It is with great pleasure that St Johns Park Bowling Club announce the signing of emerging talent, Joseph Clarke. Joseph is a member of the “Right at Home” Australian Jackaroos Pathway Program and will join us from his boyhood club, Park Beach Bowls Club.
Joseph has represented NSW at both Under 18s and Under 25s; he is the current, back to back, Under 18 Australian Open Boys Champion; he has won a Gold Medal in the 2022 Australia Junior Championships; and has recently been selected in the Jackaroos Pathways Program – highlighting the talent and ability that we will welcome to the Saints.
Joseph is also the first recipient of the Peter Foster Scholarship that will see the Club provide opportunities to young emerging talent in our sport and assist them in their studies or chosen careers.
Joseph will join us for the 2022/23 Open Gender Pennant Season and we look forward to many years of success. We welcome Joseph, and his family to our Club – Go the Saints!
Peter Foster is a stalwart of the St Johns Park Bowling Club. Since his arrival in 1999, Peter has provided great leadership and support to bowlers of all ages – both on and off the green. “Butters” or “Dad” as he is affectionately known, has given bowlers great guidance not only on the green but also through their lives, building the life skills necessary to make a start in independent life whilst growing their bowling careers.
The Club will release more information on the Peter Foster Scholarship in the coming weeks.
It is with great delight that we announce Gerard Beath as the St Johns Park Bowling Club Bowls Operations Officer.
Gerard joins us from Cowra Bowling Club where he is the Operations Manager (2IC). Gerard comes with a great pedigree in the sport – having previously represented Australia (Jackaroo #131) and NSW Blues. He has also participated on a range of Bowls Committees dealing with Club, Selection and Match issues.
We believe Gerard will be a great fit in the Bowls Office with a strong reputation in the sport but also his passion for bowls. Gerard will join us from Monday 4th July, 2022.
We are sure our members will join us in welcoming Gerard to the Saints.
It is with great pleasure that we announce David Ferguson as the new Head Coach of St Johns Park Bowling Club Group.
David joins the Saints as a current member of the NSW Blues squad (Cap #921); a former Australian and NSW Bowler of the Year (2017/18). He has won the NSW Champion of Champion Singles, the Australian Indoor Singles, numerous State Championships and was a former Emerging Jackaroo and Under 25 Australian representative.
Fergo, as he is affectionately known, has been a key factor in building the Engadine Cougars success over recent years. He’s completed a range of coaching and playing initiatives, as well as developing and attracting new bowlers to the sport. David’s experience in this area makes him a great asset for the SJPBC Group.
“David will be beneficial to our bowling members, both men and women and of course our juniors. He will be responsible for supporting and developing our Pennant Squads; and provide us with a fresh energy as we strive to eclipse the great success of the past. David will also provide support and skill development across all Clubs within the SJPBC Group. We look forward to building great foundation programs at all our venues.”
SJPBC Group Sports Administrator, Anthony Cottee
The addition of Ferguson compliments the recent appointment of Ben Twist into an Ambassador role for the Group. The SJPBC Bowls structure will continue to build and support the development of our members. There are certainly brighter sights on the horizon for members of the St Johns Park Bowling Club Group.
David Ferguson will commence with the Saints in Mid-April, following his final engagement with Engadine Cougars at the State Pennant Finals in Forster. I’m sure all the Saints Members will welcome Fergo in due course.
After being a part of the St Johns Park Bowling Club (SJPBC) Family for over a decade, Ben Twist takes on the new role as SJPBC Group Bowls Ambassador. This role is a promotional role to expand the profile of the sport across our whole Group of Clubs. Ben will be seen much more through our Social Media channels, expanding his presence our group of clubs and looking for promotional opportunities for bowls in the community.
Twist is excited by the role and the opportunity it provides this great sport. He highlighted the fact the SJPBC Group is “pro bowls”.
“Whether it be Tuncurry, Balmain, St Johns or Wallacia, come down and have a game!”
Ben Twist on the opportunity to play bowls.
Ben has a busy year ahead with a range of Bowls commitments and we are going to get some great insights from him throughout the year. There are a number of state games for NSW he will be leading, as well as the Commonwealth Games, which are on in August. There is no doubt that Twisty will be striving to be a part of the Jackaroos set up in their quest for gold medals in 2022.
For more about Ben Twist’s role and career watch the video below
The Bowls Office will be closed from Friday 24th December 2021 until Monday 3rd January 2022. The Office will reopen on Tuesday 4th January.
Roll Ups throughout this period are allowed. Please follow greenkeepers directives, grab your mats and jacks from the box near the Powerhouse, and return into the dirty tub. Dirty mats and jacks will be washed throughout this period. Roll Ups are allowed all days excluding Monday’s and Christmas Day.
For any enquiries during this period, please use the below methods.
These messages will be checked regularly through this closure period.
Men’s Club Triples Nominations are open (10 points required). Round 1 will be January 29. Please enter your team via email if you wish to do so over the Christmas/New Year period. Alternatively you can place your team on the board when the bowls office returns.
Men’s Social returns Tuesday 11th January – 1:00pm
Ladies Social returns Wednesday 12th January 9:15am
Friday Night Social returns Friday 14th January 6:00pm
If you wish to enter any events, please email the above address, and await a confirmation email.
There has been a revision to the Return to Bowls Guidelines at St Johns Park Bowling Club that were released on 1st October. The changes are in line with advice from Bowls NSW Circular 20/2021: Rules for Clubs Reopening After Lockdown
The numbers have been revised down to 20 people per green. Therefore, it is imperative that Members contact the Bowls Office to book a timeslot. If you are booking for multiple people, please make sure you provide their names.
For the revised Return to Bowls Statement from St Johns Park Bowling Club: Click Here
Bowls Timeslots (19th October – 31st October)
Booking Timeslots
Mondays
Greens Closed
Tuesdays
10pm – 12pm; 12pm – 2pm; 2pm – 4pm; 4pm – 6pm
Wednesdays
9:30am – 11:30am 11:30am – 1:30pm
Thursdays
10am – 12pm; 12pm – 2pm; 2pm – 4pm; 4pm – 6pm
Fridays
Greens Closed
Saturdays
10am – 12pm; 12pm – 2pm; 2pm – 4pm
Sundays
10am – 12pm; 12pm – 2pm
Please Note: Tuesday 26th October – SJP will be hosting a Bowls Australia Training Day 10am-4pm. So 4-6pm will be the only available timeslot.
Bookings: To book a rink – email bowls@sjpbowling.com.au or call 02 94261136 and leave a message. Sessions are open each day to all members. 20 members per green.
Bowls Office: Please note that the Bowls Office will be available for the above timeslots. There will be limited access to the Bowls Office staff outside of these hours.
For any other information, please contact the Bowls Office on bowls@sjpbowling.com.au or 02 9426 1136 and leave a message.
We can’t wait to see you, our Saints Members, back at the Club!
We are excited to welcome members back to Bowls at St Johns Park Bowling Club from Tuesday 19th October.
The return will be under strict COVID Safety Plans with a range of limitations implemented. Members will be given the opportunity to come and roll up in two-hour timeslots. Formal Social Bowls and Club Championships will recommence later (date to be advised).
Members are required to book a rink and can organise themselves a game between themselves (maximum six members per rink – triples) if they wish. All bookings are made through the Bowls Office by emailing: bowls@sjpbowling.com.au or calling 02 9426 1136 – leave a message and we will confirm your booking.
Two Greens will be available for use (Greens 2 and 3), the Powerhouse Green is currently under renovation. There will be a maximum of 42 people on a Green and no more than 6 members to a rink.
All members must enter through the Club’s Main Entrance as per the Club Rules. Bowling Members must be fully vaccinated and be able to provide evidence upon entry – in line with current NSW Public Health Orders. Masks will be required inside the Club.
All members must report to the Bowls Office (Powerhouse) to confirm you are present for your timeslot. Given we are bowling on the top two greens, all bowls bags are to be placed on the storage racks outside the Big Kahuna for those who do not want to walk them back and forth from the Powerhouse. No Bags are to be left inside the club or in any walkway.
All Bowls activities will be revised on an ongoing basis.
There will be more information on 2021 Club Championships, State Pennant Finals and remaining Zone/State events in due course. The 2021 Bowls Presentation will be postponed until 2022 to allow Championships to be completed.
Other SJPBC Rules to abide by include:
All Bowls Mats and Jacks must be cleaned after use – staff will advise where to take your equipment upon completion of your session.
No Scoreboards are to be used – The Bowls Office can provide scorecards to those wanting to keep score.
Avoid touching other members bowls and other equipment.
Spray chalk only – no licking chalk to mark ‘touchers’ – it’s never been hygienic.
Ensure you maintain Social Distancing (1.5m).
Sanitise your hands before and after play – and throughout where appropriate.
Members are not permitted on the green outside of the allocated times.
Members will not be allowed entry into the Club before the Club’s opening hours – no exceptions.
These temporary rules are in place to protect the Club and protect our opportunity to Bowl. Failure to comply with the rules in place will result in disciplinary action being taken. I’m sure our members will work together to make this return a success. While this is a limited return to bowls – we will be reviewing our bowls activities on an ongoing basis and will update our members through noticeboards, Facebook and the Website.
Bowls Timeslots (19th October – 31st October)
Booking Timeslots
Mondays
Greens Closed
Tuesdays
10pm – 12pm; 12pm – 2pm; 2pm – 4pm; 4pm – 6pm
Wednesdays
9:30am – 11:30am 11:30am – 1:30pm
Thursdays
10am – 12pm; 12pm – 2pm; 2pm – 4pm; 4pm – 6pm
Fridays
Greens Closed
Saturdays
10am – 12pm; 12pm – 2pm; 2pm – 4pm
Sundays
10am – 12pm; 12pm – 2pm
Bookings: To book a rink – email bowls@sjpbowling.com.au or call 02 94261136 and leave a message. Sessions are open each day to all members.
Bowls Office: Please note that the Bowls Office will be available for the above timeslots. There will be limited access to the Bowls Office staff outside of these hours.
For any other information, please contact the Bowls Office on bowls@sjpbowling.com.au or 02 9426 1136 and leave a message.
We can’t wait to see you, our Saints Members, back at the Club!
Given the current COVID-19 lockdown across Greater Sydney and the uncertain nature of reopening (and with unknown restrictions), St Johns Park Bowling Club have decided to cancel its remaining tournaments for 2021.
This includes the following tournaments:
Taylor Mixed Pairs (October);
Ladies Diamond Pairs (October);
Men’s Platinum Pairs (November);
St Johns Park Bowling Club looks forward to welcoming our members and guests to participate in Tournaments in 2022.
If you have any questions, please contact the Bowls Office on bowls@sjpbowling.com.au
We know that this is a difficult time for everyone across Sydney and we understand there may be significant impacts on our bowling members, their family and friends who are located across Sydney hotspots.
Our Saints Bowling Family are a resilient group. We dig deep when things get tough and more importantly, we rally around people who are in need. This character is displayed every week throughout ‘normal’ times, and I’m sure it is extended during these circumstances.
We would like to encourage you to pick up the phone and call (or text) one of your fellow members that you haven’t yet spoken with during the lockdown period. Maybe you have an email for them and we encourage you to send a short message to say hi and see how they are going. Whilst many of you are well connected through Social Media or other means, we know there are a few of our fellow Saints that would slip through the cracks.
Josh, Ben and Anthony will continue to do this over the coming weeks but we’d love for you to help us with this.
If anyone needs to contact someone but hasn’t got their details, we can assist in you making contact (in line with our Privacy obligations) – contact us on bowls@sjpbowling.com.au or leave a message at the Bowls Office on 02 9426 1108.
Bowls Challenge– Word Search
Please find attached a Word Search to entertain you for a short time – maybe send it to a mate who might also enjoy the small challenge. Click Here to download the Word Search.
For any further information – please don’t hesitate to contact the Bowls Office on bowls@sjpbowling.com.au or leave a voice message on 02 9426 1108.
Hang in there Saints – stay connected and if you are struggling please reach out – we are here to help!
