Celebrating 70 Years of Marriage – a Milestone
It’s not every day you hear about couples celebrating 70 years of marriage, so when the team at Bowls Victoria heard about Evelyn and Joe Holland, we wanted to share their story.
Both now in their 90’s and still bowling, Evelyn and Joe Holland were married on the 4th November 1950, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo. Out of this union they had a daughter Cynthia, who lives in Melbourne, and a Son Vincent, who lives in Noosa, Queensland. They now have five Grandchildren and two Great Grandchildren.
During their working lives, Evelyn was a school teacher and Joe was a member of the Victorian Police Force.
Evelyn began her bowling journey by joining Strathfieldsaye Bowling Club in 1993 and she continued playing there until 1997. From there Evelyn moved on to Woodbury Bowling Club, where she is still is playing Midweek Pennant. During her time as a Woodbury member, Evelyn was a Club Delegate for several years (B.D.L.B.A. and R.V.L.B.A) and a Woodbury General Committee member. This was followed with becoming Vice President and then President of the Woodbury Bowling Club, both for two terms each. Evelyn has also served on the Woodbury Ladies Selection and Match Committees over the years.
Evelyn has been a member of successful Ladies Pennant Premiership teams, and for many years played as a Third in both Division 2 and 4 Teams. Currently Evelyn is playing Second in the Bendigo Division Midweek Pennant, Division 5. Evelyn was a member of the successful Woodbury Team that won the Bendigo Anniversary 4’s Ladies event.
Now onto Joe, the other half of this much-loved couple. Joe joined the Bendigo Bowling Club in 1967 (B.D.B.A. and R.V.B.A.) and played in all grades. At the time the grading system included A, B & C Grades.
During Joe’s stay of 10 years at Bendigo Bowling Club, he played in all positions and was a member of three Premiership teams. Joe then took a 3-year break from bowling before joining Woodbury Bowling Club in 1980. He is still playing Weekend Pennant for the Woodbury Bowling Club as a Lead (and a very good one). The three Woodbury Premiership teams that Joe was a member of included two which were then the B.D.B.A., with the most recent being the 2019/20 Division 7 of the Bendigo Bowls Division.
Both Evelyn and Joe have been incredibly supportive members of Woodbury Bowling Club over many years, and are very well respected by all members of the Club. It’s wonderful to see them still bowling and we hope that Bowls Victoria will be able to present them both their 100 year birthday certificates in the years to come.
All the members of Woodbury Bowling Club wished to send their love and congratulations to both Evelyn and Joe on reaching such a wonderful and rare milestone in their lives together.
Happy 70th Wedding Anniversary Evelyn and Joe!
Bowls Victoria would like to thank Len Grainger, Secretary of Woodbury Bowling Club, for his assistance and initiative in providing the above information.
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