THE opening of Mt Eliza Bowling Club’s season last week with new synthetic greens and floodlights helped members showcase bowls as a sport which the whole family can play.
The additions mean the club can open all year and stage twilight and evening bowls events.
A highlight of the night was watching three generations of club life member John Gregson’s family – aged seven to 70 – take part in a special bowling demonstration.
Gregson’s grandsons – Victorian and national representative Dylan Fisher and seven year old Jett Simmons – joined him on the green along with Jett’s father, Todd, for a special moment in their family’s, and the club’s, history.
Fisher, 21, is the youngest male bowler to represent Australia and is a world under-25 singles champion. Todd Simmons has played more than 300 games for Victoria and Gregson has won club championships in both singles and pairs at Mt Eliza and is described as an “integral part of the club”.
Their opponents were Mt Eliza reigning men’s and women’s club champions and runners-up Phil Crowder, David Gibbon, Kim Ronan and Liz Eccles-Smith.
The match for Gregson and Dylan was like winding the clock back 10 years to the the time they teamed up to win the pairs championship – with Dylan then an 11-year-old.
As it was a demonstration game no scores were recorded, although the current champs won the match.
Club president Ken Broadbent presided over the night, with Small Business Minister and Dunkley MP Bruce Billson, Mornington MP David Morris and Bowls Victoria director Phil Gude among the guests.
“It was hard to tell which shone brighter: seven year old Jett Simmons or the club’s new floodlights at the wonderful opening night celebration,” member Guy Hand said.
