Ken Walker’s conferment of life membership and the election of Dot Mowat as president were among the highlights of the Bowls Dunedin annual meeting on Thursday evening.
Walker has remained a fiercely competitive player both locally and nationally over the past 45 years. His enthusiasm and competitive streak have at times resulted in him overcoming personal obstacles — on one occasion Walker played in a PBA tournament wheelchair-bound with a broken leg.
In the PBA (Professional Bowls Association) arena Walker has been the driving force behind a highly successful Dunedin regional competition that has given rise to it being a force to reckon in national finals and some of its members have progressed on to the world finals in the United Kingdom.
Sheldon Bagrie-Howley, who was in consideration for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, is one such player to have benefited from Walker’s input at PBA level.
Bagrie-Howley is one such player to have progressed on to PBA finals in the United Kingdom, while local interclub champions such as Oliver Mason, Elliot Mason, Duane White and Helen Carman are among those from the Dunedin region to have progressed on to the PBA world finals in recent years, thanks to Walker’s enthusiasm and drive.
A winner of two national open titles, Walker has represented New Zealand in a number of competitions around the world since he was first selected in 1987 for the Asia-Pacific team, winning a silver medal as a member of the fours.
In his career Walker has amassed 32 Dunedin Centre titles and was also a local representative in national competition. In recent years he has been active in managerial roles and recruitment into the sport. Two of his most successful recruits in recent years are Taieri club-mates Carman and Andy McLean, both of whom compete in local interclub competition with distinction.
Carman McLean was only the second New Zealand representative to reach a final at the PBA World Indoor Championships at Potters Resort, England.
Walker is also a strong advocate for Kittyhawk Bowls, of which he is a life member and patron, and he has helped raise over $130,000 for charity through Kittyhawk competition.
Walker’s recognition as a life member of Bowls Dunedin is also testament to the many hours he has put into administration and organisation for the sport.
Another highlight of the night was the elevation to Bowls Dunedin president of Dot Mowat (Outram).
Mowat has been a tireless worker in administration and promotion of bowls locally and her appointment as president is viewed as a huge positive for the sport. Her passion for the game has given rise to a high volume of photographic record on the Bowls Dunedin webpages.
A fourth-year bowler, Mowat won her first centre title earlier this year when competing in the champion of champion women’s fours alongside Outram club-mates Janet Swallo, Mary Stevenson and Christine Boorer. She also won the junior fours title in a composite team with Cathy Isaac-Croot, Alika Croot and Tania Beattie
In other notable inclusions to the Bowls Dunedin executive, Geoff Purdon was elected as vice-president and Lee Grigg (Green Island) was elected to fill a vacancy left on the board.
By Wayne Parsons
