By JARROD POTTER
NATIONAL and State Champion in indoor bowls at a young age is a fantastic achievement for Keysborough Bowls Club’s Tiffany Brodie.
Brodie, 15, from Hallam, is a three-time under-18 indoor Victorian bowls champion and won her first national championship last year.
“I started playing indoor for five years and this year is my first outside,” Brodie said.
“Mum (Karen) has been playing for 18 years and got me into it.
“David Pratt from Keysborough saw me playing indoor at the club and told me to give outdoor a try and I’m really enjoying it… I love it.”
On her fourth try for an indoor national championship Brodie almost swept the field winning seven-of-nine matches to clinch the title.
“Fourth year playing in the nationals when I won it,” Brodie said.
“It was very challenging – we played nine games over the week and I won seven, had one draw and lost one… by one.
“I was lucky enough to finish on top and won the gold.”
Her achievements with Keysborough were staggering this season as she won the club outdoor two-bowl’s singles, ladies’ pairs, ladies’ triples and minor singles.
She is also a hard-edged midfielder for Hallam Hawks Youth Girls football team and loves getting contested possessions through the centre.
Her achievements are extraordinary enough, but Brodie is also profoundly deaf and believes her disability has made her strive to become better.
“Just because I have a disability of being deaf, it doesn’t stop me from doing the things I love,” Brodie said.
“If anything it has made me work harder.
“It doesn’t stop me and no one should let deafness hold you back – if you want something go and get it and anything is possible if you set your mind to it.”
The next challenge for Brodie is the indoor national championships held in August before try-outs for the outdoor state Victorian team.
“I’m trying out for the state team next month and if I get in that I’ll hopefully play in the Australian team in the future for outdoor bowls,” Brodie said.
