The sun was shining as dozens of volunteers came together to support the Wakefield Bowling Club, which suffered significant damage during the twin flood events that recently swept through Wakefield.
Their prized synthetic winter green was buried under thick silt, making it impossible to tell if the green had serious structural damage.
“We don’t know if water has lifted the surface from underneath,” says Wakefield Bowling Club president Nick Riordan.
“We can’t assess anything until the silt is removed—and it has to be done carefully.”
Due to the nature of the green, heavy machinery isn’t an option, so the club faced the daunting task of removing tonnes of silt by hand. With most senior members unable to do such labour, the Taylors Contracting Wanderers Community Sports Club stepped in, organising a working bee to help clear the debris.
In return, a donation from the bowling club’s insurance will go towards much-needed sports gear used by hundreds of locals at the Wanderers club.
“It’s been awesome to see so many from within Wanderers pick up a shovel and chip in to remove this silt for the Wakefield Bowling Club,” says Wanderers manager Jimmy van der Colk.
“We had rugby teams, cricket teams, our senior mobility participants, Brightwater Group Fitness ladies, and individual gym users turning up over the day. What we estimated to be a two-day job was done in seven hours because of the turnout.”
With more than 50 tonnes of silt now cleared, the bowling club is investigating ways it can get the green carefully hosed down so it can finally be assessed. If the damage is too severe, replacing the green could cost up to $280,000—far beyond what the small club can afford.
“We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it,” says Nick. “Right now, our first step is to get this cleaned up and see what we’re working with.”
The Wakefield Bowling Club is more than a sports venue — it’s a social hub for 40+ members aged 60 and up, offering connection, fitness, and friendly competition.
It’s also introduced hundreds of families and schoolchildren to the sport and produced champions like Edna Higgins, Gladys Jellyman, and Barbara McGregor. All the more reason to get the greens open again.
