By Kate Lockyer
Jan Jarvis had never played more than the odd game of barefoot bowls before joining the New Farm Bowls Club, but now leads her team in pennants and counts her bowls buddies as lifelong friends.
“The essence of this place is, it’s my community – in the sense that it’s my tribe, that the people I have met here are lifelong friends now,” she said.
When Ms Jarvis moved to New Farm four years ago after her husband passed away, club president Dean Merlo encouraged her to join.
After about a year of resisting, Ms Jarvis finally joined up, and has not looked back.
“I’ve made great connections, and I couldn’t be happier. Plus, I love playing bowls,” she said.
Ms Jarvis said their Wednesday social bowls has grown in the past few years, and the club encourages new members, with coach John there to provide a few free lessons for beginners.
Ms Jarvis has been playing pennants for the last two years and now plays as ‘skip’, the team leader who plays the last bowl of the game.
New Farm Bowls Club also hosts barefoot bowls – a popular activity to celebrate a birthday or other occasion.
Apparently, one recent group celebrated a ‘divorce party’, so the excuses to come for a bowl are limitless!
For more, visit newfarmbowls.com.au.
Photography: Kate Lockyer