AERF Mixed Pairs Announcement

The Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation will again pack a punch into this year’s bowls’ season.

A Star Cruise holiday plus a trip to Singapore, a prize pool of over $40,000 and a chance to enjoy Queensland’s premier bowling club, Club Helensvale, is up for grabs.

The AER Foundation Australian Mixed Pairs Challenge, the richest tournament for club players, is now in its fourth year and raises funds to assist the AERF in its work to combat drug and alcohol related issues within Australian communities.

Played under the auspices of Bowls Australia, the event attracted over 5000 players last season and it is expected that the nation’s bowlers will again rise to the occasion to support one of Australia’s quiet and effective workers.

The AER Foundation works to increase community understanding of the extent and nature of alcohol related harm and gives support to a range of strategies to reduce such harm.

In a recent project that targets all sport, the AERF gave its support to The Good Sports Program, a national initiative of the Australian Drug Foundation.

This program is successfully working with community based sports clubs to combat the alcohol culture by good management, with the aim of providing a safer environment for players, members, families and supporters.

In joining forces with the AER Foundation individual bowling clubs Australia wide will hold a competition day for members and guests. Clubs have until March 2, 2009 to hold their competition.

This day is not about preaching temperance too bowlers but conveying the message on sensible drinking by serving alcohol by standard measure, encouraging players to quench their thirst with soft drink or water before drinking alcohol, appointing designated drivers or arranging alternative transport.

Winners of the club event will go on to contest the regional finals.

Regional winners will then contest state and territory finals. All regional winners and runner-up will receive trophies and prize money.

State and territory winners will receive an airfare and accommodation package to the Gold Coast where the national final will be staged at Club Helensvale from May 5 to 8, 2009, while the runner-up and the third placed pair will receive prize money.

The place to be, Club Helensvale boasts three world class greens and was voted Best Bowls Club by Clubs Queensland in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008.

Club registered players competing in The Challenge all have the chance to win the major draw prize of a trip for two to Asia, courtesy of Singapore Airlines and Star Cruises while all clubs staging the event will be entered into a prize draw to win a Plasma Screen and Entertainment System valued at $3000.00. (Specific criteria applies).

Competition format on club days may be determined by each individual club but the regional, state and national finals will be sets play, 3 bowls pairs.

Click here for more information

Click here for your club's application form

Photo: Taren Point's Brian Morton and Cheryl Turner reached the final of last year's AERF Mixed Pairs