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December 2024

FIRE ANTS: IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR TURF INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS

Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta)
NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has taken immediate action to mitigate the risk of fire ant movements into NSW by placing a temporary suspension of turf movements from QLD fire ant infested areas into any part of NSW. The swift response follows the interception of fire ant infested turf at Clunes, near Byron Bay on Wednesday 12 November. From Friday 15 November, turf importation from the Queensland Government-defined QLD fire ant infested area will be suspended pending further investigations and compliance work.

NEW EMERGENCY ORDER: Tuesday 26 November
NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (the Department) has published Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order (No. 16) 2024 on 26 November 2024. This supersedes Order No. 15, published on 15 November 2024. The latest Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order has revised the zone colours. The Order is available online at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fire-ants.

If you are moving the defined fire ant carriers from the parts of QLD and NSW shown in red, orange or yellow on this map, you must comply with the current Emergency Order. The are no changes to the boundaries of the NSW Fire Ant Infested Area or the Fire Ant Movement Control Areas (Murwillumbah and Wardell). The QLD fire ant infested area has increased in size with an outlying detection at D’Aguilar, in the Moreton Bay region. Find out more: Check out the NSW DPIRD website at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fire-ants

Call us about any sightings of suspected fire ants or nests on the NSW Biosecurity Helpline (on work days) at 1800 680 244. Follow us at NSW DPIRD Biosecurity Facebook for all things fire ant at www.facebook.com/NSWDPI.Biosec

Cancer Council NSW supporting greenkeepers to better protect themselves from UV Radiation – Read this article about how to prevent skin cancer, published on our blog.

Notice of Annual General Meeting

NSW BOWLING GREENKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held:

Monday 19th August 2024 at The William Inglis Hotel at 9.15am

1. All notices of motion must be in the hands of the Hon Secretary prior to the meeting.
2. Nominees for any position on the State Executive must complete the nomination form fully, and these must be in the hands of the Secretary prior to the annual meeting.
3. The executive recommend that membership fees remain the same.
4. The executive recommend that honorariums remain the same.

Download the Executive Nomination Form.

October 2023

The industry has recently recently farewelled (to retirement) three long serving and much respected servants to the turf industry and in particular the bowling
sector, Phil Harfield of Grandviews Bowling Club, Terry (Damage)
Doyle of R.U.C and Chris Mumby, who we all know from CMR Turf
Renovations.

To all three gentlemen who have retired, thank you for your years of service, apprentices
trained and knowledge and skills passed on to others to better improve our sector of the turf
industry. I sincerely hope you enjoy your years in retirement.

The Peter Mobbs’ Shield (Legends Day) was back in action after several years in hiatus due
to Covid 19 and other factors. The day was hosted by Cabramatta Bowling Club, as history
shows us greenkeepers put up a gallant effort but failed to come over the top of the Legends of
NSW with the final result 122-111 across 6 rinks, 2 rink wins a draw and 3 rink losses. A massive
thanks to Ben Morthorpe and the Management of Cabramatta Bowling Club for ensuring the
resumption of this event was a great success.

The naming/honoring of the Living Turf Bowling Greenkeeper of the year also returned to this
day after having been moved to our conference in past years. There were three nominees for the 2023 Living Turf Bowling Greenkeeper of the Year – Duncan Elphick of Cherry Street Sports, Wade Turner
from Queanbeyan RSL and Sean Bellotti from Figtree Sports, all very deserving.
This year’s award, from discussions with our assessors, was one of the closest in the award’s
history with discussions even being held about dual recipients but after further review it was
agreed that Sean Bellotti of Figtree Sports be declared the 2023 Bowling Greenkeeper of the
year.

In recent times the Association has been trying to build on our good relationship with Bowls
NSW. Firstly, in getting the Peter Mobbs’ Shield back up and running but also in having our
events recognised and to be consulted and have our industry’s views taken into consideration when Bowls NSW is formulating their bowls calendar. While this is still in its infancy, we believe moving forward that our considerations will begin to hold more weight with the understanding that both parties need each other for the game of lawn bowls to grow and prosper.

Congratulations to Damien Miller and Young Bowling Club on being announced as the venue
for the 2024 NSW Bowling Greenkeepers’ Championships.

At the time of printing we have been advised of the sad news that Sandy Bellotti, beloved wife
of Sean Bellotti, has passed away, after a brave and long battle with cancer. On behalf of the
Association and all greenkeepers, we wish our sincerest condolences to Sean and the family at
this difficult time.

We also wish our deepest sympathy to the family of Kim Smith of the Wyong Leagues Group who passed away recently.

Finally, I wish everyone all the best this coming growing season and hope the batteries have
been recharged over winter months.

Regards
Mick Woods

July 2022

Notice of AGM

NSW BOWLING GREENKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held:

Monday 22nd August 2022 at Bankstown Sports at 9.15am

1. All notices of motion must be in the hands of the Hon Secretary prior to the meeting.
2. Nominees for any position on the State Executive must complete the nomination form fully, and these must be in the hands of the Secretary prior to the annual meeting.
3. The executive recommend that membership fees remain the same.
4. The executive recommend that honorariums remain the same.

Download the Executive Nomination Form.

From the President, Michael Woods – July 2022

As I write this, bowling greenkeepers across this state continue to be under immense pressure, many facets of the industry are leading to the pressures dealt with on a daily/weekly/monthly basis, whether it be climactic, retention or sourcing staff, costs with industry product pricing skyrocketing, bullying within the workplace. In this modern age, it has never been more important to understand and try and improve not only the mental welfare of our staff but also that of ourselves.

The east coast has continued to be impacted by consistent heavy rainfall, often the long-term effects are overlooked by clubs such as raised water tables, saturated soil profiles, low oxygen availability within soils for plants. Economic thresholds also restrict the treatment and recovery of plants after such prolonged extreme events, it is not viable to spray pesticides in high frequency not only due to costs but the likelihood of these products being effective is vastly decreased when not used as per label. These are all points that I hope we as turf mangers are relaying to club boards and management to help them understand the vastness of what has been faced and continues to challenge us as we move forward into the second half of 2022.

We have decided that the publication of the “Bowling Greenkeeper” will be reduced to only two hard copies a year. While this was a difficult decision to come to, we feel it is the best way to serve our members moving forward. It will provide the opportunity to promote our partners through both Facebook and the Team App which will become our main source of media. In this edition, there will be guides on how to join up to Team App for those not already registered. Many clubs are using this forum so I’m sure most will be familiar. This is providing a one stop shop with us able to provide details directly and more frequently along with members being able to renew memberships and purchase Association apparel and in the near future register for events.

We had another successful NSWBGA State Championships Week at my home of South Tamworth Bowling Club in May. I’m sure you will enjoy the write up in this edition and congrats to our winners Adam Troth (Singles) and Wade Turner and Damien Miller (Pairs).

The 2022 Conference will again be held at Bankstown Sports Club, August 22-23, considerable time and effort is going into making this an event that should not be missed. Industry groups are coming onboard and will have displays and information on their products and equipment for all those attending. The finalising of key note speakers is taking place as this is being put together, be sure to keep an eye on both the TEAM APP and FACEBOOK for registration and detailed speaker lists. Accommodation is available directly through Bankstown Sports with competitive rates and allows you to stay where the event is being held. Sadly, we have been unable to organise any special rates due to operational changes at the hotel.

I look forward to seeing you at the Conference.

Yours truly,
Michael Woods, President

October 2021

CHALLENGING TIMES!
To quote the famous line from the movie Jaws, “Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water again”. Well-thought out structures/plans were creeping back into our workplaces and the Association Conference all but finalised, with presenters and content locked in then the walls came crashing down on June 26th when Sydney was put into lockdown. At the time of writing this the lockdown had passed 115 days. While regional NSW has been spared much of this lockdown all areas had at least 4 weeks of club closures. We as an Association have continued to try and work with and for our members throughout this period, having interactions with Bowls NSW who have been more than obliging taking onboard our concerns and thoughts around how to best navigate around the impacts this lockdown is having on our ability as turf managers to provide quality playing surfaces and their ability to get events underway. The cancellation of the NSWBGA Conference our AGM was deferred to a planned industry day to be held at Engadine BC also cancelled, so we are no investigating how to best resolve the matter of office bearers and full disclosure of accounts.

This a great time to raise awareness and concerns with club boards and greens committees both in report and verbally about the challenges ahead this season, renovations (timing, amount removed etc.) budgets. Working collaboratively with committees and having them aware of what is not always visible to the untrained is not only smart it is imperative to good and harmonious relationships within the club.
Let’s not forget in these times of isolation and limited work to call on those around you, whether it be a phone call, message or for those who can a physical visit. Mental health issues are a real concern and in a tight knit industry such as ours I would like to think anyone who chooses to reach out to a fellow colleague would get the support they rightly deserve. If there is any of you out there struggling with mental health call out and if you aren’t coping there are many great organisations out there, Lifeline, Black Dog Institute and Beyond Blue just to name a few.

Mick Woods

Federation News

The decision has been made to cancel the already deferred Federation Week on the Gold Coast. A meeting was held in November with delegates from all four states. It was decided to cancel the event scheduled for May 2021. The uncertainty around travel restrictions risked the future of the week. The decision has been made to now schedule Federation Week for May 2023 hosting to remain with the QLD Greenkeepers association.

Vale Tony Apthorpe
It is with sadness that I advise of the passing of NSWBGA Life Member Tony Apthorpe. Tony
was one of our most active Committee members, playing a key role in our State Conferences for many years. On behalf of the NSWBGA Executive and members I offer my condolences to Tony’s family. We will include more about Tony’s career and contribution in our next edition.

Memberships
Memberships are now due, it is important we remain supportive during these times so we
can continue to bring events and content to our members into the future. Rod is encouraging as
many members as possible do this through the Team App. I downloaded the app myself and
renewed on this platform, it’s incredibly simple.

Covid 19 Pandemic
Finally and most severely the COVID-19 Pandemic that forced the closure of the club industry from March 24th 2020. The way this has affected us as Bowling Greenkeepers has been vast and varied. Clubs and their management have had to make many difficult decisions through this and the same can be said for us Greenkeepers. Obviously income for club’s ceased from the above date and the approach to greens maintenance a hot topic, the difficulty for us is that the needs of turf do not stop because the club is not operating. Thankfully it seems that many greenkeepers have been permitted enough time to manage to their turf’s needs in these harsh times. The pandemic has also quite obviously thrown a spanner to the calendar of events from Bowls NSW, as an association we have been in contact with trying to attain what events will go ahead and at what time they plan on running such events. To this stage they have been unable to give a definitive answer due to the ever-changing restriction linked to this pandemic.

To assist with their planning and decision making we ran a number of polls on social media and via email to ascertain what work restrictions and green’s conditions were like and what sort of time would be required prior to holding events. Greg at BowlsNSW has acknowledged and thanked us for this input. To all those that contributed to the polls, thank you.

Editor’s Note: If you are having a tough time, make sure you have a chat with your greenkeeping colleagues, pick up the phone or send a message, or if you know anyone having a tough time, ask them R U OK? Lifeline is available on 13 11 14 or the website. Beyond Blue have a Covid Mental Health program as well.

Regards,
Mick Woods

 

Scott Denham honoured at Mosman Bowling Club

NSWBGA member Scott Denham has had one of the highest accolades in the Lawn Bowls community by having a bowling green named after him at Mosman Bowling Club. As most of us know this high honour, is usually only reserved for deceased life members! The Club obviously holds Scott in very high esteem.
Scott came to greenkeeping in the summer of 1979 after completing his HSC at Narrabeen High School. An accomplished sportsman even at a young age…playing junior Rugby League with the Narrabeen Sharks before moving on to u23s and reserve grade for Manly Sea Eagles RLFC. Scott fondly remembers playing against the great Arthur Beetson on the old Cumberland Oval. Not content with his achievements in Rugby League, he even managed to squeeze in becoming an Australian champion beach sprinter through his association with Surf Lifesaving. After retiring from these sports, Scott then took up squash, and as expected, he excelled, became a life member of the Elanora Club and has only very recently hung up his racquet.

Scott made many friends in all aspects of life, one being a fellow Rugby League player Tony Springall, who was the assistant GK at Mosman Bowling Club. Tony invited Scott to learn the fine art of mass plugging on one of the Mosman greens over the Christmas period. Sometime later, the Club’s head greenkeeper succumbed to an accident and was unable to continue in his role. Tony took over as the head guy and subsequently called on Scott to take up the vacant apprenticeship. Despite his earlier plugging experience, he took up the job. He held this position till Tony was offered a contact to play first grade for the North Sydney Bears. As a third year apprentice the club offered Scott the position of head green keeper of what was then a three green club with 200 bowling members…he looked after the club on his own, forcing him to make a difficult choice between his sport and work commitments.

As a young Greenkeeper Scott also had a number of very experienced tradesman to call on for advice, Ralph Callaghan at Warringah Bowling Club and Dave Shearman at Harbord Bowling Club.
Many of you may have met Scott and his assistant Philip “Snowy” Kable with their work installing products of one of our loyal advertises and supporters of the NSWBGA, ShadeX Industries. This association came about after Scott and Snowy installed shades at Mosman…20 years on and they’re still installing for Shadex.

In 1989 Scott began to play competition bowls at Mosman BC with instant success that has continued for 30 years having won the Major Single title 15 times, pairs 17, triples 11 and fours 8 times, with success in zone and tournament play.
During his time at the club, Scott has trained 6 apprentices, been on the board and bowls secretary for 20 years, is currently the Senior Vice President and became a life member of the club in 2011.

Scott has seen the club go through some trials and tribulations, including the selling of land to become a two green club and other managerial decisions that would allow the club to survive and prosper.
On the day of the naming and the unveiling of the plaque by the Mayor of Mosman, more than 60 bowlers, friends, fellow greenkeepers and family were present. We heard Scott thank his wife of 29 years Michelle, their sons, Shane, Daniel and Nathan, for their support. Especially noting his family’s understanding of the commitment a good turf manger needs to have to his job…the long hours in summer, weekend work and annual leave only being taken in the quieter times of the year. Forgiveness for times missed due to his work commitments.

Scott thanked the members of Mosman Bowling Club for making his 40 years a pleasurable experience. Snowy, of course, was also thanked for his hard working assistance for the last 25 years.

After the unveiling Scott was able to sit down and finally have a Tooheys New (or two) with a number of fellow greenkeepers, many of whom look up to him as the Northside’s Big Daddy of bowling greens! Sometime after the second beer, one of Scott’s fellow tech mates from the Ryde School of Horticulture, (from all those years ago) asked Scott what advice he would pass on to a young greenkeeper now…. he said “be confident in your knowledge and don’t let bowlers tell you what to do”.
As many of us greenkeepers from the north side will testify, we could not have a more skilled, knowledgeable, resourceful and helpful person as our mentor for all things bowling greens!

12 May 2019

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the NSW Bowling Greenkeepers’ Association will be held on Monday 17 June 2019 at the NSWBGA Conference at Bankstown Sports, commencing at 9.10am. Please contact the Secretary John Flaherty at nswbga@gmail.com for further information or to nominate someone for the Committee.

Check out The Bowling Greenkeeper page for the latest edition of our Magazine.

Important update from EPA
I have recently been in touch with the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) regarding the pesticide licensing (ground applicator) requirements for Bowling Greenkeepers.
From 1 July 2018, new licensing requirements came into effect for pesticide ground applicators. Under the Pesticides Regulation 2017 (the Regulation), individual users of pesticides (other than fumigants) for the control of weeds or of pests affecting plants or soil for fee or reward, are required to hold a ground applicator licence issued by the NSW EPA.

It should be noted that under the Pesticides Act 1999, the definition of fee or reward includes remuneration paid to a person as an employee. Therefore, employees of Companies undertaking pesticide work described above (except for the exceptions listed below) are required to hold a pesticide licence.

There are exceptions to the requirement to hold a pesticide licence, under the Regulation, if an individual falls in to one of the categories below; including:

• the use of pesticides by an individual for amenity horticulture purposes (such as ground or garden maintenance, landscaping, floriculture, arboriculture or the operations of a nursery)

The EPA considers that the maintenance of bowling greens falls under the definition of amenity horticulture (i.e. ground or garden maintenance).

Therefore, bowling greenkeepers undertaking these activities are exempt from the requirement to hold a Ground Applicator licence.