November 2017 Newsletter Volume 09 Issue 11 November 2017 RBC 94 Victoria Parade Rockhampton. PO Box 6163 Red Hill Rockhampton 4701 Qld. Phone 0749221685 Website www.rockhamptonbowls.com.au Email bowls@rockhamptonbowls.com.au Find RBC on Facebook Club News Michelle Landry Working for the Community. 100 th.edition of the RBC Newsletters. Rockhampton Bowls Club Inc. Newsletter. Page 1
About our Newsletters. After talking to Garry Walker in 2008 about newsletters I decided to ask the Club`s Committee if I could do a newsletter for the Club. However no permission was granted. Again in early 2009 I asked the Club`s Committee if I could do a newsletter for the Club. However the answer was no based on the grounds that Clubs might get hold of a copy. A few months later I took a different approach by asking a new member from Brisbane, Ron Boddenberg, to ask the Committee if he could do a newsletter and strangely enough the answer was yes. In August 2009 I did my first Newsletter. I thank Ron Boddenberg for asking the Committee and my old bowling mate of many years ago, Garry Walker for all his advice and all the help he gave me to do a newsletter. This month, November 2017, I have reached my 100 th. Monthly newsletter. My first newsletter was only a two page newsletter and contained a message from the Presidents, Len Scofield and Del Moger. Also included was a profile of Roy Chancellor and Colin Tregurtha as well as some news about bowling events. Every month the newsletters contained bowling results, some news of what was happening in the Club, profiles of past and present members and the start of going down the long road to explain the directions sporting clubs needed to take to abide by policies related to the Law. This was because a club was now seen as a Business and therefore needed to abide by all Legislative Acts & etc. As time went on photos were added to the newsletters. More information being given to members to keep them informed about how their Club was operating and what plans were needed to remain a viable Club in future years. Junior news became a part of the newsletters and especially about the Queensland All Schools Challenge Cup. Changes to the rules of playing bowls, comments on important memos from Bowls Queensland and Legislative Acts that would affect the Club. Comments and Photos of all Norm Diplock`s very successful Club Trips. In March 2011 the Federal Member of Parliament started printing our newsletters in colour. This certainly made the newsletters look marvelous, especially the photos. This still continues to the present time. Changing the format of the newsletters and adding symbols to represent the time of the year came from searching the Web to view other Club`s newsletters. Doing this continues to be a real learning curve for me to this very day. Rockhampton Bowls Club Inc. Newsletter. Page 2
With so many clubs folding the newsletters became a tool to try and inform our members that planning for the future was essential to survive. To get the message across to our members that if a club stuck to Traditional Bowls only and did not embrace as many other activities as possible, RBC would join the list of clubs folding. Therefore the newsletters were used to get the message out to the members that it was very essential to have a plan to survive well into the future. Years later this point is still being made. Newsletters were used to inform our members of the progress of formulating all the policies needed by the Club. What work was completed around the Club and for thanking our Volunteers? Keeping members informed about relationships with the Rockhampton Regional Council, State and Federal Government Bodies and the Community, especially about grants. Also advertising and thanking our Sponsors. A concerned member said one day to me that he was concerned that another club may get hold of a copy and know what and how we are doing things. My reply to him was that our newsletters are on our Web site where the whole World has access to it. A person in Norway could be reading it right now. I email it to anyone that wants to read it, so I would not worry about it if another Club`s member reads it. Wishing our members a Happy Birthday, listing who is who on new committees, why good Governance is so important and the continuation of planning for the future should give our members a real understanding of the Club`s needs. Comments from the RBC Chairman and the Lady and Men`s Presidents is in each newsletter. Featured at times is photos and stories of people from the community celebrating Birthdays and etc at our Club. I would appreciate news items from our own members when they celebrate something or have a story of interest they would like to share with their fellow bowlers. I hope you have enjoyed reading them. We have a wonderful communication system where we have stories of our events on the Club`s Face book, RBC Face book for Jack Attack, The Club`s web-site, the newsletters and about 50 of our members with email addresses where all information is sent to them, a large TV monitor that we can display messages or power point presentations and a large array of notice boards and most important, word of mouth. Bernie Gottke. Secretary Rockhampton Bowls Club Inc. Newsletter. Page 3
Popular Club Member, Trevor Donaldson celebrated his 80 th Birthday by sharing a birthday cake with all his fellow bowlers, Men`s President, Tony Zonca presented Trevor with a Super Veterans Badge and wished Trevor a Happy Birthday from all of us at RBC. Comments from Bernie. Birthdays for November. Best wishers from all of us at RBC. Neil Craig 06, Ann-Louise Tyler 07, Peter Yorke 08, Ursula Harrison 08, Maureen Diplock 08, Joan Wilson 10, Ray Shun 11, Patricia Irvine 12, Elsie Cartwright 13, Patricia Wiemers 16, Beverley Armitage 17, Jack Robinson 20, Roy Chancellor 25, Ken Bussey 30. Congratulations to Jack Robinson being 90 and to Roy Chancellor 99. A very true statement I have heard many times is the minute you stop going forward, you start to go backwards. Your Club has been progressively going forward for many years now with Barefoot Bowling, BBQs, Weddings, Birthdays, Seminars and lately the Jack Attack Program. Now being recognised as a progressive Club has justified this direction. Our facility at night is nothing short of being marvelous. This gives support to the idea the Club must adopt another class of membership to capitalise on night bowling. The Club would consist of Traditional Bowlers and the group being members for the shorter version of bowls. It would be perceived that in time some would become full members. To turn away from what has been very successful over many years and go back to functions only on a Friday night and only Traditional Rockhampton Bowls Club Inc. Newsletter. Page 4
Bowls would see the Club fold. Most important for the Club is to increase members, maintain present & find new income streams. Please give some thought to this. I have made application to be considered for the Goodsports Club of the year in Australia and Queensland. I was requested to do this by the Goodsports Organisation because of all the policies we have in place and for the high standard of the Governance of the Club. If successful or not our club has been under notice for all the good work our Ladies Section do, especially healthy eating, our volunteers do and how the Club is managed., 1 st.yeppoon, Carol McDonanaugh, Sheila Allen, Angela Browning, Jan Field 2 nd. Emu Park, Dot Atfield, Gaylene Koberg, Pat King, Jan Knox 3 rd. RBC Ethel Ward, Maureen Diplock, Beverley Johnston, Sue Lane 4 th Diggers Kay McCrohon, June Peut, Denise Hoare, Eileen Arnold Lucky draw, RBC Pat Wiemers, Ena Sinclair, Pam Hedges, Debbie Simpson. Rockhampton Bowls Club Inc. Newsletter. Page 5
Pictured in all the photos is the Capricornian Business & Development Manager, Brian Auld, The Capricornian Marketing Manager Justin Stitt & RBC Lady President, Janet Stewart. Ladies President`s November Report. Definitely nearly to the end of the year. About 10 weeks to Christmas, so I m told. This month we hosted our Invitation Fours which is sponsored by Capricornia Bank and very much appreciated. It was a happy enjoyable day. The photos of the winners are available if you want them. Unfortunately, the Friendship Day to Biloela was cancelled due to the lovely rain which has been long waited for. The day is, I believe, to be rescheduled. On Sunday the Pauline & Mervyn Martins day is to be held. Now we come to next month November this is going starts at 10 to be very busy. 10 th - AGM CQ 9am. Diggers. I strongly urge as many members as possible attend this meeting. 15 th - Hillcrest Sponsored Day, starts at 12.30 on the green, play to 3-30, then afternoon tea, prizes, games and fun. Members please try and bring a non bowler or two Visitors are free and only $5 for members. We would like this to be a fun day all round. 22 nd - Last playing day - starts at 10am - 12 noon. Please bring a plate for a smorgasbord luncheon. Uniforms please as trophies etc will be presented. 27 th - Xmas Lunch, starts 12-12,30, if you wish you may bring a gift to the value of$10 for exchange with another gift. This is entirely optional. The Ladies AGM 1 st December is also approaching fast which means serious consideration is required. Nominations for positions are needed. Don t forget that all positions need to be filled so that the club can continue to progress. f you require further information see Secretary Eileen or myself. President Janet Stewart. Comments from Bernie All the hard work your Management Committee has been doing to keep your Club progressing is certainly paying off. It has been announced that the grant to install a lift has been successful. This will certainly allow upstairs to be air conditioned for our Rockhampton Bowls Club Inc. Newsletter. Page 6
Christmas Party. Installing the lift will take some time and more so because it is in a difficult position for using machinery. Estimated completion date will be around February/March 2018. Men s President s Report November 2017 Thankfully I am back playing bowls after 14 weeks on the sideline watching everybody enjoying themselves on the green. Being a bowler, there is no greater feeling than being on the green and playing this wonderful game of ours. I was really missing the comradeship and laughter that happens at RBC. The entire President s Days are now finished for the year and I thank everybody who stepped up to the mark as a RBC member at these events. I would like to extend a big thank you to the members who, without being asked, get in and help with the cleaning up after our afternoon teas on bowls days. Your efforts do not go unnoticed, thank you. Also, to the members who assist behind the bar and those who do the raffles on game days, thank you. There are many other jobs that members do throughout the course of the year, I thank you all. It is gratifying to know that I can rely on our members. There are a number of club competitions to be finalised in the near future, and I ask that everyone gives their support to Jeff Slater when these games are called. Just remember the play; sub or forfeit rule will be adhered to. The District play offs are all happening. I congratulate all members who make it to these playoffs, competing under the banner of RBC. I wish you all the best. I was recently asked by Denis Bartlem from CQDMBA if RBC could accommodate a change of venue if needed for the District Pairs playoff due to inclement weather. After consultation with Jeff Slater our greens were available and duly offered and required so this playoff could be completed at the desired date. It is good that we can work in with CQDMBA and other clubs. We recently held The Capricornian sponsored Mixed Fours and even though we were down on numbers the competition was a great success for the club. Once again I would like to thank the members who made themselves available to assist throughout the day. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. We have Merv and Pauline Martin s afternoon on Sunday 29 th October 2017, let s fill the green in honour of these past members who put so much into this club. The afternoon is being Rockhampton Bowls Club Inc. Newsletter. Page 7
sponsored by Merv and Pauline s daughter, another good member, Zelma Mace. Thanks you for your continued support Zelma. Other events that are coming up:- Club`s Member`s Breakfast on Sunday 5 th November 2017 at 8.00am The Mayoral Trophy on Saturday 11 th November 2017 Men s AGM Sunday 26 th November at 9.00am Christmas Party and Trophy Presentation on Friday evening 8 th December 2017 Board AGM on Sunday 10 th December 2017 at 9.00am Lawrence Motors Sponsored afternoon on Saturday 16 th December 2017 Unfortunately the Warwick-Day bowls and lunch will not be held this year as Shirley is not in the best of health. However, she indicated that she may be in a better position to host this event sometime in the 2018 calendar. All is not lost as we will try to arrange an afternoon of bowls before the year s end in recognition of Bill Warwick-Day with the playing for the Warwick-Day Kington Trophy. Coming to the end of the year all positions on the men s committee will become vacant. I ask all men to give consideration to taking up an executive or committee position to ensure that this great bowls club can progress into the future to provide opportunities for this wonderful sport. I will be standing down as president, as my running of the club has become stale, and I believe that the club needs some new blood to come on board with some different ideas. Great bowling everybody. Tony Zonca Chairman s Report. Well, the Bowls Australia Awards Night was held Thursday 26 Oct 2017 at the Crown Plaza, Gold Coast. Both Secretary Bernie and I attended hoping to bring back the award for Bowls Club of the Year. Unfortunately we were not successful with the prestigious award being taken out by our rivals Torquay Bowls Club (Vic). They were truly worthy winners and Bernie and I were able to congratulate their Chairman and Secretary on the night. We gained some valuable insight on how they were able to turn their club s fortunes around through embracing new ideas that resulted in increased membership and a greatly improved financial position. However, it wasn t without some resistance from a few of their members with more traditional views. RBC is probably not so different. I am hopeful that as we continue to strive for more successes on the Rockhampton Bowls Club Inc. Newsletter. Page 8
green, we will also keep one eye on the future so we remain financially strong and become a bowls club of choice for the next generation of bowlers that will lead the club into the future. Recent news about the success of our Lift Grant Proposal ($66,500) (round figures) is fantastic. Some preliminary work should commence before Christmas with the lift being installed around February 2018. With recent heavy rains, it is evident the gutters and downpipes from the green roof are of insufficient capacity to carry the water away. Accordingly, quotes are being obtained to replace the current downpipes, gutters or both (Clubhouse end). Additionally, work is progressing on other drainage issues. Following advice from the relevant Government agency, the Management Committee has determined the need for an additional Disabled car park. This will bring the total number of disabled car parks to two (2). Given the average age of our current membership (women 77 and men 73), this course of action is considered appropriate. There will be some shuffling of allocated car parks to enable the disability car parks to be located on either side of the front door, for ease of access. Members are reminded that these car spaces shall only be used by members displaying a valid Disabled Parking Permit. A reminder that with only a month and a half left until our Annual General Meeting, now is the time to think about how you can get more involved. Our generally healthy financial position is only achievable each year because we operate only using volunteers. However, any significant reduction in our volunteer base will expose the club to financial risk. We have had a few fantastic helpers this year who continually make themselves available week in and week out. They all need a break. If other members don t come forward to take on some of the tasks, we may have little choice but to start paying people to enable us to meet our obligation with respect to running functions, one of our greatest income sources. We would then be forced to consider cost increases. This is not what your management group or the members would want to see happen. Even putting your hand up once or twice every few months would assist greatly. Please consider what you can do to help your club. A special thank you to Peter Pidcock for his assistance in painting the men s toilets (downstairs). Work will commence shortly on the ladies toilets (downstairs). If you are able to assist with this task, please let me know. Happy Bowling Peter Tyler OAM CHAIRMAN I would like to thank the Club for supporting me to attend the BA Awards Night with your Chairman, Peter. I very much appreciated this gesture. I really enjoyed the night and had the opportunity to compare notes with the worthy winners of the Best Club Award. It is often said that strangers are just new friends waiting to be found. I will now be able to communicate with the Torquay BC Secretary and with their Board of Management for advice and possible assistance. The Torquay Bowls Club Board of Management overcame the lack of support and resistance for adopting new ideas to become a very well managed and financial Club. We will learn from their experience to overcome similar problems that we and most clubs have. Bernie Gottke Secretary. Rockhampton Bowls Club Inc. Newsletter. Page 9
O n th e ro a d w it h M ic h e ll e L a n d ry M P It has been a pleasure over the last month to visit various areas throughout my electorate while the Parliament wasn't sitting. I spent a couple of days in the north of the electorate popping into a number of primary schools. These students are the lawyers, farmers, engineers, tradespeople and community leaders of the future! I provided these future leaders with certificates for their attendance to Parliament House on their Sydney/Canberra school trip. For more on this trip, have a look at the video at youtu.be/ocvdqc5zjs8. It was a pleasure to pop into Endeavour Rockhampton's workshop - where a number of workers were getting certificates celebrating long service. They do a fantastic effort making stakes that, while predominately sold to the mining industry and surveyors - are able to be purchased locally from the Rocky office! Endeavour Foundation employ over 2,300 workers nation-wide with 52 of those locally in Rockhampton And the biggest news over the last month was the announcement that Adani would use both Rockhampton and Townsville for their FIFO bases for the Carmichael Mine out past Clermont. Regardless of peoples views on Adani, this deal will provide 1,100 workers from the Rocky region in construction and 650 workers on-going. This will be a boom for Rockhampton's small businesses, sporting and recreation clubs and real estate. While it' been a full few months delivering on our promises for Capricornia, if you have any issues or enquiries, please don't hesitate to contact my office on 07 4922 6604 or michelle.landry.mp@aph.gov.au, and if you would like to stay up-to-date with what's happening in Capricornia - sign up to my e-newsletter at www.michellelandry.com.au Rockhampton Bowls Club Inc. Newsletter. While it' been a busy few months delivering on our promises for Capricornia, if you have any issues or enquiries, please don't hesitate to contact my office on 07 4922 6604 or michelle.landry.mp@aph.gov.au. Page 10