IHC bowled over by success of tournament
Combined clubs hold 51st event
Despite Covid and dwindling numbers, the Combined Indoor Bowling Clubs of Dannevirke still managed to put on an amazing fundraising tournament for IHC Dannevirke on July 31 at the Dannevirke Stadium.
It was their 51st tournament and it raised $3500, almost as good as their 50th which was a huge effort to celebrate the tournament’s jubilee.
Numbers of bowlers were slightly down but the generosity of players was way up, the 100 participants buying $700 worth of raffle tickets.
On Friday, August 26 Indoor Bowls representatives Colleen McCutcheon and Grant Mainwaring paid a visit to a Dannevirke IHC Residential Care Facility to be acknowledged by Annie Poulton, chairwoman of the Dannevirke IHC Association.
She said her organisation was overwhelmed by the generosity of the bowlers, the $3500 being the IHC’s main fundraising source for each year.
In 51 years this tournament has donated over $170,000 which has gone towards facilities, resources like paper and paint and now as Covid rules relax, outings to the pool, bowling green and this year a Christmas party.
Sadly IHC residents were not allowed to participate in the tournament
this year because of the Covid risk. Normally they singly join a team, often from out of town and are made very welcome — a highlight of the resident’s year.
IHC is also using some of the money to donate four children’s books each to nine primary schools explaining the difficulties of living with a disability.
Colleen said the combined indoor bowling clubs hope to continue the
tournament which is very popular with bowlers. Some former members love it so much they volunteered to help out on the day and even had a bowl or two for old times like Johnny Johnson, longtime coordinator of the event.
The club supplies the prizes and venue while IHC organises the afternoon tea.
Both groups thank the generosity of local businesses.