70th anniversary in 1999

In 1999, the Bribie Island Bowls Club celebrated its 70th anniversary. The following article was written by Melissa Boyle and published in the Island and Mainland News 15 September 1999.

Bribie's oldest Club celebrates 70th Anniversary [in 1999]

by Melissa Boyle

Island & Mainland News 15.9.1999 p. 1, 3.

Bribie Island's oldest club, the Bribie Island Bowls Club, celebrates its 70th anniversary this month, with a week full of activities planned for both bowlers and other members of the community.

In 1999, the Bribie Island Bowls Club celebrated its 70th anniversary
Photo: Bribie Island Bowls Club collection, BIBC_007

The Bribie Island Bowls Club was originally founded in 1929, by a committee of members of the Windsor Bowls Club. The original clubhouse was floated from Moreton Island to Bribie Island on 44 gallon drums and placed at its prime location on the waterfront.* The first green was built of sand and ashes obtained by the Koopa on one of its many trips to Bribie. Obtaining top dressing in those days was quite a job, and the soil was brought in from Goodwin Beach. It was sieved and bagged and sent to Bribie on a cattle barge.

The clubhouse - in those days - consisted of three rooms: the kitchen and dining room, the bar, and a ladies room, all lit by oil lamps. In 1947, the school teachers' cottage and school was bought by the club and converted into a double-storey bowlers hostel. Housing up to eight people, it was the only one of its kind in Australia.

The Bribie Island Bowls Club as it was in the mid 1950's.
source: Island & Mainland News 15.9.1999 p.1

The club progressed slowly during the fifties and sixties. With the building of the Bribie bridge came water and electricity connections, which improved both the Island and the club, and made a more modern approach to the game of bowls at the Bribie Island Bowls Club, and at Bongaree.

During the early years, the Bribie Island Bowls Club was the main source of fund-raising for the Ambulance. Raffles, sing-a-longs and dances featured prominently, and over the year the club has supplied several Ambulance vehicles.

The club also supported the local Fire Brigade, which was started at the Bowls Club's Hostel, where practise was carried out two nights a week.

The Ladies Bowling Club came into being in 1957, with 19 ladies turning up at the first meeting. The foundation Lady President was Rene Stanley when the Ladies Club was established formally on the 18th September 1958, with the opening performed by I. Grafton from the Queensland Ladies Bowls Association.

The Bribie Island Bowls Club was incorporated in October 1990, when the membership was about 400 men and 200 ladies, with a Board of Management charged with running of the club affairs, while the bowls and other activities managed by elected committees.

Achieving many distinctions both inside and outside the bowls arena, the Bribie Island Bowls Club and its members boast a proud tradition and record, not only on the greens, but also supporting the local community.

The Bribie Island Bowls Club as it stands [in 1999],
overlooking the picturesque Pumicestone Passage.
source: Island & Mainland News 15.9.1999 p.1

From its humble beginnings in 1929, the Bribie Island Bowls Club has evolved and is continuing to evolve, into one of Bribie Island's leading sporting clubs.

Help them celebrate their milestone this month by joining in on their 70th birthday celebrations, running from 21st to 28th September, organised by a group of tireless members including Carol Rogers, Ann Baird, Joan Rimmington, Jesse Neil and Rob Lister. The normal bowls competitions for each day will take place as sponsored days, costing only $4 per player and a 1pm start each day.

The week-long celebrations will culminate on Tuesday 28th September, with a special fancy dress game of bowls, starting from 12 noon. Costing $10 per player, the afternoon's events will include games of self-selected tripples, high tea, a special evening dinner, and entertainment from one of Bribie Island's lading country bands, 4 Grumpy Old Men & A Lady. For non-bowlers, tickets for the evening dinner and entertainment are available for only $8 each. Admission to this special event is available by ticket only, which are on sale now at the Bribie Island Bowls Club's office until the 23rd September.

- Melissa Boyle

REFERENCE

Bribie's oldest Club celebrates 70th Anniversary by Melissa Boyle
Island & Mainland News 15.9.1999 pages 1 and 3.

* the history of the placement of the building that became the clubhouse is more involved than this sentence indicates.