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CONTENTS PAGEFERRY KOALAS LANDCARE R I C A SHIRE ++Photo Gallery ++ Island Identities ++
“ When the Island was smaller “ As remembered by long-time Resident
At one stage our Island had its own Bowling Green: MEDWIN BOWLING CLUB Two Islanders decided that it was time to build one. So Reg Medling and Gordon Winch, with help of volunteers, set about creating a two rink Green on a vacant block of land the Winch’s owned next to their home in Eighth, just down from First. The Medling family moved to the Island around 1928 and Reg ( whose mother Edith was a granddaughter of early settlers Daniel and Elizabeth Haylock ) enrolled in the Island’s school, being one of thirteen students that year. In 1939 he and his brother Alf, like so many young men enlisted. It was during the war that he met his future wife Alma.
After the war he
and Alma settled on the Island where he resumed his job as a
fisherman.
When RIAL was formed in 1949 Reg was one of the original committee members. In the early ’60s Reg became a ferry driver , a job he held until he retired in ‘78 His friend Gordon Winch (the other half of the MEDWIN Bowling Green) was a professional fireman before he and Beryl retired to our Island. Gordon served as President of RIAL for some time. Also Gordon was one of the original GSC (Gippsland Safety Council) members (Bill Bentley who still lives on the Island was another one) The two families became good friends and they all enjoyed the planning and building of our Island’s very own Greens. The big day arrived: Master of Ceremony was Trevor Parry and Cr J.G. Wyeth officially opened the Greens. It was a GRAND occasion and official invitations were sought after. As our contributor recalls, the opening was very well attended and not only by Islanders but also by members of neighbouring Bowling Clubs showing their support. The press was there too. It was not every day that a privately owned bowling club opened. Even a large tent was erected for the occasion. It turned out to be a great social meeting place. Everyone who came enjoyed themselves. Competitions were on Sundays. It was strictly a BYO affair and many an hour was spent together long after the bowling finished .Thursday was Ladies Day. “Super Coach” Jess Uebergang was in charge and many Islanders were introduced to lawn bowls for the first time. Ladies Day would last until about 1pm and then the serious part of the day, social bonding would start, again a BYO affair, but NO men were welcome. Barbara Young remembers these afternoons fondly, she says that the “debriefing “ was as much fun as the bowling itself.
Apart from the
Winch and Medling families some of the regulars were ; Trevor &
Norma Parry, Ern Hendrick, Jack Smith, Lindsay Murray, Keith Bott,
Bill Gray, Ron Foale, John Jackson, On reading this David Hamilton added the following : “Other names to add to the list are Harry and Audrey Cole from Paynesville, my parents Hilda & Keith Hamilton, Judy's mother Betty and of course our two daughters, Bree and Jade, who always came along with us to play with Gordon and Beryl's animal and the old poker machine in the shed (no gambling, coins supplied ). Of course there were lots of lollies and soft drink for them whilst us "oldies" tested our so called skills on the green. I remember that the rink nearest First Parade had a small tree root growing under one edge, about half way along, which at times made for some interesting bowls played on the backhand. “ Is there anyone out there who will donate a block of land so we can build another Bowling Green? For the sake of posterity if you can add names to the ones above ,please email at: |
