THE Canungra Bowls Club has recently recognised three of its veteran players with life memberships.
The club’s highest honour was awarded to Sylvian Cameron, along with Peter and Ray Hickson.
Sylvian’s commitment to the club has spanned an incredible 71 years after she first joined as a foundation member.
There hasn’t been a role with the club that she hasn’t dedicated herself to and she even served as a voluntary bar manager when the club first opened.
She lived across the road from the club and in the early years she volunteered the use of her kitchen so meals could be prepared for functions before one was finally built.
A player, a coach, an umpire, a president she did it all and according to club veterans Sylvian always did it with a smile.
In recent years she transferred her primary club status to Mackenzie Park which is closer to her home, but she has remained a committed member of Canungra and occasionally ventures up to play in the Ladies Wall Plaque competition.
She said she was grateful to be made a life member and felt honoured by the recognition.
“I was forewarned it might be coming, but it was still a wonderful surprise when it became official,” the now 90 year-old said.
Peter and Ray joined the club 23 years ago and have embraced numerous roles with passion and enthusiasm since.
Ray is a former Ladies President and is the author of the regular bowls column in the Canungra Times.
Peter, who also once held the president’s role, is one of the club’s most active members managing the weekly Paddle Pop Pairs competition amongst other things.
Ray said they were very pleased to be named life members of the club which they owed a lot to.
“We joined Canungra Bowls Club when we first moved to the area from Tasmania not knowing anyone,” she said.
“It enabled us to make many great friends who are still our friends today,” she said.
“Peter often takes a moment out to look at his life membership badge which he has put on the kitchen table, he is extremely proud of the honour.”
