THERE will be $20,000 prize money offered when Moree Services Club hosts the 2025 NSW Aboriginal Bowls Tournament on Saturday-Sunday, January 25-26 – a relatively new concept focused on men’s health as well as generating interest in the sport among the youth of Moree.
The men’s fours club tournament will bring bowlers from across New South Wales to compete in six games of 13 ends across two days.
Jointly organised by Moree Magpies Bowling Club’s Rod Tighe and Mitchell Johnson, the carnival has drawn 16 teams – two more than last year.
“This is the second year the tournament has been run, and the concept is a collaborative work in progress,” Tighe said.
“It’s held over two days – Saturday and Sunday – and this year, we’ve also opened up Friday to play open pairs.
“This gives the bowlers’ wives and partners an opportunity to play as well. Some of the players from different parts of the state have only played on grass, and the Friday mixed pairs will give them a feel of the Moree synthetic greens,” he said.
Tighe said the tournament, won last year by Armidale’s Todd Fuller, Laurie Williams, Tom Inman and Steve Fuller, wasn’t only about a group of blokes hitting the greens for an afternoon game of bowls.
Tighe, an Aboriginal liaison community officer at Moree Police Station, said the Magpies Bowling Club also encourages Aboriginal youth and non-Aboriginal youth to try the links.
“It’s all about getting new players to a good sport, especially from a youth perspective,” Tighe said.
“We do that through the local schools, and programmes like Clontarf and Young Yinnar, as well as other services. Any of our players under the age of 18 have their full registration paid for by the club, and we really encourage kids to come along and play.”
Officer in Charge of Moree Police Station, Inspector Darren Williams, said lawn bowls brought communities together.
“This is a sport that is non-contact, but is still a challenging sport which gets people thinking,” Williams said.
“It gives balance and teaches kids how to play as a team. It also teaches tolerance, as well as gifts the kids will carry for the rest of their lives.”
Insp Williams said the bowling complex at Moree Services Club was second-to-none.
“Moree would have, without a doubt, one of the best facilities for lawn bowls I’ve seen during my long career travelling around New South Wales,” he said.
Tighe expects visitors to start bowling into Moree Thursday and Friday.
“They can have a muck-around and get a feel of the place,” Tighe said.
“We’ll play six games of 13 ends, with the top eight teams going through to the quarter-finals.
“The quarter- and semi-finals will be played over eight ends, with the final and grand-final decided over six ends.”
The tournament has secured strong sponsorship from a wide range of businesses and organisations, including Fletcher’s Big Boomerang Logistics, NSW Government, Aboriginal Affairs, LJ Swan & Associates, TJ Tighe Rural Contractors, TKT Mowing, Customised Farm Management, Reado’s Meats, Luke Robinson Plastering, Moree Freight Services, NSW Aboriginal Land Council, Cory Carpentry & Concreting, Kitchens of Distinction, Gwydir Glass, M&K Business Solutions, Cutmore Laymore Bricklaying, Jukes & Son, Pius X Aboriginal Corporation & 715 Health Check.
“I’m really proud to say, many of our sponsors are Aboriginal companies and businesses,” Tighe said.
“One of our major sponsors is Roger Fletcher, who has close ties to Moree, and we also have Pius X Corporation on board making sure the men are getting full health checks.”
The tournament is highly focused around men’s health, and Pius X staff will carry out health assessments, known as 715 health checks.
A live YouTube broadcast will also give out-of-town viewers top-tier bowls action, insights into Moree’s rich sporting history, as well as commentary and analysis.
“The broadcast aims to keep viewers engaged throughout the games,” Tighe said.
“Happy Bowler will do the live broadcast, which will be ideal for people who can’t be here but want to keep track of the games.
“Hopefully, we’ll soon have a permanent set-up at the Moree greens to link up the club games in general, and when we play our championships or June Carnival we can livestream everything,” he said.
Tighe said the NSW Aboriginal Bowls Tournament was a work in progress.
“It’s only been running for two years and hopefully there will be plenty more, where we’ll have a full arena packing both sides on the greens,” he said.
2025 NSW Aboriginal Bowls Tournament
Host Club: Moree Magpies
When: January 24-25-26
Where: Moree Services Club
Times: Competition starts from around 9am
Livestream: 2025 NSW Aboriginal Bowls Tournament
