We salute the Bowlo for reaching its centenary but, as Tony Hart asks, what does the future hold? 
Tony Hart asks ask what does the future hold.
On Saturday, 20 February, 100 years of lawn bowls in Bangalow will be celebrated. The Men’s Bowling Club has invited over 150 past and present bowlers of the Club to a centenary lunch and an afternoon of social bowls. The party will start with a stunning display of vintage cars on the grass in front of the club building, to be followed by welcoming the official party comprising the President of the Royal NSW Bowling Association, the Northern Rivers representative of the RNSWBA and the Presidents of the Zone and District of which Bangalow is a member.
Members of the public are welcome to come to the Club to view the vintage cars (until about 12:30) and watch the bowls during the afternoon. A formal lunch, sponsored by Summerland Credit Union, will give past and current bowlers an opportunity to reminisce over past glories, victories and defeats. Many Bangalow and Clunes businesses, as well as individual club members, are supporting the celebrations both financially and in kind. Bowls President, Noel Johnston, said that he was proud that the Club was celebrating not only its centenary but also its unity and commitment to supporting and playing lawn bowls in Bangalow. “The fact that many former members now resident elsewhere are making the effort to come to this significant event is evidence of the team and club spirit of lawn bowls in Bangalow,” he said.
A unique feature of the day will be a short ‘club history’ by Maurie Dunn who was a member for 30 of the club’s 100 years. Until recently he was the custodian of the original club minute book in which the first meeting described took place on February, 21 1910. The book is now held by the Bangalow Historical Society. 
On the Sunday and Monday following the centenary, Bangalow will be hosting its annual Carnival at which all clubs in the district and from elsewhere compete in triples (Sunday) and pairs (Monday) competitions. The Bangalow Bowling and Sports Club Ltd is sponsoring prizes for the Carnival. It is anticipated that both greens will be in action, the result of considerable investment of time, money and effort over the last 18 months to bring the greens to a standard equal to others in the district.
But Bangalow bowlers acknowledge that the 100th year might well be the Club’s last. Bangalow is the only club in NSW where maintenance of the greens is not financially supported by its licensed club. In 1996 the greens were in danger of closing because of maintenance costs. Since then the men’s and women’s bowlers have stepped in to take over maintenance, relying on voluntary labour (especially that of Roy Hulbert for many years), green fees and all manner of fundraising to keep them operational. But costs of maintenance are around $500 per month higher than the bowls club’s revenues. This, and the lack of financial support from the Club Ltd, means this might be the last year of lawn bowls in Bangalow. More bowlers are needed and the clubs are developing a business plan to encourage membership. Watch for fliers soon. They are also investigating means of increasing revenues and decreasing costs. But the key is more members, although a regular sponsorship deal would give peace of mind. Whatever the future, a 100th birthday is a major landmark for any club and well worth a great celebration.