Bowls: Sport a tonic, veteran St Kilda four proves

The late Dr Clarke Hanan recognised bowls as a tonic, and used to prescribe the game as a remedy for his elderly retired patients.

"Bowls has kept more retired people alive and out of hospital than any medicine I could prescribe," Dr Hanan told me when I first covered bowls (about 30 years ago).

The St Kilda veterans four of Tom Galway (95), Russell Geeves (91), Dave Hanlin (89) and Alan Lion (88) is living proof that Dr Hanan's innovative prescription works.

It is not just the odd roll up for the ultra-veterans.

They play every week in the Bowls Dunedin Wednesday competition.

Geeves retired from his sheep and cattle farm at Kuri Bush in 1979 and started playing bowls a year later.

He was excited about having his team featured in the Otago Daily Times "as long as it is not on the inside back page [in the death notices]," he quipped.

Geeves spent four years in a German prisoner of war camp near Auschwitz during World War 2 and developed a tough mental and physical approach to life.

He enjoys playing bowls.

"It is a friendly game and you meet people. I hate being shut inside on a wet day and bowls gets me out of the house."

Geeves lives by himself in St Kilda and visits his wife, Winnie (92), who has severe arthritis and lives at the nearby Montecillo home, twice a day.

They were married in 1945, two months after he returned from the war.

Galway started bowls 35 years ago when he retired as a purchasing officer with New Zealand Rail.

"The company you get on the green is important for people my age," he said. "I enjoy playing with my mates."

His wife died 10 years ago and he, too, lives by himself in St Kilda.

"I then learnt how to cook and I know how to look after myself," Galway said. "I'm a diabetic and must watch what I eat."

Hanlin, a retired mechanical engineer, started rolling bowls at the Otago club when he returned home from World War 2.

He joined St Kilda 34 years ago.

He has degenerative eye problems and only peripheral vision and needs his mates to tell him where to put the bowl.

"They are good company and help me overcome my eyesight difficulties on the green," he said. "I will keep playing as long as the other guys help me."

He lives with his wife Margaret (79) in St Kilda.

He enjoys playing mixed bowls with the women.

"They are not a distraction at my age and with my eyesight problems," he said.

Lion, the baby of the team, has played bowls since he retired as a motor mechanic 24 years ago.

He is a diabetic but intends to keep playing as long as his health permits.