On Tuesday the 7^th March, the Women’s Bowling Club of Turramurra celebrated their 60^th Birthday with a rainbow theme in support of the Zaidee Foundation*. The day was filled with laughs, celebration and reflection of the history of a wonderful club for the women of the local community.

The Women’s club was officially formed on the 5^th March 1957, by a small group of wives from (the then all male) Turramurra Bowling Club.

In 1956 it was decided to purchase the present site, which was part of a subdivision of Apps dairy, from Mrs Norma Apps (later Norma Forbes), a Foundation member of the Women’s Club.  This property comprised of two acres on the corner of Apps Avenue and Bobbin Head Road and also contained the family home.

Few visitors realise that parts of the original house are still incorporated in the modern, comfortable clubhouse that has become a favourite meeting place for so many members, families and local organisations.

 

In April 1959, shortly after the clubs second birthday, the “Women’s Club” was officially opened with a membership of 20.

In the early days, the main source of income for the club was from donations, raffles and fundraising functions held at members’ homes. It has been recorded that, a function that was held at Mr Harry Wallbank’s home, involved the engagement of an “Amateur Hour Hillbilly Artist”, 1 dozen bottles of beer were donated and raffled producing a profit of 81 pounds 8/6d. A pretty good return at 7/6d. per head!  Fundraising, of course, continues to this day.

The ladies original mission to help the club socially, flourished with many successful social events raising much-needed funds for both the clubs running expenses, and for local charities.

Turramurra and Lindfield Community Banks have been proud supporters of the club since 2003, in fact, the Turramurra Bowling Club was one of the first organisations to receive a sponsorship from the Turramura branch. The bank has also hosted many functions at the clubhouse throughout the years (without a dairy cow in sight!).

Such is the great relationship held between the club and the community bank, Sharon and Michelle were fortunate enough to join the ladies, for what was a truly wonderful celebration of the Women’s Bowling Club 60th Birthday.

Happy Birthday Turramurra Bowling Club – Keep up all the great work you do for our community.

 

*About The Zaidee Foundation

Zaidee Rose Alexander Turner – aged 7 years and 22 days died suddenly on 2nd December 2004 from a burst blood vessel in her brain called a Cerebral Aneurism. Zaidee’s parents, Kim and Allan, founded Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation not long after.

At the time of Zaidee’s death the Turner family had been registered Organ and Tissue Donors for 5 years. As a result Zaidee donated her Organs and Tissues at the Royal Children’s Hospital, as were her wishes at the time. From this gift, the lives of up to seven other people were improved or saved.

Zaidee was the only child in Victoria under the age of 16 years and we have been told one of the youngest Australians to donate her organs and tissues in 2004. She was only 1 of 6 children nationally to donate their organs.

The Zaidee Foundation aims to raise national awareness of organ and tissue donation.