Bowls Australia hall of fame
Local lawn bowling identity Donald Woolnough OAM has been inducted into the Bowls Australia Hall of Fame posthumously.
Woolnough, a Bowls Victoria life member, was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his service to the sport, both as a player for Victoria and Australia and as a long-time Royal Victorian Bowls Association councillor, delegate and state selector in addition to being a national selector, umpire and coach.
Woolnough’s son Don and daughter Suzanne Cowell attended the awards night at Mantra Legends, Surfers Paradise on October 29 to represent the family.
Woolnough’s greatest success on the international stage was at the 1976 World Bowls Championships in South Africa, where he guided the pairs to a silver medal and the fours to bronze.
He was also a prolific winner at state level, claiming the Victorian Country fours in 1963 and the pairs in 1965. Woolnough accumulated more than 350 games for Victoria.
Off the green, Woolnough dedicated countless hours to the sport in his state and country, acting as an RVBA councillor and Victorian selector for 15 years, and club delegate to the Association for 20 years.
At the national level, he served as a selector for four years, umpire for 38 years and coached the nation at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games.
Woolnough was given life membership to Bowls Victoria (RVBA) in 1998 and was inducted to its Hall of Fame in 2002.
He was also recognised for his contribution to the sport in 1995 when he was awarded the medal of the Order of Australia for his service to bowls.
Woolnough was born in Yarram and served many of Gippsland’s bowling regions.
Sadly, Woolnough died on March 18, 2003.
His son Don and daughter Suzanne said they were very honoured to be invited to Bowls Australia’s night of nights on the Gold Coast to represent the family.