Women-only Bowling Clubs in Zone 10
Women’s clubs in Zone 10 around 1967-9 were:
- Concord 182 members, found in Edward Park, Concord with 2 greens
- Epping 102 members, found in Dence Park Epping
- Hunters Hill 122 members, on Gladesville Road, had 1 green
- Pennant Hills new in 1967
- Wentworthville 120 members
In 1967 NSW had over 47,000 women bowlers (fewer than 15,000 today?). The largest club in NSW was the Elizabethan Women’s Bowling Club in West Botany Street, Rockdale. It had over 450 members and 75 associated members, totalling about 525 bowlers. Google Maps still show where the greens were approximately located. It had at least 2 greens.
There were a further 17 clubs in the Metropolitan district, being:
- Balgowlah – 150 members
- Canterbury – 80
- Coral Sea (Randwick) – 300
- Curl Curl – 230
- Hornsby – 110, had 2 greens in Asquith
- Killara – 200
- Lane Cove – 200
- Linddfield – >200
- Mackellar – 250
- Manly – 200
- Mosman – 170
- Newport – 180
- North Sydney – 190
- Northbridge – 150
- Strathfield West – 186
- Port Hacking – 300
- War Memorial (Matraville) – 150
Here is an excerpt from the Elizabethan WBC from 1967:
“Perhaps some of the happiest days are Sundays and public holidays, for on these occasions the members invite their husbands and menfolk to the club for a game, the ladies playing lead and second, while the gentlemen make up teams playing 3rd and captain (skip).”
Times have changed a little 50+ years later? Or not?
By the way, the First Men’s World Bowling Championships had been held in Sydney, in October 1966. Australia won the pairs, triples and fours.
The First International Women’s Lawn Bowls Championships were held at the Elizabethan WBC on December 7 – 12, 1969. The pairs, triples and fours were won by South Africa, the singles by Gladys Doyle of PNG.
Trevor Imer-(long time bowler in Zone 10), with most information coming from the book “International Women’s Bowls Championships- Australia 1969”