LAWN BOWLS SUPERSTARS AT PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB
Lawn Bowls Royalty were present at Pakenham Bowls Club last Tuesday when current Australian National Coach Steve Glasson, OAM and “Queen of the Greens,” Karen Murphy, dropped in to visit. We were fortunate also to have Pakenham Mayor Collin Ross in the club rooms to join President Terry McRedmond in formally welcoming the talented pair.
Between them, Steve and Karen have an enormous amount of experience and know more than a little about the game of bowls. Steve (Biscuits) Glasson was the first Australian to be World Number One in men’s singles and has numerous other international medals in his trophy cabinet along with twenty Australian championships. Karen is possibly the best female player of all time and has back to back World Singles Titles, together with many Commonwealth Games medals ( including gold) and a list of other titles and achievements too numerous to detail here.
Both guests settled in for an informal chat with the assembled members and were more than happy to answer questions and provide advice on topics such as training techniques, choice of bowls, adapting to a variety of playing conditions etc and of course there was the odd amusing anecdote including reference to some of the other big personalities in the Australian squad. They also spoke of their experiences playing for Australia.
She may have travelled the world playing her chosen sport but Karen is obviously still a country girl at heart and she was quite at home in Pakenham (however she would not make herself available for Pennant on Saturday – something about a prior commitment?) When asked what, for her, was the pinnacle of her stellar career (so far) she didn’t have to think about it – the immediate response was winning gold for Australia on home soil in front of family and friends at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006. That night, she was still so pumped up and full of adrenalin that she felt capable of power lifting a car (a big statement for one so diminutive). It is hoped that she can experience those emotions yet again on the Gold Coast in a little over a month’s time.
Unfortunately Steve and Karen’s time was limited, however they did make themselves available for photo opportunities and a number of members made the most of the chance, although strangely there were no selfies! Club personality Gary Crowley was particularly keen to get a photo with Karen – it seems that he is beginning to get a collection of shots of himself with the little Aussie champion.
Des Leigh
Mayor Colin Ross, Bowls President Terry McRedmond, Karen Murphy & Steve Glasson
