Dawn Brittin in the gardens.
December 2 marked 80 years since Central Bowling Club Cambridge started and the following week it hosted its 15th annual Sistaz tournament.
Board member and past president Alison Winter.
The club’s upcoming Christmas tournament will be the lowkey, official celebration with a cutting of an 80th birthday cake.
Board member and past president Alison Winter said it was important to recognise the milestone after Covid stopped their 75th jubilee.
She has been involved for 18 years but remembers the club in the 1960s.
Sistaz tournament winners Robyn Wallace’s team from Omaranui/Taradale with David de Veth from Ryman Healthcare.
Second place at the Sistaz tournament was Linda Bennett’s team from Te Awamutu.
“It’s been great to see our club stay strong and celebrate 80 years, because my father – Tom Turnbull – was a past president, life member and patron. I’ve followed along. I’m the only bowler in the family.
“It’s an achievement to see how it is today. We’ve got a very good board and many volunteers that keep the club going.
“Our membership is strong. We’ve got about 154 members this year, but we have a lot of social members who just like to come, socialise with us and watch the bowls.”
The club started in 1945 and the women’s club joined three years later followed by their first official building opening in 1950.
Dawn Brittin is in her mid-90s and lives in front of the club.
“Dawn was a bowler here for years. She’s been doing the gardens for quite a few years but had to give it up the last four years to doing the ones on the bank,” Alison said.
“She was also the cleaner at one stage. She’s a lovely person and done a lot for the club over the years.”
The ladies on the green in 1948.
Dawn joined the club in 1983 and her father Horace “Hori” Campin was a foundation member.
“I believe the idea of a bowling club originated over games of cards on Fridays at the National Hotel,” Dawn said.
“I can remember as a young girl walking past this long, long section covered in big clumps of blackberries and down the back, people dumped rubbish, so what a challenge!
“From our farm at Roto-o-Rangi I can remember Dad coming in for working bees with a small group of men on tractors and trucks for months. The topsoil came from a neighbour’s farm at Roto-o-Rangi.
“When it opened in 1945 the clubrooms consisted of not more than a tin shed but each year with raffles etc, things got bigger and better.
“In later years when extensions were required, Dad donated some of a section so the clubrooms could become the lovely building we enjoy today.”
The club has had many changes and triumphs in those eight decades from getting artificial greens in 1999, claiming (and still holding) three Guinness World Records and producing several New Zealand representatives.
The history is all on the clubroom walls and displayed in folders for all to browse.
Foundation members in 1945 – Back row, from left: W. Milicich, L. Kerry, L. Webber, H.W. Campin, K.N. Glenie. Front row: E.A. Morrice, M.K. Trott, A. Paton, F.A. Grives, T. Appleby, W.C. Arnold, E.T. Stacey. Inset: D.C.S. Walker. The other foundation members were W. Bobbett, L.C. Hooker, D. McCathie, A. Sturgeon, R. Frost, R. Kerry, W. Meanie and W.P. Cummings.
Each year the club holds several two-day tournaments. They’ve just had the New Zealand Blind tourney as well as the Sistaz.
Close friends Glenys Carter and Gaylene Geary started the Sistaz with 11 teams involved.
This year there were 32 from across the North Island – Auckland, Taradale, Thames Valley, Whakatāne and many others.
Alison said the tournament is always successful and has become a big event on the ladies’ calendar.
“Some teams are very serious. Others are here for fun, to catch up with old friends and make new friends,” Alison said.
“It’s a chance to get away from home and have a break.”
Overall, the club is in good health from men’s to women’s, twilight and everything in between.
Alison hopes it will continue for another 80 years – at least.
“We’re very lucky to be in the middle of town. Very central to everything,” Alison said.
“It’s a lot of work to keep it going. But the volunteers behind the scenes, that don’t always get recognised, are the secret to our success.”
Dawn Brittin in the gardens.
