Wade Turner – 2002 Scotts Australia Greenkeeper of the Year Award

Wade Turner
Queanbeyan Bowling Club

This greenkeeper started his apprenticeship in 1976 and to some this may have been a long time ago. Two years later he found himself as Head Greenkeeper, but it was not until 1980 that he finished his apprenticeship.

He worked at this club for a few more years before moving on in1982 where he spent the following six years. In 1988 he moved to his present club where he been for 14 years. He has also shown dedication not only to his passion of his job but also to the sport he loves and that is Rugby League.

This was shown when he played a 100-plus games for his local club and not only played the game but he also coached it too. Over the last ten years he has forced on different goals in life and these have been family, teaching, learning and bowls.

There are not many weeks that aren’t full with things to do. He has spent 5 years teaching the local up and coming apprentices, as I was one.

He has recently taken sitting on the other side, completing his Certificate IV last year and where he should be today at Tech doing his Diploma of Horticulture (Turf Management). For his bowls it has been the last 3 years that he has achieved the goals of winning the clubs Major Singles, along with other club events.

He has also achieved a lot in the last twelve months gaining selection for various state game, along with his selection this year in the Australian Sides Championships that were played in Adelaide. Not only has he played in the Australian sides but, in 2000 his played host to the event with great appraisal of his efforts along with his staff.

Not only has he held this event but, he has also played host to the Australian Champion of Champions and the Police Sides Championships; plus the club’s greens are used for the Australian Squads and NSW development squads training facility. He has dedicated time towards the local Bowling Greenkeepers Association where he is President and has been for the last two years.

Along with being Treasurer of the TGAA ACT for 10 years, the last season saw him volunteer his time with assists to re-establish a bowling green in a small town where he once went to primary school.

He is always made himself available to assist other greenkeepers in solving problems or offering advice. He is a truly professional Bowling greenkeeper and presents himself in such a way that others look at him for the standards that he sets.