By Wendy Williamson
Sunshine sparkling on a new green ensured the pennant season got off to a great start at Yarra Junction Bowling Club on Tuesday, 26 September.
It was the first opportunity to host midweek pennant since the club’s major upgrade, which included a new synthetic playing surface, new lighting system, additional seating and retractable shade structure.
Club president Peter Willis said he couldn’t be happier.
“We tried for five years to get funding to upgrade our green. It got to the stage where I said we’d have to fold as a club if we didn’t have a new green,” Mr Willis said.
“Then over the last 12 months we started to get somewhere, particularly when council got behind the project.”
The green was out of action from December to April while the upgrade was underway. Pennant matches had to be played away. Home games were moved to Cockatoo.
The redevelopment is a great example of community co-operation.
Yarra Ranges Council contributed $120,000, the Victorian Government $40,000, the Warburton and Yarra Junction Community Bank branches $26,000, and the club raised $60,000 for the project.
The club is all about community, Mr Willis said.
“New members are always welcome and coaching is free. We will shortly be inviting students from the local secondary college to come along and have a bowl.”
Coming up soon on 13 October is Seniors Day, when all seniors are welcome to come along and have a bowl.
Social bowls are held on Thursdays, and on summer evenings the green is alive with barefoot bowls – the season will start at the end of October, under the new lights. Anyone is welcome to join in. Contact Myrna on 0419 103 543 or Ian on 0419 685 425.
