April 2024 Newsletter
Chairman’s Corner
Roger Parks
Bowls Committee
The Bowls Committee is responsible for managing bowls operations including club competitions, social selections, coaching and umpires. The Committee is chaired by Gary Forster and the other members included Phil Lewis (Bowls Secretary), Susie Meares, Gerry Ryman and Steve Murphy. If you have any queries about bowls arrangements, please don’t hesitate to ask any one of them.
Fives Games
We know most members do not like to play in fives games. However, the law of averages dictates we will have an odd number of bowlers every second bowls day. It is not club policy to turn away bowlers who wish to play. The social selectors make every effort to share the fives games around, so if you are selected to play in a fives games, please accept it with good grace.
Please see the description of an alternative way of playing fives games set out in the Editor’s section below.
Meeting with Matt Cross MP
Following the club receiving a 70% increase in the liquor licence fee, I met with the local state MP, Matt Cross to let him know. He was sympathetic and contacted the Daily Telegraph to see if they would do a follow up article regarding the NSW government and its large rent increase for bowling clubs on crown land.
A Daily Telegraph reporter contacted me, and they published an article on Friday 12 April.
While our club wasn’t mentioned, they did highlight the difficulties bowling clubs are facing at the hands of the NSW government. I believe the clubs mentioned in the article are much worse off than us, as they do not own their land.
Family Day
Please note Sunday 26 May in your diary for family bowls and barbecue event. It will be a great day to bring family and friends to socialise and introduce them to lawn bowls.
More details to later in this newsletter.
2024-2025 Fees
The Board has determined that the annual subscription for members will increase by $10 to $300. Green fees will remain unchanged at $22 for a full game and $15 for a half game.
New Members
I would like to extend a warm welcome to a new bowling member who has joined the club recently, Finn Jorgensen .
Vale Diane Goldring
The Club sadly noted the recent passing of Diane Goldring. Diane was a bowler for many years, originally a member of the original East Lindfield Women’s Bowling Club, and the Gordon BC before joining us in 2018. Her good humour and friendly nature will be missed.,
Roger Parks
Chairman
From the Women’s President
Louise Amos
Lindfield Rollers entered a Division 2 side in the 2023-2024 Women’s Pennant which took place from 6 February to 12 March 2024. There were four clubs competing for the flag which included us, St Ives, Belrose and Mosman. At the end of R6, Lindfield Rollers was on top of the ladder with four points ahead of St Ives at 23:19. The rained-out match on 20 February needed to be played to determine the winner. This took place on 2 April and we went in with the hope of getting one point to retain the flag. Much to our disappointment, we were not able to achieve the task and lost to a better side on the day.
Thank you to all the selected players for their time, effort and commitment. They are Lap Chen, Marlene Black, Janice Crocker, Julie Dunn, Ngoc Hau, Berri Maraney, Susie Meares, Jo Millyard and Jenny Rowland (reserve). We should be proud of our efforts for having such a good season. Special mention to Jo since this is her first Pennant season.
The Fives Competition consists of players who have never played bowls before January 2019. Lindfield Rollers entered a team in this District competition and finished in second place behind Neutral Bay. All members of the team played in at least one game and from the feedback received, it was quite evident that everyone really enjoyed the experience.
The members of the Fives team were Chic Strachan, Beverley Morrison, Lilian Horton, Helen James, Rennie Fritschy, Lee Gardiner and Lorraine Forster.
Susie Meares and I are two of 16 players selected to represent the North Shore District in the Anita Linden Trophy competition. This will be played on Monday 22 April 2024 at Dundas Sports and Recreation Club against the Manly-Warringah District. This will be the last Anita Linden Trophy competition before the two districts will be joined together to form the new Metro North-East Bowls Region from 1 July 2024.
Ngoc Hau and I have entered in the Champion of Champion Pairs competition which will take place between 29 April and 3 May 2024.
We are thinking of a few of our women bowlers who have not been bowling for some time while recovering from injuries and health challenges. On behalf of the club, I would like to wish Lilian Horton, Linda Nelson and Anne Rands all the best and look forward to seeing them back on the green soon.
Di Goldring sadly passed away last month. Vale to a valued member of the club.
A brush turkey joined the Fives team for some fun during one of their matches!
Louise Amos
Women’s President
Financial Update from the Treasurer
At our most recent Board Meeting (10/4/24) I provided an update of our financial performance for the 9 months ended 31 March, 2024.
The first 9 months of this financial year has slipped by at a rapid rate and when time moves so quickly, we always need to be on top of where we are at with our trading and performance and financial strength.
To put things into simple terms, our 9 months of trading can be summarised as follows:
· Total income $283,501
· Total Expenses $266,234
· Net profit for the 9 months $17,267
Net Profit as at 31/3/24 is an improvement on the same period last year of +$698. While not a lot, it is nevertheless an improvement and in line with our expectations. This is despite some large expenditure increases your club has had to absorb, including electricity costs and council rates.
Our cash reserves have been steadily improving over the nine months and now stand at $310,935. This amount is an increase of $29,561 on last year and is going some way to replenishing our cash reserves, following large legal expenditure associated with the aborted club merger.
The one aspect of our financial performance that is always very nice to report on is the way our members continue to attend our bowling days. Our playing numbers are again very solid this year and nicely ahead of our plan. Green fees collected during the nine months are up $12,580 on last year to $69,951. A huge thank you to all members.
Despite our ever-increasing cost base your Board has seen the need to increase full Membership Fees for the year commencing 1/7/24 by $10.00, a very modest increase. Green Fees will remain unchanged at $22.00 per game / $15.00 half game.
One last point, please note that if any member would like access to view our monthly / quarterly financial results in detail please don’t hesitate to ask me. I would be more than happy to share this information with you.
Ian Kimmorley
Treasurer
A Word from the Editor
FIVES GAMES
Our social selectors do an excellent and often thankless job, trying to provide each of us with a good variety of competition and bowling games whenever we play. On any given day, when the players registered to play amount to an even number, most people are satisfied with the selection. On those days when we have an uneven number, it is usually necessary for the selectors to schedule a fives game. They do their best to spread this less satisfactory format around to all of us over time.
Most players adapt by simply asking one player to lead for both sides, which is okay but does not always work well. There is another alternative way of playing a fives game that you may find more enjoyable. My thanks go to Roger Parks for providing a description of this alternative format, which I have set out below.
A popular way of playing a fives game is using this sequence every end:
Red team lead
Blue team lead
Blue team second
Red team lead
Blue team lead
Blue team second
Red team lead
Blue team lead
Blue team second
Red team lead
Red team skip
Blue team skip
Red team skip
Blue team skip
Red team skip
Blue team skip
Red team skip
The team that rolls the jack is the one that won the previous end.
The Blue teams’ 3 players have 9 bowls. The Red team has 2 players and 8 bowls. However, the Red team has the last bowl every end.
It might appear complicated, but experience shows the players get the hang of it very quickly.
CLUBMAP
Louise Amos would like us all to know that Brett Hughes, Head of Club Support at Bowls Australia, is running a series of webinars that will be of interest to many of our members.
These can be accessed at:
Bowls Australia CLUBMAP resource hub:
https://hub.clubmap.com.au/course/bowls-resources-hub
The resource hub is a great centre full of important information, including the webinars, to help your club on a wide range of topics. You can also register for a club health check via the resource hub.
On Tuesday, 9th April the webinar addressed coaching, training and drills, giving access to some of the best bowls minds going around! This and all webinars are available to watch on demand via the link above.
The next webinar will take place on Tuesday 14th May and will take a look at Grants. Head to the resource hub link above to register now for the next webinar.
Louise has also booked Brett Hughes to visit our club at 11am on 8 May. Time permitting, he may stay for a social game.
VALE
As mentioned by Louise Amos and Roger Parks, we lost Di Goldring recently. Di came to Lindfield when the Gordon Bowling Club closed down. Prior to that she was a member of the East Lindfield Women’s Bowling Club. A very friendly lady, Di was always cheerful, loved the game of lawn bowls and while she was a lady small in stature she had a very big heart.
We also note that Bill Caldwell passed away recently at the age of 94.
Bill was a retired solicitor who was a long-term member of Roseville and also played at Lindfield for a couple of years after the amalgamation before his age caught up with him.
Whilst at Roseville he acted as a social selector for a number of years but was most famous for complaining about the teapots leaking at afternoon tea. At a subsequent Annual General Meeting it was moved that new teapots be purchased and Bill offered to pay for one. Of course, nothing much has changed as our teapots still leak!!!
Happy bowling and mind the drips!
Garry Lowder
newsletter@lindfieldrollers.com.au
Bendigo Bank Visit
As most of you will know, Bendigo Bank is a major sponsor of our club. On Wednesday, 21st February we were pleased to welcome several representatives of the Lindfield Branch of Bendigo Bank to the club.
Our visitors were Sharon Franke, who looks after Community Engagement, Warren Dwyer, who is the Loans Manager and Jennifer Anderson, who is a Board Member of the Bank.
Members present were given an update on the range of services available from the bank and were encouraged to visit the Lindfield Branch for more information or assistance with their banking needs.
Bendigo Bank director, Jennifer Anderson, with Phil Lewis and Roger Parks
Presentation Day 2024
The club’s annual Presentation Day was held on Saturday, 27th January 2024. Presentations were made to competition winners. The collage that follows shows the happy winners.
Know Your Fellow Bowler – Alan Barwick
Alan Barwick
Alan Barwick was born in Plymouth, England in 1949, the youngest of four children, and moved to Australia in 1968. Before coming to these shores, he completed an apprenticeship in the building industry. Upon arrival in Sydney, Alan dabbled in a variety of occupations but settled on none of them until he found his true vocation and joined the NSW Police Service in 1971.
As a police officer Alan spent more than twenty years protecting the community, with postings to Redfern, Darlinghurst, North Sydney and Kiama (the latter a welcome relief from the intensity of his inner city postings), with briefer stints at Burwood, Five Dock and Drummoyne.
In 1981 the NSW Government formed a special unit called the Tactical Response Group (TRG) specifically to counter sieges, riots and public disorder. Alan was one of the TRG’s first officers, exposing him to some very interesting and extraordinary experiences. One of the most memorable was when he was detailed to provide close personal protection for Prince Charles, Princess Diana and baby William when they visited Sydney in 1982. He remembers them as very nice people.
A man of many talents, Alan then transferred to the Bureau of Criminal Intelligence and later to the Organised Crime Squad. Those experiences equipped him to give back to his peers by becoming Course Director of the Criminal Intelligence Analyst Course at the Goulburn Police Academy.
Over his years in the police service Alan several times found himself on the receiving end of violence perpetrated against the police by criminals, resulting in physical and mental injuries that ultimately led to his discharge from the force in 1992.
With so much policing and security experience, Alan found himself in demand from the private sector security industry and took up a position as Security Manager for Brambles Armoured for a couple of years. After that he tried several other roles before finally being head-hunted into the position of NSW/ACT State Security Manager Australia Post, where he remained until his retirement in 2009.
Alan has four children, two from his first marriage and two with his wife, Helen, with whom, in his own words, “we are a great team”. They have seven grandchildren and are hoping for more to come. Apart from his short stint on the South Coast, Alan has lived in Sydney most of his life and he and Helen now live very happily in Roseville Chase. We all know of Alan’s considerable skills at the game of Lawn Bowls, but he also plays pickleball, is adept at Bridge and maintains his fitness by regular attendance at the gym.
Travel features prominently in the Barwicks’ life agenda, both within NSW and farther afield. A two-month extended road-trip to Cairns and points north is coming up later this year. Alan fancies himself as something of a comedian (the jury is perhaps still out there) but there is no debate about his culinary skills. He and Helen both love wholesome food and each one loves to cook. Alan specialises in baked dinners, pasta sauce (any secret recipes Al?) and his signature dish – tiramisu, loved by all his family.
With everything else going on in his life, Alan does not have a lot of time for reading, but (surprise, surprise) he loves a good detective story. He also enjoys music, especially that from the 70’s and 80’s and his favourite movie is “The Godfather”.
Alan is very proud of his wife, Helen, who he sees as his mentor and the most influential person in his life. He is also very proud of his children and what they have become. Alan has always tried to be friendly and engaging with people and this, having served him well for so many years, is the key advice he would give to his younger self.
Looking ahead …
FAMILY DAY IN MAY
It is proposed to hold a fun family (and friends) day at the club on Sunday, 26th May from 12 noon till 3.00pm or so.
All members are welcome and can invite family and friends with minimum age of high school students. The cost will be $5.00pp and this includes a sausage sandwich plus a game or two of bowls. The bar will be open for drinks. Bowls will be provided for those who need them. For those who haven’t bowled before, members will be on hand to assist with special games arranged to suit ability. Members attending should put their names on the list that will appear on the notice board and include the number of participants they are bringing. Closing date for entries is the 19thof May.
So, invite your family and friends to a fun afternoon and show them there is more to bowls than they may think.
A Smile on Your Dial
THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY IS LOOKING TO ACQUIRE SOME NEW SHIPS, SO WHAT’S ON OFFER?
1. USS RONALD REAGAN
Seeing it next to the Arizona Memorial really puts its size into perspective...
ENORMOUS!
When the Bridge pipes 'Man the Rail' there is a lot of rail to man on this monster: shoulder to shoulder, around 4.5 acres. Her displacement is about 100,000 tons with full complement.
NOPE, MUCH TOO BIG FOR US!
2. USS BILL CLINTON
The USS William Jefferson Clinton (CVS1) set sail today from its home port of Vancouver, BC.
The ship is the first of its kind in the Navy and is a standing legacy to President Bill Clinton 'for his foresight in military budget cuts' and his conduct while holding the (formerly dignified) office of President.
NOPE, STILL NOT THE ONE FOR US
3. HMAS ANTHONY ALBANESE
Details are vague. But don't you worry, he has a plan!!
YEP, LOOKS ABOUT RIGHT FOR US
The CEO of Euro-Exim Bank Ltd. got economists thinking about this when he said:
“A cyclist is a disaster for the country's economy.
He doesn't buy cars or borrow money to buy them with; he doesn't pay insurance policies, he doesn't buy fuel, doesn't need money to get the car serviced or repaired.
He does not use paid parking. He does not cause serious accidents. No multi-lane highways are required and he does not get fat.
Healthy people are neither necessary nor useful to the economy. They don't buy drugs and only seldom do they go to hospitals or doctors. They don't add anything to the country's GDP.
On the other-hand, every new McDonald outlet creates at least 30 jobs and indirectly employ 10 cardiologists, 7 dentists, 5 dieticians and several nutritionists, and of course a lot of hospital staff.
Runners are even worse - they don't even buy a bike!”
ONE LINERS (MORE OR LESS)
1. It's the start of a brand new day, and I'm off like a herd of tortoises.
2. I remember being able to get up without making sound effects.
3. I had my patience tested. I'm negative.
4. Remember, if you lose a sock in the dryer, it comes back as a Tupperware lid that doesn't fit any of your containers.
5. If you're sitting in public and a stranger takes the seat next to you, just stare straight ahead and say, "Did you bring the money?"
6. Sometimes, someone unexpected comes into your life out of nowhere, makes your heart race, and changes you forever. We call those people cops.
7. My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.
8. Scientifically, a raven has 17 primary wing feathers; the big ones at the end of the wing are called pinion feathers. A crow has only 16. Therefore, the difference between a raven and a crow is only a matter of a pinion.
9. If you boil a funny bone, it becomes a laughing stock. Now that’s humerus.
10. A grenade thrown into a French kitchen would result in Linoleum Blownapart.
Finally
If one door closes and another door opens, you are probably in prison.
