Bowls: Getting the jobs done

Ken Williams at the North East Valley Bowling Club. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Ken Williams at the North East Valley Bowling Club. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Ken Williams is known as the general manager for mats and jacks at the North East Valley Bowling Club.

Williams (74) has been a member of the club for 36 years. He is the odd-job man who makes sure the routine tasks are done, the type of work that generally goes unnoticed but keeps sports clubs ticking over.

He collects the empty bottles from the bar, tops up the fridge, puts out the scoreboards before tournaments, and places the mats and jacks on the greens.

The North East Valley Bowling Club is Williams' second home.

''I spend a lot of time down here doing odd jobs. The club is an important part of my life.''

He has an early start and is usually at the club by 7am when it holds the Speight's Invitation singles at Labour weekend and hosts games at the national championships.

He is no mean bowler and won the clubs veterans' title in 2003 and the handicap singles in 2002.

He was honoured by the club last year when his 40th wedding celebrations with wife Helen were held at the club.

Williams worked at the Dunedin Hospital laundry for 31 years.

He has been a member of the Alhambra-Union Rugby Club for more than 60 years and is a regular at the North Ground in the winter months.

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