Clubs

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BOWLING CLUB

BOWLING CLUB OPENS

“In 1934 Nat Ball was introduced to the game of bowls by his brother Robert, of Nedlands.
He decided with the assistance of Dorrie, to establish a bowling club in Gnowangerup. The council agreed to assist, and soon the ground was ready for planting.
It was 1946 and a very dry year. During that first summer, Nat carted water in a tank on his truck.
He and Dorrie watered the new grass by hand. Using a watering can they nurtured the green grass until the rains came.
Nat bought many secondhand sets of bowls from the Nedlands Bowling Green. He loaned these sets to other would-be members, to encourage them to join the club.

 

NAT  BALL                  #1
 

GNOWANGERUP BOWLING CLUB  1940                  #2
 

GNOWANGERUP BOWLING CLUB 1940                  #3
Mrs. N. P. DAVIS, Mrs. NAT BALL,
N.P. DAVIS, T. PINNER, C. COCKRAM, P. JOHNSTON
 

Nat held the position of President for 12 years. He won the single and pairs championship, often teaming up with John Anderson, Bill Cuneo and Norman Davis.
He was a life member at Gnowangerup and Tambellup, a club he also helped to establish, and was later made Patron of both clubs. Nat was President of the Great Southern Bowling Association, and singles champion for three years.
Nat held the position of umpire for the WABA for twenty eight years, and was a coach at the South Perth Civic Centre Bowling Green for thirteen years.
He represented the RWABA for a period of thirteen years.

 

GNOWANGERUP BOWLING CLUB                  #4
TOP-DRESSING THE GREEN  BASIL HARRIS' CAR

Bowling was a way of life for Nat. He loved the game. He was widely known and sincerely respected. Dorrie was his greatest supporter, when she died a two minute silence was held at the bowling clubs of Mt Barker, Tambellup and Gnowangerup. A tribute which meant so much to Dorrie's family and a recognition of the support Dorrie had given to Nat and to the game of bowls.
Nat had a bowling rink laid down beside the garden on Lyndhurst and it was there he entertained his friends and family, and had a right royal good time until his retirement to South Perth.”

Above Article Written by Una Abbott née Ball.

 


 

 GNOWANGERUP BOWLING CLUB                  #5
Standing T. PINNER, Bowling I. ANDERSON
 

Despite the departure of many men on active service the Gnowangerup Bowling Club was formed in 1941 to be one of four country clubs formed during the Second World War years. Many more bowling clubs were to follow in the post-war boom era of 1945-1963 during which a League restructure was proposed to deal with the extra bowling clubs in the country regions. Gnowangerup would become part of the newly formed Central Great Southern League which would later be restructured again to be now known as the Central Stirling Bowling League. With 2 synthetic bowling greens and a reasonably stable membership of 44 men and women, the Gnowangerup Bowling Club continues to be a central part of the Gnowangerup town and surrounding community.

GNOWANGERUP BOWLING CLUB  1940          #6

 

 


 

GNOWANGERUP BOWLING CLUB        #7
W. LOHOAR IN ACTION 1949
 

GNOWANGERUP BOWLING CLUB                  #8
LADIES DAY

 

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

 

References:                 Article:      Written by Una Abbott née Ball.

                                  Image:     2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7           Una Abbott née Ball.

 


Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2023