Pakenham Bowls Club – Opening Day & Very Special Kids Day 2022

In the days when most bowling greens were natural grass and open to whatever extremes the elements might impose (even before climate change), they were generally closed over the cold and wetter months to protect the playing surface and to allow for repairs and restoration – and in any case, for much of late autumn and winter they were simply unplayable. For that reason, Opening Day (usually on or near the first Saturday of spring) was a big event on any club’s calendar.

However under current conditions where most clubs have access to synthetic greens, many of which are covered by a roof or dome, play generally continues throughout winter and although Opening Day is still important in that it marks the beginning of a new season, it has become somewhat less significant. However what made the day special for Pakenham Bowls Club this year was that it was conducted in conjunction with the annual charity day held in support of Very Special Kids (VSK). This event had been postponed from the date scheduled earlier in the year due to Covid.

Established in 1985, VSK helps care for children with life threatening conditions by providing a hospice and a range of family support services to sick children and their families. The assistance provided includes counselling and other professional services, sibling support and importantly, the provision of respite care and is available along the entire journey from diagnosis through to recovery or (sadly) bereavement. The charity currently assists over 1000 Victorian families annually, including several in the Pakenham area.

Although VSK is now partially Government funded, it nevertheless relies heavily on donations and other fund raising activities to provide approximately three quarters of the finances it requires annually in order to maintain its services. Any increases in government funding are quickly swallowed up as the service expands to include more families who previously would not have received assistance. The VSK Day held at Pakenham Bowls Club is intended to be a fun social tournament which helps in a small way to raise funds for this very important and valuable service.

As has been the case since its inception, the charity was represented on the day by dedicated volunteer, Sharon King who despite being otherwise engaged in full time employment, makes/finds the time to spend the best part of a day at the club, informing members of the important work done by VSK, selling their small range of merchandise and generally joining in the fun, while at times dressed in a Peppa Pig style outfit (fortunately, due to the cooler conditions at this time of the year, she was not in danger of overheating). The Big Pink Pig is VSK’s iconic mascot.

Despite the fact that the weather gods blessed us with a beautiful day on Saturday, the number of bowlers who turned out for the occasion was a little disappointing – however it was pleasing to see that the top side was well represented and that quite a few of our new bowlers took part, generally acquitting themselves well, with one of the “newbies” actually playing in the winning side (the selectors had mixed the teams up as far as possible). A number of former members who will be returning to the fold this coming season also took part.

As has become the custom, there were no monetary prizes awarded, winners from the early years having established a worthwhile precedent by generously donating their prize money back to the cause. However the winners’ names are listed on the club’s electronic honour/awards board. The top team this year was Keith “Golden Arm” Archer, Big Jim Williams and the new guy, Mark “Lumpy” Dalton.

Despite fewer than fifty players taking part on the day, the club was proud to raise over $2000 for VSK from a combination of donations, entry fees, the B-B-Q and Corner to Corner Hit-Out and proceeds from the raffle (with many prizes generously donated by members), which, when combined with $500 plus from the big pink pig which sits on the bar, brought the total to almost $3000.

All in all, it was another enjoyable day in support of a very worthy cause – a great job done by Brian Norton as principal organiser of the event and the many volunteers who helped make it happen.

Des Leigh (Grizzly)