A new award has been announced for the Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields and Goulburn Murray Bowls Regions, with the $10,000 Warramunda Community Care Bowler of the Year Awards.
The award will recognise one winner from each of the five included playing areas each month, with all 30 nominees eligible to be named bowler of the year at season's end.
Monthly winners will receive a $200 cash prize, and runners-up will earn a $100 Moama Bowling Club voucher.
Nominations will be open for the first three weeks of each month, with a six-member judging panel representing all five playing areas and Bowls Victoria to assess nominations and announce winners in the fourth week.
Nominations can be made by clubs, individuals or officials for on- or off-the-green achievements, judged on the criteria of contribution, sportsmanship, longevity and performance.
Seventy-six clubs and about 5000 bowlers are eligible across the five playing areas.
“We are excited,” BCGBR president Vicky Tierney said.
“(The award is) something different and doesn't have to be awarded to the best player, it's just a contribution to bowls really, so it should be good.”
Warramunda Community Care instituted the award to recognise local bowlers and as a creative method to engage with them about aged care options.
“We will be asking clubs to send in the names of a bowler they think has performed above and beyond in a playing, official, or volunteer capacity,” Warramunda Community Care director Leah Konings said.
“We have then assembled a group of experts to assess these nominations and make a monthly decision.
“The big decision will be at the end of the season when we name a bowler of the year, who will walk away with $1000.
“They don’t have to be the best bowler, they might be, but they could be someone who has achieved something incredible for their club.”
Nominations for bowler of the year can be made at https://tinyurl.com/5n943ptz