Message from the President
Are we there yet? This was a question often asked by our children when on a road trip. Needless to say, it drove us mad. Our road trip for the 2024/25 season is almost at the halfway point and if you are like me, the break for a couple of weeks is welcome. The season to date has presented challenges, rewards and the enjoyment of socialising within our community.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed in big and small ways to make the first half of the season happen seamlessly. The weekend left us in a positive place before the break with 4 of the 5 teams winning. After this week’s edition the newsletter will resume on January 12, 2025.
I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you all in the new year when we resume:
- Wednesday January 8
- Thursday January 9
- Saturday January 11.
Christmas Dinner
The dinner was a great success, enjoyed by 90 plus members and friends. No event is possible without many hours of work behind the scenes in preparation.
Thank you to everyone who helped from planning to set up and on the night. Thank you to everyone for supporting the Christmas Raffle: those who sold tickets, bought tickets and, importantly, donated prizes and put together wonderful gift baskets and Doug and Joan for conducting the draw.
Father Christmas and his elf were a popular inclusion who gave us a lot to laugh at, as did Mary the Christmas fairy.
Pennant Results
Wednesday - all matches were home
- Division 2 vs Somerton. Drew 102 each.
- Division 3 vs Hawthorn. Defeated 68 to 126.
- Division 4 vs Walkerville. Defeated 44 to 84.
Thursday - all matches were home
- Premier vs West Lakes. Defeated 42 to 76.
- Division 2 vs Salisbury. Defeated 61 to 66.
- Division 3 vs Sturt. Won 59 to 53. Thank you to the three men who have been filling in regularly.
Saturday
- Division 2 vs Beaumont at home. Won 78 to 73.
- Division 4 vs Hope Valley at Hope Valley. Defeated 80 to 94.
- Division 5 vs Sturt at home. Won 72 to 69.
- Division 6 vs Hope Valley at Hope Valley. Won 67 to 54.
- Division 7 Forfeited by Trinity Gardens.
Please remember: If you will be unavailable for a game, please write your name in the unavailable book. The book is located outside the office window. Contact David Freeman if necessary.
Monday Morning Training
Training will continue by arrangement with Alan Lambert for any new bowler or bowler looking for specific improvement assistance from 10 am for a couple of hours. His number is 0422 606 175.
Change Rooms and Toilets
Last night I provided an update on progress on renovation of the eastern end changerooms and toilets. The Board of Management applied for funding with notification of success or not in April. In the meantime, the Improvement Facilities Committee has been working with Brianni Constructions to finalise a plan for which council approval will be sought.
The wonderful news is that, generously, the Marryatville Trust has pledged to go ahead and fund the work with or without the funds. All being well, work will be completed by October 2025.
Friday Night Members Draw
As meals are not being served on alternate Fridays currently, the committee was keen to see the continuation of the Members’ Draw. At our recent meeting, it was decided to hold the draw on the first Friday of each month. The first for 2025 will be on February 7 with a raffle and meat tray as first prize.
Member Numbers
The club has recruited well and continues to do so despite being halfway through the season. We lost 20 members for a range of reasons, but gained 20 new associates and 20 new pennant players, which is very positive. Many of the new players are new to the game, so the club is in a significant developmental stage, which is very good news for our future.
Greens Management
A Green will be fully closed after the last pennant game from 18 December 2024 and reopen on 06 January 2025. We want to ensure even wear on both greens. If you have booked a club championship game on A green for this period, please transfer your booking to B green. C Green will be closed for the same period for maintenance.
Expansion of our Schools Program
There has been talk for a few years about encouraging local schools to be involved with lawn bowls. Ken Watson, Alan Lambert and I have spent numerous hours working with students from Norwood International High School and Saints Girls. Ken has written the following outlining where we have been and where we plan to go envisioning the future. I am hoping that other members are as enthusiastic about the proposal as we are.
Imagine our bowling club with several teenagers, and people in their 20’s playing alongside those of us for whom those ages are but distant memories. Surely the future of bowls as a sport and our club depends upon us recruiting people in those younger age brackets, who bring the energy and enthusiasm of youth and a fresh outlook that may invigorate the club. With this lofty goal in mind we have for some years sought to establish links with schools which are keen to include lawn bowls in the activities they encourage through their Health and PE programs.
For a few years now we have been hosting Year 10 P.E. students from Norwood International High School, who have walked down The Parade for a 4-session introduction to bowls. Some of these students are quite interested and show some talent which we would like to encourage. We have talked with their PE staff about forming some teams to compete in the SA Bowls Inter School Challenge, which is a goal for 2025.
Some years ago, Year 11 students from Saints Girls School came to learn bowls, but this has fallen by the wayside recently. We are delighted that we have been able to reestablish links with them for next year, with their Year 10 P.E. students coming to play bowls once a fortnight during Term 1.
The catch is that these programs are only possible with the input of several hours of volunteer time from club members. For Term 1 for example, we are seeking to run sessions with Saints Girls once a fortnight on Mondays 8:50-9:50am, Wednesdays 2:10-3:10pm and Fridays 10:55-11:55am. To do this, we need help from club members who are willing to contribute in this way. Running sessions on Wednesday afternoons means that we need some women bowlers, since most men will be playing pennants at least for the first half of the term.
We will not know until next year what days and times the Norwood students will come, but I expect it will be similar to this year which was in May-June and October-November.
What do we get out of it? At a personal level, it can be a lot of fun interacting with teenagers on the bowling green, and it is certainly very satisfying to play a part in the improvements they show from session to session. From a club point of view, we are forever hopeful that some of these young people will join us on a more permanent basis, and maybe even bring their parents along as well.
We charge a small fee: in 2024, the club received $2,250 from the schools’ program.
What do you need to help with this? It is not essential, but it is certainly preferable to have completed an Introductory Coach course. These are arranged by Bowls SA, and the club will pay the cost of the course for any members who do it. It is also necessary to have a current Working With Children Check (WWCC). As the club’s Child Safety Officer, I can arrange for a WWCC for those who do not already have one and there is no cost when it is necessary for voluntary “work”.
We really need to expand the number of members contributing to the schools’ program, and especially need some willing female members to join Marg Lambert on the panel of school coaches. Please contact me if you can assist.
- Ken Watson (Schools Program Coordinator)
- Email: kjacwats@ozemail.com.au
- Mobile: 0488 033 945
Happy Hour
There is Happy Hour at the Club this Friday at 5.30pm. You are encouraged to support the Club by coming along, bringing your friends and neighbors to enjoy this social occasion. If you can, please bring some food to share. Looking forward to seeing you.
- Visit our Kensi Friday Happy Hour page for more information.
MBA Annual Open Fours Friendship Tournament (Jan 5)
This annual event is being held to foster friendship between our member clubs. Looking for a team of four to be part of the annual MBA tournament. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable day. Entry is limited to ONE team from each Club. Let me know as soon as possible, so names can be registered. First in will be the team registered. A tournament is being held at the Playford Bowling Club. Details below.
Sunday 5th January 2025
- Entry is Free
- 9:00am for a 9.30am start
- 3 Rounds of 10 ends
- $1,000 Prize Money
The Event is fully funded by the MBA and will be catered forby the Playford Bowling Club (Lunch included).
Social Media
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news and updates. We also love seeing your photos from club activities and events, so feel free to share them with us!
Sponsors
When visiting any of our club sponsors, kindly mention that you are from the Kensington Marryatville Bowling Club. This simple gesture lets them know their sponsorship is appreciated and valuable. Our sponsors are crucial to the future of our club, so please show your support whenever possible.
If you have suggestions for potential new sponsors, feel free to approach any committee member. Your ideas can make a big difference!
Lawn Bowls Newsletter 16/12/2024