The Club at Urbenviile – Urbenville Bowling Club

 

” Hands up those who have the heart to cast a vote that we shoud start

A bowling club up here upon the hill.”

chairman Jim looked round the bar at drinkers there who till this far

Had never thought of bowls at Urbenville.

“This bowls,” says one, “I want to know, is that the place where fellers go

To drink up big and play on coin machines,

To get away from kids and wives, and put hard work out of their lives,

And sometimes roll a ball along the greens?”

 

When all those there learnt that this was so, there wasn’t one that voted no,

And thus the plan proceeded unimpeded.

But it wasn,t til a wind hit town and blew the local church right down,

That God gave to them the clubhouse that they needed.

From the church and good creek silt, a humble home and green were built.

And pretty soon the grass grew thick as weeds,

Their mower broke down in a heap so they used a flock of sheep

To crop the grass to meet their bowling needs.

 

It was in the summer of ’53 that they thought it time for all to see

This bowling club they’d built at Urbenville,

Blazered blokes, lapels weighted down, came flocking to the little town,

For the opening job by district president Bill.

Strong drink they needed for the day came from the pub across the way

And was carried through the creek by gallon jar,

Hundred and thirty-eight beer should do, couple of dozen hard stuff too,

They made sure there,d be no moaning at the bar.

 

Puddings heated in a copper, guests were treated good and proper.

Four hundred ate and drank all weekend,

The club was christened well and true, proceedings made a profit too,

A handy ninety six pounds one and ten.

Years have passed and until this day, its the smallest club in DBA,

With just a loyal handful there to see,

But if you think bowls should be fun, and friendship rates as number one,

Then Urbenville’s the place for you to be.

 

By Jim Brigginshaw, Iluka NSW, January 2000