Scheme Gets School Kids Hooked On Lawn Bowls

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday November 6, 2008

By MICHAEL COX

A PARTNERSHIP between Warilla High School and Warilla Bowling Club is providing kids with a pathway to success in the sport of lawn bowls.

Since 2005 Warilla Bowling Club has supported the local high school through their bowls program.

A 12-person elite squad trains two afternoons a week and a bowls development squad of up to 30 members gets the benefit of specialised training.

Although participation is the aim initially, the program has produced some star graduates.

Kyle Johannes and Suzana Stojcevska have both represented NSW at Combined High Schools and under 18 level - and both won gold medals at the recent Australian titles.

School sports co-ordinator Chris Meizer said one of the big benefits of the program was giving teenagers somewhere to go in the afternoons.

"It's a big thing the club pushes - they really want to see the local kids off the street," he said.

"We've got a lot of kids that leave here right after school and go straight down to the bowling club. They're right into their bowls and it gives them something to focus on."

The bowling club also supports the school by supplying uniforms for other sports, which has provided an increase in participation rates.

"We've had record numbers this year with rugby league - and we've had some great results in competition. We're looking forward to having even more teams next year with the continued support of the club," Meizer said.

Warilla junior bowls co-ordinator Eric Johannes said he had been overwhelmed by the students' support of the program.

"It's just spread by word of mouth in the school and it has taken off," Johannes said.

"It's just a snowball effect and it carries on from there."

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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