The Master Builders Social Bowling Club have been filling a void between competitive and social bowls in the region for more than half a century. While all bowlers are frustrated by the shutdown of the sport due to COVID-19, the bowls community extends beyond the 21 affiliated clubs in Zone 16, with many players enjoying the social nature of the sport.
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Formed in 1968, the Master Builders Social Bowling Club offer an alternative to the hustle and bustle of traditional club membership.
The club welcome new players and inexperienced or non-bowlers and cater for those with special needs and a disability, with participation and fun more important than winning. Presently the club has around 19 members, with many also affiliated to a Zone 16 club and who enjoy the best of both competition and social play.
The club was founded by a group of bowlers who already played at Wollongong City Bowling Club in Kembla Street in the late 1960s. When the Illawarra Master Builders Club looked to move its premises from Charlotte St in Wollongong to Church St, the club's executive wanted to expand their membership into sports and activities such as billiards and lawn bowls. A meeting with Wollongong City BC social bowlers presented the ideal opportunity for a partnership and the Master Builders Social Bowls Club was formed.
When Wollongong City BC folded and then became part of Wiseman Park Wollongong City BC in 1988, the Master Builders bowlers also moved across to the present Gwynneville venue.
For more than 30 years the club has operated out of Gipps St with the support of Wiseman Park BC. In the club's golden era of the 1970s-1990s membership rose to as many as 60, but the ethos has never changed: stay active and make friends through social bowls.
Among the early leading figures in the formation of the club was Jerry Nell, who was instrumental in establishing the position of a sports co-ordinator on the Master Builders Club board.
Nell took on that role and having a passion for bowls ensured the social bowls club prospered in the early years.
Peter Leiner followed Nell in the role, while other committee figures of note include Noel Kitchen, Noel Wilson, Allan Roberts, Rob Barker, Bob Hohenhouse, Harvey Finch, Barry Noyce, Allan Robinson, Don Bailey, Ron Wilson and Mark Nealon.
Another influential member is Tom Chapman, who was secretary for 14 years, while Eddie Vormister was a longtime member before retiring from playing at age 100.
In recent years, Warwick Booth, Mary Colquhoun, Lesley Cohen, Cath Sargeson, Allan Eager, Michael Tobin, John Gauci and Aub McDonnell have all played an important role in ensuring social bowls prospers.
For most of its 52 years the club operated as separate entities - with a men's and ladies club - but the two groups combined in 2012.
The club have no gradings or hierarchy and welcome all bowlers, including family siblings who can play together.
With bowls on the comeback from COVID-19, the Master Builders bowlers will soon be meeting again at Wiseman Park BC on alternate Sundays for pairs and even triples matches.
Many registered bowls club in the Illawarra have come and gone in the past 50 years so it an enormous credit to the many people who have served the Master Builders Social Bowls Club that they remain part of the local bowls community in their sixth decade of operation.
Tweddle eager for return to the rink
Peter Tweddle is chasing a fifth straight singles title at the Master Builders Social club but says the best feature of the club is playing with a small group of friends on a regular basis. Introduced to the social club through a clubmate at Bellambi Bowling Club five years ago, Tweddle and his wife Wendy are also the youngest members, aged in their mid-60s.
''Every second Sunday I get the chance to play social pairs and triples with Wendy in a terrific venue at Wisos and meet up with people with a common love for bowls,'' Tweddle said. While the emphasis in on team bowls through pairs and triples, the club host a knockout 25-up singles event in the second half of each year with Tweddle on an unbeaten run since 2016. Tweddle took up bowls in early 2013 after attending an open day at Bellambi BC, winning a set of bowls on debut.
He has been fortunate to enjoy some success at Bellambi winning the open fours and minor pairs, plus being a finalist in the major singles and minor singles.
During bowls shutdown, the Tweddles have practised their skills in a make-shift rink in their backyard.
Practice time is a bit tough on the joints though, and like all bowlers across the region, Tweddles look forward to returning to their Sunday morning social days at Wiseman Park Bowling Club.
Roll up for a social game
The Master Builders Social Bowling Club always has an eye on the future as the only club-based social bowls entity in the Illawarra.
Like all bowls clubs, maintaining membership is an ongoing challenge especially when all if its 16 to 20 members are aged over 65.
There have been other social bowls clubs in the region in the past - including the Roadrunners based at Albion Park - but for now the Gwynneville-based club are the only one in the Illawarra.
Another social club, the Allports, travel to different venues to play matches and do get together occasionally with the Master Builders bowlers at Wiseman Park Bowling Club for a friendly game or two.
But the Master Builders social bowlers welcome new members who can play on alternate Sunday mornings throughout the year.
Cost is just $6 per game with further details available through Wendy Tweddle on 0403 777915.
Bowlers of all abilities and age are most welcome to come and try the sport.
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