Parkdale member celebrates 100-year milestone
The Parkdale Lawn Bowls and Social Club was proud to celebrate long-time member Jack Royce as he reached 100 last month. Jack came to Australia from Essex, England, after he retired from farm work with Lord Rayleigh Farms in 1986.
Photo caption: photo of Jack receiving his 100-year-old certificate
from Lyn Goodchild (Sandbelt Bowls representative).
Jack left school at age 14 to work as a Shepherd before moving to general farming duties when the flocks were sold in the mid-1940s. He spent the final 20 years of his working life looking after LRFs Friesian heifers at a time when LRF were the largest milk producers in the United Kingdom.
Jack has been bowling since he arrived in Australia some 30 years ago and at 100 years of age he is still playing Saturday pennant games.
Four years ago, Jack took up a bowling arm and took to it with ease. Jack is an inspiration to us all and that the game of bowls can be played for many years and can give much enjoyment and valuable social interaction.
Among his many well-wishers, Jack was acknowledged by Queen Elizabeth, the Governor General of Australia, Governor of Victoria, the Prime Minister, Victorian Premier, local M.P. Mark Dreyfus and Kingston mayor Steve Staikos.
Parkdale Bowling Club awarded Jack an engraved pewter mug and Lynn Goodchild a representative from Bowls Victoria presented Jack with a certificate for 100 years well lived.
Congratulations Jack.
