It’s not work when you do what you love
Matt Lucas talks about his plans for Brisbane bowls institution
Queensland’s oldest bowls shop, Fred Fern Bowls Centre, is under new management, with Helensvale bowler Matt Lucas taking over the reins of the Brisbane bowls institution. Matt feels he is well placed to offer exceptional service to Queensland bowlers, having grown up in the sport in country Victoria and spent his working life in hospitality management. “The bowls club was a brilliant environment for us youngsters to grow up in,” Matt said. “If you are ever unlucky enough to meet any of the people I call close friends, they would probably tell you that I am never short of a word, sometimes overambitious, and probably that I need to have a shave… “Having said that, they are the people I most enjoy playing bowls with!” Like many bowlers, Matt’s love of the game started with his family. “Growing up in the western suburbs of Melbourne in a place called Taylors Lakes, I was the last in a line of six
children, boys at the book ends and girls in between.” Matt said.
do his apprenticeship in each of the sides before being promoted to the next.
“As a youngster I played junior Aussie rules and Cricket, but being the last addition to our family my father was nearly 50 by the time I was born.
By the time he was 14, he was attending district and group trials and state junior trials, making the U18 side in 2002 by the age of 17.
“By the time I was old enough to start playing competitive sports he was past playing rugby /football /cricket, but he had taken up playing lawn bowls in the A1 Pennant side (as it was called in those days) for Keilor Bowls Club.
“The next season I won the club singles at Keilor and I felt the time was right for a move to continue my progress.”
“My mother was an ICU nurse and worked a number of night shifts and as a result Dad would take us kids down to the bowls club to give mum a chance to rest. “This was my introduction to bowls. “I joined Keilor Bowls Club for the 1995/96 season when I was 11 years old.” Matt’s dad was a club selector but there was no easy ride for his son; he had to
Matt moved to Lalor Bowling Club in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, skipping in the top side which fluctuated between Division 1 and Premier League, also making various appearances in the state U18 side.
“Bowls to me is about the relationships you get to build, the excitement you get to share with one another after a good win and galvanisation when the chips are down.” “Bowls to me is about the relationships you get to build, the excitement you get to share with one another after a good win and galvanisation when the chips are down,” Matt said. It was time for Matt to get a real job and he chose hospitality management, spending the next decade running pubs, nightclubs and finally a bowling club before moving to the Gold Coast in 2015. “We live not far from Club Helensvale and knowing a few of the members there, it was an easy decision to join the club,” Matt said. “From there I was lucky enough to stumble across the vacant position at Fred Fern Bowls Centre. “With my background in management and desire to spend more time in the bowls world, it’s like it was meant to be. “I intend to continue the quality advice and customer service that is synonymous with the Fred Fern Bowls Centre.” Matt looks forward to meeting many Queensland bowlers at the Australian Open (June 11-24) where Fred Fern Bowls Centre will have a stall.
june 2016
queensland bowler
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