Wallsend Recruit Bowls Into Club Centenary Gig

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday February 6, 2008

John Gilmour ON THE KITTY

STEPHEN Gigg will bring both on- and off-field experience to his new role of secretary manager at Wallsend.

Gigg, 55, only took over the reins on Monday, but it was straight down to business as Wallsend, the sixth-oldest bowling club in the Newcastle district, prepared to celebrate their centenary next month.

"It is coincidental that I was at the helm at West Epping when they celebrated their 50th anniversary last year and now here I am at Wallsend in their centenary year," Gigg said.

"Wallsend is releasing a limited-edition commemorative port and souvenir centenary booklet on February 16 and then have a week of celebrations planned for June to mark the occasion."

Gigg was enticed into the club industry by his younger brother Ross, who is the chief executive of the Newcastle Harness Racing Club.

"I was working for Telecom and looking for bit of extra cash, so Ross, who was working in an administrative role with the Panthers, got me a job as a casual glass steward in the disco," Gigg said.

"I gradually worked my way up to supervisor and then when a managerial role became available I left Telecom and started working at the club full-time.

"I would eventually end up running the bottle shop then both discos and I also had a stint over at Penrith Stadium both in the office, in operations and out on the field as ground manager.

"I also helped design the new sports bar area at Panthers, including the TAB area which won Club TAB of the Year in 2000."

Gigg spent 19 years at Panthers then when West Epping Bowling Club and the Panthers amalgamated in 2001, he was appointed the secretary manager of the bowling club.

He also took up playing bowls during his 51/2 years at West Epping Panthers and played No.2-grade pennants for the club.

"I want to settle in first, but later on I will be looking at also playing bowls here at Wallsend," Gigg said.

"I have always been a keen sportsman. I played junior rugby league and also cricket and baseball before taking up golf, where I was able to get my handicap down to single figures."

Gigg took a break from the club industry about the middle of last year to do some renovations to his Central Coast home but said that he was now fit and rearing to get back into business after the spell.

"I was glad when the opportunity arose to apply for a position to work in Newcastle so I could experience first-hand the virtues of the city that my brother Ross has been extolling for 15 years," Gigg said.

Ross Gigg welcomed also having his brother working as a sports administrator in Newcastle and wished him every success.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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