SA Represent on BA’s Women in Bowls Working Party
South Australia’s Vicki Feast and Pania Rawlins have returned from the Women in Bowls Working Party’s first meeting in Melbourne over the weekend, where Bowls Australia is taking steps toward readdressing the gender balance in bowls.
Discussion was prompted by participation statistics highlighting the consistently lower rates of females compared to male; the decline in membership numbers overall; the increase in social participants compared to pennant competitors; the current environment; the structure of the game and the affect of its programming; the barriers preventing female participation and the image of the sport.
Some exciting ideas came out for a future strategy on women’s participation, education, innovative marketing and better celebration of the success stories in our great sport.
Does your club promote gender balance and an inclusive environment? Share your story with Pania Rawlins at programs@bowlssa.com.au or 8234 7544.
The Women in Bowls Working Party is represented by the following:
- Jess De Greenlaw – Chairperson, BA board director, former Women’s Bowls NSW appointed director, practicing barrister for 19+ years.
- Neil Dalrymple – BA CEO.
- Chyloe Kurdas – Golf Australia Female Engagement Senior Manager.
- Courtney Gabb – Vic Health ‘This Girl Can’ ambassador, Victorian bowler, Eastern Ranges Region board member.
- Dani Cirillo – BA Development and Programs Manager.
- Jenni McLaughlin – Former Baseball WA Women’s Council member, Taren Point BC member, former WA Women’s state squad member, corporate governance and compliance experience.
- Lesley Bates – BA RBM (North Queensland), former Bowls Queensland State Development Officer.
- Louise Witton – BA board director, Australian over-60s, NSW and Queensland bowls representative.
- Karen Murphy – BA hall of fame member, 650+ caps for Australian Jackaroos, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, 4x World champion.
- Pania Rawlins – Bowls SA Relationship Program Officer overseeing ‘Leading Without Bias’ project, 14+ years sport and recreation experience.
- Rebecca Van Asch – Current Australian Jackaroo, Bowls Tasmania CEO, 2x Commonwealth Games gold medallist and 3x World champion, 20+ years bowls experience.
- Vicki Feast – Toorak Burnside BC Women’s Bowls Working Group chair, doctor of education, retired/adjunct senior research fellow at UniSA and higher education consultant.
Related article: New Women in Bowls Working Party to Address Gender Balance (Bowls Australia)
