Southern View: November 08, 2016

SOUTHERN VIEW Tuesday November 8 2016 13
Bowling in Beckenham for 100 years
Barry
Chapman
looks at
Beckenham
Bowling
Club’s
upcoming centenary
ROLL OUT the band and raise
the flag, Beckenham Bowling
Club is celebrating 100 years of
giving enjoyment to the many
hundreds of players who have
taken part in the club’s activities
over that time.
There will not be a message
from the queen, but such an
achievement is nonetheless one
that will be celebrated with pride
by past and present members
alike in the coming weeks, with
past members attending from
around New Zealand and Australia.
The club was established
on part of the old Heathcote
(Opawaho as it was previously
known) River bed, which had
become a rubbish dump. On
November 7, 1916, a meeting of
interested parties was called by
Ernie Chegwin, with the idea of
establishing a lawn bowls club.
Things moved very quickly. A
committee was set up to establish
the club and begin negotiations
with the council to obtain
the use of the derelict ground.
By March 1917, the green was
prepared and sown with the
first bowls being rolled up in
the following October. A magnificent
feat, all accomplished by
volunteer labour. And the fact
that this took place in the middle
of World War 1 made it all the
more impressive.
The club grew over the following
years and saw the establishment
of the first women’s
bowling club in Christchurch in
October 1931. It became obvious
that the club was outgrowing
its facilities and, in April 1945,
a second green was established
at the club’s present site in
Waimea Tce. Then followed a
winter green of compacted soil
covered with sawdust that saw
hardy players in their overcoats
playing the sport they loved in
the middle of winter. With two
sites, it required doubling up on
equipment and this, along with
green problems, led to the laying
of a second green on the new
site, which saw the club shift in
full in June 1976 and the original
site was reverted back to the city
council.
The volunteer aspect which
saw the club established continued
as the club grew. This was
tested to the upmost when, in
1960, a decision was made to
replace the old army hut that
was the club pavilion with a new
building that incorporated a
three rink indoor surface – one
of the first at that time. This was
a huge undertaking for mainly
retired members who offered
their skills to complete this in
only 10 months. The building
has seen additions and renovations
since, but has served the
club well right up to today’s requirements.
It also came through
the earthquakes with only minor
damage and the club was able
to continue using it apart from
when the repairs took place.
As with all clubs, we have
seen some real characters in our
ranks who are still talked about
today. We have also had some
top players in our membership
over the years, including
New Zealand and Canterbury
representatives. Our centre title
lists are very impressive for a
club that has never featured in
the “top clubs” of Christchurch.
We have undoubtedly made our
mark both on and off the green.
With sporting clubs’ facing
uncertain futures, due to
seven-day trading, both partners
working and the large amount
of other attractions that take up
today’s recreation time, the club
has looked to ensure we move
with the times by setting up an
administration to operate in a
professional manner.
This has proved beneficial
for our members and assisted
us in linking to the local community
through such things as
club plans, operational plans
and community bowls for
non-players, known as Crack
PLAYERS: Beckenham Bowling Club will celebrate its centenary next year.
A Jack Bowls. Many of these
systems have been adopted by
other bowling clubs around the
country.
All of this contributed to the
club earning titles like club of
the year and administrator of the
year for New Zealand. The club
is very proud of achieving these
and other awards, including
Bowls New Zealand and Sport
Canterbury gold awards.
Today, as we look back over the
last 100 years and congratulate
ourselves on our achievements,
we are also very mindful of
looking to the future and
providing what sports people
and the local community want.
Doing so allows the club to look
positively towards the next 25
years.
As a club, we welcome the local
community to make use of these
first-class facilities. We provide a
social and friendly environment
for all people, from families to
school-aged children to those in
their later years who are looking
for a way to make friends and
enjoy the sport at whatever level
they desire.
Coaching and modern bowls
are available for those starting
SPORTS
ORIGINAL
BOWLERS: Since
the club opened,
the membership has
grown to include
more woman now
than in 1917.
out and seven-day-a-week play
helps provide what the players of
the future are looking for.
We invite any past members
and anyone interested in
learning about our sport to
contact us for details.
•The Beckenham
Bowling Club’s centennial
celebrations will take
place on February 3-5,
2017. Contact the club at
beckenhambowls@xtra.
co.nz
•Barry Chapman is the
centennial committee
chairman
Christmas
Stock
arriving
in store now
Shop 5, 346 Halswell Rd, Halswell.
Ph: 322 1368
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