Help Wanted

[gavin holburn]

Bowls QLD has declined an invitation to send a side of Juniors to the NSW Combined High Schools Exchange event at Port Macquarie in Sept in the week prior to the Junior u18 C'ships.

They did not pass the invite on to a Gold Coast or other District as asked. Does anyone have a contact name and preferably email address for someone who is either a coordinator of Junior bowls in these areas or simply an interested person?? The opposition will include the best bowlers in NSW and possibly NZ, but even a progressive Club side looking for some development would satisfy my current needs. The aim is to expand the event as part of my plan to introduce an Australian Schools Championships.

PS have tried PM'ing Greg Kelly (unsuccessfully)- thought Tweed would be a good place to start.

[gavin holburn]

Just wanted to add that I had many helpful emails with Brett Murphy at Bowls Qld, who has given me a Gold Coast number. I am looking to move the event in future years away from the Aust u18 C'ships which may suit Bowls Qld, but would like to find an interested Qld party for this years event. Anyone know of any Clubs with numerous Juniors who may be interested?

[DWilksy]

Pine Rivers, Helensvale, South Tweed, Bribie Island.

[gavin holburn]

Pine Rivers, Helensvale, South Tweed, Bribie Island.

Thanks Wilksy. Might start with South Tweed and work my way up.

[noddy]

Pine Rivers, Helensvale, South Tweed, Bribie Island.

Bribie Island had some very good juniors mid last year when I was up there. Held the QLD State Open there as well last July / August

[gavin holburn]

Thanks, Noddy. I have finally got contact with Greg Kelly and I am hoping that something will come to fruition from there first.

This is hopefully the first step in the long process of establishing an Australian All Schools Bowls Championships.

[noddy]

Good luck with it Gavin. Hope you have more interest than we had in our town. Both high schools approached with an offer of up to $2000-00 sponsorship for a couple of juniors for a year. Not one responce from either school.

[gavin holburn]

I've been working with kids bowls in schools for about 18 yrs. Any successful uptake requires a very enthusiastic/ supportive teacher at the school AND a similar person within the Club. When trying to develop the game in Western Sydney schools I always sent letters to both schools and Clubs which listed what the probable expectations and limitations that each would find with the other so they both knew what they were in for. If only one keen person (Club OR school) then in most instances the programs fade away. My programs often concentrated on getting the teachers trained and interested BEFORE the kids.

Anyway, I am currently more associated with the top end of things in the state at the moment and am looking to provide more pathways for bowlers within the school systems so that newly interested players can see something to aspire to.