Hills Shire Times – 13 October 2011
``There is a lot of public funding going to other sports and seen as bowls has such a high participation, we would expect a bit of support from out tax payer dollars.’’ Chris Wallace, vice president of bowls at Hills ClubBOWLERS in the Hills Shire are rolling up in their hundreds to fight to keep their favourite sport on television.
ABC TV decided to axe lawn bowls from its regular line-up from 2012 and will show repeats until then.
Mitchell Federal Liberal MP Alex Hawke has been circulating the Coalition’s petition in the Hills with huge results so far.
The Hills Club is one of 27 clubs in their region who signed the federal opposition’s petition.
In just two weeks they have received more than 100 signatures at The Hills Club.
Vice president Chris Wallace said it was disappointing to have more than 800,000 bowlers, who help pay for the ABC’s broadcasting, unable to watch their sport.
He said more than 300,000 viewers watched the Saturday afternoon coverage.
“We think it is great numbers. But the line from the ABC is that they are trying to appeal to a younger demographic.”
Bowls secretary Tim Cunningham said the effect on the clubs was already being felt.
“There is quite a considerable community that is going to be disenfranchised by the fact that they can’t sit around and watch the sport that they love watching on a Saturday afternoon,” he said.
“It will hurt clubs like us significantly. Bowls numbers are dropping, it has been a battle to keep numbers.”
Mr Cunningham said The Hills Club had 350 bowlers and television coverage played a large part in attracting new numbers.
Mr Hawke said the ABC had angered lawn bowlers, and it was time to listen to their needs.
“The ABC is a publicly funded station that has a commitment to preserving and promoting
“By cancelling the broadcasting of lawn bowls, they are effectively going against their own charter.”
Find out more: Lawn Bowls Petition
