March 6, 2017
by John Lacey
The Kingaroy Bowls Club celebrated its 80th birthday last Thursday with an 80th Anniversary Carnival.
South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell, his wife Marion and the Mayor’s personal assistant Bronwyn Barry were guests of honour at the Anniversary Carnival’s luncheon.
The Mayor told guests his father had been a member of the club many years ago.
At that time, the Mayor said, the bowls club had become a social hub for the area’s farmers, and many of the district’s problems were sorted out over a game of bowls and a cold beer or two afterwards.
The 80th birthday cake was cut by the club’s oldest member, female club patron Mrs Bess Thorpe, who at the age of 97 still loves her bowls (her team finished third in the carnival).
Eighteen teams, some from as far as Burrum Heads, Bribie Island and Kilcoy, joined in the Carnival which had $800 prize money on offer.
Former members who had moved out of the area also returned to participate in the day.
Mr Tim White – representing the Burnett District Bowlers Association – presented men’s club President John Lacey with a framed 80th Birthday certificate, which will hang with pride in the club.
John said the bowls club wanted to sincerely thank Kingaroy residents, past and present members and the many local businesses who have given the club their support over the years.
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It’s believed the Kingaroy Bowls Club is the oldest bowls club in the South Burnett.
The idea for the club was first presented at a meeting of Kingaroy citizens and farmers on December 10, 1935.
At the time, it was hoped the club would be situated in Memorial Park.
The club’s first President, Mr W. C. Hervey, was elected two weeks later along with Mr O. S. Bond and Mr L. N. Freeman as Vice Presidents.
Mr E. S. Littlejohn was elected Treasurer, Mr S. Molen Secretary, and Mr W. J. Lang as Greens Director.
Mr E. B. Searle of Mitchell was elected as the Green Keeper, and affiliation was sought with the Wide Bay and Burnett District Association.
By January 1936, plans for the first green had been drawn up and construction was to start as soon as funds were available.
In February 1936 an application was made to the former Kingaroy Shire Council for 1000 pounds for the Memorial Park green, but this was rejected at a council meeting.
So in June, land was acquired in Youngman Street and construction of the green commenced. However, lack of rain in the area meant things progressed slowly.
The official opening of the six-rink green by the Queensland Bowlers Association took place on February 14, 1937 and on March 2, 1937 the new Kingaroy Bowls Club was officially opened with a membership of 60.
By 1938, the membership had risen to 80 and a Ladies Bowls Club was formed in October that year.
The club’s heyday was in the 1980s when membership rose to a peak of 240, but with age this has now declined to just over 100.
However, the current committee and the ladies and men’s Presidents are working hard to try and get the club back to its place as one of the social hubs of Kingaroy, and they are slowly seeing positive results for their efforts.
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80th Anniversary Carnival results:
- 1st Place: 2 Wins + Margin 35 – Nanango Bowls Club’s team of Henry Bliesner, Sharon Yeates, Sue Tucker and Glen Yeates (Skip)
- 2nd Place: 2 Wins + Margin 24 – Kingaroy Bowls Club’s team of Hugh Harrison, Bob Hammond, David Clapperton and John Coppard (Skip)
- 3rd Place: 2 wins + Margin 18 – Kingaroy Bowls Club’s team of Bess Thorpe, Wanda Carland, Paul Marychurch and Ray Maclaren (Skip)
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Nanango News
by Athol Jensen
On Tuesday, February 28 Round 1 and 2 of Nanango Bowls Club’s A Grade Championships the were played, with the following results:
- Allan Carr def. Trevor George 25-13
- Lew Saunders def. Mike Murray 28-22
- Jim Fowler def. Henry Bliesner 26-16
- Allan Carr def. Mike Smith 25-6
- Brian Havell def. Lew Saunders 26-14
The match between Glen Yeates and new member Steve Carland was eagerly waited for.
Each player was scoring one per end until Steve picked up a three for the biggest margin of the game, only to give Glen three on the next end.
After 17 ends, the score was 12-all, but then Glen slowly edged away to win 25 to 15.
Glen then went on to play Josh Fisher, winning 27-6.
In the other game of interest, Jim Fowler played the defending Champion Allan Wright.
This was another good game with the score 18-all on the 17th end.
But then Allan then showed his class, going on to win 25-18.
In the social, Heather Carr, Bob Hammond, Cec Bracken and Nev Lawrence defeated Evelyn Jensen, Sue Tucker, Allan Ward and John McConnell.
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Last Tuesday Nanango Bowls club played Social Triples, with scoring one for an end and six for a win.
Results:
- Bob Hammond, Mike Smith and Allan Carr – 21 pts
- Trevor George, Josh Fisher and Henry Bliesner – 18 pts
- Cec Bracken, Allan Ward and Brian Havell – 17 pts
- Evelyn Jensen, Sue Tucker and Glen Yeates – 14 pts
- Bob Hall, Mike Murray and Steve Carland – 12 pts
- Lew Saunders, John McConnell and Allan Wright – 9 pts
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On Nanango’s blackboard:
- Every Tuesday: Social (mufti) bowls, games start at 12:30pm
- Every Friday: Scroungers at 4:00pm
- Tuesday and Wednesday, March 7-8: Kingaroy Kia Ora Carnival
- Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12: Tansey Bottlebrush Carnival
- Saturday and Sunday, March 25-26: Murgon Men’s Triples
- Wednesday, March 29: Murgon Raintree Carnival
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Kilcoy News
by Trudi Pratt
On Sunday, February 26 the second round of the Webster Shield was played at Kilcoy.
The winners on the day were the Kilcoy team of Jef Welden, Kelly Charters and Pauline Lawson, who defeated Toogoolawah’s Karl Pfreimbter, Brian Loveland and Alan Johnston.
Overall, Kilcoy were the winners of this year’s Webster Shield by 348 to Toogoolawah’s 218.
Raffles on the day were won by Maxine Wilcox, Len Smyth, Bill Bradford, Karl Pfreimbter (two wins) and Tyrone Richter.
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Last Tuesday was Trophy Day, kindly sponsored by Marg and John Worrall and Beryl and Col Ferguson.
The raffle was won by Wendy Smith and Liz Frawley; Noel Lanes took Spider; and Touchers were Pater Playford, Liz Frawley, Wendy Smith, Grahame Derriman, Adam Kelly, John Worrall, Garry Jensen, Jan Biddle, Lex Biddle and Roger Moat.
The winners of the day were Lester Bechly, Pauline Lawson and Adam Kelly, who defeated Pam Taylor, Ian Smith and Peter Playford 30-10.
The Runners Up (drawn from the remaining cards) were Tom Brooks, Grahame Derriman and Phyl Coffee, who defeated Brett Kelly, Ernie Herbert and Lex Biddle 22-14.
Other results:
- Nev Johnston, Ann Pope and Garry Jensen def. Horst Myer, John Worrall and Darrell Coffee 19-18
- Noel Lanes, Wendy Smith and Dawn Phillips def. Trudi Pratt, Elayne Moat and Liz Frawley 20-14
- Michael Dunn, Jan Biddle and Terry Pratten def. Bill Edwards, Kelly Charters and Roger Moat 28-10
Meanwhile, in the club championships, Maxine Wilcox and Elayne Moat defeated Marg Worrall and Nelly Herbert 26-11 in the Ladies Pairs; and Nelly Herbert defeated Ann Pope 25-17 in the A Ladies Singles.
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On Kilcoy’s blackboard:
- Sunday, March 5: 1st round Men’s Singles, 1:00pm
- Saturday, March 18: Club selected bowls sponsored by Lester Bechly and Jamie Mitchell; St Patrick’s Day theme, two games, 1:00pm start; names on the men’s board no later than 12 noon on the day. Open to men, ladies and new bowlers (bowls available); $10 per player includes bowls and sausage sizzle.
- Every Tuesday: Mixed social bowls; names by 9:00am for a 9:30am start
