January Newsletter
Alert - Springvale Road is still undergoing significant road works.
CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE
I hope everyone had a happy Christmas and that Santa was kind to you. 2009 is now over and we are in 2010, so I take this opportunity t wish you all a happy New Year and express the hope that 2010 will be a happy and successful year for our club.
The Pennant season has gone very well to date but all players need to dig deep and stay on the ball (jack) so that we again taste end of season success.
Social Bowls and twilight Bowls will be up and running soon, so check your handbooks for starting dates.
Good bowling in 2010.
Posters advertising The AUSTRALIAN OPEN
February 14th-20 and Over 60's from February 19th-20th are on the notice boards. To order tickets please use the web site given on the posters. If anyone would like to organize a group and purchase a number of tickets, please see Anne Robinson for an order form
The Donvale Bowls Club Christmas Party
on Thursday 10th December at Casavini Restaurant, was voted a big success by those came along. Riesa and Cheryl McAnally provided inspirational leadership on the dance floor! We had more people on the floor with none, one, two or six partners than we've ever had before. Sheilah Scull proved you can still twist at eighty though she appreciated a hand up at the end of the number!
Thankyou to all who came and contributed to a successful evening.
News from the bar
-In response to member requests, we now have bottles of red and white wine available from the bar at a very reasonable price of $10 per bottle. Please note, this wine will only be available to purchase by the bottle so the opportunity is there to share a bottle with others if you so desire.
This is a trial period to see if the initiative is successful or not, after which we will advise members whether the practice will continue.
Cask wine continues to be available by the glass.
New members this month - we've had more successful months - Nil!
Member news
Julia continues to develop her skill and competition experience. She won the Zone 13 District Novices competition on 13th December at Yarra Glen. Playing the semi-final in the morning and following up with the final in the afternoon she had us all on tenterhooks with a slow start. Confidence and determination won the day and, keeping a cool head, she won the last end with a flourish.
Her next game is at Euroa on January 31st so if you are looking for a weekend away it would be great to see more supporters from Donvale.
The Novice competition follows Julia's participation in the Victorian Under 18 State Squad when they play in Adelaide on January 11, - 14th.
Congratulations Julia, enjoy the fun and the company.
Information about our members entering Group or State events is welcome please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Grass Green
is currently closed, we have completed the annual maintenance, heavily scarified / dethatched the grass, fertilised and added nutrients and now need the sun and rain to do the rest. Reminder - remember to wash your hands after playing on bowling greens, you have no idea what goes on them!
Thank you to all those that assisted on Sunday December 20, and if members cannot find something it has probably gone out, we had a big clean up as well.
We will open the green again as soon as possible.
RVBA News
amazing what a few wins can do to help people enjoy their bowls! Our aim is for members to enjoy their bowls and it certainly seems that winning enhances the fun!
As discussed at our Christmas celebration after the last home and away game for 2009 "After a slow start to this season we have settled down and our teams are now working well together and producing really good results. Guess what? Get ready here come the finals???
Christmas celebration after the last home and away game for 2009 on 19th December was a great success, again we filled the club house and a good night was had by all.
Special thank you to all involved in the Christmas hampers for the raffle drawn on the night which added to the fun of the evening, well done.
Again special thank you to all the emergencies and new bowlers who have stepped forward to assist over recent weeks, it is really appreciated and we have certainly uncovered some potential for the future.
Now some dates for your diary - as mentioned at the Christmas celebration in January 2010 we have -
- THURSDAY 14TH JANUARY - practice session, followed by a players meeting to focus on - what we set out to achieve for this season - what we can still achieve get out of the 2009/10 season and how we will do it??
Guest speakers being organized, along with drinks and nibbles.
Notices will go up shortly (at the club and on the website) with further details.
- NIGHT PENNANT RESUMES - Tuesday January 12th 2010
- SATURDAY PENNANT RESUMES - 16TH January
- THURSDAY 21ST January - finals of Club Singles and Minor championships will be played, at 4 o'clock here at the club, have a practice, watch the games unfold, a big crowd required! Drinks and nibbles will be available.
- "Strapp Ford Invitational Fours Tournament" - will be conducted at the club on January 31st, 2010. 16 teams will play for $1000.00 in prize money and we look forward to a good chunk of the money staying with our teams.
Championship matches are progressing really well and it is pleasing to see many newer bowlers / members pushing on in the events. Please keep an eye on dates for when matches need to be played and if having difficulties please let one of the selectors know ASAP.
Remember 100Up / pairs / triples and mixed pairs are up and underway.
Good luck to all involved.
We wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year, take care, we want all our members back for 2010 to be part of another big year for Donvale. Go Donvale!
VLBA News
Many thanks to all members who contributed to the Christmas hamper raffle. We had a great response and were very pleased with the hampers that we made. Thanks also to Barbara Drew, Jill Wyllie and Margaret Davis for their help with the hampers and tickets. The winners were - Eileen Jacues, Jan Vickerman, Keith Rochow, Joy Riley, M. Smith, Linda Reisckieck and Nola Grosvenor. I hope you all enjoyed the goodies in the baskets.
There will be an Australia Day social bowls afternoon on Tuesday 26th January 2010. The afternoon will include bowls and a great afternoon tea. We hope to see a good crowd to enjoy the afternoon.
With only 5 rounds of the current season to go our first side is well placed to play in the finals and to be promoted at the end of the season. Our third side has moved into second position if they maintain that spot they also will be promoted for next season. The second and fourth sides are both in 6th position and will have opportunities to improve their positions.
Practice will commence in the second week of January. On Tuesday 12th January commencing at 10am we will conduct special sessions on 'The Role of a Marker', 'Measuring for Thirds', and 'Umpiring Queries' that often occur during a game.
Please note that there is a pennant game on Thursday 28th January 2010. Please let the selectors know if you are unavailable.
We hope everyone has a healthy, happy and safe 2010 and look forward to an exciting finish to the season.
Club jackets / club shirts. The club holds a supply of shirts for new bowlers.
However if you need another top we may be able to assist from stock or take an order, please contact Graham Howard or Anne Robinson.
Website news
www.donvalebowls.com.au - our club website continues to grow with new pages being added all the time, thanks to Sheldon and his back up Greg??
Check out the MacAnnaly's flying holiday report under Extramural Activities. An excellent read!
The Members Section now contains coaching drills, teams, results, championship draws etc.etc. Usage of the site continues to grow rapidly and our sponsors have link for promotions etc.
If you are not registered yet please do, if you are registered and having any difficulties please contact Sheldon for guidance.
Editors note; That's all folks until next month, good health and good bowling in 2010 - Anne Robinson
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