Paynesville BC 50th anniversary

by Team BV

The weekend of September 9 and 10 will long be remembered by members of the Paynesville Bowling Club as they celebrated their 50th anniversary and the opening of a new green.

The festivities got under way on Friday night with the 50th anniversary dinner, appropriately themed in gold and attended by 120 current and former members, as well as divisional and regional representatives.
Life members Bonny Finlayson and Len Brook fittingly cut the anniversary cake.
The club’s origins date back to May 1964 when a meeting of the Paynesville Progress Association formed a subcommittee to examine the feasibility of establishing a bowling club in the town.
The club formally came into existence at a meeting on 16 February 1965 and the first game of organised bowls was on 11 December 1966.
The club now has more than 200 members and continues to grow.
On Saturday, under a threatening sky, the Member for Gippsland, the Hon Tim Bull, officially opened the new Members Green to mark the start of the 2016/17 season.
He said it was great to see so many members present in uniform.
“Sporting clubs have a very important role in the community, particularly in terms of contributing to social wellbeing and lifestyle.”
Mr Bull unveiled the dedication plaque with Club Chairman Peter Beesley, and later had the honour of putting down the first bowl. 
The Members Green replaces a synthetic, bringing the total number of greens to three. It will be ready for play by the end of 2016.
Other official guests at the opening were the President of EGBD, Stella Ellis; Bowls Victoria Regional Representative and EGBD Secretary, Fay Lewis; Regional Secretary/Treasurer and EGBD Vice President, John Lewis; Ladies’ President, Lori Smith; Men’s President, David McGrath; and life member, Bonny Finlayson.