TOUCHER TOPICS BORONIA BOWLS CLUB NEWSLETTER

MARCH/APRIL 2013

Darcy bowls into the nineties

Darcy pictured after a couple of games Its warm (35oC) but Darcy is hammering to the head

Ted Eccles was born at Orbost on 7 April 1923. His dad worked as a sleeper cutter whilst mum picked beans with young Ted sleeping beneath the vines as she toiled. The family moved to Melbourne in 1933 when he was 10 years old, times were tough in those days.

During the 2nd World War Ted was stationed in the Northern Territory as he worked in the armoury for the Air Force packing bombs into planes. He celebrated his 21st birthday at Edith River just north of Katherine. Darcy says he was given his nickname by the boys when he won £10 for a two-bob outlay on a double on the 1943 Grand National Hurdle (Victory March) and the 1943 Grand National Steeple (Claudette). A wealthy horse-owner by the name of Darcy Eccles had won the 1937 Melbourne Cup with his horse The Trump. Ted’s air force mates called him Darcy after this rich fellow after his win in the double.

It has been Darcy Eccles ever since.

Darcy was stationed at Pine Creek, Edith River and Batchelor during the two years he spent in the NT. He remembers the pilots were Dutch and the mechanics were English (a bit like Boronia Bowls Club eh?) After the war Darcy worked for 12 years as a carpenter, then at the suggestion of a mate who worked at the MCG he got a job cleaning at the cricket ground. Soon after when curator Bill Watts arrived from Sydney Darcy became a greenkeeper. He spent 28 years at the ground in this capacity. He also had another special job – when cricket games were in action; Darcy worked in the scoreboard – he moved the scores for the Total runs on the board. He was especially suited to this task as he was a skinny little bloke who could get into the tight space in the scoreboard. Darcy retired when he was 60 years old.

Darcy married his wife Peg 58 years ago. They moved to Boronia soon after in 1957. It was just bush then. Together they had three sons who gave them three grandsons. Sadly Peg died recently.

Darcy started bowls in 1990 at Eastwood Golf. He became a member at Boronia in 1993. He loves his bowls and enjoyed skipping a rink in a pennant side that finished Runners up.

Long-time members remember Darcy and his good mate Ron Eastlake enjoying a game of bowls or a chat in the clubrooms. Ron and Darcy used to enter Bayswater’s “Masters and Apprentices” pairs tournament. Darcy, at 77 was apprentice to Ron at 84. The old blokes were always tough opposition. Darcy still has 3 sets of Ron’s old bowls amongst the six sets he keeps.

Three Cheers Darcy. Happy 90th Birthday and many more to come.

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Men’s President Report

The season is fast drawing to a close and many of you are planning your trips north to the sunny climate. I wish you good travelling and look forward to your safe return. With the pennant season over, I would like to congratulate all bowlers that participated. Our 2nd side managed to finish in 4th spot and therefore got to play in the finals however unfortunately they were knocked out in the semi-final. The 4th and 5th sides struggled during the season and they face relegation next season. One positive thing from Saturday pennant was the sausage sizzle afterwards. With the smell of cooking onions wafting over the greens, the visitors tended to stay after the game and socialise. Much needed funds were raised from this and many thanks must go to Brenda Phillips, Brenda Degenhardt, Carol Ashmore, Elvie Williams and Lorraine Dennehy for their efforts. Barefoot bowls is another activity that has finished for this season. This has been another success with some new players joining up during the season. Again many thanks to the usual suspects that devoted their time, namely Carol & Graeme Ashmore and all the members who regularly came to help. This year we combined the Bowls Victoria Charity day with the Chandler Triples. A total of $176.50 was raised on the day. A big thank you to those that contributed. Congratulations to Terry Phillips, Geoff Turner and Lindsay Russell winning in a play-off against Executive Director Peter Learmonth, David Inglis and Keith Scutt. The last of the finals in our competitions are being played out and good bowling to those involved. Our annual trip to Moama is only a few weeks away and hopefully the weather will stay fine for us. A total of 28 so far will enjoy a week away with bowling at Echuca, Moama & Rich River Bowls Club. Last year’s trip was very successful and a good time was had by all. If you don’t have your name down, we may be able to squeeze you in but you have to hurry. President’s Day is not far off. Make sure you have your name down. Presentation Night is a week after we get back from Moama and I look forward to presenting the various awards to the winners of the competitions that have been played out during the season. This will be followed the next week with the Executive and Mens/Ladies AGMs. I need to remind you that the nomination forms are now on the board in the foyer. This club needs people to run it. Nominate now. Good bowling

Bryan Dennehy Men’s President

Del Doran with members of Bayswater Ladies Probus Club 12/3/13

“DRUGS IN SPORT

The PM has announced that Lawn bowls is a hotbed of drug use, with sports scientists using all sorts of concoctions to keep players alive for their next game. Most of these drugs are being manufactured in highly sophisticated and advanced drug labs in Switzerland, USA and Germany. There is also evidence of widespread corruption, with meat raffle prizes, free beer and free rinse and perms being offered to bribe players to keep quiet about the sport’s sordid goings on. One player was offered a closer car parking space to the club if he would share his drugs with the Secretary of the club who was having problems with staying alert during bingo nights. Arthur Ritis, head of Australian Bowling, vehemently denies any wrong doing saying it is perfectly natural for players to want to be kept fit and more importantly alive. But he refused to answer many questions at a press conference, mainly because his hearing aid was turned down too low. Some players have been found to be wearing electronic devices to artificially stimulate their heart, giving them an advantage over other players who don’t use the device and are … well, dead. Others are taking dozens of stimulants to keep them awake during the game. These drugs have also been passed or peddled in club bar rooms to spectators so they don’t fall asleep when games are televised. Dozens of used pill containers have been found in club change rooms and lockers. The use of pain killers is totally out of control the Sports Minister screamed. PM Julia Gillard looked genuinely shocked and said it was a national disgrace that needs to be eradicated. Another serious problem is alcohol consumption not only after games but alarmingly during games. The Sports Minister said the situation was intolerable and was sending a dreadful message to not only children but 30 to 50 year olds. The government has announced a probe into the sport. Ritis said his players were used to probes, just as long as they’ve been sterilized and are not too cold. In breaking news a leaked confidential report out of the PM's media unit indicated that the sport of Golf is next on Labour’s campaign on drugs in sport. PM Gillard stated that the Government was going to come down hard on this behaviour even if it killed her chances of being re-elected.”

Dates for your diary

Men’s Presidents Day Saturday 6 April Ladies Presidents Day Tuesday 9 April Werribee Zoo outing Tuesday 16 April Presentation Night Saturday 4 May Annual General Meeting Saturday 11 May Ladies Annual General Meeting 10 am Monday 13 May Mens Annual General Meeting 7 pm Monday 13 May

Older but Golder

March Heather Cupples (5th); Barbara Kwijas (6th); Brad Castle (6th); Peter Marshall (7th); Gerry Bevilacqua (8th) Bob Stace (9th); George Bisset (10th); Paul McAloney (10th); Les Lucas (12th); Graeme Ashmore (13th); Brian Carolan (13th); Noel Dowler (14th); Ian Kerr (15th); Derek Pitt (18th); Wilma Paus (19th); Graeme Hockey (22nd); Jim Arnott (25th); Marne Wynn (26th); Andrew Baum (26th); Bob Williams (26th); Leigh McLean (27th); Barry Ward (27th); Bob Sands (29th); Ron Evans (30th); Bryan Dennehy (31st)

April Stephen Lucas (3rd); Peter Croker (5th); Robin Shaw (6th); Darcy Eccles (7th); Pauline Edwards (7th); Greg Johnson (13th); Sheila Bilton (16th); Ernst Burian (21st); Matt Park (22nd); Brenda Phillips (24th); Glenice Shaw (25th); Myra Le Grew (27th) May Edith Whitehall (3rd); Vin Roche (7th); Bill Martin (10th); Gloria Spinks (13th); Danny McCarthy (14th); Annette Scutt (19th); Ken Maloney (22nd); Mal Barrow (24th); Bruce Le Grew (27th); Neil Ward (29th); Barbara Kligerman (31st)

CLEANING ROSTER 2012-13

Name Sun To Sat Name Sun To Sat

TEAM NO. 6 TEAM NO. 7 Angelo & Carol Lia 31 Mar to 6 Apr Vin Roche 7 Apr to 13 Apr Henry Grossbard Ian McLean Marg Grossbard Margaret Woodford

Ron Evans Les Lucas John Jennings Keith Groenewegen Len Doddrell David Alderman

Alan Horwood Manfred Mohren

TEAM NO. 8 TEAM NO. 9

Bryan Dennehy 14 Apr to 20 Apr Terry Phillips 21 Apr to 27 Apr John Robinson Brenda Phillips

Brenda Degenhardt Malcolm Barrow Alan Forster Jack Higgs

Graeme Turner Daniel Price Barry & Mark Ward David Fletcher Stuart Schmolling

TEAM NO. 10 TEAM NO. 11

Bruce & Lin Perry 28 Apr to 4 May Vin Hughes 5 May to 11 May David Inglis Ian Ball Ray Bilton Kevin Hamond

Garry Overs Robert Lancaster Ron Marsh John & Dot King

George Lynn

TEAM NO. 12 TEAM NO. 13 Derek Pitt 11 May to 18 May Graeme Ashmore 18 May to 25 May

Ernst Burian Royce Wardle Tom & Olivia Lucas Tom Pieters

Bill Paus Hans Eriksen Alan Cobb Geoff Turner Don Korver