is $20, including BBQ lunch and two games of bowls.

Prize money $550. Entry inquiries to Allan Nimmo email mensclub@thbc.com.au

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No pushover for ‘ole Parky’ Despite a diagnosis of Parkinson’s in 2008, Chinchilla’s Harry Smeeton says as long as he can stand and deliver a bowl he will be “a headache” on any rink.

He refuses to give up the sport he loves.

“It’s amazing what that bowl in my hand does to me!” Smeeton said.

“Ole Parky is the first thing I have to deal with in the morning and it’s a struggle, but for some reason when I step onto the mat, the shaking stops.”

Smeeton’s abilities on the green declined with his diagnosis - he went from being one of the best bowlers in his club to not winning a club championship game in five years…

“I lost the first game of every competition I entered for the first five years after being diagnosed,” Smeeton said.

But his love of bowls kept him going, in defiance of his illness.

“I love bowls because I need to keep active, it’s good to be out playing and the game helps keep my mind off it,” Smeeton said.

Feeling the hunger for just one more club championship before his ‘final game’, Harry teamed up with Heather Flett, a beginner, to play in the club’s mixed pairs championship four years ago.

“Heather came in because I needed a sub,” Smeeton said.

“We didn’t do any good that year but the next year, 2014, we played together and won!”

Smeeton and Flett didn’t do any good defending their title in 2015 but they staged a popular comeback this year, knocking out 2015 club champs David Jones and his mum Julie in the final to become Chinchilla’s 2016 mixed pairs club champions.

Harry is also match committee chairman of Condamine District which runs a ‘champion of champions’ mixed pairs playoff within the district each year which this year Harry was determined to win.

On the big day, his condition had him struggling to get out of bed; his better half Shirley helped him into his bowls gear and a friend drove him to the club.

The Chinchilla champs would have their chance to press their claim.

By Tom Sharman

With his trusty size 5 Drake Internationals in his hand, the Chinchilla skip made it on to the green.

“Ole Parky had to take a seat on the bench until the game was over!” Smeeton said.

Smeeton and Flett got their Cinderella finish, winning Condamine’s champion of champions mixed pairs title by seven shots against Taroom’s Delacey Kehl and Jimmy Keleher.

“I tell people playing against me when I think they’ve dropped off a bit, ‘Don’t take it easy on me mate ‘cause I’ll give you a flogging if I can’, that gets them back on track! “ Smeeton said.

Ed: Parkinson’s Disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system which mainly affects the motor system.

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THE VEXED ISSUE OF AMALGAMATION The issue of amalgamation looms large and weighs heavy for many clubs

By Jackie Ryan

Historically, in city areas there was a bowls club within walking distance in most suburbs.

and most people are prepared to allow some travel time in relation to their various interests.

Bowls QLD has no power to compel clubs to amalgamate nor would it seek to assume that role.

Sports and Community Club (HPSCC)—an amalgamation of the Lynndon and Holland Park Bowls Clubs—about the benefits and drawbacks of amalgamation.

But times have changed and it is unrealistic to think every bowls club can be saved.

However, those who have already stepped up to the challenge have some lessons to share.

The historic Lynndon and Holland Park Bowls Clubs used to be located within two kilometres and a dozen blocks of each other in Brisbane’s inner south, within 10km of the CBD.

Bowls must compete with many other attractions for leisure time and dollars,

Bowler magazine’s Jackie Ryan spoke to members of the new Holland Park

The new HPSCC is located at Holland Park and the Lynndon asset has been sold.

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Amalgamation study - Lynndon “Somebody’s got to make a decision - one of the (BQ) bowls people,” said Holland Park greens director Geoffrey Vincent, who would like to see a stronger institutional approach to the process of amalgamation.

“We’re all struggling - more small clubs will be gone in five or ten years time.”

Geoffrey Vincent has been a bowler at Holland Park for 32 years, since 1984.

When he joined, it was in the heyday of lawn bowls in Queensland.

The president of the newly amalgamated entity Holland Park Sports and Community Club (HPSCC), Allan Butler (previously president of Holland Park), said there were two main issues facing clubs today.

“Members and money!” Butler said.

Before HPSCC, Holland Park could see the writing on the wall.

“Financially we were still ‘in the black’ but maintenance costs were soaring and our members were getting older,” Butler said.

Just down the road at Lynndon Bowls Club in Holland Park West, there were also grave challenges: dwindling membership and finances.

With a change of guard on the Lynndon board and a thorough study of the books, it became clear the club was in trouble.

Key members of the board that wound up Lynndon have since moved into key roles in the amalgamated entity: former president Keith Bottomley is HSPCC vice president, Bruce Cocks is HSPCC secretary and Brian Thornton is HSPCC games director.

Unlike the majority of bowls clubs (including Holland Park) where the land is owned by the local government authority (in this case, Brisbane City Council), Lynndon members were in possession of a significant asset: they owned their land freehold.

However, liquefying the asset was not as simple as a typical house sale.

With the area zoned for sport and recreation, there was a strong imperative for it to be sold—with council approval—to a community group.

To prevent the scattering of funds that would occur if Lynndon was simply

queensland bowler

Lynndon became a very attractive proposition to other clubs during this exploratory period.

“Goodness me, we got many invitations, come and join us and we’ll give you free membership; we’ll give you lifetime membership; we’ll give you free uniforms—and by the way, bring your cheque for $1.5 million dollars,” former Lynndon board member and new HSPCC secretary Bruce Cocks said.

“Bring your cheque for $1.5 million dollars”

Holland Park boasted more than 250 male and 150 female members, a far cry from the shadow it had become by 2015, when the numbers had dropped to only 30 men (20 playing members) and six women.

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dissolved (in which case money from the sale would be evenly divided and follow individual members to their chosen new clubs), as well as to improve its bargaining power, the Lynndon board sought to merge the club ‘en masse’ with another.

The board was less interested in a quick kickback than in the long game proposed by Dr Neil Peach from New Farm Bowls Club in his 2015 Brisbane District Bowls Plan, which provided a blueprint for clubs within a district to merge (amalgamate) into clusters in centrally located areas across the district.

(ED NOTE: Dr Peach discussed his survival plan for the sport in Queensland on P18 QLD Bowler magazine, October 2015, available via the BQ website. Click on the current issue of Bowler and catch up on the library of previous issues.)

Like the former Lynndon board, Holland Park long-time member Geoffrey Vincent is also a supporter of the Peach plan for future proofing of the sport.

He thinks bowls assets and money should be pooled into “five or six big clubs on the south side and five or six big clubs on the north side,” with enhanced social opportunities such as in-house restaurants, pokies and night games.

Holland Park president at the time Alan Butler (now HSPCC president) was receptive to the Lynndon approach.

“We could see the advantage for both clubs,” Butler said.

“We have a very beautiful place—quiet— and it’s somewhere that could be built up very well if we’re given the chance.

“Lynndon, of course, could offer new members and money.”

Rolling out the merger The first meeting between representatives from Lynndon and Holland Park Bowls Clubs took place in September 2015.

The unwieldy process of amalgamation took many more months.

‘There was a lot to work through,” Cocks said.

After numerous negotiations, both clubs held simultaneous special general meetings on May 8, 2016 and voted to approve the merger.

Each club then nominated and elected people to fill various roles within the new club’s board of management, and a representative to lodge the amalgamation with the Office of Fair Trading and incorporate the new body.

Lynndon secured a higher level of representation on the committee (with four members to Holland Park’s three) as part of negotiations prior to the special general meeting.

“We had the money,’ Cocks explained, “And the new club needed it. But we wanted to retain control.”

Cocks views the money from the sale of Lynndon as a legacy: it has been placed in a trust and will be used (to match government-funded grants, where possible) on the many improvements and upgrades required at HPSCC, commencing with the installation of new roof lights and a new playing green.

“We had no idea what they were like as bowlers”

Vincent is also amenable to the possibility of amalgamating with other sports to form super clubs, having seen such ventures in Sydney succeed.

“They were booming!” Vincent said.

With the principles of the Peach plan in mind, the former Lynndon board identified the nearby Holland Park club as a potential future south-side “hub”: it was central, visible, it had good parking, and it was close to public transport.

december 2016

The amalgamation has also been a source of unexpected financial challenge.

Lynndon had a poker machine licence that ceased when the club was sold in January 2016.

A new licence would cost $3,500, but the new club couldn’t apply to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation until it was formally amalgamated, with a certificate of incorporation.

Permission was obtained for the poker machine hardware to be moved to the new

and Holland Park become one club, but it had to be stored out of sight for the duration of the process—which entailed nearly nine months of bureaucratic hurdles—resulting in an estimated $18,000 loss on poker machine income.

There were also myriad smaller issues to be resolved, such as the new club name (it was called a sports and community club rather than a bowls club to broaden the scope for government funding), uniforms, logos, club colours, and team selection.

“We had no idea what they were like as bowlers,” Cocks said, of his new team mates from the former Holland Park.

“And they didn’t know about us either.

“So we had two selectors from each former club to pick the new HPSCC team.”

A new-look team from the combined Lynndon-Holland Park clubs won the Western Challenge (playing as Lynndon) earlier this year, and made the final of third division in Pennant.

The HPSCC representatives say not all members of the former clubs were happy to merge, but neither club would have survived without the other.

“It’s been a lesson in patience”

HPSCC at Holland Park is now open five days a week instead of two afternoons; it is building a new community profile with a bar, new lighting system, and outdoor facelift, which has attracted passing trade and neighbours who thought the club had closed. An architectural master plan for the site is due to be completed by early next year.

Meanwhile, members and visitors are enjoying a whole new experience, including the new green and freshly dusted off pokies; membership has been rebuilt to 111, including 27 women.

“It’s a good start but we’d like to do better,” HPSCC president Allan Butler said.

Bruce Cocks shares Butler’s enthusiasm and encourages other clubs in similar situations of dwindling membership and mounting costs to consider a merger along the lines of the Peach report.

His best advice is to appoint “reliable, informed committee members” to handle the process.

And he warns that even with the best will, it can be slow, at times trivial, and frequently hard work.

‘It’s been a lesson in patience,” Cocks said, “but the potential is enormous.”

Pics: Members of the newly amalgamated club at Holland Park; HPSCC secretary Bruce Cocks with poker machines that had to be hidden from public view during an extended bureaucratic period.

december 2016

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What is BQ Match?

“Our purpose is to get more people out there on the green playing bowls”

- BQ Match Coordinator Ron Somerville

The BQ Match committee is responsible for running all BQ State events and determining the Conditions of Play.

We manage the annual State Junior Championships, District Sides, State Championships, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Qualifying Rounds, the District Mixed Pairs, the Champion of Club Champions, the State Pennant Finals and we assist to run the State Multi Disability Championships.

BQ Match also recommends appropriate clubs to host our events to the BQ Board.

This requires a good knowledge of clubs and their districts to make recommendations with confidence that players in all our events will experience the best conditions possible.

We liaise with officials and administrators of host clubs and some committee members are in attendance at all events.

We are responsible for collating and recording results and forwarding them to the BQ office, all BQ committees, BQ Board members, all Districts that have email facilities, and to media outlets throughout Queensland.

We also assist at district or club level where requested with local Conditions of Play and draws for events - and generally anything to do with the running of bowls in Queensland.

The BQ Match Committee is made up of a coordinator, three men and one woman from Sunshine Coast, Brisbane North and Bundaberg districts. All have extensive experience as games directors for QLD clubs and Districts and lengthy service with Bowls Queensland.

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Ron Somerville Ron is a member of two clubs, Tewantin Noosa and Mooloolaba. He has been a club chairman and men’s secretary and a district president (four years), selector, coach, umpire, match and junior V-P. Ron has served BQ for 10 years, on Match most of that time, with two stints as coordinator, the last few years as sole coordinator. He has also served as men’s section president.

John De Erneste John started playing bowls in 1969 in a small town in NZ called Ngongotaha (near Rotorua). He is a qualified butcher.

He moved to Australia in 1987 and joined Kalinga Bowls Club, serving as president and on various committees. He moved to Banyo in 2000 where he has served as games director and on the committee. He has served Brisbane North District since 2002 as assistant secretary and secretary, and on District Match for five years.

He has served BQ Match since 2009 and he enjoys the challenge.

Jim See Jim grew up in a bowls family in Bargara.

His father Les played a record 40 consecutive years of District Sides. Jim became a bowling member in 1982 and played his first District rep game that year. He has been a state rep, state selector and on the state match committee for four years. He also has been Match chairman for both Bundaberg and Brisbane North Districts and Games Director of PLQ. He finds Match duties a

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good fit with his bowls experience and background in statistics. He says the biggest challenge is that it is impossible to make everyone happy. Clashes of calendars at club, district, QLD and AUST levels is a great problem, and QLD faces travel issues unlike other States with many bowlers facing great distances. “We do the best we can to look after the players,” Jim said.

Nev Galbraith Nev is a former Deception Bay now Bramble Bay bowler who has been in active service for his club since 1991. He has been club president and chairman and served his District, Brisbane North, since 1998, in various roles including president, secretary, council delegate and chairman of constitution reform. He joined District Match in 2005 and BQ Match in 2006 and he has served most years since then. Nev is the patron of BNDBA. He enjoys the camaraderie and challenge of BQ Match.

Helen Doherty Helen Doherty has been a bowler since 1989 and served at various clubs around Caloundra, including eight years as a club games director and 10 years on the board.

She served on Sunshine Coast District Ladies Match for three years and became chairman of Match for the next six years.

She joined BQ Match in 2009. “I bring a woman’s point of view on all matters, a happy disposition and calming influence,” Helen said.

Pic: BQ Match’s Nev Galbraith, John De Erneste, Helen Doherty, coordinator Ron Somerville, Jim See.

Australia’s Club of the Year 2016 Helensvale was in the spotlight (Nov 14-20) hosting the 2016 World Champion of Champions Singles.

There was cause for much celebration when Australia won both men’s and women’s GOLD, congratulations to Adelaide’s Scott Thulborn and Raymond Terrace’s Natasha Scott (pictured right, photo courtesy Inside Bowls Magazine) It was Thulborn’s second consecutive year at the World final, bundled out in the semis last year but making sure of the title this year, winning in straight sets 9-6, 9-4 against Jon Tomlinson from Wales.

Vale Fred Diamond

In the women’s final, Australia’s Scott defeated Brunai’s Amalia Matali 10-6, 7-4.

Joint bronze medals went to Carmen Anderson (Norfolk Island) and Virginia Longfellow (Singapore) and Mohammad Soufi Rusli (Malaysia) and Abd Rahman Haji Omar (Brunai).

Last drinks for Coolum Beach larrikin and one of the sharpest bowlers ever to take to a green Fred Diamond.

Fred died on November 2, aged 61.

He played outstanding bowls over 40 years, including “owning” Northern Territory bowls in the late 1980s/early 90s and winning two national titles, in pairs and fours. He will be sadly missed when teams are put together for State Championships next year, Fred was proud to finally win a Queensland fours title in 2015 with his good mates John Thain, Jason Thomas, and skip Troy Somerville.

World Champs

WANT TO SEND YOUR CLUB BOWLS STORY IN TO BQ? HERE’S HOW: ● Include a full size high-quality photo as a digital JPG file.

This means the photo must be as clear as possible and at least 1MB in file size (to determine file size right mouse click on the chosen image and look at properties). Please email at full size (also called actual size or original size) - otherwise the photo becomes distorted and pixelated when used in the magazine. ● Include as much information in the story as possible - there’s no such thing as too much information! ● Include full names and list the people in the photographs from left to right (e.g. Sue Smith not S Smith) ● Send all of the above in an Email to media@bowlsqld.org

The NZ Campaign

As Queensland Bowler magazine was going to print, the Australian Jackaroos were in a ticker-tape parade in New Zealand with 33 other nations, ready to defend their world title earned at the last World Bowls Championships in Adelaide in 2012.

The 2016 World Champs will run from Nov 29 - Dec 11 in Christchurch.

You can keep up with the action through the World Bowls and Bowls Australia websites.

The 2016 World Champs will be the international swansong for 2006 Commonwealth Games triples gold medallist Mark Casey, who has announced he will retire from international competition after these games.

Casey and Bowls QLD CEO Brett Wilkie both from Club Helensvale are the only two Queenslanders to be selected in the national team.

Wilkie will play Pairs and Fours and Casey will play Triples and skip the Four.

The Australian team in NZ is Karen Murphy, Kelsey Cottrell, Carla Krizanic, Natasha Scott, Rebecca Van Asch, Aron Sherriff, Brett Wilkie, Aaron Wilson, Barrie Lester, Mark Casey.

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Yelavich triumph: 2016 Edge Hill Classic Fours Cairns skip Ivan Yelavich has an impressive record in one of the Far North’s most prestigious annual events, the $5000 Edge Hill Classic Fours (sponsored by Bendigo Bank).

16 teams competed, playing five rounds over the weekend, including a Saturday night game.

“The Edge Hill Classic is the only event I

to take the mantle from Ivan Yelavich,”Edge Hill games director Ray Webster said.

Third place went to an Atherton team skipped by Dennis Skinner, 4th was Alf

Yelavich has played every year since inception with great success, winning the inaugural event in 2002 and staging a successful title defence in 2003, coming second and third a few times, and his team triumphed again in the 15th annual Classic (Oct 29-30).

The 2016 Yelavich side was Wayne Vella, Alan (Stumpy) Muller and Alan Delfavelo, who clinched their win by a shadow in the

play in now,” Yelavich said.

“The win this year was a very tense affair, with two ends to go, our team was eight shots behind…”

The Yelavich four scored five shots on the 17th end, but still needed four shots to win, Cribbin’s team sitting pretty on five game wins, 46-shots margin.

final stages.

Runners up were a ‘young guns’ side skipped by Jubilee’s Justin Cribbin, along with Jeff Turnbull, Mitch Styles and Tyler Pettigrew, all aged U25.

There was jubilation in the Yelavich camp when the opposition’s final bowl stopped short and they got their four shots and fifth game win, to pass the Cribbin outfit and win the 2016 Classic on five game wins, 53-shots margin.

“The young Cribbin team were slightly disappointed but the maturity and skills they showed throughout indicate they’ll be a force for many years to come, and will look

Strano’s team from Innisfail and 5th was Steve Smith’s team from West Cairns.

The Edge Hill Classic concept was born of a desire by the club to raise standards and boost the profile of the sport in the Far North by bringing in some star players from the southeast corner to compete.

Visiting players have included national and state players like Mark Casey, Nathan Rice, Brett Wilkie, Michael Brown, Jeff Aworth and Joe Woods, competing alongside Far North legends like Edge Hill’s Colin Kelly and Yelavich.

“This event has always had a high profile and is the prestige event in Classic Fours games in the Far North,” Webster said.

Pics: Ivan Yelavich; Edge Hill host club.

T i g h t at t h e t o p at R a i n b o w B e a c h It was no easy day at the beach for competitors in the 21st Rainbow Beach Invitation Fours (Oct 28-29) with 16 teams going after $8,000 worth of prize money at the Rainbow Beach Sports, Recreation and Memorial Club.

Kawana’s Nigel Melbourne along with Pacific Paradise’s Robert Fish and Darren Maddrell and Maroochydore’s Geoff Allen (pictured right) felt the pressure but just managed to claim the narrowest of victories on a margin of one point to take home a handy $4000.

queensland bowler

Rainbow Beach club manager Rick Modin said this year’s field was extremely competitive and well balanced, which any one of the top teams so close to the win.

“Normally you need to win at least 5 games to win the comp but in exceptional circumstances this year, we had no teams go through undefeated,” Modin said.

A dramatic draw in the final game against runners up Lee Fitzhenry (Coolum), Wade Mutzelburg (Kawana),

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Garry Schulz (Geebung) and Brad Hore (Caloundra) left the competition winners to be confirmed on a countback of number of ends won.

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“The field in the final run to the finish line was very even and this was the first time we have had a team on 4 wins and a draw to win the event.”

Kurt’s ON FIRE! Wet win at Woodgate

Evans Head-bangers

Woodgate’s 2017 Men’s Invitational Classic Fours (Oct 22-23) was conducted under a wet weather cloud but the troops soldiered on, the win going to old friends Steve McNamee (West Toowoomba), Jason Andrewartha (Across The Waves), Keith Bayntun (Bagara) and Kawana’s Kurt Brown, all former Bundaberg District players.

Not content with just the one win, Clinton Bailey (Broadbeach), Peter Leon (Enoggera) and Kurt Brown (Kawana) managed to nab a second win over the border at the $10,000 Seaside Classic Triples (Nov 5-6) at Evans Head Bowls Club in New South Wales.

The awesome foursome won $4400 for topping the total of 32 teams playing for a share of the generous prize purse of $11,000.

Runners up collecting $2,200 were Stephen Buffier (Gladstone), Ray Williams (Kawana), Wade Mutzelburg (Kawana) and Peter Johnson (Caloundra).

Third place ($1280) went to David Firth (Woodgate), Chris Tracey (Bribie Island), Kevin Murphy (Woodgate), and Peter Pershouse (Gladstone).

The three friends took home $4,800 and bettered their last year’s win by nine points, with five wins and a shot total of 105 over a tough two days of competition.

The popular event always attracts bowlers of merit and 42 teams took part this year.

Evans Head bowls secretary Steve Cselka said the club received a lot of support and he was very grateful.

“It was a great weekend and the club was packed to the rafters,” Cselka said.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without the fantastic staff and volunteers at the club, as well as the sponsors of the event Mid Richmond Plumbing.”

WOOMBYE

EVANS HEAD

WOOMBYE

WOODGATE

Woombye windfall Continuing on his winning way, Kawana’s Kurt Brown struck again in the $10,000 Woombye Fours (Nov 11-13) alongside mates Darren Maddrell (Pacific Paradise), Richard Strawbridge (Bribie Island) and Peter Leon (Enoggera).

In its 11th year, the popular Sunshine Coast hinterland comp involved 96 bowlers playing over three strongly contested days.

Brown’s team collected the top prize of $4,000, winning seven out of seven games and beating 23 other teams.

Woombye chairman Doug Tognolini said the tournament boosts business in the town and gives Woombye a chance to show off its top greens and host top bowlers.

“The quality bowlers that attend and endeavour to win the big prize money come back every year,” Tognolini said.

“It’s very difficult to get a team in the draw due to the waiting list, teams always return to strive to win the $4000 first prize.

“The event is also popular because we hold it on a traditional surface, our grass continues to be one of the reasons we attract the best to this tournament.”

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DEVELOPMENT Can bowls clubs and retirement villages work together?

After my recent experience at Kallangur Memorial Bowls Club, I would say the answer is yes!

The sport of lawn bowls does not want to “lose” affiliated members to retirement villages and not all bowlers at retirement villages want to lose their connection with the outside sport.

A recent Bowls Australia initiative to invite retirement villages into the fold was a great success at the Kallangur Stockland Bowls Challenge on October 21.

30 bowlers from Stockland North Lakes Retirement Village and 30 Kallangur Memorial Bowls Club members met each other on the greens at Kallangur Memorial for a Pairs challenge, each team consisting of one village member and one club member.

Everyone enjoyed the experience of bowling together and making new friends and the club described it as a very positive experience, with some village members expressing interest in becoming members.

The North Lakes village manager was also impressed with how well the day went, and would be interested in exploring further joint ventures with the local club.

Building bridges between clubs and retirement villages is an initiative that could prove of benefit to all.

If you’d like some assistance to kick off a positive encounter with your local retirement village, get in touch with your local RBM.

RBM Conference The national Regional Bowls Managers conference was held recently, with RBMs from all states and territories meeting to share ideas and discuss success stories from their areas.

This was also used as a time to improve on professional development.

One of our first challenges was to walk the streets of the Gold Coast to survey people about lawn bowls…a first for the RBMs, which certainly took some of us out of our comfort zones.

Over about two hours, we surveyed more than 200 people, asking questions such as: • Have you ever played bowls?

• Have you seen bowls on TV? • What has stopped you from paying bowls?

Some great information was gathered with a lot of the responses being “not enough time” to play, “never been asked”, and “competition takes too long”.

The stand out answer was that more than 50 per cent of people surveyed would play bowls more regularly if a shorter format was offered, such as twilight bowls, Jack Attack, barefoot bowls etc.

This is a great exercise any bowls club could conduct in their local area to gather information on how to cater for their local community and target bowls activities, participation and membership to what people want.

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With QLD RBM Andrew Howie Sporting Schools - Paid Coaches The Australian Government introduced an initiative last year called Sporting Schools, to address the issue of children dropping out of sports and becoming sedentary.

Any primary school in Australia can register for the program and select from 30 sports to run as a four week PE session at their school.

Lawn Bowls is one of the approved sports and when schools select our sport, they receive full federal funding to purchase a Jnr Jack Attack Kit and to employ a bowls coach to come to the school and run the programme.

Coaches are paid $30/hour, a small incentive for someone from your club to get involved with your local school and start spreading the word about lawn bowls.

Your local RBMs can be called on to support the process of building links between local coaches, schools and bowling clubs.

Currently there is a shortage of coaches willing to participate in these programmes.

If you know of a coach at your club or club members who would be suitable and interested but who are not yet coaches, please contact your local RBM.

Become a Jr. Jack attack coach Get involved in coachinG Jr. Jack attack - it’s a Great opportunity to connect your club with local schools sporting schools coaches are paid per session or can noMinate For the payMent to be received by their bowls club. to register to become a coach, simply complete bowls australia’s Jr. Jack attack e-learning module at www.bowlsaustralia.com.au/e-learning Candidates must have a valid Working With Children Check and provide a photo or copy. All sessions are conducted with a teacher present and Coaches can even work in pairs, provided both have a valid WWCC.

For more information, contact: Jacob Morgan at jmorgan@bowlsaustralia.com.au or visit www.bowlsaustralia.coM.au/sporting-schools

QLD RBM CONTACT NUMBERS Andrew Howie (SEQ) 0409 498 786 Peter Nixon (CQ) 0429 442 818

Paul Jackson (Tropical NQ) 0429 213 207

Simply put an X where you think the missing jack was located in this picture, fill in your details below and send this page to:

Queensland Bowler Spot the Jack PO Box 476, Alderley 4051 The first correct entry drawn will receive a free set of Henselite bowls.

Winners can choose from a selection of models, colours and sizes.

Name..............................................................................................

Address........................................................................................... .......................................................................................................

State.........................................................Postcode........................

Daytime telephone........................................................................... *email.............................................................................................

THIS MONTH’S WINNER (From October Spot the Jack)

Entries must be received by January 31 Winner will be announced in the March issue. Multiple entries allowed.

Original entry forms only, no photocopies accepted.

Congratulations to:

BOB DAVIDSON from Buderim

You will receive a set of Henselite bowls of your choice from a selection of bowls colours and sizes

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CLUB LAW

H O W I M P O R TA N T I S D U E D I L I G E N C E ? ( PA R T 2 ) Further to our article last month on due diligence, I said I would outline various searches and enquiries to be made at a legal level when acquiring assets.

The main purpose of legal due diligence is to ensure that adequate searches and enquiries are carried out to understand any negative issue about the physical premises or business.

This enables a contract to be drawn up which provides general protection for the buyer on any such issues and specific protection where the due diligence enquiries reveal a problem.

In short, the following types of searches are recommended, and while this list is not exhaustive, it provides some flavour to the types of searches that are conducted.

Physical land and building

• Department of Transport and Main Roads • Local Council o Rates o Full Town Planning and Development Certificate o Search of the building records at the Council for building approvals o Sewerage and drainage plans o Flooding records • Title search • Registered plan • Survey of boundaries • Land Tax • Copies of easements if easements exist on title • Enquiring as to whether any unregistered easements • Queensland Rail • Department of Heritage • Asbestos enquiries • Contaminated Land and the like.

These searches are designed to identify any particular problem with the building and if the building is old, we will often also recommend independent pest, building and engineering inspections.

This will report things such as plumbing, air conditioning, hydraulics and structural integrity of the building.

Curt Schatz partner mullins lawyers

Business

• Employee records • Fire safety compliance inspection • Food Licence compliance inspection • Workplace Health & Safety records • Search of Personal Property and Security Register • All relevant registrations, for example food licence and other municipal or council licences as required by the business • Business name, domain name and other intellectual property searches • Liquor licence and gaming licence search and the like.

We ensure that any problems that arise from these searches are either negotiated prior to settling the contract, or covered by the contract.

In addition, the contracts contain relevant warranties by the seller and also provide mechanisms for the buyer to terminate where there are issues with the assets that are reasonably significant.

It is our role as lawyers to advise fully in relation to the assets being conveyed and to ensure that full title in all assets transfers over on an unencumbered basis to the buyer.

This includes ensuring that all adjustments are made on any business acquisition as well, and if the business involves a lease then a full due diligence and report on the lease.

Where a lease is being transferred, the consent of the landlord will be required, and this will form part of our duties to obtain the landlords consent and to ensure that the landlord is not unreasonable or capricious in relation to the process to give that consent.

In the event that you are thinking of buying or selling, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly on 07 3224 0230.

Hospitality law requires the best heads in the business.

When it comes to legal advice for a club, you need more than just legal advice you need lawyers who know your industry.

With specialist divisions in hospitality and business services, we understand your industry and all its legal requirements.

We minimise your risk and help grow your business.

For more information contact: Curt Schatz, Partner

Level 21, Riverside Centre 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane Qld 4000 Telephone 07 3224 0230 cschatz@mullinslaw.com.au

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Umpire with Joan Brotherton

MEASURING UP TO 2017 As we wind down for 2016 I hope you have all had a successful and enjoyable year not only as Markers/Measurers/National Umpires but as players and are all looking forward to 2017.

Many of you that are Markers/ Measurers/National Umpires will be due for Re-accreditation during 2017 and I encourage you to make the necessary arrangements to re-accredit during the year and before your expiry date.

I also hope that other Members will consider looking at what is available to enable them to take up officiating duties.

The new Officiating structure will enter its third year.

It is structured to allow candidates to progress through a set of modules to become National Umpires, or candidates may prefer to be Markers or Measurers.

Briefly the following is the main points regarding each module:

MARKER: Officials responsible for the efficient management of a singles match.

They must understand the bowls environment and be well prepared and have a good understanding of Law 42 (pages 62/63), as their primary duty is to assist players so that the game can proceed within the Laws and best etiquette of the game.

MEASURER: Officials that need to be familiar with the appropriate, correct and efficient use of all measuring equipment and know the Laws relevant to measuring. They must be able to communicate their decision to the players.

NATIONAL UMPIRES: Officials that require proficiency as a Marker and Measurer as well as being familiar with all aspects of the Laws of the Sport of Bowls. They must be able to communicate effectively and ensure all games are played in a spirit of fairness and common sense.

In summary all information about Officials Accreditation Courses and training relevant

to Bowls Officials in Australia can be found on the BA/BQ website.

If you are interested please contact your Club or District Umpire Committee or have a talk with any Official you know, who will be only too happy to discuss with you what is involved in being a Bowls Official.

I take this opportunity to thank everyone for your comments re the Column over the years and hope that you continue to read and enjoy and I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Pics: Maureen Madden marking a singles game; Glenda Boxall and Ann Miles preparing to measure a head that had 3 bowls touching the jack and was a tied end; photo of the Law Book; Christmas photo of Joan.

WINNING FLAIR AT MONTO PAIRS It was a narrow but sweet victory for Mt Larcom’s Peter Tappenden and Bruce Vanderwolf in the $4000 Open Pairs Carnival at Monto Bowls Club (Oct 15-16).

The Mt Larcom duo finished on four wins and a total of 98 points to squeeze a small but significant 5.5 point victory over local runners up Mark and Bronwyn Torrens.

Pic: Mark Torrens, Bronwyn Torrens, Peter Tappenden and Bruce Vanderwolf

The two-day carnival was attended by 24 teams who played five games over 18 ends and who were all eager to collect the respectable first place prize of $1200.

Monto men's president Mark Torrens thanked all participants and gave extra praise to Monto games director Garry Price and his assistants for organising the games.

“It was a close race with no team winning all five games,” Torrens said.

“We were happy with how the carnival ran and we heard lots of praise about our two beautiful greens which were running really well as they always do.

“We just need to get the word out to other bowlers around our great state that Monto has two of the finest greens in Queensland!”

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T h i n k i n g a b o u t a h o lid a y ?

5th annual Cook Island Bowls Carnival, May 2-10, 2017 Host club Rarotonga in the Cook Islands is gearing up for the 5th annual visit from touring Australian bowlers in May 2017.

Queensland-based tourism operator Uplift Tours & Travel put together the first international “friendly” in 2013 which was a great success and set the standard for the next three “multicultural” bowls carnival experiences.

“The Rarotonga Bowling Club is looking forward to hosting the 2017 tour group,” Uplift Tours & Travel director Claire McErlane said.

“President George Paniani told this year’s group it means a lot to the club to have the visit from Australian bowlers every year.

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“With the proceeds from the past four Bowls Carnivals, the club has bought a couple of solar panels to help them with the very high monthly electricity bills, and been able to purchase Sky TV so they can watch world bowls events.

“They’ve also developed programmes for their lovely juniors, who have won the hearts of many of our tour participants.”

Bookings are open for the 2017 Carnival (May 2-10), departures from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. (Social bowlers and nonbowling partners are welcome.)

The tour includes two official carnival days and a social “island attire” roll up, visiting the local markets, a school, and a church, and a feast night and lagoon cruise.

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How to beat Match Anxiety with mental skills coach Mark McMahon When I started playing lawn bowls as a youngster in Hong Kong in the 1970s, it was fairly unusual to hear about sport psychology, and it certainly had not made any inroads into lawn bowls.

Psychological skills training can certainly be of great use to address psychological factors that arise in lawn bowls.

Like golf, snooker and other sports, there is a considerable time gap between shots and this is when unhelpful thoughts and emotions can impact performance.

These days, as sports become increasingly professional, it is definitely more common to hear about psychologists working within particular sports.

One of the reasons for this advancement is the need to provide athletes with an enriched environment of support, as many are under increasing pressure from coaches, sponsors, fans and team mates to perform at their best.

There is a lot at stake, including sponsorship deals, remuneration and perhaps a future career within the sport.

As the benefits of sport psychology become more widely known, more people who participate in sport at all levels are becoming interested or curious about what sport psychology may be able to offer.

If I’m working with a group of participants from any sport, from beginner level to those who represent their State, I usually start by asking them to consider what percentage of performance is physical and how much is mental?

However, there are many psychological tools and techniques that can be incorporated into a bowler’s game and these can be greatly beneficial in terms of performance outcomes.

One simple technique is known as the AWARE method, and I’ll explain it here.

Many club bowlers experience anxiety or ‘nerves’ before ‘big’ matches.

It’s tempting for most people to try and push the anxiety away, by using self-talk such as “I can’t be anxious” or “I have to settle down”, or simply denying it’s there.

Using the AWARE method, the first step is to Accept the anxiety (“yeah okay. I’m a little nervous today”), visualize it outside of the mind/body and then Watch it.

Next – “Act as if” it’s not there.

If it becomes problematic again, then Repeat the steps as before; and finally, Expect the best.

Accepting that we are anxious at the beginning of a match can be the first step in dealing with the adverse effect that anxiety or nerves may have on performance.

Using the AWARE method can stand bowlers in good stead for matches in which there is a close finish.

Mark McMahon is completing a Masters degree in Applied Psychology (Sport & Exercise) and is a provisional psychologist working with the Australian Jackaroos lawn bowls team. He was coach of the QLD Bowls Premier League team the Brisbane Pirates. He has been a mental skills coach to a number of lawn bowlers, golf and tennis players.

Pic: Mark McMahon with 2016 BPL Brisbane Pirates Natasha Scott, Kelvin Kerkow OAM and Sean Baker.

Then I ask them to tell me what percentage of time is spent on physical training and what percentage is spent on mental training.

There are no right or wrong answers and there is certainly a great variety in the answers given.

Importantly it gets people thinking and asking questions.

2017 BQ Annual Elections - Key Closing Dates The BQ Board chairman, deputy chairman and director of finance positions are elected annually and two out of four board director positions.

Nominations and expressions of interest in serving on the BQ Board must be received at BQ by COB on Fri Jan 27. Ballot papers are sent to Districts on Fri Feb 3 and must be received back at BQ by COB on Fri March 17. The results will be announced at the BQ AGM at Enoggera on Wed March 22.

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Coaching with BQ coaching committee

Dumpers On Notice

THORPY

PAV

GIBBY

MINIBUS

The fancy definition of a dumper is a “projector of a bowl on delivery”.

However you say it, the only disgrace about being a dumper is not realizing you’ve got the habit or refusing to do something about it.

The law is catching up with dumpers so the BQ Coaching committee is here to tell you what you can do about it.

(Maybe leave this article lying around your club or pop it into the bowls bag of any known club dumpers…)

Greens Protection Policy

A greens protection policy was authorized by Bowls Australia and introduced/approved in March 2016 with a review date set for March 2018.

The preamble and rationale are clearly outlined in the policy and I strongly advocate that all clubs access the document and make themselves familiar with its content (BA website) From a coach’s point of view I must point out that clubs have an obligation to assist bowlers to remedy the delivery or activity that is potentially causing damage to the core material asset of their club.

A coach who is assisting a player with an action causing damage to the green should take the following steps to help remedy the situation: • Attempt to understand how or why the player is causing damage to the green (could have had a recent operation or has developed arthritic problems with areas of the skeletal system or has another medical condition).

• Firstly, try to modify the player’s delivery.

• If unable to modify delivery, carefully ask the player if they have considered using a bowling arm device…

• If so, coach the player in its use and make certain you explain the types of bowling arms that are available and approved by BA for use above social play.

• If not, advise the player about dump mats and ground sheets, which can be used when delivering a bowl (last resort).

Travelling around the state I am often confronted about what can be done to address the sensitive issue of “dumpers” within clubs and how it appears to be an increasing problem (maybe as we are an aging sport?)

Firstly, I advise club committees to make sure all members of their club are familiar with the BA Greens Protection Policy by posting the policy in various positions and noticeboards throughout the club.

Secondly, the club should introduce a policy that once a player has been identified as a “dumper”, they should receive a letter from the Board of Management requesting that they obtain assistance from a Coach to remedy their bowling action and protect the greens; this policy should also be displayed throughout the club.

The problem of dumpers will increase as bowlers age and deal with the various mobility ailments and degrees of disability that accompany aging.

As club coaches, we must be aware of this and give as much assistance as required to remedy a bowlers delivery because; 1) We want everyone to enjoy this wonderful game, irrespective of medical and health challenges.

2) We all have an obligation to protect our most valuable asset, which of course is our greens, grass or artificial surfaces.

I hope this article is of assistance to those in our QLD bowls community having challenges with dumpers at their clubs.

SUGGESTED FOR YOUR CLUB NOTICE BOARD:

ARE YOU DUMPING YOUR BOWLS? If you are dumping your bowls please don’t be offended to receive a letter from the Board of Management requesting you attend a Coaching session to assist your bowling and protect our greens

- Alan Thorp, BQ Coaching Committee Coordinator

december 2016

queensland bowler 41

Coaching with BQ coaching committee

THORPY

PAV

GIBBY

MINIBUS

“Go west, young man, and grow up with the country” - John Babsone Lane Soule 1851

If you’ve never been to Quilpie or Cunnamulla, you’re missing out.

Quilpie’s Terri Collins, Megan Haylock, Jocelyn Haylock, Mick Crack, Kerri Thompson, Grace Judd, Brendo Horston, Mick Castles and Megs Jones.

These strong country clubs in Maranoa Warrego District pay their dues each year and rarely get a visit (yet they whinge far less than many of us who have access to much).

Over four days in searing heat (Nov 18 - 21), 38 bowlers attended club skills courses and the enthusiasm and “can do” attitudes were infectious!

Thank you to district secretary Lloyd Harth for organising the visit and club presidents David Poulson (Quilpie) and Rick Brain (Cunnamulla) and their teams for their friendship, coordination and cooperation.

Quilpie juniors play Jack Attack with the bowling wedge, from left, Mia Haylock, Carli Horsten, Millie McWaters, McKenzie Haylock, Marcus Paulsen.

Best wishes to the BQ bowls community for a happy holiday season. The BQ Coaching committee looks forward to being of further assistance in 2017.

- George Franklin

Cunnamulla, from left, BQ Coaching’s Alan Thorp, Frank Coleman, John Bomford, John Bryan, Debbie Gamble, Neil Hatchman, president Rick Brain, front row, Carla Mills, Todd Brain, Colleen Higgins, Barbara Coleman.

--- Thorpy’s Top Tip --Bowls is about arcs and angles - not lines Bowls is about arcs, curves, angles and motion in 3D - three dimensions.

Don’t be too hung up about ‘lines’, becoming distracted about the boundaries of the rink, centre line or square lines of the mat.

The bowl commences to turn immediately upon release - this is a fact easily overlooked by new and even experienced bowlers.

Remember this and it will help to eliminate your aiming line being too narrow and prevent bowls from cutting across the head.

42

queensland bowler

--- Feedback --Dear Thorpy, I just wanted to let you know how much we appreciated the recent coaching course in Cairns with you and (P & A) Dennis O’Toole.

Your humourous approach lifted every spirit in the room and I feel it greatly assisted in everyone remembering the messages.

I hope I am able to convey some of the enthusiasm you projected when I move on to coaching others!

december 2016

Michael Pluschke West Cairns Bowls Club

--- Courses --In the past month, courses were held at West Cairns (TFNQ), Club Maroochy (Sunshine Coast), and Quilpie and Cunnamulla (Maranoa Warrego).

Coming up: Dec 2 Club selection, Chermside (Brisbane North) Dec 11-12 Club coaching, Goodna (Cunningham) Jan 21-22 Club coaching, Roma. Skills coaching, Mitchell (Maranoa Warrego) Feb 15 Club skills & bowling arm.

Feb 16-17 Selection and competition module, North Rockhampton (CQ).

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