Ian Milgate
Who in their lifetime can say that they have won 90 Championships over 45 years in their chosen sport?
Only a legend and that legend is Beryl Ayres from the Healesville Bowling Club.
Beryl’s first Championship was in 1971 and her last Championship only a few years ago in 2020.
Beryl’s achievements,
1995 State Title Championships Group Winner
1996 State Title Championships Group Winner
2005 State Title Championships Zone Winner
1992 State Title Championships (Last 8 in the Country Section)
At a club Level Beryl was invincible winning year after year and becoming a Life Member in 1996.
Her Club Championships included-
Ladies Club Handicap Champion Pairs 2019 -2020
Ladies Champion of Champions 8 times between1978- 2007
Ladies State Singles Champion 7 times between1981 -2006
Ladies Club Champion Singles 31 times between 1971 -2015
Ladies Club Champion Pairs 12 times between1992- 2015
Ladies Club Handicap Champion Singles 16 times between1974- 2000
Ladies State Pairs Champion 3 times between1995 – 2003
Ladies MV Singles Champion 4 times between1997- 2007
Ladies MV Pairs Champion 4 times between1974 -1994
As well as this remarkable achievement, Beryl also won several Golf and Tennis Championships during her younger years.
Beryl pulled on a football jumper when Women’s football was unheard of.
As the greatest lawn bowler that has played for the Healesville Bowling Club and the name Beryl Ayres will be remembered forever, as its newly renovated pavilion is named after her, ‘The Beryl Ayres Pavilion’.
Aaron Violi, Cindy McLeish, Jim Child and Fionia McAllister joined the opening of Beryl Ayres Pavilion.
It means a lot to the Healesville Bowling Club, and of course Beryl, who wonders ‘What’s all the fuss about’ and to her son Robert who thinks the world of his mother and is forever grateful for naming the pavilion after her.
Many tradesmen and volunteers put the wonderful effort of restoring the old unused Club House to what will now be the Beryl Ayres Pavilion.
The pavilion will be a focal point on Pennant days to sit and watch the games and have a light refreshment.
The opening of the green for the start of the 2023-24 Pennant season was also a great success with one of our eldest life members, Ted Upton rolling down the jack and Beryl assisted by her son Robert to roll down the first bowl of the season.
Corporate Bowls is starting again on Wednesday night the 25th. of October for all our local business people to compete in the Charles Hort Memorial trophy.
It is a hotly contended event that runs for 6 weeks, so do yourself a favour, come on down, enjoy a delicious sausage or two while having a chat with the locals and enjoy some great bowling. Refreshments start from 5.30pm with the commencement of the game at 6pm.
There are still several spots to fill so if anyone is interested in putting a team together, please call Effie from the Healesville Bowling Club at 0432258493.
