NEW BOWLING GREEN

Grey River Argus, 21 April 1945, Page 7

NEW BOWLING GREEN

ELAKETOWN’S EFFORT. With the object of forming a bowling club which will have its headquarters at the new green just completed at Blaketown, a meeting will be held to-morrox’. It will mark the culmination of many months of effort on the part of' a band of volunteers who have laid down a green which, it is claimed, will Up second to none in the district. The green has a long history. To keep members together during the summer months, the original members of the Blaketown Badminton Club, in 1937, decided to construct two tennis courts on a site next to the Citizens' Hall, which had been set aside by the Borough Council as a recreation reserve. As the result of a concerted effort by all concerned, funds were raised by March, 1939 for the work to be proceeded with and tenders were invited for the levelling of the site and the laying of the courts. As no tenders were received it was decided in April, 1941 to defer the proposal in favour oj the laying of a bowling green. An area adjoining the Blaketown Hall was defined and a working bee immediately began to clear the area of lupins and other growth. Unfortunately many difficulties were encountered. The club had ample funds, but because of shortage of labour, no progress could be made, and in February, 1943, it was decided to hand the funds over to the Ratepayers’ Association. At that time the Association was making extensive alterations and improvements to the hall, and on completion of this work they at once transferred their efforts to the bowling green. A bulldozer was requisitioned to level the area, and soon it was ready to be built up to the required level and for topdressing. Much hard work followed before the seed could be planted. There is now a good growth on the green and it only remains to improve the surroundings by planting suitable shrubs, constructing benches, and erecting an attractive pavilion. Later a women’s bowling club will be formed.