ON A ROLL: Patron and life member Gwen Upcroft and friends at Morisset Hospital Bowling Club, on the shores of Lake Macquarie. Picture: David Stewart
IT'S hardly the biggest bowling club in the region, and there's a good chance that many locals don't even know it exists.
But president Bill Jones reckons the Morisset Hospital Bowling Club is easily the most tranquil.
And what's more, there's not a poker machine within earshot.
"It really is the most peaceful place in the area," Mr Jones said.
The club's location, down on the edge of the lake near the sports oval, where the kangaroos abound, makes an impression on everyone who plays there.
"And we don't have poker machines, either," he said.
There are just 25 male members, but only 16 of them are available to play pennants.
And of the 23 female members, only eight can play pennants.
So when the men bowlers recently won the Grade 7 sectional pointscore, they were understandably chuffed.
"It's been well over a decade since we've won at this level," Mr Jones said.
The team then progressed to the post-sectional competition where it defeated Mayfield in the quarter-final before falling to Lambton-New Lambton RSL in the semi-final.
The bowling club has an interesting history.
Construction of the green began in about 1954. Originally it was a facility exclusively for hospital patients and staff.
"There were no front-end loaders in those days, so the patients did a lot of the hard work, using wheel-barrows to bring in the soil," Mr Jones said.
The club was formed in 1966, and is open to all comers.
Today, the green is in excellent condition, thanks in part to rehabilitation work carried out last December, Mr Jones said.
Bowls are played on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
New members are welcome to join, and enjoy a quieter place to play, he said.
Phone Mr Jones on 4973 1691.