CAMARADERIE was palpable at the inaugural Tea Gardens RSL Sub-Branch Bowls Tournament, hosted at Tea Gardens Country Club on the weekend.

The event was open to all RSL Sub-Branches within the Central Coast, Newcastle, Greater Hunter and NSW Mid-Coast districts, and was sponsored by the RSL NSW Sport and Recreation Program.

The social event was conceived as another way to bring together veterans with shared experiences, from all branches of the armed forces.

The terrible weather was not a hindrance and first-timers were offered plenty of advice across the greens, solicited or unsolicited, on technique, style, poise, and more.

“We hope to make it an annual event,” Terry Munright, TGCC President and avid bowler, told News Of The Area.

“It all started back in April, after a similar tournament at Dubbo was planned.

“The support from the Tea Gardens Country Club Board of Directors has been very good, with their strong local community focus.

“It was a really good-feeling weekend, we played between the showers, had lots of bowlers who had never played before, all enjoyed ourselves and even got some converts to the sport – some naturals too.

The winner was decided through three games of three bowl triples, of either twelve or fifteen ends.

The prize was being the first club etched on the new perpetual shield trophy.

The winners were Toronto, with its many first-timers, who came from behind after a slow start.

They have promised to return to defend their title.

“A lot of good things came together to make this happen, we could not have done it without our ladies working in the background, unseen, but critical,” Terry said.

“RSL Sport and Recreation should be thanked, they encourage and support these sorts of activities.”

By Thomas O’KEEFE