Balmoral | Fun Facts You May Not Know About Your Local Club
Author // Shannon Edwards for Place Bulimba
Bulimba Memorial Bowls Club is a favourite amongst its dedicated members and community locals.
“We’re a community club here as much as we’re a bowls club, and all our members and community locals are very special to us,” says club President Di Warren.
Opening its doors in 1966, Bulimba Memorial Bowls Club recently celebrated a significant milestone – its 50th year Birthday.
In commemoration of this anniversary, one of the club’s long-time members, Howard Thompson, wrote a book titled ‘This Is Your Life’ as a record of the club’s rich history.
We sat down with Howard Thompson and asked him the important question, ‘how did this all begin?’
Back before the club started, a proposal came through in 1962 from the Balmoral Sub Branch of the R.S.L to erect a lasting tribute to the men and women of the district who had fought and died for freedom.
Once the proposal was approved and sufficient funds were raised, the space was purchased in Balmoral.
It was a block of dirt that we could call our own, and where we would build our home.
With all building plans and approvals in hand, the club commenced construction.
With the hand of many busy-bee’s from the club’s members, a lot of the pain was eased and the opening of the club was successful in 1966.
At its opening the club was named the ‘Balmoral Heights Memorial Bowls Club’ due to geographic location.
It’s a friendly and ‘good-to-belong-to’ club where the members have made many friends and served the district well.
When was the club named the Bulimba Memorial Bowls Club?
At the time the ‘Balmoral Heights Memorial Bowls Club’ opened, there was also a ‘Balmoral District Club’ in Balmoral Park.
The decision was simply made to change the name as there were many times members turned up to the wrong club!
The club was named ‘Bulimba Memorial Bowls & Community Club’ in 2006.
We’re now proudly known as the Bulimba Memorial Bowls Club and welcome everyone from the wider community.
How does the club celebrate ANZAC Day?
ANZAC Day is a very important day here at Bulimba Memorial Bowls Club and we have a big memorial day to celebrate.
I took over from one of our other members, Herb Earley, to conduct our annual ANZAC Day Service.
Each year we hold a service around our memorial stone, which sees the attendance of local residence, members as well as local commonwealth, state and council representatives.
Bulimba Bowls has an Annual Memorial Shield that was presented to the club in 1969 by the local Balmoral RSL Sub Branch.
What makes Bulimba Bowls Club unique?
What makes the club so unique is its strong character.
Over the 50 years that we’ve been here, the club has made slight improvements, however no significant developments have gone on.
This has allowed for Bulimba Bowls to remain in its natural form, boasting a classic ‘bowls club’ character.
It has also always been a very friendly club where everyone is welcome, whether they’re coming to play a game on the green, or catch up with people from the local community.
On top of that, we’ve been lucky enough to make some great achievements from pennants, to winning competitions, the Gateway District Summer Shield and Champion of Championships as well as the Bulimba Lawn Bowls Cup, all over numerous years.
