Associate Membership

In 1953, Leon Yates and Ian Shellard of Caulfield Central R.S.L. discussed the possibility of playing competition bowls between RSL Sub-Branches. A letter requesting sanction and support was sent to ANZAC House, for attention by the sports organiser, the late Ray Fitcher. Thus was R.S.L. Bowls originated.   

The first tournament in 1954, was the Duke of Edinburgh Shield. It was contested between four (4) Sub-Branches, namely Ballarat, Geelong, Caulfield Central and Caulfield Return Soldiers. Due to the efforts of Bob Tripp of Geelong, Leon Yates and Lindsay Lewis of Caulfield Central and Frank Craig of East Malvern, there were eight (8) Sub-Branches competing in Ballarat in 1960. 

To help facilitate competitions the Northwest RSL Lawn Bowls Association was established in 1980 and is in the Northwest suburbs of Melbourne. Likewise, Gippsland RSL Lawn Bowls Association was established to provide bowlers in Gippsland the opportunity to compete in their area. 

Each RSL Lawn Bowls Section run their own tournaments and events thought out the year. The Victorian RSL Lawn Bowls holds the following tournaments: 

• State RSL Two Bowl Triples – for RSL Service and Affiliate Members held in October each year. 

• Diggers Challenge Day – Open Fours tournament held in March each year 

• Duke of Edinburgh Shield 

The Duke of Edinburgh Shield is a tournament is played across 16 sections (venues withing Bowls Victoria area) with 6 teams of 16 players at each venue playing on the first weekend of April each year. What a remarkable growth, when one considers that over 1500 bowlers are playing in the same tournament at the same time, one realises the magnitude of the event. 

• National RSL Lawn Bowls Carnival – held at each state on a rotational basis 

• Jack Hamilton VC Trophy is played by RSL Service members who have been selected to represent their state. This event is the genesis of the National Carnival, first played in 1961 between Victoria and New South Wales. Miranda RSL Bowls Club donated a trophy in honour of John Patrick Hamilton VC for which sides have battled ever since. This is an annual event with each state comprising 5 teams of 4 players with aggregate scores deciding each match winner from participating states of Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and New South Wales. 

• Dr Sydney Krantz Memorial Trophy was donated for competition between Executive Fours to add incentive for these games. It’s played for in conjunction with the Jack Hamilton V.C. Trophy. 

• National RSL Fours is played by RSL Service members from across Australia. There is no selection process for this tournament, just a chance to play with fellow veterans from across Australia.