When you think of a Lawn Bowls Club, the first thing you may think of is cheap drinks and a peaceful environment for retirees to compete and socialise.
Sixteen-year-old Gosnells bowling club junior member Erin Torpy has stepped out onto the green, bucked that stereotype and is showcasing that lawn bowls is a sport for all ages and abilities.
After only taking up the sport in March this year, last week Erin travelled to Victoria with nine other students from across the state to compete in the inaugural School Sports Australia (SSA) National Bowls Championship.
Held in Geelong, the championship brought together talented young bowlers from across the country, giving them a rare opportunity to showcase their skills on a national stage.
Erin said the support and guidance provided by the Gosnells Bowling Club in helping her raise funds to attend the competition further fueled her passion for the sport.
“I joined it since I was bored and wanted to try something new, and less than six months later, I’m competing at a national level,” she said.
“Joining the Gosnells Lawn Bowls Club has been the best decision I’ve made this year.”
The club’s welcoming atmosphere has left a lasting impression on Erin.
“What surprised me most about bowls is how supportive and positive people are,” she said.
“The club is very welcoming and friendly. [When I first joined], the former club president would always introduce me to the members, and I get along with everyone there well.”
One of the club coaches at the Gosnells Bowling Club, Kerry Cunynghame, who has mentored Erin, believes she has a bright future in the sport if she continues to pursue it.
“She’s really listened to everything that was said to her about how to bowl and bowling etiquette and everything because she is really keen, and she really takes things in; her delivery and her style is beautiful,” Kerry said.
Erin’s mother, Jacquie, and father are incredibly proud of their daughter, who they say is consistently improving with each match she plays. They are also thankful for the environment the bowling club has provided.
“This time last year, we hadn’t envisioned she would have just competed against top players in a School Sports Championship,” Jacquie said.
“The older bowlers are great, non-judgmental and are so encouraging. Starting out with social bowls and not straight into serious competitions keeps it fun whilst learning. The best thing is that there is no retirement age; it’s a sport for life.”
Erin hopes to inspire more young people around her age to give the sport a go.
“It would be great to be able to compete against more people around the same age as me because there aren’t many competitions at all for those under 18 without having to travel interstate,” she said.
“It may not be the most athletic sport, however it’s a game of the mind where you need to have the mental strength and be able to concentrate for hours at a time.”
“You can’t expect success right away from any sport; you need dedication, consistency and resilience.”
Ms Cunynghame agrees with Erin and is encouraging more youngsters to contact the club and come down to give it a go.
“It can be a really challenging and engaging sport; it would just be great to have more younger members join.”
“People think you’re just walking up and down, bowling the ball. It’s more than that, and it’s so much fun as well.”
