L-R: Errol Shuttleworth, Jason the contractor & Harry Bartlett

Gold City’s Facelift and New Green

by bqmedia on July 2, 2021

By Bob Wine

Gold City Bowls Inc. was incorporated as an amalgamated bowls club in June 2018, which combined three bowling associations in Charters Towers. At that time, we owned two properties and had two ageing bowls greens requiring urgent replacement.

In January 2020, one of the properties was sold and the club moved permanently to the property at 12-14 Prior Street Richmond Hill, located next door to the RSL club. This property was neglected and seriously in need of significant repairs, maintenance and the bowls green and overhead shade cover needed replacing. The sale of the property and the move to Prior Street all took place in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and was dramatically affected by the associated restrictions. Nevertheless, bowls games were possible on the old and worn carpet bowls green at Prior Street and the members persevered under strained and difficult conditions.

The club committee set about negotiating the funding and construction of a replacement carpet bowls green. Again, this process was more difficult because of the Covid-19 regulations and restricted operations. There did not appear to be any worthwhile grant funding options available for such a large project. The club was compelled to make use of the proceeds from the sale of the other property to pay for a new carpet green without any grant funding assistance.

After numerous postponements, construction of the new bowls green commenced in early December 2020. The project was plagued with multiple delays and a series of wet weather periods until the final completion of the project on Thursday April 29. The contractor, Jason, did an excellent job on the project and the club now has a quality playing surface which should provide an assurance of continuation of the sport of lawn bowls in Charters Towers for years to come.

Jason was supported by two club members Harry Bartlett and Errol Shuttleworth whilst the project was under way. They also spent many hours working on establishing and maintaining lawn grass on the bowls green surrounds. They painted the exterior of the club buildings, saving the club thousands of dollars. Great job fellows. You have done a great service to your club.

While members were unable to play bowls from December through to April whilst the bowls green was under construction, the Gold City Bowls selectors sent a team of players to the North QLD District Men’s Blue Pennants event in the Bowen district area on April, 16-18. Most of the team members had not played bowls for almost five months, yet the team managed to record three wins and one draw from seven games and was placed fourth overall in the event. Congratulations to the team members for showing such a high level of commitment, perseverance and bowls skill. From now on, there will be the opportunity for game practice on our new carpet bowls green in preparation for Pennants and other important events.