Grant helps keep bowlers cool in summer heat

Monday, 15 May 2017

Keeping players cool during the hot summer months is now a reality for the Bundaberg Bowls Club thanks to a Stronger Communities Programme grant from the Federal Government.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt congratulated Bundaberg Bowls Club which has been awarded $17,000 for shade structures.

“This will provide much needed sun-protection for club members as well as visiting players and community members,” Mr Pitt said.

“The Stronger Communities Programme has been a boost for community groups and organisations like Bundaberg Bowls Club that would otherwise struggle to fund these types of improvements.

“I was thrilled to see a third round of the Stronger Communities Programme was announced in the 2017 Budget last week,” he said.

Bundaberg Bowls Club president John Clough said many players were not physically capable of participating in social or competition bowls because of the intense heat and high humidity in Bundaberg during the summer months.

“We anticipate that now we have additional shade around the clubhouse our membership will increase, thus involving more likeminded community participants whilst also providing many more playing opportunities for our existing membership,” he said.

“The ever-present reality of direct exposure to the effects of hot sub-tropical sunshine over a period of a 4-5 hours of any lawn-bowls playing session, twice or thrice weekly, is that various forms of skin cancer and related conditions can worse or otherwise contribute to an undesirable result.”

Mr Clough said the Bundaberg Bowls Club is utilised by a number of lawn bowls playing groups including:

– The Endeavour Foundation

– Students from North Bundaberg High School as lawn bowling is included as a component of their school’s sport curriculum

– A varying number of NAIDOC children of mixed ages, both learning and participating in the game, with our Club providing junior bowls set and rubberised bowls sets for the littlies.

– A group of mature aged ladies in varying numbers take advantage of our playing facilities and equipment every Wednesday

– Periodic bare foot social bowling events by various social groups throughout the year.

“Many of our members have expressed the desire to be more involved in more social and competition lawn bowling events at our club, but cannot endure the summer heat. Hopefully this will see more people out on the greens,” he said.

Through the Stronger Communities Programme, eligible community groups can apply for grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 for small capital projects. All applications need to commit at least matching funding or in-kind contributions.

Applications for round three will open mid-2017. Guidance material will be available shortly. Please continue to monitor this webpage http://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/funding/scp/index.aspx for further updates.

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