Vale: Don Sherman
Bowls Australia was saddened to hear of the recent passing of former Australian representative and National Coach/Manager Don Sherman. Bowls Australia was saddened to hear of the recent passing of former Australian representative and National Coach/Manager Don Sherman.
Sherman was Australia’s 74th capped male representative, and enjoyed a reasonably short but illustrious career that spanned 58 international appearances from 1982 to 1985.
He competed in all of the sport’s major marquee events, including the Commonwealth Games, two Trans Tasman Test Series, a World Bowls Championships and an Asia Pacific Championships, but perhaps his finest moment came during his international debut at the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games.
On that occasion, he created history as part of the historic men’s fours team of Herbert Sharp, Robbie Dobbins and Keith Poole that will forever be etched in the record books as Australia’s first ever Commonwealth Games gold medal winning bowls team.
Following his distinguished international career, Sherman remained involved in the sport’s High-Performance Program and took the reins as the National Coach/Manager from 1996 to 1999.
Then Bowls Australian President, Sonny Downs OAM, was complimentary of Sherman’s contribution during this period, as reported in Bowls Australia’s 1998/99 Annual Report.
“I would also express my appreciation to Don Sherman who has been the National Coach/Manager for the last three years. His untiring efforts have no doubt contributed greatly to the Australian Sides’ success during this period,” Downs wrote.
Away from the international arena, Sherman enjoyed a rich history with the South Bendigo Bowling Club and a long association with Drakes Pride Australia, where he worked as their Victorian distributor.
Sherman was also bestowed the honour of being one of three inaugural inductees, from across all sports, in the City of Greater Bendigo’s Hall of Fame in 1994.
Bowls Australia extends its sympathies and thoughts to the Sherman family.
Caption: Don Sherman at the announcement of the route for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Queens Batten. Picture: Andrew Perryman, January 12, 2006.
