Bowls re-loaded

With the bowling club having been relaunched on 10 May, Ward 90 councillor Gordon Mackay said he was looking forward to seeing it develop from strength to strength.

This came after a two year battle between the Craighall Resident’s Association and the former bowling club tenant.

An investigation into the running of the club was carried out by the Johannesburg Property Company in 2013 after Mckay reported that the property had allegedly become a venue for suspicious activities.

Mckay confirmed to the Gazette that the Johannesburg Property Company had cancelled the tenant’s lease in December and the Joburg Bowls Association would be appoint an anchor tenant.

A committee made of representatives from the Johannesburg Bowls Association, the residents’ association, the tennis club and some residents from the area were elected.

“I am delighted at the progress made at the bowling club. The committee is in the process of transforming the neglected and moribund bowls club into a multi-sport use facility,” said Mckay.

“Once again, the relaunch of Craighall Bowling Club demonstrates what can be accomplished through an active community that works with its ward councillor and ward committee.”

The head of the Joburg Bowls Association Anselm McLean has hopes that Craighall Bowling Club will revive a culture of community involvement and sports.

In an interview with the Gazette earlier in March, McLean said the bowling club which has been around for more than 50 years would be relaunched and hopefully revived.

“We will hopefully be bringing the club back into bowls and making it a community centre for the Craighall residents,” he said.

“We already have karate and we plan to use the space for school’s bowls development and various other school sporting events.”

Ward 90 committee member, Paulette Malcolm, emphasised the importance for community involvement as the club would be self-supporting and thus no progress could be made without the support from the community.