Inside job: Wallington indoor bowlers Trent Wadey, Helen Castellan, Ivy Harvey and Arthur Wadey venture outside.
By Michelle Herbison
WALLINGTON’S indoor bowls club is at risk of folding due to a dwindling, ageing membership, according to its secretary.
Arthur Wadey said the club was down to 16 members since its heydays when it attracted more than 30.
“Through the age it’s just deteriorated. Every year we keep our fingers crossed – are we going to have to close the place down or not?” Mr Wadey said.
“Some nights we get away with having 14 players using extra balls but if we get less than 12 people we have to just muck around socially because we can’t play a competition.”
Mr Wadey blamed decreasing numbers on “computers and X-boxes” as well as many retired people holidaying north during winter.
“As our members get older there are no replacements.”
Indoor bowls was a fun, social alternative to its more-competitive cousin, lawn bowls, Mr Wadey said.
“The balls are exactly the same and the rules are the same, except you play on a six-foot-wide mat which imitates the lawn. It’s a beautiful hall.
“We have supper afterwards and a chit-chat. There are no obligations if you don’t want to come one week.”
Mr Wadey said the club had about five male members and the rest were women.
“We’ve got enough experienced players to coach and teach you. We were all beginners once and played like donkeys.
“Anybody’s welcome. We’ll take teenagers and 80 year-olds.”
Mr Wadey said anyone interested in joining the club should phone him on 5255 5624.
