Top representative player Steve Beel is one of several former
members of the Wakari Bowling Club returning to the city for
the club's centenary this weekend.
Beel, the development officer for Bowls New Zealand in
Tauranga, won 13 Dunedin titles before moving north.
He was a long-serving member of the elite Bowls Dunedin
sevens team and won a New Zealand fours title in 2005.
Beel is one of 90 members attending the centenary.
Others include Dennis Leeden, Bryan Williamson and Nigel
Birkbeck, who have also won five or more centre titles and
gained their gold star.
Leeden, the club's centennial president, has made his mark in
the Professional Bowls Association and represented the New
Zealand PBA at the world finals in the United Kingdom.
Former club presidents returning include Norman Eade, from
Omakau, and Noel Scott, from Nelson.
The Wakari club was formed in 1909.
It went into recess in 1920 and was revived when a new green
was formed in 1947.
But there were more problems and the club had to move when
the Dunedin City Council issued plans to widen Helensburgh
Rd.
The club was relocated to its present home in Mayfield Ave in
1958.
The most noted administrator was George Macdonald, who was
president of the New Zealand Bowling Association in 1984.
He became a life member of Bowls Dunedin a year later.
Another noted administrator was Fred Earl, who became
president of the New Zealand Bowling Umpires Association in
1999.
All centennial functions are being held at the club.
There was a get-together last night, there will be interclub
bowls at the club today and the centennial dinner is tonight
with a mystery guest speaker.
There is a barbecue tomorrow and a club members' tournament
from 1pm-4pm.
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