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Club History
At the present time we have about 135 Ordinary, Bowling, Student and Junior members; 3 Honorary and 6 Life Members. Many of these members participate in VLBA pennant (the ladies), and RVBA pennant (the men’s). Both ladies and men bowl in both sides to help us get as many teams together as we can each season. Ages range between 20-90 and more, and our Membership fees are kept at an affordable level to suit everyone.
Being at the end of the railway line, in a glorious bushland setting, with our charming ‘gold rush days’ village, nestled just across the railway line, many visitors find it very relaxing to play here and often travel long distances.
We are one of the very few Clubs in our area who have lighting on the greens, and so try to get evening games going as often as possible nearly all year round. These evenings attract members of our community to come and ‘Try Bowls’ and ’Get on the Greens’, whether it be in bare feet or soft shoes, and enjoy the experience immensely.
In 1961 a few residents of Hurstbridge began social bowling on the present site of the Club. They provided their own green, rough and ready as it was, and share it with the Croquet players.
In 1963 they decided to join the RVBA (controlling body) and so form the Hurstbridge Bowling Club.
The then existing green was upgraded to the RVBA standards of the day and maintained by volunteer labour from amongst the Members.
Having 2 greens proved a problem for the members to maintain and in 1990 the Club appointed an apprentice green-keeper, working under the guidance of our more experienced members.
This worked for a short time, but one of the difficulties the Club had was maintaining sufficient grass growth to keep the speed and quality of the greens up to the required new standards set by the RVBA.
The new synthetic surface was set down in 1993 and allowed us to encourage people with a disability to play at our Club and this proved very successful. Our Club has since been involved in coaching wheelchair and disabled bowlers since that time. Our Head Coach, Graham Fraser, who is a Life Member, instigated this coaching 40 years ago, and very successfully too. One of our players Steve Odgers, brought home gold, from the recent Cerebral Palsy Games in the USA. Every Monday is the day for bowling for the disabled when they receive coaching and get together to chat and play a game or two. Some players also participate in our Pennant Season teams.
Indeed, our Club is known as the Home of Wheelchair Bowls.
Our volunteer workers spend many hours keeping our ageing Club in one piece and actually enjoy the challenges I think. The time and effort they spend for us is very much appreciated by all our members.