There was a sombre mood on the greens as the last ever games of bowls were played at the Soldiers Bowling Club on Thursday afternoon.
Close to 50 bowlers paid tribute to the countless memories left on the George Riley Rink as the final chapter in the Club’s history came to a close.
Just over three months ago it was decided that the two bowling clubs in Mudgee would be amalgamating with the endeavour to secure the future of lawn bowls in Mudgee.
In a memorandum of understanding drawn up between Mudgee Bowling Club and Club Mudgee it was determined that the two clubs would officially merge on January 1 2010 and all bowls would be played at the Bowling Club site.
So for the last time at Soldiers Bowling Club a game of social bowls was completed on Thursday afternoon.
A positive sign for the amalgamation was a full rink of bowlers from both of the previous two clubs turning up to come together as one club.
The general consensus amongst the bowlers was sadness to see a club closing down but at the same time many looked forward to making sure the new merger would work.
Secretary of the former Soldiers Club and the new Mudgee Bowling Club, Wayne Wilkinson, said not much will be changing to the general running of bowls in Mudgee.
“It was stated in the memorandum that the committee of the Soliders club would act as the committee for the new club and we would be the Mudgee Bowling Club,” he said.
“At the end of the financial year there will be elections for a new committee should people want to run for a position.
“The pennants will now operate under the one banner of Mudgee Bowling Club and due to the selection of over 100 bowlers we will be able to enter five pennants teams.
“All club championships will still be played.”
For the men’s bowls, social bowls will still be taking place on Thursday afternoons with Saturday left for competition or social bowls as well as Sunday mornings.
It will be a similar story for the Ladies members with social bowls being played on both Tuesday and Thursday.
One bowler originally against the amalgamation was Brian Fittler, suggesting Soldiers and Club Mudgee would suffer from the merger.
“After 35 years of playing here it is sad to see a club go,” he said on Thursday.
“But I’ll be playing with the new club and making it work.”
Another previous Soldiers bowler said the last games on the rink were the funeral and the wake all in one.
“We should be wearing black arm bands today,” he said.
Bowler Peter Rawlinson said it was fantastic to see a full rink of players already and if that keeps up there will be no problems for the future of lawn bowls in Mudgee.
The first major tournament for the new club will be the Club Fours championship, kicking off on January 30.
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