They say that sport and sporting clubs in this country would not flourish, and in some cases even survive, if it wasn't for the selfless volunteers who give up their valuable time for the sport they love.
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In particular, when it comes to the successful running of individual events, whether it be the Olympic games or the Bullamakanka annual under 12 netball carnival it is those wonderful people who, behind the scenes, are ultimately responsible for that success.
And never has this been more evident than in the case of the women's district lawn bowls events just completed and in particular the blue riband 2021 singles championship.
Important events on the lawn bowls calendar, the district singles, pairs, triples and fours are NSW events that lead to regional playoffs and culminate in a finals series each year that determines who will represent the State in a national championship late in the year.
It is of the utmost importance for the sport that not only do these events take place but that they are also completed in a timely manner given the complexities of the lawn bowls calendar.
This is particularly the case this year as the calendar has been further crammed due to the postponement of 2020 events due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Due to the lousy weather we were placed in a difficult position on more than one occasion but the singles in particular gave us the biggest challenge.
- Julie Scott
For example, the 2020 State Championships finals were postponed from October to early February this year.
Knowing the importance of the 2021 district events the Lower North Coast District Women's Bowling Association committee had to pull out all stops to ensure their successful conclusion due to the adverse weather conditions that have prevailed due to the current La Nina.
Rain delays and unplayable, saturated greens meant the juggling of venues and the postponement of certain rounds.
Negotiations with possible new playing venues had to be quickly instigated and finalised, players had to be notified of changes to playing times and venues, umpires had to be organised, score cards had to be rehashed, markers for the singles had to be found; the list goes on.
"Due to the lousy weather we were placed in a difficult position on more than one occasion but the singles in particular gave us the biggest challenge," district secretary Julie Scott said.
"At short notice we had to find alternative venues and to their credit, Club Old Bar Beach and Taree West Bowling Club who both had synthetic greens were quick to oblige," she said.
"It's almost certain that without their assistance we would not have been able to get the singles over and done with and that would have really put us on the back foot for a number of months to come."
Scott went on to say that virtually all the members of the district committee played some part in overcoming the obstacles of recent weeks but did not wish to single out anyone in particular.
"Working as a team, we represent all the clubs and players on the Lower North Coast and it is our duty to ensure that their interests and not our own are of the utmost priority.
"That teamwork became really apparent in recent times and I'm sure president, Lorraine Austin is more than proud of her committee's diligence and ability to overcome the obstacles that were thrown at them."
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Perennial winner of the Lower North Coast District singles, Tuncurry Beach's Sarah Boddington could offer nothing but praise for the group.
"The district singles is a State event that now culminates in a national finals event and especially in the case of those aspiring to representative honours it is one of the most important events on the bowls calendar," she said.
"So, I'm just so grateful to those district ladies who, under a fair amount of duress, ensured that the event went ahead, giving me the opportunity to once again represent the district at regional and State level.
"This would just about have to be the best run district in the State."
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