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THE FIRST BOWLING CLUB
Tribute to Enthusiasin of Commander
F. Gardner
OPENING YEAR ON NEWCASTLE
CRICKET GROUND
NEWCASTLE City Bowling Club en
ters to-day on a full programme in
celebration of tile jubilee of its founda
tion. It was tile first bowling club to
be foulnded in Newcastle, aid its first
playig aeia ual s s oil te old Newcastle
Cricket Groudtl. Thle "stour a its estal
lishlient is recorded in tite soueentir book
published by the clubb usis week, costs
piled by tile 139 Presideltt (Mr..C. B.
i;rimalt, its follows
The first move towarlds the forma
tisn of a boalinig clsbl in Neicastle
district swas stiadle hy tite late Cettitistiti
dee Frantk Gsardnler, V).., ot May .2,
lI Str wheu, with six othler citizets, he
ie.sued thIe following circular letter: "The
howlieg greet in coesietio e withs the
Newianstle Crickbt Club beiig sncarly
toady to plsy upon, it bas beet costid
eted deircable hy somue of ti-en tetber's
ta fortl a club for tihe purpose of encour
aginge thIe game. If the project meets
with your approval, sill you kindly
attend a tmeeting to bb hIell at the Cess
tctltnial otel, otn Thursday neuxt, lay
31, at 8 o'clock p.it. (Signed by) 1'.
tGardner, E. C. Grahame, h. oGuy, K.
Hall. W. It. Shaw, Tholomas Smith, W.
.\lcLdcl."
It cannot be stated who originated the
idea of a bowling green on the New
castle Cricket Grouaud, but there is
amnple evidence that the late Frank Gard
ner originated the first bowlinlg club. He
expressed the opinion at tie meeting
tlhat it was dcesirable to form a bowling
lub, tas a green woull bie reatldy ill a
shoert time on the cricket groundl. He
recolsnlmended thie game as an excellest
pastime, and said it wouldl add to the
attractions of thie city; insd wouldl also
have the effect of inihcling tmetropolitan
visitors andtl others to visit Newscastle.
It was then resolvedt that a bowling club
be formed in connection withl tie Cricket
Club. So thie City lBowrling Club camlp
into being. 3Messra. F. Gardnser, E. A.
Mitchell, H. MIoroney, and William Mre
Leeod (thie latter as secretary pro temn)
wore deputed to conduct all preinniaries.
lThe next step was on Jttne 4, 18809, when
those gstlet mes t cofenred itCh te coss
mittee of Newtcastle Crietet Club. 5Cr.
Garsdsicr ecplaineed tCie object of list
meeting antd qitestionel the coamitteet as
to the conditions utud er wrhsichl the towl
ine Club coulid Iolol the bowling green.
Mi. IHenry Stokes tsid bis committet
hlad considilered tCie matter, asrd bhad sli
eidcd1 ilaCt mIemblters of tite ]lowliing Clib
eae.t be atetuhers of tise Cricket Ciilub
at 21/ per assum, and that £15 must t,
paid yearly y Ctle Bowlis g Chli i addi.
ri-at, fr tite purpose of atttentding asid
laitltainitg tCe green. No nalemle r of
t e Crieck Clnt eas Cto lave the isa
of tite green until lie bcame a temetlter
itf the Boelina CIhsds. anssd that mattieri
reelating tCi tihe IBoelints Club imust be
c;ariedl out br tlhat club.
'leste colditions ere raccepted at a
general meetisg ou June I1, aud tie fol
loweing officers weere electedt for the year
hralideent, F~rask GaClrdnter: Viec-prose
deat.s. ,lOsepli soodl Fredetri-kt Ahl.
liesry lltsclttatau auth Seowtart KxeiLhtnti
lIel,. Secretary andtl lotn. Treaastrer.
Win. Slcleeod: Cossmeittee. F. Alcoek. SI
.. Maorone. N. A. liitell, andl 'Iroas
Smith.
The firSt bnwline 'ecen onnoi.ted of two
rink? on the ?ewcnotle Crieket G(',rodl.
enl theoe oree noened for plny on rtem
ber 24. I?Jp: '2 menhePrm pnrtieicnter,
In ywnb . meY be conoilered tie first
knloy " ntoot "oh el w?lotle Tie tetlne
wet. citoteti . Preo ppide~tt F. (toodocoF
ntl Thirhnrd TInll reepeetivelhY. and the
.. to orm W lee o eo 1nint.
(llb nlnv wooc onfinmre to two dhevo P
meek. nol the fonlnwlnime nrleeb'til metlt nrl
paar~·d in "(\'an~tle .arneiltle Twnltlte
nn Oetnller "2C, l1q.?: "Se~caa.?tl nmlo~lrll
CIleh onemlee ro n nlno 00l tle creelt. onIt
to tie eronlotnod on the CrikeLt IteOtrdl
on Snturdany and Thursday afternoon. t
So'lnock. Memberp mui t play in sand
hMove to King Edward Park."
Move to King Edward Park
As tire nlumbersip hnad increasedl to
4 in tle first year it wast decided to ask
tile Cricket Club to enlarge the bohwtlisg
orea, two rinks being insufficient. Action
ars trot taken in that regarsdl howcevr,
as the City Council had been approarched
with the ricie to getting an area in the
Cirper Reserve (now known oa Kinsg dol
aed Parki so t at tie cludb clild lay
dan stl a green of its own, aond thie tfollo
ilg lette', dated April lI S, 180, ens ad
dressed to tile eoncsl:s
"Sirs,-We aore iostrtrsed by tire
lolillg Clb Commaittee to inforsta you
trat oar telsb met tiss day at tire Coen
ci Cllanmbers for tise irposec of con
idseriag sthe adviaLility of iapplying to
tie couisncil for tir lernse of tlrt partion
at the Reserve t tie a top of nWatt-street.
whicts ste belicee may be mndle rsuitable
oar a boweliasg green. Mr. Sharp, City
:ngineer, kiradly submitt ted a plus, also
asr estintate of cost of converting tsle
uresent grornd into a larger area feais
irrg low-lyinrg grond), fencisg amre with
a picket fence, levelling, etc., atm no
estimated cast of £273/3/8. We beg to
otter yaor estracil this osrm'eprovidedi the
work rimbittedt in dwr. Sharp's estimrte
r carrier t to ouire saotifaction, antlr
see Iurtler uanslertte to po y rent at tie
tate of £5 per so anni on thie under
stndirng tmut n leasse ie grantedn to s
aor a period of 21 -enr, or anrly irci
tiae ua tibe cosotiil msy bIe illing to
grasrt. We woeald also reqrcrst tie coni
eil to anike special by-loss dealitsg witti
tIre reerve ansi bovlirg green, siisarto
reglrsatioassoiruued or is force elsetelsee.
T'ie corssmittee doers not triol, to exercise
airurihite control over tile ollt-gerosssd as
c'ieered to in thse plrt herewith sssb
rriltted, enclosesd weitll a rsuitable fence,
and wohlrr feel obliged if the couneil
world rltiliss it arid plant trees, flower
ice plants anid shrerbsh aorsttsd same 555
orter to beautify it We beg to weits
drat all plans ansd preeioss eorespiond
en a ot tlis moatter, wehicht seee tussle"
stndol hits beens refelred to the Improev
Ineetr Committee."
Tire letter wras signesd by Frank Guret
?err Presi de nto r and W im . M eLeod, ' Ios.
"erelur- on Ircll rlf of Newcavstle City
Ilo'lini Clrb. T'hlere were some "pro boeo
,rrblieo" cffltssoosi against the alienntion
sf park larsdts ot the time, Ibat the MNists
ter toc Luarls (Mr. Copilneidi gonfisserl
hreir use for bohling greens on May 28,
A sritable rireau wi' granted by the
truarcil. ftllosirr ehich lMessrs. F. urd
ler. S. HItrghies, T. Smith, G. Sanders orsd
3. Ii. Rodgers sere sppoinrted to hundle
astteles. Mr. G. Sanrslers sulssrsitterd plnsr
in Jrrrre. 1850. anssd it svn armreed oni Jisit
1 following, to lay a green riotnr ITOft. is.
Sell. rrt sir etinouteid coot irf £103, ho it
nhdet irfn,. 'Tenders were inrsitesl on
'uly 12, nstrl the green wsers redrly for
phtsr MorrniMs, 0iti.
To firnace tile schesne, neombes wecre
etrwlirrer to rue .£t os rrdvIaiscee sisiortpii
tiorns. to shlsiris 40 contriblited. It teas
aiso decidedl to lay down a terrois corsrt its
tnntmlion reitir tire bowling greets pno
riling 30 tInnis platers eontr'ihlnted to
the tost. Fifi-. piavsrs restPondedl. anrsl
a eondsrl reret tmas laind ds\sew the followine
your. Thie rorts were of rsrirrcllt ansi
they noeerspi tfie esnore ott wltlieb tlrr. net'
is-risir 'reelcwair t uid tutudirIia 18:1-37
First Annual Meeting
'tc first asnrtnal ,sneetirsg seas rehnl at
rli Ceartesrsiarl lIotel. on Octoller 1, 189n0
•fter ll nisitthss' activity. ''e report
was sribstantialls. as follows
I rus tiislc luleatroar ii plrs' 'tiin tire
tret report of onrr club. Whien in M|ay of
lust yrar it teas mooted to form a botl
tr da ileu movessent did isot at first
meet with a very ready support, but tile
great interest takel in the formation of
the club by a few gentlemen has brought
the miatter to a noeceusi'l issue, and it is
0n0 with sery great pleasure I Ihave to
report tile lub is in a flaurishing col
dition. i'rna' loot year .arrangenent
were made wvithi 'ewrastle Cricket Club
to lease tlhat portion of their ground near
tile grandstand lwhereonl to play the
ancient gamle. Outr best thanks are due
to Messers. John Youlig (President of
the New South Wales lBowling Associa
otn) and to 1. I. Colenl (hlnot. secre
tory. ilahotain Bhowelinig CIlub) fur tie
ereat interest and tlrouble they haite taken
in giving us tmuch v lulable information
odi advice as to forming thie club and
mnaking the green. Our visits to Sydney
have been very enjoyaible. andl the bIowlers
there have alsways done their best to make
themt so, especially St. Leonarlds and
oaltaint Clubs. wh~bse "Jack Hligh" treat
Inent of our imembters is so cordial that
in point of fact their clubes are our Sydh
ry headquarlters, and we look forwardl
to many siCel trips duringi tile coming
We have playied l ix games with Sydney
chlubs. one with Glehe, three with St.
Leonardls tandl two witih Balnini--losingc
Sire and wisting one. Little can be anidl
as regards the gnames. Gleie, thie pre
nier dclub of tile colony, beat us by 79
points, andl as oir i members only had a
LATE COMMANDER FRANK GARDNER. Help
LATE COMMANDER FRANK
GARDNER.
fortingilt to leiarll tlhe gmile we alatIot
collm;laidt of oar lint contest. I1n thE
second and third contets?, St. iLeonard
defeated us by 30 on their green, and
by 34 pain to on oar green. It tht
orth, ern1a Balnain, on the latter',
reeu, we were defeated by 62. In the
fith, at St. Leonards we again saltered
defeat by 50 points, but the sixth gaime
brought oar first victory, versus hlahnain
on their own green, the scorres bein
Newcatle S18, Balmain 7-onhl one rinik
oside. In spite of the heaIuy ctlst on
his services by thie cricket club, or
veteran cricketer, Bill Tracey, has shows
tlat ile is just as wrell up in keeilg
a bowling eleetn 0s he is inT preparing
a wicket.
Gold Medal to J. R. Rodgers
Tiem tilay for tihe irst ehanmpioshilp
gotld moedal s won by Aid. doht t
iodgers after defeating alt our best play
e1o. Samllte Hugbhen asos runner-ip. .M1r
J. Taylor, of Glasgow has ptresented a
pair of gold lmouanted bowls which are to
be played for by tmembers of the New
Sotth WVales Bowling Assoniation and
Noewrcastle Clutb in the coming season.
The treasurer reported that the cltub's
tnantces are as follows-Sulbscription.
£20/7/0: expenditutre, £20/7/0.
Mr. Johntt Breeenridge to0 ed "'That
t vote of thankts be nent to Mr. David
Watson for thie interest hle halnd takene
in Newreastle Club, and that he ie coln
ratulnited uptont the suirccesful formation
of a rlrhi at aratollh atn tupon is nde
tion as president of that elub." Of
the pioneers of the club. MIr. Brecken
rirle is the only one surviving, iand l is
still a membter.
Planis for a clib-hoase on the King Ed
ward Park site were isubmitted ly Mr.
G. Sadlers, arehitert. on October 1. 18i0
and the ntrceoesflll contractor waS Mr.
It. C. Went--lahour and material. £90/
12/. The highest tender wasn £157. Tihe
'lio freen ran ositfieially openlrd by
Prerident Frank Gaordner on IElster
Mondayt , 3iarchl 30, 1891. St. LeoTnardlo
wnas tile visiting club, and they won iby
three points.
The club's iecond IIannual meetin was
held in its own clllubhouse on October 8.
1891. It is disclosed in the nnual
report that gamnes were played between
mnembers designated "The HIigllianders"
andl "Thle Lowlanders," and that the
former won two olt of three colntests.
The club members were--lFrank Gard
ner, R HalIl. lFrede. Ash, S. Keilitle?.
Joseph Wood. H. lBuchanan, F. Aleock.
TI. J. Mo'oney, E. A .Mitchell, Walter
Sidney, T. Smith. W. McLeodl, D. Wat
son, J. Frost. C. Sanders, I. Gates. J. R.
Rodgers. S. Isughee. J. Gulliver, D. White
head, H. Aeser, T. 2luncaster, J. Bow
tell,. A Wt. att, T. H. Haysmith. V. J.
Wooden, J. Breckenridge, J. Pearson,
J.. I. Rooke. WV. O'Neill, C. Lawrence,
C. Christie. II. Hingst. H. J. .Brown. J..
Limeburnoer. A. J. Thompson, H. W.
Finch, TI. Guy, P. Bennett. Dr. Morgan,
R. D)acidson. John Ash, G. Welsh, W. K.
Lochhelad, T'. Ilibby, W. Neve, Jolhn
Iroulhltont. . and A. Brown, S. Campl
bell, H. R. Cheela, F. I'caice, C. ipfohol.
.1. Seholey. W. I. Sharp. Ii. B. Wallace,
21. Roe, H. Anderson. J. Henderson, S
Field, E. IIldson. W. T'. Gibb. J. 2lcVane.
John S. Ash. E. 21. Halligan, John
Reid. Rt. Breckenridge, E. C. rnhamne,
W. HI. Sproul. F. Witherspoon. D). Dobie,
J. uirke. J. 21. Galley, and G. P. Lock.
Other Clubs Formed
'lThe club's. reenrds lshow that Lowlands
lowlini Club wasi formeml on Septeimber
21. 182. 'This. withl the followino 'xtract
froml "XNcw South Wales Bownlers'
Annllual." 19(1(I. dispels the ielief in some
qar.tere locally tliiit LowlaOils Clob was
fnr'iiedl lirere the City Clib. "Lowlondls
Bonwlig Club Established September 21,
1892. This club, iwhich completeld its
13th year on Septemiber 7. 180i. was
normed at ai meetinlu held in Mr. G. P.
Lock's office. Necasotle, on September 21,
1892. Its green is pleasantly situatedl on
Newcastle Cricket Ground tinder the care
of Bill Traeey." It is apparent from
this that Lowlands acquired tile Cricket
Club greet after the City Club vacated it
I)Durin the season 1802-3, of 17 games
played by the City Club against other
clubs, nine were against Lowlands, three
against Oarataht, id five against Sydney
chuts. Of these 12 were won. By this
time the calibre of the City bowlaers had
so improved that J. R. Rlodgers was
chosen as one of thle New South Wales
representatives to visit Melbourne for the
Intercolonial contests against Victoria
On completion of the bowling green
tennis court and clubhouse, thle overdraft
was £207. Tile club's first taste of finan
cial problems began shortly after, but
they were relieved by President F. Gard
ner assisting with a loan of £53, the
collection of £18/18/,. subscribtions in
advance, atnd by some mnembers under
taline to make a monthly contribution
as followusr-4 at 10/, 4 at 5/, and 5 ait 2/6.
'rlte district pennants oppear to have
been originated by Loslnutls Club on
December 31, 1804, when it wrote to the
City and Waratah Clibs suggesting inter
club clhampionsltips between the three
eluihs.
The cli nfa'iliatedl with the New South
Wales tlowling Aesociation in 1802, with
drew in 1893, but re-affiliated in 18f.
Considertation, was givent in the latter
year to a uieegestiot, from J,oslantdu
Claib for the fortostion of a Northern
D)istrict Bowlitnge Aociation, buit this
dlid not cotne about until Septelmber 22,
1808
When Mr. IHarry Hingst assumned the
Treasurership in 1818-9, £1200 hadl been
expcetd ont thie pioneerintt work aind
the overdraft stool at £201. By Ihis
energies this amouniit was reducel each
year until ai small credit ibalance was
sloun in 1903-4 dlespite a fall in the
membslership from 24 to 37. This w'as no
sossner ccntpiplihedr whent £50 had to
Ite fontasl nlmsit sit once to cover the
cost of movinsg the clsub-house about 1e
feet frsom its iposition, and to raise it
labove gromlnd on ecoun o r of thie ldepre
dations of lwhite nats. To meet this
expendliture l I coupons were issuedl, uil
amnouints sIslner £1 were treated as ldona
tions, ands a eondtition was tmade in the
selection of teesie that preferentce woull
be given to mtembers whose subscrip
tionis were paith.
Thie clshb's 21st anniversary was com
memnoraited writh an 8 rinks match be
tren tleatis eleoset by tile Patron (Mr.
Frnntk hGiardltter) andsi thie Ph'residetnt I Mr.
H. Hinigst). Invitations hadl been issued
to past andtl present memler.s, their lady
friends, IIand to ithe presildents andi scere
taries of lffclbs affilinlrd with the Nor
thern District owrlintg Associntion. At
the conlehision of tihe contest--which
was won byh the Patront's teatt by three
poinlts--abotut 200 were entertained at
nfterloon tea. The Treasurer (Mr. J.
Ash) read a brief history of thle club.
mainls thle results of competitiotns, andl
tatedl tlhat the Club ladt reached its
21st birtllay wsith a credlit bahance of
., againsitt ain outsltandinl loan of
£50 at 2 per ceilt. per annulml. The
't,,li'hersshsio seas 70.
In .litte the toast "The Day \Ve
Celeltrate," Mr. G'atrtrnEltr said tlhst 21
s-ears previoslvy thIe site of the green
was a barren ;'asute. antd now it was a
heauty spot of the city. Nothing had
riven hits greater plesomire tlhnst tile
knowleden that lie n-as o te of the first
to nrolmote tile gsame of Iowls it Newt
castle.
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