The Friday 18th February, 2022 edition of the Bowls NSW Newsletter follows:

Welcome to the mid-month February edition of the Bowls NSW Newsletter!

2022 is off to a flying start with the recently completed Australian Indoor Qualifiers held across five of our quality indoor venues. A huge congratulations to our qualifiers who will join the 2021 qualifiers at Tweed Heads in the 2022 Australian Indoor Championships.

State Carnival entries have officially opened, and for the first time the event will feature a Men’s and Women’s Carnival. Enter your team today and join in the biggest carnival on the Bowls NSW calendar.

There have been some incredible developments at clubs over the past few weeks, highlighted by the reopening of Miller Park Bowling Club and the significant Government funding received by both Bourke and Lightning Ridge Bowling Clubs. Read more on these amazing stories and more below.

NSW Government Grassroots Sport Fund

Applications are now open for bowling clubs to receive a grant from the NSW Government Grassroots Sport Fund.

The Grassroots Sport Fund will provide a one-off grant of up to $1,000 to around 12,500 eligible local clubs and associations across the State to assist them with recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 and the recommencement of community sport.

Click here to read more about the Community Sport Recovery Package Guidelines

How to Apply:

To apply to receive a grant, clubs will need to complete the following survey: click here

These eligibility assessments MUST be completed by the 7th March 2022

If you require assistance to complete the survey, please contact membership@bowlsnsw.com.au.

Click here to read more

2022 Indoor Qualifiers Confirmed

After four days of play, the 2022 Indoor Qualifiers have been completed with fifteen women and eight men securing their place in the 2022 Australian Indoor Championships to be played at Tweed Heads from 15-19 August.

Congratulations to the following players who will now join the 2021 Indoor Qualifiers in the expanded Indoor Championships:

Women’s Qualifiers

Christine McGarrity (Tura Beach), Elizabeth Gray (Tuncurry Beach), Kylie Hardy (Port City), Adelle Pearson (Soldiers Point), Linda O’Reilly (South Tamworth), Anneita McDean (Kurri Kurri), Eugenie Muncaster (Kurri Kurri), Melanie L’Estrange (South Tamworth), Vikki Wilson (Figgy Sports), Kim Brough (Taren Point), Jackie Short (St Johns Park), Rhonda Ingrati (St Georges Basin CC), Kay Moran (Figgy Sports), Jenny Hepburn (Neutral Bay), Ellen Falkner MBE (Cabramatta).

Men’s Qualifiers

Greg Mallard (Merimbula), Joshua Carney (Westport), James Cook (Gwandalan), Rohan Dennis (Merrylands), David Hutchison (Beresfield), Aaron Teys (Warilla), Anthony Moran (Engadine), Matty Miles (Figgy Sports).

Click here to read more

Click here to access the Bowls NSW Ltd Website

2022 State Carnival Entries Released

Entries into the 2022 State Carnivals are officially open!

The biggest carnival on the Bowls NSW calendar promises to be better than ever with the inclusion of a Men’s State Carnival in 2022.

With so many players set to experience the State Carnival for the first time, here’s a quick summary of what you need to know:

Each event takes place across multiple venues. The 2022 Women’s State Carnival will be in the Shoalhaven Region and the 2022 Men’s State Carnival will be in the Wollongong Region.
The events run from 2nd – 6th May 2022.
Players enter in teams of four. Every team competes in sectional play over the first three days, with each day of play taking place at a different venue.
Post-sectional knockout rounds take place over the final two days at a single host venue. The Women’s finals will be at Bomaderry Bowling Club, and the Men’s finals will take place at Figtree Sports.
Team members do not need to be from the same club.

Most importantly, the State Carnival is about having fun! With over $25,000* in prize money on offer over both carnivals and a guaranteed three days of play spread around great venues, the State Carnival promises to be a fantastic event.

So, what should you do next? Grab a couple of your mates and enter your side today!

Click here for more information

Narooma Seeking Head Greenkeeper

Narooma Sporting & Services Club Group is currently seeking a trade-qualified Head Greenkeeper for an immediate start to lead their Facilities Team. This is a permanent position with above award remuneration for the right candidate.

This is a great opportunity to join a dedicated team of greenkeepers working across two sites with an emphasis on presenting the clubs' bowling greens to the highest standards.
If you are seeking an opportunity to develop your career and work in a progressive, best practice organisation, the club invites you to email a resume together with a cover letter.

Click here for more information

Bourke & Lightning Ridge Secure Government Funding

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Bourke and Lightning Ridge Bowling Club have secured NSW Government funding to build new infrastructure that will enable local communities to participate in lawn bowls. The regional NSW clubs were both included as successful applicants in Round 2 of the Regional Sport Facilities Fund recently announced by the Office of Sport.

The Fund aims to assist eligible organisations to develop quality core sport infrastructure that will meet the current and future needs of the community. The successful applications will prove to be a huge boost for both the clubs and lawn bowls within the regions. Bourke Bowling Club will receive $485,000 for the construction of a world bowls accredited synthetic bowling green, including installation of a new drainage system, new plinths, base and an overhanging shade canopy.

Lightning Ridge Bowling Club has been granted $906,000 to construct an all-weather cover and install new lighting on the synthetic bowling green to encourage participation from people of all ages, particularly during the summer period.

Bowls NSW CEOs Greg Helm and Anne Johns were thrilled with Bourke and Lightning Ridge’s successful applications. “The funding provided by the NSW Government to our bowling clubs will not only provide much-improved facilities for participation, it will also ensure that our sport and our clubs can continue to serve communities all across NSW.”

“We would like to thank the NSW Government for supporting these essential developments. Our sport prides itself on being accessible to people of all ages, genders and abilities. The generous funding received from the NSW Government will allow our member clubs the ability to act as a sporting and community hub for locals in their region.”

If your club would like to know more about Government Funding opportunities, you can contact your local Regional Bowls Manager (RBM).

Click here to read more

A Pub With No Fear – The Miller Park Story

Off the New England Highway in Branxton sits Miller Park Sports and Recreation Hotel, a pub that recently reopened its doors to locals. Over the Australia Day public holiday, they held an open day to showcase the venue’s refreshed design, modern layout and their new state-of-the-art synthetic green.

That’s right. A pub, with a fully functioning bowling green.

It was a sight that bemused some visitors as they strolled out to view the surface. “Why would a pub need a bowling green?” “Surely, they can’t have this here.”
To Dale McNamara, the new owner of Miller Park, hearing these comments are like water off a duck’s back. The Singleton businessman, who has an extensive property portfolio, knew exactly what his vision was for Miller Park.

“People said I couldn’t put a bowling green on a pub, but here we are.”

As a crowd of locals gathered around outside for the official opening of the green, Dale took the opportunity to speak about the reaffiliation of Miller Park Bowling Club and acknowledge the efforts of the many people who had helped get the Club back to where it is today.

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