On & off the Greens
at Arawa, Friday Nov. 28th, ‘08
SHADE - we can all see the newest addition to the club. It’s hard to miss the shade on Green 1. That tells us that the club is acting responsibly in making sure we have a safe and healthy environment. Thanks also to the NZ Community Trust for this particular project. Trust funding comes mainly from proceeds of Gaming Machines etc., in pubs around the country.
EVENTS CENTRE
The upgrading and maintenance of the interior of the Events Centre is now complete and all the bills have been paid. Approximately $2500 has been spent, with the main items being Bench Top $310, Squabs $330, Flooring $580, Paint $750. The cost would have been a lot more but for the gene-rosity of members in both materials & time. The exterior of the building is also in need of some work and that is on the agenda. -
- Treasurer Alan
NEXT YEAR ? The Good Mates 1000 was again a very successful day and was of benefit to the Club in a variety of ways. The most important was having two full greens and a lot of nice visitors going home happy enough to want to come back. Discussions over the next few weeks will determine the future of this tournament.
(It was good to have our very experienced and efficient ladies on the job on Mates Day)
On Mates Day Stu had his first toucher of the season. He was so overwhelmed that he performed an amazing impromptu dance, not unlike the routine we saw last year from the versatile Rodney ide.
Hide.
Thank God it’s FRIDAY !
It’s true that Laurie McLeay didn’t invent the game of bowls, although it might seem that way to some Arawa beginners,
who watch him in the Friday Minis. Many newcomers have taken the 2-4-2 format to their hearts and turned it into the highlight of their bowling week.
BLIND BOWLS – National Champs. Next week Blind and partially sighted bowlers will be on our Greens. Laws allow for Skip’s instructions to be repeated by the person helping the bowler and to give other information. Watching how it all happens should be of great interest. Feel free to come and spend an hour or two under the Shades or in a sheltered area.
If you really want to meet Margaret Griffin and Suzanne Meek
at their most relaxed the best time is when they’ve just won the Ladies Champ Pairs – that happened last Monday. Well done.
And Colin Rolfe put in another ‘fired up’ performance to win the Men’s Champ Singles once more. Congratulations Colin.
SPEIGHTS or DB ? What are we drinking at Arawa ? It’s Lion – we are now strictly a Lion outlet. The club has a very good arrangement with the company who’ll be sponsoring our 4 day tournament in February. It’s now going to be the Arawa Speights Invitation. SPEIGHTS began in Dunedin soon after the Gold rush by one Jim Speight. The brew is promoted these days as “The Pride of the South.” In England homesick Kiwis can drink
in a Speights Pub in the heart of London.
We know it’s Summer when President Laurie wears his shorts
On & off the Greens
at Arawa, Friday Nov. 21st, ‘08
A *FREE CAR PARK –This park could be yours.
They say there's no such thing as a free lunch, but at Arawa you could get a *Free Car Park, and it would be yours to keep.. until Closing Day. No other bowler will have access. It's marked House Manager, and if you wish, the Executive will artistically put your name on it. Talk to our busy President and all will be arranged.
(*NB. Special conditions apply.)
(And if you’re looking for a more up-market car Sean Clark at Hyundai may offer you a trade-in on your pretty smart model – remember to take your Hyundai Key with you)
MO- VEMBER – isn’t this the month when men are encouraged to grow a moustache. It hasn’t really caught on at Arawa, has it. There really is no excuse for a moustache … is there ?
In these uncertain economic times it’s hard to look on the bright side, but MATES DAY gave a lift to some bowlers. One took his $50 right back to our sponsor Bill Davis, the next day and bought a new bowling bag. (Did he really need a new one ? Certainly)
PICTURE - is it just the time of the year or do our shrubs and flowers all always look so impressive ? Some members seem to have a knack for making our surroundings so attractive.
A BIT FISHY
Not long before last Wednesday’s Mates event our
organisers put their heads together and said, “We’re going to make all those Mates really happy. We’ll get Jim on the job."
Jim agreed to help again. He drove to an undisclosed, successful fishing spot. He wasn’t there long, before he packed up, and headed for home with 5 fully developed trout. On Monday he thawed and marinaded them. Tuesday, he smoked them. Then on Wednesday the kitchen team put them out for testing. Verdict: Delicious Moral: Every club needs a Jim Wiggins
CAN’T YOU READ ? That’s the message Pat Thomas gave us this time last year. She’s reminding us to put the Harvey’s mats in the Harvey’s trolley, & the NZI mats in the NZI trolley. Sounds quite simple.
SURELY HE CAN’T BE ?
Yes, next week he'll be 90, not out. He was in short pants when he saw his first game of bowls. It was at an Arawa Club, not here, but down by the Lake, Ohinemutu way. He drives a POSH Kia car. If you come up against him on the Greens you'll know he finds it difficult to play badly. Congratulations Sid Corbett – well done.
WARNING: If you lifted Jim Stewart's trailer from his front lawn on Monday whatever you do don't take it back. The trailer had a mechanical snag, and Jim, ‘generous Jim,’ hoped another citizen would make any improvements. It didn’t go on the first night, but he had more luck on the second. He says, "thanks."
Maybe next week he’ll leave his bowls out.
There are more Championship events today & over
the week-end. Our Match Committees will accept offers to Mark for the Men’s Champ Singles.