‘Oasis’ bowls club celebrating 75 years
Tucked up a valley in Nelson, past newly subdivided sections and abandoned hospital buildings, lies a bowling club surrounded by lush, green forest.
The Ngawhatu Bowling Club which was initially built for the recreation of patients in the valley’s psychiatric hospital is celebrating it’s 75th anniversary next month.
Life member Doug Kenning who first joined the club in 1989, said when the club celebrated 70 years, members weren’t sure it would be around to celebrate another milestone.
‘‘It’s too good to let it go,’’ he said. ‘‘It is a little oasis when you get up here.’’
Kenning said the club currently had 30 members who played on Thursdays and Sundays.
Built in 1942, the club was funded by the hospital board and was known as the Ngawhatu Hospital Bowling Club. Many of the hospital’s staff and psychiatric patients took up the sport and competed with bowlers from other clubs around Nelson.
By 1991, with the impending closure of Ngawhatu Hospital and falling membership the club’s future was uncertain. However it was decided that the club would lease the premises and continue to operate.
Kenning said they were celebrating its 75 years as a club over the weekend of March 4 and 5 with a lunch at Club Waimea on Saturday followed by a tournament at the club on Sunday.
Kenning said the last few years had been challenging for the club which faced access and security issues.
After the club faced losing its power supply, a recent grant from the Rata Foundation enabled it to purchase a new generator for which members were very grateful. Kenning said without a handful of sponsors, the club would not have survived.
Committee member Warwick Inwood said the club was in a great spot, it was quiet and unlike many other bowls clubs, there was no sound of traffic rushing by.
‘‘We’ve got wildlife up here too, deer down there, pigs over the way, weka and pheasants.’’
He said many people wouldn’t have known that when the hospital was functioning hundreds of patients and staff lived in the valley and were self-sufficient.
The hills supported cattle and sheep, the lower reaches were home to a piggery and dairy farm along with large vegetable gar- dens and a functioning butchery and bakery.
Inwood said up until as recently as 12 months ago, former Ngawhatu Hospital patients had still been bowling at the club.
Anyone wanting to participate in the anniversary celebrations could contact Kay Forsyth for the Saturday lunch on 03 547 7485 or tournament convener Glen Bowden on 03 541 0939.