Village Rollers attracting new people to bowls
Bowls WA’s new initiative, “Village Rollers”, a key component of our “Reflecting and Respecting Our Community” project, was recently launched thanks to funding from the Department of Local Government, Sport & and Cultural Industries and LotteryWest.
Lawley Park was the venue for our inaugural “Village Rollers” program.
The program is aimed at residents of Retirement and Lifestyle Villages in Perth Metro, Southwest and Great Southern regions. Village Rollers is a four-week program designed to introduce people to the sport of bowls through quality coaching and skill-based training to allow a great appreciation of the sport from day one.
Experienced coach Hilton Dembo took the participants through the basics with lots of laughs along the way. The key here is that people’s first experience with bowls is a positive one, knowing that many village residents have bowls facilities on-site and therefore have the unique opportunity to refine their skills right outside their front door.
A key goal is then to engage our participants and their village with their local Clubs establishing relationships that will last well into the future.
A great turn out for the day with 6 novices, 5 social bowlers and 7 pennant players coming along and helping where they could. While the first session was aimed at beginners, there’s always something that players can take away from a quality coaching session, experienced or not.
“I’ve never done anything like this before”
One of the novices said, “I’ve never done anything like this before,” thanking the facility for the initiative.
Another novice was heard to say, “Not a bad bowl for a beginner.”
Music was playing in the background which was greatly appreciated.
Everyone stayed on for a BBQ and some bad jokes were told.
If anyone living in a retirement village would like their village to become involved, please call Jen Beha at Bowls WA on 9340 0803.
