Whitby Bowling Club
9 September 2026
Many hands make light work, well that was certainly the case on Saturday morning at the Working Bee. We had a great turn out of gardeners and cleaners at the club, everyone checked the requirements list in the club and got straight to work.
Christine, Maureen, Margret, Sonya, Stephen, Sarah and Sarah got to work on the bank cutting and removing weeds, it was a massive effort to get this side clear as it was full of weeds that were strangling some of the beautiful plants. They made quick work of getting it cleared! Phil also came along the side with the weed eater, followed by Keith who mowed the area as well. It looks amazing now, with space to add a few more plants.
Alan, Derek, Trevor & Liz went about cutting and removing trees and the notoriously difficult agapanthus at the back of the green, making way for more sponsor signs, it was tough work and a lot of muscle was needed but the team did a great job! Alan also helped a team which included Trevor, Mike, Quinn, Rodney and Glen, to remove the pétanque gravel, taking it down to a nice sandy layer, in preparation for adding grass. The furniture that Simon made was also jet washed. This was back breaking work, with wheelbarrows going back and forth with heaps of gravel! We even has a squeaky wheel, which made for some interesting sounds!
Dervyn spent some time around the deck and side gardens removing weeds and making it look good again, while Tere was busy weeding and cleaning the gutters on green!
Inside and outside the club, Sue, Janet, Diane and Christine Cush were hard at work cleaning the club windows, inside and out, vacuuming and mopping. The club was sparkling by the time they has finished. Diane also brought out a bucket of soapy water and cleaned all the sponsorship signs! Even Louise popped in on her Birthday to see what had being done, Simon was with her, checking progress and getting an update in preparation for next weeks Working Bee.
The work that was put in was fantastic! These are all thankless jobs, but keep the club looking fantastic for our events and for visitors to enjoy as well. Thank you again to all who helped on Saturday it was very much appreciated. (If I have forgotten anyone I’m sorry!)
Sarah Haran
27 August 2026
Replacing the back fence
Rob, Greg (Rob’s son), Glen, Bob, Derek and Allan made a great start on Saturday morning replacing the fence that was blown over in one of the recent southerly storms. The goal for the day was to dig ten post holes and concrete in the new posts.
Greg brought along a motorised post-hole digger, and he and Rob set about holding on for dear life while the machine bored down to the required depth. The rest of us wisely kept well clear. Once the holes were done, the posts were positioned and secured with concrete. Fortunately, the weather played its part and we were able to complete the job.
The next stage will be to finish the fence and re-erect the sponsor advertising signs in a more prominent location.
23 July 2026
This week a few of our members stained the deck coverage, so we are now ready for the next step whenever Simon and his team are able to install the roof.
A huge thank you to Bob, Allan, and Derek, led by Robert, who spent a couple of days completing this work. A very special thanks also to Deb, Robert’s partner, who kindly brought morning tea each day. It was such a thoughtful gesture and very much appreciated.
It is contributions like this, along with the ongoing support from many of our members, that truly make a difference to our club — not only in monetary value, but also in the enjoyment and pride we all share in being part of Whitby Bowling Club.
30 July 2026
This edition’s Spotlight is on one of our members you’ll often see around the green! But how well do we really know him? We asked Glen a few questions so we could all get to know him a little better.
How long have you been part of the club? About 6 years
What made you join the club? Walking past saw a try bowls sign and came in to have a go.
What roles or contributions are you currently involved in? As well as playing in any and all competitions I have been the clubs Green Keeper since COVID. I was elected onto the Club Board about 3 years ago and as the Centre Delegate represent the club at Wellington Bowls meetings. I have completed training as a Foundation Coach which means I can offer coaching to club members, and have trained as a Level 1 Umpire which means I can umpire at local Wellington events.
What motivates you to contribute to the club? I enjoy helping out and contributing, plus it gets me out of the house while Christine is still working.
What do you enjoy most about being part of our club? The friendship and community. When I moved to Whitby 9 years ago, I was doing shift work - making new friends was going to be a challenge. Then just before Covid I joined, after Covid I took early retirement which meant I was really able to get involved. End result is I have made some really good friends.
A fun fact or something people might not know about you: I used to restore and ride large Motorbikes. When I first became station engineer at Wellington Airport, I had periods of time with no planes needing my attention. There were a couple of other guys that I worked with that were into motorbikes who had set up a workshop in a corner of the hanger. So, I bought an old wreck of a Yamaha Fz racing bike, rebuilt it and repainted it in its racing colors. I eventually sold it after 3 years to a restaurateur in Auckland. And started over again, but the Fz was always my favourite.
Your favorite club memory or moment: Seeing the new green we had laid sprouting growth and the compliments we received from other clubs about how well it played. It was a team effort preparing and laying it and demonstrated the support that members have given.
Any final comments: With no horticultural or agricultural knowledge (get Christine to tell you the story about the lettuce that became a cabbage), the green keeping role has been a very steep learning curve. Thanks to Jamie (our Green Keeper consultant) I haven’t made any drastic mistake