History 1928 to 2010

THE BERRI BOWLING CLUB

 

 

On 30^th May, 1928, a meeting of 32 men attended an inaugural meeting held at the Berri Hotel to form a Committee for the Berri Bowling Club. The first President was Mr S. McIntosh. Club rooms were built in 1929. The greens were opened on 9^th March, 1929 and were established on the Riverside Avenue site adjacent to the Berri Hotel.

 

The Ladies inaugural meeting to form a Committee for a Ladies Bowling Club was held at the Berri Institute on 24^th August, 1951. The Club was very successful, winning the Division 1 Pennant in 1956 with Second Division finishing 2^nd. The ladies greens were adjacent to the men’s greens.

 

The ladies, with a membership of 45, raised money to pay for club rooms and greens by holding street stalls, card evenings and a Harvest Ball

 

The 1956 flood caused some problems for the greens with the river level above the level of the greens. The flood only made the members anxious to get back to the game they all enjoyed.

 

New Club rooms were opened on 12^th September, 1970 as a joint facility for the Men and Ladies to accommodate all players and visitors who entered carnivals. The club had four greens by this time and all greens would be filled for the carnivals and players enjoyed delicious lunches provided by the ladies.

 

A fire unfortunately caused major damage to the new Club rooms, but the challenge to the members to rebuild was met with great enthusiasm

 

The Club in 2010 has two greens, still hold carnivals attended by visitors from around the state and interstate and they still enjoy lunches catered for by the ladies.

 

Over the years the Club has had great success on the greens with all Divisions, both Men’s and Ladies have won the Pennant competitions. Division 1 men have won 6 Pennants over the last 10 years and the ladies Division 1 have won 8 Pennants.

 

The Club has also had players representing the State in competitions and there are a number of players who have won State Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours.

 

In 1960 a Ladies competition between the Riverland and Sunraysia commenced. The McKay Shield is still help each year and is run by the Riverland Women’s Bowling Association. This year will be the 50^th year of the competition and will be held in the Sunraysia in 2011. The Riverland Women’s Bowling Association also run a yearly local competition in honour of Dora Moss who was a member of the Berri Bowling Club.

 

The Bowling Club is an essential part of the community for members to get together to play sport with other members and in competitions against other Riverland towns.