REFLECTIONS on the history and value of Tamworth's oldest bowling club will be on the menu - along with a hearty meal - at a celebration on Saturday night.
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Tamworth City Bowling Club will host about 80 people for a dinner marking its centenary, amid a big Easter weekend of bowls.
Club president Kerry Walden said it should be a special evening, fitting for the venue's place as "the hub of the community in East".
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This year marks 100 since the first bowl was rolled down the green at the east Tamworth site - although the clubhouse wasn't built until 1920 and the official opening until 1921.
Mr Walden said the club aimed to "cater for everyone" - from church groups to card players, schoolchildren, service groups and fundraising bodies.
The venue even hosts barefoot bowls for backpackers and Zumba classes for seniors.
Mr Walden said he'd hate to think of the hole the club would leave if it folded (not that that's on the cards: "We're running well and looking forward to a bumper year next year.").
"It would be devastating because most of the [users] are pensioners," he said.
"It's company: they all get together, talk for half and hour, go to bowls, come back and talk for half an hour.
"The chef we've got there [Ronny Chan] is magnificent - he draws everyone in and puts on a meal you couldn't jump over.
"We're family-friendly ... on a Friday night, you can hardly move here, there are so many people."
Special - and very special - guests
The dinner will welcome special guests including acting Tamworth regional mayor Phil Betts and Royal NSW Bowling Association delegates.
There will be representatives from, and sponsors of, most of the clubs around the district, as well as zone president Ian Bannister.
Mr Walden said one very special guest would be Nevell McDonald who, at 102, is older than the club of which he's a life member.
The music, however, will be a little less vintage.
"The funny thing was, we've got a young fella doing the music and he asked what type of music he should play," Mr Walden said.
"I said it was for a centenary dinner and he said, 'Jeez, I can't go back that far - how about the '70s?'
"I said that would be fine."
Carolyn Millet
Based at The Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth, and Namoi Valley Independent, Gunnedah. Covering general news and features on community, council, arts, business, health, education, entertainment and rural matters.
Based at The Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth, and Namoi Valley Independent, Gunnedah. Covering general news and features on community, council, arts, business, health, education, entertainment and rural matters.
