Bowlers play in honour of a very special lady
When Arthur Ward met Audrey Quarmby at a Methodist Crusader Camp at Otford, Easter weekend of 1947, three years of letter writing (twice a week) ensued before they were married in Clanwilliam St Methodist Church by Rev Gould, Shane Gould’s Grandfather.
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Arthur reckons it was worth every bit of his efforts of persuasion, as Audrey’s transition to wife of country farmer from being an accomplished stenographer in the Sydney CBD was just wonderful.
One of Audrey’s occupations in Sydney was as a secretary to a Mr Newman, a partner of the firm Ponsford, Newman and Benson, a Jewish firm of importers, and Audrey enjoyed the Jewish holidays as extras each year.
Soon after settling in at “Bellevue”, Audrey got involved in the life of country Cootamundra, in both church and civic spheres. With a strong family musical background, Audrey’s singing voice saw her involved in the Sydney Crusader Choir and thus soon became part of Cootamundra’s Music Society and Methodist Church choir as well as taking a turn at the organ, something that continued for 60 more years.
When children started attending school, tuck shop and P&C were on the agenda and faithfully serviced for next couple of decades.
About this time, Audrey got involved in the game of lawn bowls at the Cootamundra Country Club, where Arthur was already playing and it was not long before she graduated from a committee member to being secretary, then president, district president and so on.
A little bit of trivia here; ordering her first set of bowls from Sydney, Audrey asked for a Waratah emblem on the centre, and when they arrived they had Scotch Thistles.
Her suggestion to try a Crazy Whist afternoon each month as a money raiser for their depleting funds has been a great success.
Audrey’s input to the club and the town earned her a life membership of the Country Club, something that was a great thrill to her system on that occasion.
Thus to pay tribute to the life work of Audrey, who failed to wake up in July last year, Arthur and family arranged a mixed triples bowls day, Saturday, August 20, which defied the wet of the night before and although not as warm as you would like for playing the game, those present were very tolerant and sympathetic to the cause.
Sixteen teams of mixed triples took to the greens that day with representatives from clubs at West Wyalong, Temora, Grenfell ,Young, Harden, Boorowa Ex-Services, a couple of ladies from the Cootamundra Ex-Services, and as many of her club members, male and female who were fit made up the balance.
Not seen as a competition of skill, but rather to honour a fine lady, Arthur had made prizes of equal value and they were gift vouchers redeemable at local business houses.
Richard Smith and helpers provided a tasty barbecue for lunch and cheese and biscuits along with other tasties made sure the visitors were catered for with eats.
Courtesy of son Ron and family at “Bellevue”, meat vouchers redeemable at local butchers were main prizes for raffles and each player received a memento of the occasion; a photo and book mark courtesy of daughter Laurelle.
At the end of the day everyone agreed that a fitting tribute to a lovely lady had been delivered.
Teams that featured in the prizes awarded as follows: Equal first with 29 pts, Robyn and Tom Apps and Rod James (Harden) and John Malone, Betty and Roy Cleveland (Country Club).
Third prize Freda Hanbrook (Coota Ex) Brad Lange and Ron Rosengreen (Country Club).
Consolations to: John LeLievre, Adam Hutchinson and Pat Francis.(CCC) and also to Sue Gault and Rosemary and Ray Walter (Grenfell).
