When is a bowlo more than a bowlo – when it’s at Bonalbo and the bowling club is a place to meet, eat, have a drink and even get your kit off.
Bonalbo Bowling & Recreation Club is making sure it’s doing what it can to thrive.
Club board president David Whitney said the cost of living pressures has reduced opening hours – the club is now open from Wednesday to Sunday and closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Mr Whitney quoted a shocking statistic that one bowling club a week is closing.
He has been a member of the Bonalbo club since 1983 and has been on the board since 2016, so he wants to see the club not just survive, but thrive.
The bowling club is on Crown Land and the lease for that land increased by 100 per cent this year. The club has not been able to get grants because it is registered as a business.
Kyogle Council has funded ground improvements and the refurbishment of the tennis court next to the club.
Keeping the membership growing is a challenge.
“Our bowling club has been shrunk because of the passing of the bowlers, and not that many young people in the district want to take up bowling,” Mr Whitney said.
After the turmoil of lockdowns through covid and a change in administration, the Bonalbo Bowling & Recreation Club is slowly rebuilding.
The bowlo has hosted many community events including a major fundraiser for the Working Dog Car Rally held over the long weekend in October. The bowling club members supplied all the catering for the main day at the Bonalbo showgrounds with the assistance of golf club members. This involved supplying breakfast, lunch and dinner for more than 400 people.
The following weekend Bonalbo was hit with a devastating hailstorm. Unfortunately, the club premises were not spared from damage or flooding. At the time of the storm, there was a wedding on for two bowlo members and all of the guests had just arrived for the reception. Blocked gutters, flooded kitchen floors and bar area didn’t stop the wedding from continuing.
The club got really creative for the Melbourne Cup Day Luncheon. Last year board members participated in an op shop fashion parade with a difference and raised $500 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Appeal, this year they wanted to top that effort, Mr Whitney said.
The board members did the Full Monty and on the day $600 was raised.
There’s plenty more planned to keep people coming to the bowlo in the lead-up to Christmas.
Food is a big part of getting people through the door. Catering lately has been by Shellyz Bistro but Michelle Meadley is retiring from the kitchen at Christmas.
Simon Powick from Bonalbo’s Powicks Pantry will take over the bowling club kitchen on January 8.
Bonalbo Bowling & Recreation Club board of directors welcomes everyone in the community to enjoy the club facilities and associated sporting clubs, golf and lawn bowls.
Members receive every day reduced drink prices by just showing their member’s card. Upcoming events include Christmas parties for local groups and organisations with the Bowling Club members Christmas party being held on Friday, December 6 followed on Saturday, December 7 with the Children’s Disco and Christmas party.
This article appeared on indyNR.com on 21 November 2024.
