Kookas call out for new members

STRATHFIELDSAYE Bowls Club is hoping to see some new faces take to the green when it resumes competitive and social bowls.

The club has six pennant sides in local competitions and president Trevor Marshall said they are looking for experienced players as well as those new to the sport.

“We’re looking for any person considering playing the game, it’s a sport that’s open to all ages and all abilities, so we’d encourage anyone to join,” he said.

Last season, the Strathfieldsaye Kookas competed in the division two competition, reaching the grand final and falling short by one shot.

“Had we won that we probably would’ve gone a division up and competed with all the big clubs in Bendigo,” Mr Marshall said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t achieve that and unfortunately we have lost several members this year for various reasons.

“We’re looking to be competitive again this season and in order to do that we need to increase [with] some new players.”

Off the green, the club is working with the City of Greater Bendigo to establish a new clubhouse as part of the Strathfieldsaye Sporting Complex.

“That’ll be fantastic for us, we’ll have a new home and we’ll be able to move out of the premises we’ve been occupying which is basically no more than a small tin shed,” Mr Marshall said. “It’ll be a substantial upgrade for us.”

As well as its pennant teams, the club also offers social bowls on Mondays and Wednesdays and is looking to bring back its barefoot bowls sessions in November.

Mr Marshall said the club values their social events as much as the competition teams.

“Even once they become competitive pennant players, bowlers still like to compete in social bowls to be involved in the activity and comradeship, the fun and sense of wellbeing they get from being associated with the club,” he said.

To find out more about the club, head to strathfieldsaye.bowls.com.au.