Wilkie takes top billing

Coast bowls guru claims final international gong

BRETT Wilkie is among the Gold Coast winners following Bowls Australia’s eighth annual awards at Surfers Paradise.

Featuring the sport’s most deserving athletes, administrators, clubs and officials, the awards on Thursday night recognised the efforts across the past 12 months.

Wilkie, CEO of Bowls Queensland who writes his On The Greens bowls column in every Tuesday’s Bulletin, claimed the International Bowler of the Year gong.

The Jackaroos stalwart enjoyed a scintillating conclusion to his nine-year international career in 2018.

Wilkie was undoubtedly the most dominant player for the green and gold contingent during the Trans Tasman Test Series, staged at Broadbeach in November 2017, where he helped the Jackaroos retain the senior men’s trophy and as a result was rewarded with the lion’s share of votes from his Jackaroos peers.

At the Commonwealth Games, Wilkie secured a silver medal in the men’s fours.

Meanwhile, Burleigh’s Jake Fehlberg was named Bowler with a Disability of the Year.

The 24-year-old cemented himself as one of Australia’s finest para-sport bowlers in 2018 with a gold medal in his debut Commonwealth Games with Lynne Seymour. He also produced some exceptional results in the 2018 National Blind Bowls Championships, collecting gold in the B3 Mixed Pairs as well as silver in both the B3 Men’s Singles and Open Pairs.

Under-18 Female Bowler of the Year was Club Helensvale’s Jessie Cottell.

The exciting prospect capped off an outstanding 12 months with victory in the 2018 Australian Open Under-18 Girls’ Singles and selection in the Emerging Jackaroos squad.

Club Helensvale’s Geoff O’Meagher was named Volunteer of the Year after overseeing all club events and championships.

He has also assisted the Gold Coast Tweed District in providing commentary to their live-streamed events.