I also have a deep concern for the closure of our Clubs and small businesses. It’s their financial performance  that underpins the stability of our local  communities, so our thoughts go out to all those striving to make a living in these difficult times. On a brighter and happier note, it is my pleasure on behalf of the Executive and fellow bowlers  to congratulate Davistown's RSL and former  President and member of Avoca Beach B C, Dick Love on receiving an OAM in the Queens Birthday Honour List for his services to the Although a little belated, I also take this opportunity to congratulate all our Clubs and members on the positive attitude they adopted towards the recent unification of  the Men’s and  Women’s Bowling Associations at State level. This outcome will significantly strengthen their ability to take the sport forward in coming years.

Stay safe and well and here’s hoping we will all be back on the green in the not too distant  future.                                                                                                          

                                                                                             Tony Hegyi                                                                                                BCC/Z15 President

It is all very frustrating especially when considering the stats below of the Central Coast's Covid record as at 11.30 today (27/6/21).  My thanks to Central Coast Covid News and Stats for the up to date info.

Bernie Wykes turns 100 years old on 11 June 2021, and the lure of competition, good friends and a great game, still finds Bernie driving from his Davistown home to the Bateau Bay Bowling Club twice a week, every week.

Bernie Wykes is a wonderful enigma.  At one hundred years of age, he hasn’t learnt to be old yet.

Bernie doesn’t have time to put his feet up.  He is too busy and too active to do that.

In his younger years Bernie was a competitive cyclist in road races and on the track.  He competed in such races as the Goulburn to Sydney road race, finishing twenty second out of one hundred and twenty five starters in the 1938 Goulburn to Sydney race.

Bernie’s love for cycling only came to an end two years ago. 

The then ninety seven year old Bernie would ride his bicycle from Davistown to Kincumber and back three times a day.  

It came to an end when a young boy lost control of his skateboard, and in the collision with the out of control skateboard Bernie was tossed over the front handlebars of his bike.  Bernie survived, his bike survived, but the condition of the skateboard is unknown.

Born in Woollahra in 1921, Bernie’s parents moved the family to a property near Appin, about eight kilometres south of Campbelltown.

Bernie would regularly walk from the family home into Campbelltown and back again.

Bernie went to school at St Gregory’s College Campbelltown, before then attending Hurlstone Agricultural College, where he studied Agricultural Science.

Apart from his studies, Bernie was also working on his family’s Appin Road orchard, commencing work there as a fourteen year old.

After completing his studies and leaving Hurlstone, Bernie worked for Johnson and Johnson developing products to protect and enhance crop growth.

During World War II, Bernie served with the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC), that had been established in 1940 to defend and protect Australian citizens during the war.

After the war, apart from his agricultural work, Bernie also worked as a welder, spray  painter and panel beater, with much of it self-taught.

Bernie moved back into agriculture, working for a company called Ivan Watkins P/L, which over a thirty two year period, and through changes in ownership and name, saw Bernie finally retire as the Production Manager for Ciba-Geigy in 1980.

When Bernie was fourteen, he met and fell for his one and only true love, Verna.  

Although attending different schools, Bernie and Verna were daily companions to and from school each day.  Some years later they married and they were together for seventy two years, before Verna’s passing.  

Their lifetime relationship was a perfect example of two souls meant for each other (although Bernie always knew who was the boss).

Two beautiful daughters, Helen and Marilyn, came along, and there are now four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

One of Bernie’s grandchildren is actor, singer and television personality Toni Pearen.

Bernie’s love for sport and keeping active had no boundaries.

In the 1970’s Bernie built his own water ski boat, and he made good use of it.

Bernie also took to golf and he was playing off a seven handicap before he retired.  Three times Bernie holed out in one.

When Bernie and Verna retired to the Central Coast and set up home at Berkeley Vale in 1980, they both discovered lawn bowls and the Bateau Bay Bowling Club.

With Bernie and Verna both being particularly good golfers, they took to bowls with gusto.  A game Bernie said he wished he had taken up much earlier.

Bernie joined the Bateau Bay Bowling Club on 5 September 1984, and for many years Bernie represented the Club in Pennant competition, with him twice competing in State Pennant Championships.

Bernie is one of the finest Lead bowlers to have played at Bateau Bay, and to this day, he is well known to be a very hard person to beat on the greens.

Every Tuesday and Friday Bernie can be found playing in social competition and winning more times than not.

It is a pleasure to know Bernie Wykes and it is an honour to play with and against Bernie Wykes.  But don’t expect to beat him.  Bernie is as fit and capable at his favourite sport as people half his age.

There is no more respected or liked member of the Bateau Bay Bowling Club.

When asked what he attributed his wonderful long life to, Bernie simply replied, ‘Staying fit and living well’.

Written by Denis Baker, Bateau Bay BC

At a ceremony on the green at Bateau Bay Bowls, President Kevin Russell graciously accepted a cheque for $5,000 from DAVID HARRIS MP, Member for Wyong.

The cheque was in response to a successful application for a Sports Grant, applied for by the Bateau Bay Bowls Club, for new bowls shirts. The application was fully supported by Mitch Williams - Sports & Community Coordinator at Wyong Rugby League Club Group and his assistance in gaining the grant was greatly appreciated. 

In the picture L-R is David Harris MP, Bateau Bay Bowls Vice President Greg Larkin, President Kevin Russell & Wyong's Mitch Williams.

President Kevin also took the time to show David Harris MP the architectural drawings of the proposed new dome to be constructed over green #1 and how this will not only benefit Bateau Bay but be a fabulous asset to bowls on the Central Coast.

Dick received the award for helping a diverse range of causes.  He has been volunteering in rehabilitation for decades.  He remains an active member of self-help groups dealing with addiction, and is a remedial reading teacher to young Indigenous men at the Glen Drug Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre at Chittaway Point.   Dick has visited most jails in NSW to reach out to prisoners battling addictions.   His commitment to other causes has also been praised. 

Among other roles, Dick has been a financial counsellor at Samaritans Emergency Relief Centre at Wyoming, teacher aide to HSC students at Green Point Christian College, and singer to the elderly at Hammond Care at Woy Woy.

Dick has indeed been a wonderful servant of the community as he has been for Lawn Bowls.  Dick was President of Avoca Beach BC during a very difficult time and has served as Zone Chair of Selectors.  Dick has been most innovative in his coaching and guidance of new bowlers to higher levels of achievement.

It has been amazing to the Executive Committee that Dick has achieved this on top of all the other community work for which he has received this award.

On behalf of the Executive Committee and all bowlers on the Central Coast we congratulate Dick on receiving this well deserved honour.

Pleased to advise that the result of today's vote for amalgamation of Bowls NSW and Women's Bowls NSW was a resounding YES.

All men's zones voted YES including this Zone.  In Zone 15, 19 Clubs voted for the motions, 1 Club voted against and 1 Club did not submit a result.

We do note that the new Bowls New South Wales Limited Board that comes into operation today, does include two Central Coast Bowlers in Lesley Swales of Umina Beach BC, and John Ellison of The Entrance BC.  John was the Finance Director of Bowls NSW and Lesley was a Director of Women's Bowls NSW.  We congratulate Lesley and John on their appointments.   I know that all wish Lesley, John and the rest of the Board every success in implementing the unification.

In the photo above the two Central Coast identities are on either end of the line-up.

With only  four Clubs contesting the Grade 1 competition the Zone Flag was won by the Club on top of the ladder after completion of the sectional rounds. It was Ettalong’s eighth No 1 flag since the Central Coast became a free-standing Zone in 1995