Hall of Fame

First commencing in 1998, the Bowls Victoria’s Hall of Fame recognises our sport’s most deserving past bowlers and administrators for their lifelong achievements.

Betty Collins OAM | Inducted 2021

List of Achievements

President of World Bowls Association
President Australian Women’s Bowling Council
President Victorian Ladies Bowling Association
State Selector, Committee member and Councillor
Life Member of World Bowls, Bowls Australia and Bowls Victoria
Inaugural Bowls Australia Hall of Fame Member, 2011
Australian Team Manager 1994-1998 including Commonwealth Games 1994 and 1998
Numerous club roles at Auburn Heights (later known as Kew Heights) and North Balwyn as Secretary, President and various committee roles
Order of Australia Medal in 2002

Edna Harling | Inducted 2021

List of Achievements

Represented Victoria in the State Team for 22 years from 1964 to 1987
Australia A and B side representative in 1968
Victorian State Singles Champion in 1963-1964
Victorian Singles Champion of Champions 1970-1971
3 times State Pairs Champion
23 times Club Singles Champion
14 times Association Singles Championships
21 Pennant Division 1 Premierships
State Pennant Championship – 2004-2005 (aged 92)
3 State Country Singles Championships

Edna Harling article 2020

John Snell OAM | Inducted 2021

List of Achievements

23 Club Singles Titles
53 District/Region Titles
Australian Pairs Champion
Twice Alley Shield winner
Victorian Masters Singles a record 7 times 1968, 1969, 1973, 1979, 1981, 1986 and 1990
Victorian representative 232 occasions, 1969-1990
Australian representative 75 times
Commonwealth Games 1978, Singles silver medal
World Bowls Championships 1980 Singles silver medal
An author of two bowls books, “Winning Bowls” and “So You Want To Be A Skip”
Feature writer for the Bowls Victoria magazine (Bowls in Focus) from 2001-2010
Awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1984 for on-field performance and coaching pursuits
Received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000

Dot Jenkinson | Inducted 2021

List of Achievements

1973 World Outdoor Bowls Champion – gold medal in Pairs, bronze medal in Fours
1977 World Outdoor Bowls Champion – 2 gold medals in Fours, silver medal in Pairs
6 Australian National Bowls Championships in Fours
22 Club Singles Championship
Has held almost every major bowling trophy in Australia during her career

Arnold O’Brien OAM | Inducted 2021

List of Achievements

Boasts 85 various achievements both on and off the green
Accolades include playing, coaching, umpiring, marking and administering across club, group, region, state, national and international levels.
Life Member of Bowls Victoria – 2006
RVBA Councillor for 21 years
RVBA Vice President from 1994 to 1998, Deputy President from 1998 to 2000, and President from 2000 to 2003.
State’s selector for 26 years, 12 as Chair
Coaching committee for 21 years, 13 as Chair
200 State matches at senior level
Bowls Australia selector from 2002, Chair from 2003 – 2006
1980 World Bowls Championships Marker and Umpire
Order of Australia Medal recipient for his services to sport in 2004

Margaret Sumner OAM | Inducted 2021

List of Achievements

15 time Club Singles Champion. 20 Club Titles in total
District Champion of Champions 12 times
State Champion of Champion 1987, 1996 and 2002
State Singles Champion 1997
Australian Champion – Singles 1999, Pairs 1991 and 1992, Fours 1995
Australia Representative 168 times (maybe more)
Victoria Representative 132 times
1992 World Championships, Bronze Medal Fours)
1994 Commonwealth Games, Victoria, Canada
1996 World Championships, gold medal Fours, silver medal Triples
1996 Pacific Championships, silver medals Fours and Triples
1998 Commonwealth Games, silver medal Fours
1998 Pacific Championships, Warilla, Australia, gold medals Fours and Triples
1996-2002 Trans-Tasman Series, five gold and two silver medals Fours and Triples