Club History

Our Club was formally established June 4th, 1915, but didn’t begin to function until 1920, after World War 1. The following snippets from the Cohuna Farmer’s Weekly over the ensuing years form both, an historical perspective and, in terms of modern day thinking, a humorous insight into Cohuna Bowls Club.

1915:  CFW, May 21st, 1915

‘Cohuna is gradually coming to its own. This week we have the happiness to announce the formation of a bowling club. The promoters have been busily, if quietly, at work on the project for the several weeks past, rounding up prospective supporters, with the result that the movement has already made considerable headway, whilst something like £60 is understood to have been collected.’

At a meeting, with good attendance, held in Frantz’s Hall, elections resulted in:    President:  Mr. W. Craig:

Vice Presidents:  Mr. P. Kirby & Mr. R. Hutchinson

Secretary:  Mr. A. Nation

Treasurer:  Mr. F. Fraser

1920:  CFW, January 23rd, 1920

(After encouraging readers to support the Club and welcoming new members)

‘They point out – though it should be hardly necessary – that the historic game of Bowls is a remarkably clean, wholesome and tranquillising diversion, and, also, that by bringing together men of different shades of thought and habit, in circumstances of amity and good will, the Club can do a great deal to promote a happier and more fraternal understanding in other relationships in life. For these reasons they solicit the active sympathy and cooperation of the community.

After long delays and interruptions due to war, the Cohuna Bowling Green was at last a realised fact.

It is a full four-rinded green, situated on the banks of the Gunbower Creek, within the town boundary. Sown by Mr. John Murley, an expert from Bendigo, with a mixture of Couch grass and Kentucky Blue, which is rapidly growing into a rich and velvety carpet.

The work of forming the Green has necessarily involved the promoters in considerable expense, but they claim that they have thereby added a valuable and permanent addition to the social resources of the town.

The Cohuna Bowling Green,…. was formally opened for play on Wednesday afternoon. The attendance, however, was disappointingly meager considering the social importance of the occasion and the intrinsic interest of the game itself.

The Committee of Management were working up to the last hour in their efforts to give the necessary finishing touches to the ground, and to complete the general arrangements in time for the opening. In addition to footpaths and border seats, a marquee had been erected for the dispensation of refreshments.

Mrs. Gibbard then threw the white jack, and Mrs Frantz bowled to it with the first ball; this brought the formal part of the proceedings to a conclusion.

1928/29:

The first existing records of the Club ( now held by the Cohuna & District Historical Society) show that the Murray Valley Highway was made, the Club Colors were Blue and Gold, and the greens were lit by numerous, suspended lights. Two new rinks had been laid and a contract was let for a new 20 ft. x 12 ft. Pavilion. It was to be a Durobestos construction costing £ 80/17/1

1937:

Ladies were accepted as Associate Members – they went on strike, and wouldn’t do the afternoon teas until they were accepted. The following year, you can see, they were again ‘recalcitrant’ and wouldn’t hand over any money.

1938:  from “The first Fifty Years”

Money seems to speak all languages doesn’t it? As far back as 1938, the Men’s Committee wrote to the Ladies, requesting money to pay their bills. However, at a special meeting of the Ladies Committee, they decided not to hand it over to the men until they got a green in good condition for their Spoons Competition.

The Ladies asked for an electric copper, but the men decided that the old, wood fired one was still good enough. However, those fighting words were no match for 80 angry women, and ‘common sense prevailed’.

This was also the year that the Cohuna Shire agreed to building new greens at the present site, on Gunbower Island.

1940:

After two years of hard work, 16th March, 1940 saw the big move to the new site. It had 12 grass rinks at a cost of £ 700. The old Pavilion was moved to the new site and three years later, electric lights were installed

1943:

IN 1943 each lady was asked to supply 2 oz. of sugar and 1 oz. of tea. You can imagine how much this helped the Club, for in those days, food and clothing was purchased by coupons.

Mrs. Clayton donated 1/2 lb. of tea for the Opening Day, and at the end of the season, the Club finished with 12 lbs. of sugar and 5 lbs. of tea left over.

1944:

Ladies, other than members’ wives were allowed to join the Club, and for the next few years the Club really thrived.

1952:

A new, brick Club House with shady verandahs was opened by the President, and the old one was moved and used as an implement shed.

1956:

Carpet Bowls was started, but the equipment was sold in 1957 because the new venture had not been a success.

1958:

Membership was increasing and by 1960 the building had been extended.

1968:

The Club started negotiating with the Cohuna Shire for two more greens, but after some bitter negotiations, a request for one more green was accepted.

1974:

Interest in Carpet Bowls was rekindled. It raised considerable funds for the Club and our local hospital.

1976:

A Committee was formed to run Bingo. They raised substantial funds for the Club building and furnishings. It continued to be run over the next 40 years by a loyal band of Volunteers, before closing due to lack of patronage.

1978:

The new Club House was built on its present site. A cooling system and gas heating was installed. By 1981 the new Kitchen and Bar were constructed and we were granted a Liquor Licence.

1983:

Our third green was constructed and new concrete paths were laid.

1985:

Cohuna Bowls Club became an Incorporated entity, and in 1987 was one of the first since Corporation to have a Lady Secretary.

1994:

A lot of research went into the design to improve the lighting on the greens. They were erected soon afterwards, and by 1999 the debt had been paid for.

2019:

By the time of the Centenary, our Club had dropped to about 120 members, but with the downturn in the Farming sector, without strong employment opportunities, and the ‘shift’ in people’s interests, that number has now fallen to 64 members. Most of us are of retirement age, and we have just one or two under 50 years of age. All of the work in running and operating a Bowls Club is done by Volunteers. We hope we can continue to do this and find ways of attracting younger members, who can then carry on the traditions developed by our predecessors.