Bowlers recognised for ongoing dedication in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

by Lachlan Williams on June 9, 2020

Two members of the Australian bowls community were recognised for their commitment and dedication to the sport with honours announced on the Queen’s Birthday public holiday on Monday.

Gordon Barry Dahl (QLD) and Norman Lyle Keats (Miranda, NSW) were awarded Medals of the Order of Australia (OAMs) for their service to lawn bowls spanning several decades.

Mr Dahl was the foundation chairman of the Bundaberg District Lawn Bowls Coaching Panel, serving from 1987 until 2009; he was also an accredited coach with the Bundaberg Bowls Association for 12 years and an accredited umpire for five years, while also instituting a junior bowls program for the district’s schools.

Mr Dahl is also a life member at the Bargara Bowls Club, having coached from the early 1980s until 2009 and been a member from 1982-2011.

Mr Keats also boasts quite an impressive resume of achievements, holding a variety of roles at state, zone and district level across several decades.

He is currently a member of Bowls NSW’s audit committee, also serving as the organisation’s director from 2009-2015, deputy president from 2014-2015 and state match committee member from 2002-2009.

Mr Keats is a life member of the Zone 13 Bowling Association, Maclean and District Bowling Club and Taren Point Bowling Club, having served various roles across the bodies including as president, secretary, director, treasurer and match committee member. Mr Keats has also been a chairman with the Port Hacking Bowls Association.

Mr Keats and Mr Dahl were among 933 Australians recognised for their efforts to the betterment of the country from the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Bowls Australia (BA) CEO Neil Dalrymple said it was great to see the two men recognised to their commitment to the game over so many decades.

“To be involved in so many different roles for such a long time takes true passion and dedication to the sport, with these honours truly deserved ones,” he said.