Cathy Vluggen - A Lesson in Living BY JOHN BEVIN
Cathy with her much deserved award
O
n Australia Day 2011 former champion bowler Cathy Vluggen was presented with the District Council of the Copper Coast Citizen of the Year Award. For those who have met Cathy over the years the honour will come as no surprise, while for others her story may well provide the catalyst for a positive future.
Cathy grew up in Port Victoria (Yorke Peninsula) and attended school at Minlaton. At the age of 14 a massive stroke confined her to a three month stay in hospital and a rehabilitation program which would re-educate her in the simple tasks of walking and talking. One can only imagine the feelings of the teenage girl who with the help of her mum and teachers returned to school and after a move to Mypolonga completed her studies which took her through to year 12 level. In 1983 Cathy moved to Adelaide and obtained work at Royal Adelaide Hospital and in 1987 she was presented with the treasured Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award and began Night Owls at Murray Bridge Bowling Club. After two years of ill health in 1998-99 she was confined to a wheel chair and in 2000 while visiting the Royal Adelaide Show was recruited to lawn bowls by Shirley Blackwell and Kenn Rogers who she said “would not take no for an answer.” Participation in our sport has brought with it many highlights for a woman whose courage and tenacity are unquestioned. Titles she has won over
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the years include the Women’s Pairs Gold Medals at the International Stoke Mandival Wheelchair Sports Federation World Championships at Mojacar, Spain and the 2002 Far East and Pacific Games in Busan, South Korea. For many years Cathy has volunteered in wide ranging areas of society and in 2009 she and husband Con moved to Wallaroo. At present she is involved with assisting in 10 important areas in the Wallaroo Township and was nominated for the “Citizen of the Year” by members of the Wallaroo Bowling Club. When asked how she had settled into life in the Copper Triangle she was full of praise for the members of her new club. “They have been absolutely amazing” she commented. “It’s like I’ve walked out of one great bowling club into another. Remembering that I no longer bowl, they have still accepted me with open arms.” Typically her comments after receiving the award included; “You know it’s not about me it’s about all those wonderful people who have helped me along the way!”
Questions
Questions 1. Skip A is the last to play and has one bowl left. He tells his third and his opponent that he is not going to play the last bowl and to declare the head and commence measuring. The third suggests that they are one shot down, to which the skip replies that he had better play the last bowl. Is this in order? 2. Second A plays a bowl out of turn, and it comes to rest 2mm behind the jack, without becoming a toucher and without disturbing the head. The mistake is noticed, and the opponents claim the end is dead. What should happen? 3. On the changeover in a pairs match, the player of team B delivered a bowl before the player of team A which had won the previous end. It went unnoticed until the player of team A prepared to bowl. The bowl from the member of team B had disturbed the head. What should happen now? 4. In a singles match the marker is unable to stop an incoming bowl from an adjoining rink. The intruding bowl moves the jack on the marker’s rink. May the marker replace the jack to its former position? 5. Whilst measuring a third moves the jack towards the opponent’s bowl. What should happen?
Answers on Page 40 36
SA Bowler February/March 2011