SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BLIND BOWLERS CLUB

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:45): In today's paper I noticed a great article by Craig Cook, talking about lawn bowls. It is a very popular game, and a lot of us have already attended bowls in our electorates many times. The origins of the game date back to 12^th century England. The article talks about bowls being a part of the Commonwealth Games since 1930, with world bowls championships being watched by three million viewers, played by more than 40 countries and more than 50 national teams. The article is accompanied by a photograph of an amazing venue where you can play lawn bowls totally undercover. It is very reminiscent of Wimbledon, for some of us late night owls who have been watching that.

Looking at this awe inspiring facility, it reminded me that I should put on the record my admiration for the awe-inspiring efforts of the South Australian Blind Bowlers Club. As a proud patron of the club and a member of the wider community, I acknowledge the work and dedication of the group that acts as the executive. I would especially like to thank Ray and Jill McKay, who recently celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary, for their role with the blind bowlers and, indeed, for blind sportspeople in general, and for being the people who originally contacted me in my capacity as their local MP and made sure that I became involved with this wonderful group of people.

It has been a very busy year for the South Australian Blind Bowlers Club. It was part of the national team that attended the World Bowls Championships in Victoria. The South Australian president, Kath Murrell, provided a great report to the recent AGM and advised that Australia won the championships with a score of 94 points, eight points ahead of second placed South Africa, with England in third place with 75 points, narrowly ahead, much to their horror, I imagine, of the Scottish team on 72 points. Other teams came from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Israel, New Zealand, Canada, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The next nationals will be in England in 2013, and I am sure that Australia will be well represented and competitive there again. From 19 to 29 May, our South Australian 11-member team traversed the continent to Perth for the Australian National Championships. Team manager, Doreen Smith, organised all travel, accommodation and itineraries. Our team competed well, with great success, bringing home three gold and two silver medals.

I refer to Doreen's report to the AGM, which advises that Florey resident, Marilyn Koch, directed by Doris Thomas, won two gold medals; Rebecca Arbon, directed by Ron Fawkes, won one gold and one silver; and Kath Murrell, directed by Beryl Woodall, won a silver medal. Marilyn and Rebecca won their gold medal in the ladies B2 pairs, and it is the second time that they have taken out that title. Marilyn won her medal in the mixed pairs with a man who lives in Tasmania but competes for the Northern Territory. It is the fifth time that they have taken out the pairs.

Rebecca won her silver medal in the ladies B3 singles, and Kath Murrell won her silver in the B2 pairs with a lady from Western Australia. Our men came very close to winning a bronze medal but were narrowly beaten on two occasions. We hope that the boys will do better next time. The next nationals will be held at the Salisbury Bowling Club from 13 to 23 April 2010. A great deal of planning has already taken place and will continue until the opening ceremony. I advise members to put that date in their forward diaries. The closing ceremony, as I said, will be on 23 April.

It has been a very busy year for blind bowlers. Kath Murrell's report detailed even further activity, noting the sad passing of Karen Cornaggia, Michelle Arbon and Mary Linton on top of the death late last year of Barbara Scriven. Kath thanked Ray McKay for his work as secretary and for acting as treasurer after the resignation, due to ill health, of long-time treasurer, George Murgatroyd. Everyone at SABBC acknowledges his long-standing commitment and dedication to this role over a number of years.

Thanks also for Maureen Clothier's contribution as vice-president of the club, Doris Thomas, who is always willing to help in any capacity, and also to Ray Marks at Affordable Print, who has helped them. Thanks to Doreen Smith, team manager extraordinaire, who is also the assistant secretary of ABBA and the BSSA delegate, as well as being the chief sandwich maker for Friday bowls. It is important to thank the many bowling clubs that support the blind bowlers through donations on these occasions on Fridays and for their contributions, too, to the wrong bias tins.

The South Australian Blind Bowlers Club wants to express its continuing with thanks and appreciation to the Salisbury Bowling for the use of its greens and facilities. It has been a great supporter for many years, and it should be acknowledged for its help and support. We all look forward to the nationals there next year.

Kath also thanks the committee for its hard work and friendly support during the year, as well as the directors, who assist players on and off the greens. Without directors, this sport, difficult and challenging for anyone who is sighted, could not be offered as a sporting opportunity for people with the disability of visual impairment. The Blind Sporting Council continues to provide much-needed financial assistance to South Australian blind bowlers to help them send teams to the national titles, which is a very costly business.