“Never give up” says Barbara
By Gail Walsh
2020 has been a stellar high performance year for two Mooloolaba Bowls Club sisters after they won a very impressive collection of trophies at both district and club level. Septuagenarian sisters Barbara Townsend and Carol Azzopardi have always been sport enthusiasts, but only started playing lawn bowls in later years. They exhibit a healthy and respectful form of sibling rivalry, but also compete well together. For example, when the sisters played against each other in the Club Singles Championship and the score was an evenly matched 24-all, they remained focused until the very last exciting bowl. I asked what advice they would give, or to what they attributed their successes. Their answers were very succinct: Barbara said “Never ever give up”. Carol said “Stay very focused”.
Barbara was awarded SCDLBA-2020 District Champion and won the following SCDLBA District Championships: District Singles, District Fours and was runner-up in the District Triples. At Mooloolaba Bowls Club, Barbara won Bowler of the Year 2020. Barbara also won the Championship Pairs, the Veteran Singles Championship, the Consistency Championship and was runner-up in the Championship Triples and runner-up in the Championship Mixed Pairs.
Carol won the SCDLBA District Fours and at the Mooloolaba Bowls Club, Carol also won the Championship Singles, the Championship Pairs and was runner-up in the Consistency Championship and runner- up in the Veterans Championship. These sisters are avid contestants at local club fiestas, play pennant for the club and have competed further afield in the Australian Open Over 60’s Pairs Competition. Carol coaches most Saturdays at the club, but both sisters are club assets. Barbara has some advice for “newbies” to bowling, “enter everything!” she said. It is the best way to improve your game.
