By Nick Creely
Bowls Victoria; in conjunction with VicHealth; have a launched a new project this bowling season – Mums on the Green.
The project’s first program that under umbrella will be ‘Bowling with Babies’, hosted by the Narre Warren Bowls Club every Thursday in March from 10am.
Women’s sport in Victoria received a boost last October, with VicHealth announcing $6.7 million in funding to 19 sporting organisations including Bowls Victoria in an effort to get more women and girls healthy and active over the course of the next three years.
The program is designed to provide a safe and comfortable environment for new and expecting mums to get out of the house, meet new people, and enjoy a game of bowls and coffee in an active environment.
Narre Warren is the latest club to get involved, with their program to launch on Thursday 1 March, after other clubs around Victoria implemented the program to immediate success, with nearly 100 mums and babies taking part across three weeks.
Program manager Neil Gray is excited about what the program can bring to new mums, and said it is starting take off around Victoria.
“We want to get mums out of the house, and into a low intensity sport; it is also a great opportunity for some emotional and physical support,” he said.
“It’s a very laid back environment, and we just want to keep expanding.”
“We originally wanted eight programs by June, but we’ve now got 12, so it’s been extremely successful.”
And Gray said that Narre Warren jumping on board opens up a whole new market for the south-east area and bowling clubs in general.
“Narre Warren is the first in that area to get involved and it’s really exciting; it’s right next to the shops so it’s really ideal,” he said.
“The club approached us, and have been really supportive of the program.
“It’s also a massive benefit for clubs and opens a whole new market; clubs are basically empty throughout the day, and it’s a great opportunity for them to expand.”
Any club that wants to host a program, can contact neilg@bowlsvic.org.au
