MOREE Magpies Bowling Club held its championships presentation and Christmas party at Moree Services Club on Saturday, showcased by the unveiling of two new pennant scoreboards and three bench seats donated by well-known Moree families.
Pennant scoreboards dedicated to Darcy and Glenda Hobday, and Allan Kite were donated by the Hobday and Kite families on Saturday.
Darcy, a club life member, and his children, John, Phil, Carol, Peter and Trish proudly unveiled the Hobday pennants board.
Moree Magpies Bowling Club president Wayne Tighe said Darcy, Glenda and Allan were cornerstones who not only enjoyed playing lawn bowls, but were instrumental in the progress of the club.
“Darcy and Glenda were great supporters of the original Moree Bowling Club, and Darcy was inspirational back in the Railway Bowling Club days,” Tighe said.
“People from across New South Wales would come to Moree and play at the railway carnivals organised by Darcy each year.”
Allan Kite’s wife Nola and their children, Carolyn, Tracey, Mark and Joy were joined by family members James Eggins, Darren and Rebecca Rixon, Greg Johnston, and Brian, Charlie, Kerri-Lynn, Sam and Clinton Peachey to unveil the Kite pennant scoreboard.
“Allan was a true gentleman. He loved his bowls and, as his wife Nola said, the bowling club was his second home,” Tighe smiled.
“Allan was a kind, inspirational man and one of the nicest blokes to ever play bowls in Moree,” he said.
New seating dedicated to William ‘Bucky’ Pitt, Jean King and Pat and Wally Ward were also unveiled.
“Bucky loved his bowls, especially his A-day bowls, and loved getting down to the club and having a good time with the boys,” Tighe said.
“The last carnival Bucky played, I could see he still loved the game. It’s sad that he passed so young.
“Jean King was a long-time member of Moree Bowling Club and Moree Services Club, and a staunch auxiliary bowls member,” Tighe said.
“She was one of the chief organisers, and loved being involved with the club at all levels.
“Wally and Pat Ward devoted their time to the Moree Bowling Club,” Tighe said.
“Pat held the ladies club presidential position, and many other positions within the club, over many years while Wally was dedicated to coaching and training new bowlers.
“They were both great club people and devoted even more time to lawn bowls in Moree when they retired from working full-time,” he said.
Moree Services Club CEO Rob Shields congratulated the Magpies Bowling for another successful season.
“We are very lucky we’ve got a very strong bowls committee with us at the moment,” Shields said.
“The bowls club has had a great year, especially with pennants, and I’m sure there’s a great year ahead.”
Shields said the all-weather bowling greens, spanning more than 3300 square-metres, allows social and competition bowls in all conditions.
“We’ve had this complex for about two years now, and what it’s done in that time is give the community a venue that is very enjoyable,” Shields said.
“We seem to be getting more bowlers now, too, through the hard work of Wayne and his committee, and we’ve hosted state level games recently.
“It’s a real positive for the game of bowls and the town, and it certainly is a positive for Moree and District Services Club, without a doubt,” he said.
