Club in Focus: Port Hughes Bowling Club
It’s so new that it doesn’t have a dedicated clubhouse yet, but Port Hughes Bowling Club on the Northern Yorke Peninsula in South Australia is making waves in the community and is looking to create a place for everyone for years to come.
Established two years ago in May 2024, the idea of Port Hughes Bowling Club started from a general conversation over a few beers.
This idea quickly became real after the Northern Yorke Peninsula Board, Bowls South Australia and Bowls Australia supported the concept and provided some help in setting up.
Port Hughes Bowling Club secretary Ann Robinson said the first step in the process was working with Copper Coast Council to host a Community Consultation Meeting, which 60 people attended.
The majority agreed to support their proposal and from there a Steering Committee was formed, a constitution was written and the Club became Incorporated.
“We were fortunate that some community members heard that we would like to start a club and expressed interest so that made the whole process much more viable,” Robinson said.
With the Club formed, attention turned to attracting members and forming pennant teams.
By October 2024, the Club had a Division 1 Open Team on Saturday (16 players), and a Men’s Wednesday Team (9 players).
Within a year this increased to also include a Division 2 Open Team on Saturday, and a Ladies Division 2 Team (12 players).
“We are also very proud to say that 13 of those players had never played bowls before joining our Club,” Robinson.
Playing out of Wallaroo Mines Bowls Club, the Port Hughes Bowling Club teams finished a respectable ninth in the Saturday Open Division 1, while the Men’s Wednesday team made it to the grand final before just falling short of the premiership.
With no dedicated green or clubhouse yet, Robinson said all members at Port Hughes Bowling Club were grateful for the use of the green while the team was getting off the ground.
“They made us feel welcome from the minute we started there, and included us in all of the social events they had at their Club,” Robinson said.
“Unfortunately, due to the fact that they only have one green available and we increased our teams on Saturday, we have had to move from Wallaroo Mines.
“However we were invited by Kadina Bowling Club to use their facilities, and this has also worked out extremely well for both our club and theirs.
“We are grateful to them for allowing us to continue our journey with their club.”
Port Hughes Bowling Club has been built on the basis of community, with there being a strong focus on making everyone feel a part of the Club.
“Many of us had never met before the formation of the Club and there have been many great friendships formed because of it,” Robinson said.
“The main focus of our club is that everyone is treated equally and with respect, both playing and non-playing members.”
To create this sense of community, members of the Club have been involved in events such as the three-day Yorke Peninsula Field Days, where the Club had a stall that sold hot chips, steak sandwiches, chicken burgers, hot dogs and various other hot foods.
Furthermore, the Club has held two successful tournaments, showing the strength of the community working together.
With its first two years in the history books, Port Hughes Bowling Club is looking towards the future with its main aim being to get a green and clubhouse of its own.
“We have a block of land available to us which has enough space for three greens, a clubhouse and car parking,” Robinson said.
“Our biggest hurdle is accessing some major funding, either through the Government or grant funding.
“Our new clubhouse will take into account community needs with a vision to enable other community groups to utilise our facilities, making it a true community hub.
“It will be a place to socialise, have a coffee, meal, drinks, hold functions and of course play bowls either socially or as part of a more competitive format.”
To learn more about Port Hughes Bowling Club, CLICK HERE
