Vale Shirley Doreen Walker
Last October the Redhill Bowling Club said goodbye to their much loved player, life member, mentor, and most importantly, friend, Shirley Doreen Walker.
Shirley lived in the Redhill area all her life and when she married husband Maurice in 1959 she moved to the Walker farm east of Redhill. This started the beginning of bowls for Shirley in the 1959/60 season. Shirley played bowls for Redhill for 60 years. In her first season she won the Club Singles Championship playing whilst pregnant with her first child Anthea, who was born in July 1960. This was the first of 17 Singles Club Championships. Shirley won two Champion of Champions Singles 25 years apart and won many Association Fours and Triples, and in fact was in a team of triples that were State Triples runners-ups. Shirley also won 12 Pennant Premierships.
She held many positions at club level, as well as Association Secretary for 11 years, was an Executive of SAWBA, was a Regional Selector, Regional Player, Round Robin Player, Umpire Tutor and enjoyed her Country Carnivals. Shirley received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Hutt and Hill Bowling Association after she compiled a book on the history of Hutt and Hill River Bowling Association.
Shirley was awarded her Veterans Badge and Super Veteran Badge. Whilst in hospital Shirley loved visitors to fill her in on all the bowls information – in fact Shirley had a concern Redhill didn’t have enough umpires so she organised an Umpires Accreditation Course and was delighted when we could report we had all passed. Unfortunately, Shirley passed away before we received our official accreditation.
Redhill was fortunate enough to win the BTP Grand Final for 2020/21 and we are sure Shirley was there with us on the day.
Shirley, we miss you so much at the bowling club and we thank you for all you did for us at club level and above. No one will ever make chicken sandwich mix like you. Thank you for all your love, encouragement and advice given to all players over many years.
RIP Shirley
