Lorna Ambrose accepts her Super Veterans badge from Casey Victorian Lawn Bowls Association representative Bernice Helle.By Casey Neill
CRANBOURNE RSL Bowls Club members Irene Rowett and Lorna Ambrose are Super Veterans.
The Victorian Ladies Bowling Association (VLBA) awards a Super Veterans badge to members who turn 80.
The VLBA councillor for Casey, Bernice Helle, recently made a presentation to the new octogenarians.
“They’re both thrilled to bits,” Cranbourne RSL Bowls Club secretary Jan Coate says.
Ms Rowett and Ms Ambrose join four Super Veterans at the club. Three of the six are still playing competitively, and two socially.
Ms Ambrose has been unable to play for 12 months because of a knee injury but still watches and supports the team.
She’s waiting for a knee replacement, and plans to return to the game after that.
Although she would love to bowl until she’s 90, Ms Ambrose hopes to play for at least a few more years.
“It let everyone know I’m 80! But I was honoured,” she said after receiving the award.
Ms Ambrose said she enjoys the social interaction and the challenge of bowls.
“It’s a very nice game really,” she said.
Ms Rowett agrees.
“It’s such a friendly game,” she said.
On a holiday in the Northern Territory, a friend asked Ms Rowett to go with her to the bowls.
“Even in the Northern Territory everyone made you feel so welcome,” she said.
Ms Rowett still plays competitively twice a week. She played in the club’s previous pennant team and hopes to make the team again.
Ms Rowett’s association with bowls goes back a long way. She played for two years in the 1970s, giving the game away when her husband died.
More than 30 years later she returned to the green, after moving to Cranbourne three years ago.
After such a long time away from the game Ms Rowett never thought she’d be eligible for an award like this.
“It was very nice to receive it and be able to wear it,” she said.
Like Ms Ambrose, Ms Rowett will play the game for as long as she can.
“Well I hope to keep fit for a few more years yet,” she said..
