Female bowlers from far and wide touched down in Cobram last Wednesday for the annual Ena Gray memorial tournament in support of this year's chosen charity, Heart Kids.
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Seventy-two trundlers sat unpacked at Cobram Bowling Club as players took to the greens for a day of friendly competition, remembering the former president and life member.
A cherished stalwart of the club for more than 30 years, Gray was a three-time club champion at Cobram before sadly losing her battle with breast cancer in 2007.
Event organiser Carol Doherty, daughter of Gray, said the tournament started when her mother was alive and was now held to pay tribute to her service to bowls in the area.
“One of the club people said why don’t we have a bowls day and name it after her about four or five years before she passed, but it is more of a memorial day now,” she said.
“We usually incorporate a foundation where we can raise funds for our raffle and send money to them.
“It brings everyone together and they have a bit of fun, and they are also giving to something worthwhile,” she said.
The tournament was played in great spirits and although the vast majority of the players were representing clubs from the Murray Bowls Division, it was a team from Mooroopna Golf which eventually took out the day.
But the real winner was Heart Kids, as $465 was raised through the raffle to go towards the foundation, with this year’s chosen charity holding a special significance for many of the players who turned out on the day.
“We have a young bowler whose boy is a heart kid and it is amazing how many people here today who have a family member affected by heart disease,” she said.
Cobram Bowling Club thanked sponsors Cobram Discount Drug Store, Barooga Hotel, the Doherty family and all businesses which donated prizes for the raffle.
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