General News
4 June, 2021
Simcox’s outstanding service recognised
RON Simcox admits life membership of the Corangamite Bowls Division is a reward for years of involvement with the sport.
RON Simcox admits life membership of the Corangamite Bowls Division is a reward for years of involvement with the sport.
The Camperdown bowler was one of six life member inductees of the division, with his home club putting forward his nomination following years of outstanding service to his club and division.
Simcox has spent multiple and extensive stints on CBD’s greens, match and umpires and laws committees and has been a long-serving member on Camperdown’s committee of management.
“I was very proud to accept it and very humbled and honoured to receive it along with the others who received life membership,” he said.
“It’s just a reward for the things I’ve done for bowls over the years.
“The Camperdown Bowling Club nominated me and they asked me for a record of what I’d done over the last 18 years or so.
“But I didn’t know it was coming until a couple of days before when I received an email asking me to attend a function at Colac Central Bowls Club.”
Simcox said he had a simple reason for being involved beyond a playing sense.
“I do it because I enjoy being involved with bowls and also sort of with the administrative level as well,” he said.
“The match committee there is a fair bit of things and the greens committee I was one of three original members with John Hinton from Skipton and Selwyn McAdam from Colac Bowling Club.
“We travelled around and just inspected greens and make sure they were up to Bowls Victoria regulations and we all had licences to do that.
“I’ve been involved with the umpires and laws committee for 15 years and have been an umpire for even longer. I’ve enjoyed being involved and umpiring club, division and region events.”
Simcox’s time spent on the match committee included updating rules, while as an umpire he is constantly providing his insight when needed, especially to fellow club members.
Alongside playing for Camperdown, Simcox has had an impact off the green at his home club.
“I’ve been on the match committee at Camperdown for some time and I’ve also been a selector for the pennant teams,”
“I’ve been in admin, I’ve been treasurer a number of times and I’ve also been involved with the catering at the club for some time.
“If I’m a member of something I always try and put in as much as I can regardless of what work, administrative duty or whatever else it might be.”
To say Simcox is part of the club’s fabric is an understatement to those within Camperdown’s four walls.
“My wife May and I have been involved with the club for over 20 years,” he said.
“My wife, due to health reasons, can’t bowl anymore but she’s still involved a little bit with the club.
“It’s been a part of our life since we retired as well as it’s also a social side activity while bowls is a great sport to be involved with.
“Whether they are younger or older I enjoy being with them and the other people involved with the club.”
Lismore’s David Gibson was also recognized with life membership after he served as Royal Victorian Bowls Association councilor to the division and old associations for many years and was a board member of the division from 2011 to 2017.
Cobden’s Heather Lydford, Colac’s Barbara Holland and Simpson’s Peter Inglis also received life memberships.