JIM FAGAN
With too many lawn bowls clubs shutting their doors, a frustrated Bob King has told Bowls Australia and Bowls Queensland leaders that bowls “is going backwards and it’s time to stop the rot.”
Bob is chairman of the management committee of Noosa Heads Bowls Club, which sold its freehold site at Noosa Junction for $3.2 million to Coles in November 2011 to clear its debts and is desperately looking for another venue before it has to leave in May next year.
“In a short space of time the Sunshine Coast District Bowls’ Association has lost Peregian Beach, Maroochy Swan, Mooloolah Valley and Montville. This week the Cooroy club was put on the market and maybe soon to go could be Noosa Heads. The loss of freehold land makes it even worse,” Bob said.
He told Noosa Today the failed policy of trying to attract young and very young people should be secondary to focussing on the 35 to 45-year-old market. “All aspects of our game are being run by people who are too old. The young kids do not and cannot be administrators but people 35 and up will bring new ideas and expertise to administration at all levels.”
He said it was a shame that much of members’ affiliation fees are spent on so called elite bowlers for no return of new memberships to clubs.
“Look at the newspaper coverage. It is almost nil. When was the last time you saw a photograph of an Australian who won a world title or Commonwealth gold medal. If anything is used, we have to approach the paper and provide the information and the photograph.”
He also called for the setting up of a cartel for food, drink and sponsorships using the buying power of Australian bowlers. “This will be the only way we will be able to compete with Coles, Woolworths, hotels, taverns, liquor outlets, RSL clubs and social clubs. Currently we, and other small clubs, have to buy from bottle stores.”
Asked about the club’s search for a new site, he said it was still looking. There was something in mind but “it was too early to say anything. Let’s just say we’re hopeful we may be lucky enough to find a place for ourselves.”
And what would happen if nothing was found before May next year? We have a large sum of money in the bank and last September we closed our books to membership, leaving us with 180 or so members. The money is distributed under the Charities Act and must go to a like organisation or to charity.
“In the event of us having to close down, each member who wants to continue playing will take a portion to another club like, say, Tewantin, Coolum or Pomona.”
