Former Bowls Australia President among Australia Day honour recipients
More than 1000 Australians have been recognised with Australia Day honours, with a handful of people from the bowls community among the recipients, including a former Bowls Australia President.
Several member of the bowls community from across the country were recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to their community, including work they have done with bowls clubs and in the sport.
This year, three people were recognised specifically for their service to lawn bowls.
Des Skinner, Joan Brotherton and Daphne Cantrill were all recognised with Medals of the Order of Australia (OAM) honours.
Mr Skinner was a member of BA’s Board for a three-year period, from 2008, before being appointed as BA’s fifth president, serving in the capacity from 2012 and 2015. Prior to his involvement at a national level, Skinner served on the Board of the Royal NSW Bowls Association (now Bowls NSW) and contributed for many years at other various levels in the sport. He sadly passed away in February, 2022.
Mrs Brotherton has made significant contributions to bowls in Queensland for many years. She has held roles at club and district level in a variety of capacities, many involving officiating and umpiring. She ias a member of Bowls Queensland’s Umpire Committee and was a bowls official at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Mrs Cantrill has been a member of the Moora Bowling Club since the 1970s, a life member of her club and the Central Midlands Ladies Bowling League were she has held various roles.
Many others have been recognised for their overall contribution to their communities, including bowls. See all those names and their bowls contributions below.
Bowls Australia congratulates all recipients for their commitment to their communities and the sport over many years.
To view all 2024 Australia Day honour recipients, click here.
2024 Australia Day honours recipients (bowls contributors)
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM):
The late Mr Dermot (Des) Arthur Skinner
For service to lawn bowls
Bowls Australia
- President, 2012-2016
- Board Member, 2007-2012
- State Councillor, 1997-2003
- Life Membership, 2015
District Bowls Committee, Newcastle District Bowling Association
- Vice-President, 1995-2002
- Member, Match Committee, 1993-2019
- Life Membership, 2015
Beresfield Bowling Club
- Patron, 2020
- Chair, 2006-2020
- Director, 2003-2006
- Bowls Administrator, 2000-2003
- Life Membership, 2011
- Member, 1981-2021
Lawn Bowls – Other
- Former Patron, Zone 6, New South Wales Returned and Services League Lawn Bowls Association
- Australian Sports Medal, 2000.
Mrs Joan Dorothy Brotherton
For service to lawn bowls
Gateway District Ladies Bowls Association (GDLBA)
- Umpire Coordinator, current
- Former GDLBA Delegate to Bowls Queensland
- Former President
- Former Vice-President
- Former Secretary
- Former Board Member
- Former Match Coordinator
Victoria Point Bowls and Recreation Club
- Umpires Coordinator, current
- Secretary, current
- President, 2021
- Former Ladies Vice-President
- Former Deputy Chair
Bowls – Other
- Author, Umpire Segment, Queensland Bowler, since 2011
- Former Member, Match Committee and Roster Committee, (formerly) Queensland Ladies Bowls Association (QLBA)
- Former Member, Cleveland Bowls Club.
- Former Secretary and Assistant Secretary, Cleveland Bowls Club
- Former Match Committee, Hunter River District
- Former Secretary, Hunter River District
- Former Delegate for QLBA, Hunter River District.
Bowls Umpiring and Playing
- Member, Umpire Committee, Bowls Queensland, current
- Bowls Presenter and Assessor, since 2018
- International Technical Official, since 2009
- Presenter and Assessor, since 2015
- Level 2 National Umpire, since 2005
- Level 1 National Umpire, since 1998
- Umpire, State, National and International level, since 1998
- Bowls Official, Commonwealth Games, Delhi 2010
- Bowls Title Holder, Queensland, Northern Territory and New South Wales
- Bowls Official, Asia Pacific and World Bowls Championships.
Mrs Daphne Maud Cantrill
For service to lawn bowls, and to hockey
Central Midlands Ladies Bowling League
- Secretary, 1997-1998, 2004-2006, 2015-2017
- Former League Delegate, Selector, Team Manager and Umpires Coordinator
- Regular Competitor, Pairs, League Triples and League 4s
- Life Member, 2017-2018
Local Bowls Zone
- Country Committee Representative, 2008-2012, and 2016-2018
- Zone Secretary to Assistant President, 1997-1999, and 2007-2009
- Zone Assistant Secretary to Assistant President, 2017-2018
- Former Chief Selector
- Selected for IZRR 4s at Middleton Beach, 10 years
Moora Bowling Club
- Former Secretary
- Former Ladies Captain
- Former Delegate, Central Midlands Bowling League
- Life Member
- Member, since 1973.
Mr Graeme Wilfrid Barker RFD
For service to the communities of Port Sorrell and Penguin
Port Sorell Bowls Club
- Secretary, 2003-2016
- Secretary/Treasurer, 2004-2013
- Member, 2003-2016.
Major Graham William Docksey (Retd)
For service to the community of Albury, and to veterans
Community
- Convenor, Veterans’ Health Week, Gr8 for Brains Lawn Bowls, 2021
Mrs Elizabeth Anne Docksey APM
For service to police veterans
Police Veterans Support
- Board Member, Bowls Gr8 for Brains, 2020-2021.
Mr Gordon Wilson Gray
For service to the community through a range of organisations
Lake Cathie Bowling and Recreation Club
- Life Member, 2020
- Member, since 1999.
Mr Peter Raymond Hille
For service to the community through a range of organisations.
Fitzroy Victoria Bowling and Sports Club
- Former Vice-President
- Former Board Member
- Bowls Development Officer, current.
The late Mr Geoffrey Colin Jones
For service to the community of Mildura
Community
- Former Member and Secretary, Merbein Lawn Bowls Club
Mr Arthur John McCarroll
For service to community sport, particularly through surf lifesaving
Community
- Assistant Bowls Secretary and Committee Member, Pittwater Memorial Bowling Club, since 2013.
Mr Colin Francis Meng
For service to the community through a range of organisations
Community
- Former Chair, Souths Suburban Bowls Club.
Mr Stuart Paxton
For service to the community through a range of roles
Community
- Member and Treasurer, Edithburgh Bowling Club
Mr John (Jack) Raymond Synnott
For service to the community of Cygnet
Cygnet Bowls and Community Club
- Patron, prior to 2022
- Former President.
Mrs Kathleen Edith Whiteley
For service to community sports administration
Mounties Women’s Lawn Bowls
- President, three years
- Commitee member, 15 years
- Life Member
- Member, 2001-2022
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division:
Ms Jennifer Ann Cullen
For significant service to people with disability, and to the community through a range of roles
Yeronga Bowls Club
- Secretary, 2007-2008
- Volunteer, 2005-2007
- Men’s Secretary, 2003-2005.
