Graham’s Golden Anniversary

by bqmedia on July 25, 2021

By Gai Cole

Graham Tuckwell joined Aspley Bowls Club on 20th June 1971, at the age of 34. He has had continual membership for 50 years and is the club’s current longest serving member.

Sport has always been a priority in Graham’s life. During winter months he played Australian Rules football and took up umpiring and coaching, with a premiership success. Summer saw him playing the game of the “flannelled fools”(as he calls us). He first played lawn bowls whilst living in Adelaide. After moving to Brisbane in 1971, his sporting time was devoted to the Aspley Memorial Bowls Club. He was a member of the Brisbane Metropolitan Division 2 pennant winning team

in 1988, the final year of the RQBA before the formation of the districts today. He continues to represent the club in BNDBA Pennant teams with Division 4 wins in 1992 and1998. He has also enjoyed great success in the club championships with wins in A Pairs – 1978,1981,1986; Triples – 1996; Fours – 1976, 1987, 1989 & 1994.

Born in Albury 6 July 1937, the eldest of five children, Graham had a loving family life. Growing up in a country town in the 1940s was tough, but it was also filled with much fun and adventure. Graham completed his apprenticeship as an electrical fitter-mechanic in 1958. National Service intervened in 1956 with his training in the Armoured Corp at Puckapunyal Army Base followed by two years CMF service in Victorian Mounted Rifles.

Graham married his sweetheart, Maureen Shanahan in 1958. They have two sons, a daughter, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. His work and developing career with Cablemakers Australia meant numerous relocations for the family, Mildura in 1960, back to Albury for two years as regional manager, followed by Adelaide as regional manager for South Australia and Northern Territory until 1970. Next was Brisbane in 1971, when he joined the club.

In 1978, Graham chose to test his hand in the timber panel products industry and joined the Mallinson group. He set up their new wholesaling operation in Queensland. In 1985, when Mallinson was the subject of a takeover he, with several other team members, started their own wholesale company. The new company, Timbermark, grew to be one of the most respected players in the industry, with operations in four states. The business was then sold, and Graham joined the ranks of the retirees.

Members and guests of the club were delighted to celebrate Graham’s 50 years of dedication to our club and the sport at a celebration lunch with him. We thank him for his hard work and commitment to his role as a selector and games co-ordinator over much of that time. Most importantly, we acknowledge and thank him for his most valuable advice, wisdom, and mentoring prowess for so many of our new and less experienced players.

Congratulations Graham, we look forward to many more years ahead.