Visitors get into the swing

LIFE was a little greener for up to 20 disabled people after a six week indoor lawn bowls course provided by Dandenong RSL Recreation Club.
Recreation club vice president Percy Leake helped coach the new bowlers and said for some their physical disabilities proved difficult to overcome but in the end everyone had a great time.
“It was a bit of a challenge. We would stand out from the mat and say to the bowlers ‘bowl between my legs’ to give them somewhere to aim at,” Mr Leake said.
“We tried to get them to understand the bias of the bowl. Some picked it up no worries and others’ bowls just rolled down with a thump, thump.
“But who cares? The professional bowlers would be horrified but we were out there entertaining these people, giving them a purpose in life and enjoying a game of bowls together.”
Mr Leake said the club offered 10 volunteers to help coach the disabled bowlers.
One of the challenges was trying to change their 10 pin bowling habits.
“Many of them play 10 pin bowls which is a very aggressive game,” he said.
“You send it down at 100 miles per hour and we had to throw a bucket of water over them to cool down and adjust to lawn bowls’ slower pace.”
Mr Leake said the schools and training centres involved were thrilled with the bowling program.
“We will be doing more of it. Towards the end of our season we plan to do an outdoor course.”