Victoria’s best honoured at Awards Night

by Team BV

Bowls Victoria celebrated those people and clubs who have had a positive impact, influence and involvement in our sport during the 2023-2024 calendar years. Hall of Fame honours were also bestowed upon four very deserving individuals.

Introducing the Hall of Fame Inductees for 2025

Gordana is a former international bowler who represented Australia. In 1996 she won the gold medal in the fours and silver medal in the triples at the 1996 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Adelaide. Two years later she won a bronze medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in the pairs. She represented Victoria and won the State Singles back-to-back in 1995 and 1996. She also won 2 x State Pairs (1992 and 1997), a State Triples (2013), an Over 60’s Singles title in 2007 and an Over 60’s Pairs in 2016.

Congratulations to 𝗗𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡 on his posthumous induction into the Bowls Victoria Hall of Fame. Don’s son Greg humbly accepted his father’s award on behalf of their family (pictured centre, below).

Don represented Victoria on more than 300 occasions! He was Australia’s 74th capped male representative, and enjoyed an International career that spanned 58 international appearances from 1982 to 1985. He competed in all of the sport’s major marquee events, including the Commonwealth Games, two Trans-Tasman Test Series, a World Bowls Championships and an Asia Pacific Championships. During his international debut at the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games he was part of the historic men’s fours team of Herbert Sharp, Robbie Dobbins and Keith Poole that will forever be etched in the record books as Australia’s first ever Commonwealth Games gold medal winning bowls team.

Sherman was National Coach/Manager from 1996 to 1999. Sherman was also bestowed the honour of being one of three inaugural inductees, from across all sports, in the City of Greater Bendigo’s Hall of Fame in 1994.

Congratulations to 𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗬 𝗢𝗔𝗠 on her posthumous induction into the Bowls Victoria Hall of Fame. Norma’s daughter Carole was thrilled to accept her mother’s award on behalf of their family.

Norma’s list of achievements is long! She represented Australia on 101 occasions including 3 x World Bowls Championships (1969, 1977 and 1985). She won 3 x Gold Medals, the 1985 World Triples title, and the 1977 and 1985 Overall Team Golds. Norma also won Silver in the 1985 World Championships Fours, Silver in the 1969 World Championships Triples and Overall and a bronze in the 1969 World Championships Singles. Norma also won a Gold in the Asia Pacific Triples and Silver in the Fours, both 1985. She won the National Fours title in 1969, a silver in the National Singles (1973), and won 4 x Victorian Champion of Champions (1958, 1964, 1968 and 1972).

Norma was a Victorian State Representative for an amazing 34 years (31 of which were consecutive)!

Congratulations 𝗝𝗜𝗠 𝗬𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 on your induction into the Bowls Victoria Hall of Fame. While Jim’s health prevented him from attending the Awards Night, his family made sure to make his induction into the Hall of Fame memorable. Last week, a large contingent of Jim’s family and friends joined him at Moama Bowling Club to accept his award.

Jim won a World Indoor Pairs title (1998), being the first player outside the UK to win the World Indoor Bowls Championship Pairs, Jim also represented Victoria 211 times. Jim coached Victoria, including coaching the men’s side to win an Alley Shield, and has won an Outstanding Service Award. He won an Australian Singles title in 1979, and boasts more than 10 Club Singles titles to his resume. Jim was on the first ever Board of the Australian Sports Commission, and in 1981 was the first ever coach registered by the Australian Bowls Council.

Jim also lays claim to having a very successful bloodline, with his daughter Judy, son Darren and grandson Jordan adding further state titles to the collection. Please enjoy the short video interview with Jim.

2023-24 Award Finalists and Winners

One final presentation saw the 2023 Victorian Open Women’s State Side presented with a momento of their wonderful win at Nationals, winning the Marj Morris trophy for the first time in 19 years.

We congratulate all nominees, finalists and winners on their remarkable achievements during 2023-2024, and we encourage clubs and members to continue to nominate those who go over and above so they can be recognised at the next edition of the Bowls Victoria Awards.

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