Woombye Bowls Club Celebrates 75 wonderful years
Board members John Thornton, Allan Sandercock, Allan Lambert, Elliott Mitchell, Helen Rudolph and Graham Rudolph are planning great events for the anniversary.
Woombye Bowls Club is one of the oldest sporting clubs on the Sunshine Coast and this year is celebrating its 75th Anniversary, its Diamond Jubilee.
In March 1947, a public meeting was called at the Woombye School of Arts, to consider the possibility of a bowls club for the town. Twenty enthusiastic bowlers turned up at this meeting and from there the humble Woombye Bowls Club began. It wasn’t until December that year that the first minutes of a meeting were recorded. This was to consider the formation of Woombye Bowls Club.
Initially, a site at the Woombye Sports-ground was considered, but was ruled out due to the risk of flooding. The current Bowls Club’s site was secured by fate, as the local tennis club had levelled land for courts, but were unable to proceed. The Club Committee snapped up the opportunity to secure this site and paid the final payment of $43 for the work to be completed.
The first “clubhouse” was a 3.5m x 3m tarpaulin supported by 4 poles on forked sticks and work commenced to create a bowling green. Sugar cane trucks were used, loaded with soil and pushed on lengths of tram line up the hill. Gradually the site was levelled and it wasn’t until October 13th 1951 that the first green was officially opened.
Finance was a continuing problem for the Club, but the enthusiasm of its members and support from generous sponsors, enabled the Club to grow. In fact, there are still family members of the original members playing today.
Woombye Bowls Club is well established in the town and is supported by a membership approaching three hundred. Its bowling greens are recognised as one of the best on the Sunshine Coast and its bowling members have secured numerous accolades over the past 75 years.
Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
To celebrate this milestone, the Club has arranged to hold a number of bowling events on October 5, 6 and 7, involving Corporate teams, neighbouring clubs and members. Celebrations will then culminate with a Diamond Jubilee Dinner to be held on Saturday, 8th October, with live entertainment, a two-course meal and the Club Award Presentations.
Woombye Bowls Club is proud to achieve this 75th anniversary and will look forward to future milestones that the Club can celebrate.
Get a team together for Social Bowls Tournament
As part of Woombye Bowls Club’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the club is hosting a Community Social Bowls Tournament on Wednesday nights from September 7 to October 5.
It starts at 6pm Each Wednesday night and they’re looking for teams. Entry is $50 per team for the 2 Bowl Triples events (2 Games Of Seven Ends Each Week).
A weekly Green Fee of $5 per player is also required. A Total Prize Pool of about $1000 includes weekly prizes and winners’ prizemoney. A light meal will be provided each night. To enter iclose45@yahoo.com.au or woombyebowlsclubinc@gmail.com, Ivan Close 0412 587 329 or Clancy at Club on 5294 5245.