PRESIDENT’S NEWSLETTER
JUNE 2006
What a great year this is turning out to be for the Club. Not only did the Women win the No. 3 Pennant but the Men also won two pennants. For the first time in our 34-year history the Men defeated West Deakin Hellenic in the grand final of the No. 1 pennant. The No. 5’s also won the pennant in what is a very hard team to get into let alone get out of. These wins sparked great celebrations back at the Club and a sense of euphoria that has lasted for many weeks. It is great for the Club, for the players, for our sponsors and for all those bowlers that have played pennant for the Club over the 34 years. It was a great pleasure also to hang the signed Club shirt on the wall to commemorate the No. 1 win and also to put up photographs of the winning teams. Our major sponsor has a replica signed shirt hanging in its Fyshwick show rooms with a caption – “proud sponsors of the Belconnen Bowling Club”. The celebrations continued at Bowls ACT Presentation Day held at our Club on 17 June. The formal presentation of our pennant trophies was followed by a lap of honour of the Greens lead by Oli and Neil with Darren in the background. Congratulations to all our successful pennant teams and to those who competed so well for the Club in the other divisions.
The committee has decided to renovate the Club, both to improve it for the member’s comfort but also to protect our asset. A project committee of Ian Cassie, Gary Green and Bill Donovan is managing the process over this year. The new Daikin reverse cycle air conditioning system will improve the heating and cooling but should lead to greater efficiency and less cost for these services. Social Club members Greg Bishop and Marty Van Sebille won the contract for this job and we are very pleased with the result. The Jamison Bridge Club, who use our premises on Mondays and Fridays, were so pleased with it that they have donated $500 to the Club to help pay for it. Thank you to the Bridge Club.
New women’s toilets have been installed by Duncan’s Plumbing and the area repaired and repainted by Eddie Cvecic. Thanks Eddie. Mike Fitzgerald has repainted the outside of the Clubhouse and will also repaint the Men’s toilet area and locker room. Henry has put in a new paved entrance area as a volunteer. Thanks Henry. There is still work to be done. The new sign in area has to be completed. The new darts area and photo wall behind the poker machines should happen shortly and the new shed on the side of the Clubhouse is being erected with the help of Alan Jurgens. After that the project group will be drawing up a maintenance program for the next few years that will start with the replacement of the sewerage piping system. We hope you enjoy the renovated clubhouse and appreciate the workers who have made it possible. We especially thank that small group led by Sharon and Robyn Paulsen who ran a beach party night to help raise funds for the air conditioning. Over $1000 was raised on the night.
SPONSOR FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE IS EXQUISITE JEWELLERS AT KIPPAX- SUPPORT THEM FOR THE HELP THEY GIVE THE CLUB.
Could I ask all members to wear the green and gold club shirt whenever possible for Saturdays, championships and pennants. We owe it especially to the sponsors and our Club to present the best image to ourselves and to the public. By now you should be phasing out the old white shirts and the committee will soon be deciding a final use date for those shirts. While on uniforms can I remind all members that they must wear bowls shoes at all times on the greens. Some members are wearing other footwear particularly on Wednesdays and Saturdays and that is not good for the greens.
In the historical records there is a lovely picture of a proposed new permanent clubhouse to be erected behind No. 2 green. The current clubhouse is supposed to be temporary but unlike parliament house we are unlikely to ever build a new clubhouse unless one of our members wins the lotto and donates the money to us.
A range of men’s and women’s championships have been completed recently and others are ongoing. We appreciate members fitting in with tight schedules. Congratulations to all those who have played and especially the winners in the various events. We are trying to get the honour boards updated and that is being done at a good price by one of our sponsors, Capital Trophies (in Mitchell), so is taking longer than usual. Soon we will need to look at a new honour system as we are fast running out of room on the present boards. Any suggestions?
The recent formal inspections of our Greens by Bowls ACT resulted in a favourable report from the sub-committee. Congratulations to Dave and Hayden to the good work they do for us when we use the greens so often. For the first time in my memory they had to close the greens last Thursday for the women at 10 AM because of the frost. Otherwise the greens are in constant use. While on that could I express our appreciation for the people who donate their time to help Bill Kyle and Lindsay Hardy in looking after the many corporate and social groups who are using our Club and getting a taste of bowls.
Bowls ACT President, Meg Periera, presented our Treasurer, Joan Hosking, with an ACT Merit Award for her services to the Club as treasurer and in previous years her support of the late Col Hosking as House Director. Congratulations Joan.
The Club Committee acts as the Board for your Belconnen Bowling Club. Our purpose is to support bowls and the recreation of members. To help us to help you we need feedback from members. If you are happy with what is happening please let a Board member know. If you want things changed or improved let us know so that we can discuss them at meetings.
Bill Donovan
President
19 June 2006
In the July newsletter I outlined the priorities for the club for 2004/2005. Of the five priorities we have installed the automatic watering system with the assistance of an A.C.T. government grant. While we ran a very successful trial of an open tournament in December the committee has decided not to run another tournament in 2006. Likewise the committee decided not to purchase a widescreen TV and to defer poker machine replacements to 2006/07. Work on completing improvements to the clubhouse will commence later this month. Work which the committee is considering for future priorities are the:
 | Repair of the sewerage system |
| Painting the clubhouse |
| Renovation of the kitchen |
| Construction of a storage shed for furniture |
| Roofing over the paved area |
| Replacement of women’s toilets |
| Replacement of hot water systems |
CLUB UNIFORMS
A group of members asked the committee to consider allowing green trousers as part of the uniform to bring the uniform into a full modern look to better promote the club’s image. The main reason for not changing is the cost to pensioners. The committee has referred this issue to the men’s sub-committee who will survey the affected members in the next month.
The committee reaffirmed a decision by the women’s sub-committee that women members must wear the old women’s uniform in all women’s events including mixed club championships.
Another very successful charity day on January 8. Seventy people bowled and more attended the lunchtime auction. Over $2000 was raised for the breast cancer network Australia. We hope to raise over $5000 with the M.A.D. ball to come. A great effort by all involved especially by Shaz and David Warwick and their helpers and volunteers. Our sponsors and local businesses were a fantastic help especially Paul Wilson of Retravision, Jim Eastman of carpet choice, Greg Wolff of G. W Lawnmowing and Gardening, Greg Noakes, Glen Cameron of Promotive and the Mc Ilhoney’s of Belconnen Picture Framing among many who donated to the day.
Come and support the M.A.D ball on 18 February and have a great time. Tickets $30
The club is committed to running two such charity days per year. Members might have a charity that could be the focus of the next such day. Tell me about it.
The previous charity day ran in late 2005 in aid of the intellectually disabled association – shareability inc. - raised over $5000 to provide them with an on-going recreation and sport program.
Congratulations to the women who won the number 3 pennant in the season just completed. It is great for them and for the club because we now have over 90 women bowlers – the envy of many clubs.
The club is fielding 9 teams in the pennants this year. Competition is fierce for places and the selectors have an unenviable task of selecting winning combinations. An expression of the level of interest is that 96 bowlers turned up for pennant practice last Thursday evening. People playing pennant are reminded that they must wear full uniform including approved headwear with club logo and preferably bowls Australia logo.
| Gold cap |
| Gold bush hat |
| White hat with club headband |
| White cap with club logo |
The club director, Gary Green has outlined several projects to enhance the club side of our activities. The poker machines are being rearranged into a more user friendly mode for players; trivia nights will commence soon on Thursdays with the potential for players to win small and large prizes; and two dart board stations are being installed with a darts club to become members of our club and play their matches here. Work on improving the clubhouse will see the front entrance paved, a new bowls sign-in area completed and new noticeboards installed.
With so many members playing and rolling up and with increased social use the greens have taken a pounding over recent months. Every effort is being made to improve the greens and members patience is required in the face of dry conditions and the use factor to have greens of high enough quality to satisfy the good bowlers we have at the club.
Members might be aware that the Larkhams next door to the club are proposing to change their lease to build 37 units on their block. The club committee has put in a submission to the Muns/Sly architects asking for answers to a number of questions we have about the proposed development. The architects have sent us a detailed response. If you wish to have a copy see Ian Cassie, the club secretary.
Did you know that the Belconnen Bowling club was started in 1972 with a meeting of interested men at the page primary school? Did you know that the foundation members of the club included current members, Eric Bachinger, Brian Beasley, Charlie Beswick, Les Collier, Don Gordon, Doug Kelly, Ian McPhee and Frank Ward? Did you know that developments at the club were financed by debentures from members for the princely sums of $100-700 each? Did you know that in the first year club bowls were played at old parliament house and the Canberra club?
The good news is that paperwork from the years 1972-1976 has been archived and is available for club members to read if they wish. The bad news is that much of the club records were thrown out by previous club officials and much of the records of the years from 1977 are missing. Work is being carried out to ensure the appropriate archiving of the more modern material available from 1995 to the present. In conjunction with a 50th anniversary in 2012 someone might want to write a history of the club. If any member has records of the missing years i would appreciate receiving them or copies.
A team of Wal Swinton, Dave Wells, Bill Kyle and Les Collier won the inaugural A.C.T. men’s senior tournament at Norths. Out of this tournament les collier and Bill Donovan were selected to play in the A.C.T. side in the first seniors’ interstate carnival held in Sydney. Many men have been selected in A.C.T. teams including regulars such as bill watts, john bice and Darren Fitzpatrick as well as newer bowlers, Chris Woolmer, Ollie Mcgready, Sasha Cvecic and Peter Watts.
Good to see that the club is represented in the A.C.T. under 23 side by Robbie Kyle and Joel Dowsett.
At the club level Helena Megee and Chris Woolmer are the respective women’s and men's singles champions in the blue ribbon events of the club championship year.
The past six months has seen a consolidation of the club’s activities and finances. Numbers of bowlers on the greens has increased especially in social events, charity days, and sponsors days. We are in great shape to go into the future but we must continue to market the club and to recruit new members. It is also crucial that the club has a strategic plan to move ahead over the next few years or we will suffer the fate of other folding clubs.
If you expect witty and funny writing in these newsletters I will need to employ Ian Mcphee as a ghost writer and if you want funny stories you can listen to the likes of Ron Hunt who will tell you a story anytime. I just write about our great and friendly club.
Bill Donovan
President
19 January 2006