Local Bowls On The Backburner
Following a lengthy discussion at last week’s Northern District Bowls AGM, clubs voted 6-3 to not begin pennant until January 2021. Side issues such as heat, masks, permits and social distancing took the attention of delegates away from the...
Following a lengthy discussion at last week’s Northern District Bowls AGM, clubs voted 6-3 to not begin pennant until January 2021. Side issues such as heat, masks, permits and social distancing took the attention of delegates away from the original issue, how soon could we begin pennant, the life-blood of our clubs.
With clubs over the river pretty unrestricted, it was hoped we would plan to follow suit. But further decisions could possibly be made after the next alteration of Victorian restrictions on October 19.
Meanwhile, all our neighbouring Associations have set early commencement dates, with Murray Valley to commence next weekend.
Pat Schram (City of Echuca) and now a Board member of Bowls Victoria, gave an insight into regional restructuring. She is part of the panel overseeing the consolidation of bowls administration throughout Victoria, with our region, Murray Mallee, to be run by a central board consisting of delegates from each of the four current Divisions, which will no longer exist after 2021.
It sounds too many like a page out of the Dan Andrew’s playbook, removing locals as far away as possible from administering their sport on a local basis. Time will tell its effectiveness, but running a body stretching from Wentworth to Pyramid Hill will take a lot more than computer technology.
In other business, the current executive was re-elected, being Tony Cantwell (President), Marie Scott (Secretary) and Yvonne Eckhardt (Treasurer), with Ian Main and Alan Thomas making up the Board.
One match committee (three men and three ladies) will control all NDBD events, which, unlike pennant, are to start immediately. Obviously the health concerns aren’t a worry to the elite bowlers.
As our finances will eventually be passed on to the new body, it was decided to reduce fees for clubs to $15 per pennant team, although individual capitation fees were unchanged, also $15. This also reflects Bowls Victoria’s decision to halve all their charges for the current season.
Life member Ian Mues again will be Saturday pennant recorder, although we mourned the absence at the meeting of fellow life member and past -president Alf Ryland, who passed away last week.
Fellow Life-Member Geoff McGraw was also an absentee, having had a nasty collision with a stray beast en route. Fortunately he emerged unscathed, although his vehicle was a write-off.
