End of an Era
HISTORY NOTES. ( 1960 - 2014 ) 16th May, 2014.
LOWER NORTH COAST DISTRICT BOWLING ASSOCIATION
The Lower North Coast has fourteen (14) member Clubs founded in the following years:-
1921 - Kempsey (Kempsey-Macleay RSL)
1934 - Smithtown (Smithtown Memorial RSL & Nestles Smithtown)
1938 - Port City (Port Macquarie & East Port)
1948 - Wauchope (Country Club)
1953 - North Haven (Bowling & Recreation)
1958 - South West Rocks (Country Club / The Rocks)
1958 - Westport (Grand United PMQ West & The Westport Club)
1959 - Kempsey Heights (Grand United & Fountain on the Mountain)
1963 - Crescent Head (Country Club)
1963 - Hat Head (Bowling & Recreation)
1972 - Comboyne (Ex-Services & Citizens / Mountain Men )
1972 - Lake Cathie (Bowling & Recreation / Home of the Big Bowl)
1978 - Port Panthers (Port Macquarie RSL / Hibbard)
1985 - Kew (Camden Haven Golf)
Stuarts Point, founded in 1968, was an original member and around 2006, were permitted to join the Mid North Coast Association.
As can be seen, there have been some name changes to some Clubs owing to amalgamation, resale etc., highlighting the financial difficulties that are faced by all. Some Clubs have taken on a catchphrase name for marketing purposes to assist them in their futures and each will tell you that their’s is the best, which it is.
The District adopted the colours of green and white and since 1960 has had twenty (20) Presidents, fourteen (14) Secretaries and (13) thirteen Life Memberships bestowed on worthy recipients. Our current District membership is about 1800.
In October, 1995, a steering committee was formerly elected at the Scotts Head BC and our District joined with the Mid North Coast District to form our present Zone 14 Association. This move coincided with the restructure of the State bowling fraternities into sixteen (16) Zones. Prior to this, our Clubs were part of the Zone 1 Association that stretched north to the Queensland border.
This year, 2014, brings about the dissolution of the District as an Association and it will be administered on a Zone Alone basis that will still include the Mid North Coast District. This historic move gives all Clubs a direct vote and input into the running affairs of our sport and eliminates the middle management structure.
SUCCESS
Any body is judged by the achievements of its personnel and being a lawn bowling fraternity, our District has contested events at all levels from Club to State to Australian with some pride and distinction. The obvious events are the popular State Pennants, followed by State and Australian titles. A small list of some successes with the records available are as follows:-
PENNANTS
All Clubs, with the exception of Comboyne, have at some time in their history won a District Pennant competition. The most prolific winner has been the Port Macquarie (Port City) Club with over ninety (90) flags over the years
Some Clubs have tasted success at State level as shown in the following table, but early records are not known:
1989 - Kemp. Hts. (Grade 4 R/Up)
1994 - Stuarts Point (Grade 7)
1994 - Westport (Grade 1)
1994 - Smithtown RSL (Grade 5)
1995 - Hat Head (Grade 7)
1998 - Kempsey Heights (Grade 2)
1999 - PM RSL (Grade 1)
1999 - PM RSL (Grade 3 R/Up)
2001 - Port City (Grade 2)
2006 - Kemp. Hts. (Grade 7 R/Up)
2012 - Crescent Head (Grade 6)
The District Pennant competitions have comprised different grades over the years and the records below show those that have been contested.
1961 - 1969 Grades 1, 2 & 3.
1970 - 1973 Grades 1,2,3 & 4.
1974 - 1986 Grades 1,2,3,4, & 5.
1987 Grades 1,2 3 4 5 & 6.
1988 - 2014 ** Grades 1 to 7.
** There was no play of Grade 7 in 1988 or Grades 6 & 7 from 1989 - 1992 and Grade 7 in 1993 but a full compliment has been contested since. The success rate over the MNCDBA at Zone playoff level since formation in 1995 is about 70/50.
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Our first recorded District Singles winner was D. Boorer from Gloucester BC in 1946 (the Manning District formed part of our District back then, but became its own entity about 1959-60).
Our most prolific winner in Singles has been Jim Steele from Port Macquarie BC (Port City) with eleven (11) titles ranging from 1951 -1971 and our next highest achiever was Bill Harvey from Kempsey-Macleay RSL with eight (8) titles - 1956-84.
The following records highlight some of the successes of District bowlers in both State and Australian events and State representation :
NSW STATE REPRESENTATIVES
1991 Michael Burgess & John Snell (Lake Cathie) v Queensland
2005/2011 Bryce Stewart (WP & PC) - State Senior Side
2005 Michael Burgess (Port Panthers) v Queensland
2008/2009 John O’Neill (Port City) - State Senior Side
2011/2012 Shane Globits (North Haven) - v Vic & WA / Queensland
2013 Ken Paulsen (Port City) - State Senior Side
**** Ian Stone (S) & Peter Stockham (WP) - different District/Zone
AUSTRALIAN TITLES
2004 C of State C Singles - Bruce Anderson (WP) - Runner Up
2004 C of State C Pairs - Mark Parry/Michael Burgess (LC) - QF
2014 Open Mixed Pairs - Greg Brims PC) / Jenny Roberts (LC) - Won
STATE TITLES
1994 SinglesGraham Triffitt (W/P) - Runner Up
1995 SinglesIan Stone (Smithtown) - Runner Up
1997 SinglesBruce Anderson (P/C) - Runner Up
2004 SinglesBruce Anderson (W/P) - Winner
1989 Pairs Michael Burgess / John Snell (LC) - Winners
2004 Pairs Michael Burgess / Mark Parry (PP) - Winners
2012 Pairs Col Baldwin / Peter Stockham (WP) - Runners Up
1996 Triples Frank Smith/Graham Triffitt/Bruce Anderson (WP) - Winners
2009 Triples Keith Martin/Greg Brims/Mark Prior (WP) - Runners Up
2000 Fours C. Howard/D. Gabb/B. Cullen/D. Forrest (KH) - Runners Up
2008 Fours T. Burley/R. Gill/C. Howard/J. Bourke (KH) - Winners
2010 Fours J. Fathers/P. Taylor/G. Brims/S. Globits (WP) - Winners
2008 C of CC Singles - Peter Taylor (KH) - Runner Up
2007 Senior Singles - Bruce Anderson (WP) - Winner
2008 Senior Singles - Keith Martin (WP) - Winner
2005 Senior Pairs - Ivor Gamlin/ Laurie Dodd (KH) - Runners Up
1999 PR Singles - William Hazelwood (KH) - Runner Up
2004 PR Singles - David Brims (LC) - Runner Up
2000 PR Pairs - Geoff Ball / Ted Murphy (CH) - Runners Up
2012 PR Pairs - Jim Eccleston / Gary Russell (PC) - Winners
THE FUTURE
It is envisaged that though the name ‘Association’ will be taken out of the District, it will continue to operate as an ‘Area’, thus our recognised emblem of LNCDBA (on badges, caps, hats, jackets, shirts etc.) can still be utilised with the ‘A’ meaning area. It is thought that the District colours should remain and if there are any future boundary changes, any new area of Clubs that may come into the new Zone could retain their previous name and colours to facilitate a distinction. A final decision is yet to be made on this, but it seems practicable and would eliminate a considerable financial outlay until all current District property etc. is exhausted. If instigated, it would also allow the use of area websites for future years.
Discussions leading to the eventual decision to go with the Zone Alone Administration included what impact a central governing body would have upon the everyday bowlers and Clubs alike. This is particularly relevant to participation in all present and future Bowls NSW Association events like State Championships and Pennants, starting at Club level and continuing to the State Finals. In essence, all areas (Clubs and bowlers) will be under the administrative control of the Zone but operate separately with an elected Zone sub committee in charge. There will be no extra travel involved under this format and therefore the average bowler should not be affected or notice much difference. District and inter District area competitions will still be played as normal, with awards (Pennant pins etc.) presented as in previous years.
Greater emphasis will be placed on the use of modern, fast and efficient technology to obligate the workload (computers, scanners, printers, mobile phones, iPads etc.) and Clubs and their members will be encouraged to have, learn and use them for mutual benefits. It is appreciated that many people do not like change, but change we must if we are to survive in the future. The fact that the vote passed by our District Clubs to centralise, using this technology, was unanimous, is proof that it is the approved right decision. Club’s will, for the first time, have a direct vote at Zone level and most communications will be via email, therefore it is vital to be conversant with internet technology and the sooner the better for all.
It has also been raised that our 2014 Calendar should be completed as normal with all event trophies, badges, plaques etc. awarded for the final time and then 2015 will begin the new era. This coming August, our new, duly elected Zone Committees will be in office and charged with the responsibility of that transition period until the end of the year and getting ready for the 2015 season. Though these matter have not been officially decided yet, they tick most of the boxes for an effective changeover.
The need for experienced people to lead our new Zone structure is vital. The ability, knowledge and skills of individuals are prime requisites for a successful team. We already have some people with those credentials serving as Officials and it is hoped that at election time, Clubs will vote for those candidates they think will best work and lead us to achieve the aims and objects of the new Zone Alone body.
RECORDS
This précis has been compiled using available records and local knowledge and was intended to impart a small section of the District’s history prior to its farewell.
During research, inaccuracies were found and some records were missing, so if anyone could provide corrections and/or details, it would be much appreciated to ‘set the records straight’ as the saying goes. Please contact the undersigned if you can assist as this dedication will be placed onto our website at www.lnczone14.bowls.com.au for posterity and future interest of all. Please check out and support our website for a huge amount of information re Clubs, news, updates, events, results etc.
SUMMARY
A celebration and suitable transcription was in order to mark all the pride, tradition and recognition of the hard slog that went into making the District a leader in the State’s history of lawn bowling. A work in progress is now at it’s end after all those years and as the doors shut on it, others open, inviting us to begin another exciting adventure. It would have been remiss if something was not done to give some acknowledgment of that and it is on that note that we must now say well done, well played, goodbye and happy memories.
Finally, a huge thank you to all who have played their part in making the Lower North Coast District Bowling Association the success it became and represented all those years during its incorporation. It is now time to unite and concentrate on the next exciting stage of our future by making the Zone 14 Bowling Association one of, if not, the best in the State.
Yours Sincerely,
Ken Errington
LNC District President.
Phone: 6582 3500
lilypond@midcoast.com.au