Club members, as well as the community at large, are doing their best to not only keep the Fairmount, Hilson Park and Lombardy East bowls clubs running, but to also keep the spirit of lawn bowls alive.
Club members have organised creative initiatives to overcome the challenges the clubs face including sponsored fundraising bowls events.
Lombardy East Bowls Club manager, Fonny Meyedricks said, “It is indeed tragic that certain clubs such as Linksfield and Paterson Park bowls clubs have closed their doors. It is also sad that the nature of bowls clubs makes it difficult to make the finances work.
“Unlike Ekurhuleni and Pretoria bowls clubs, the City of Johannesburg does not provide any support to bowls clubs. In fact, most bowls clubs often battle grossly inaccurate billing for rates and services.”
Hilson Park Bowling Club manager, Tom Binns added, “We are not closing down, we are in negotiations with Johannesburg Property Company who has the option to either give us the lease or to put it out to tender. We have it on record that the facility will remain a bowling club.
“We have involved the previous local councillor on this matter and will engage with the newly-elected one. We have only planned to do that in the new year as we felt it was only fair to let the newly-elected councillor settle in.”
According to Binns, the club hosts many fundraising events throughout the year and uses the money to assist its members who have medical conditions.
“We recently purchased a mobile oxygen unit for one such member,” said Binns. “We also use the money to support our rescue dogs. Our oldest dog named Jessica had two crucial ligament operations on her back legs at an inconsiderable cost, however, she is now running around and is no longer limping in pain.”
Meyedricks said, “Our sources indicate that neither Hilson nor Fairmount intends closing their doors. However, it is understood that there may be challenges in negotiating new leases with the City who actually own these club’s properties. We are fortunate that our property is privately owned.”
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