LEADING THE WAY: Carol Hawes is the first female president of Gisborne Bowling Club. Picture by Liam Clayton.
HISTORICALLY reserved for kings and aristocracy, lawn bowls has spent the last decade lowering the final drawbridge in removing gender separation from the sport.
During her 30-year bowling career, Carol Hawes, the first female president of Gisborne Bowling Club, has been there to watch the bridge come down.
“I’m very lucky. The feedback has been very positive. It’s a real honour and a privilege,” says Carol of her successful election last month.
Gisborne Bowling Club, New Zealand’s oldest lawn bowls club that is still based on its original site, opened its doors to female players in 2008 after 124 years of male-only membership.
“It’s fabulous that she’s a woman but really she’s just the right person for the job,” says club secretary Anne Day, noting Carol’s commitment to the club and her personal achievements in the sport.
Given the historic gender division within lawn bowls, Carol’s election is not only monumental for her club but for the sport as a whole.
When Carol first joined the sport there was a notable divide between male and female bowlers.
“In 1984 when I joined the Riverside Bowling Club the dress code was very strict. The ladies had to wear white dresses, with the skirt measured to finish exactly six inches from the ground,” she says.
“Some of the ladies were bigger and it wasn’t so discrete when they bent over. It was good when the dress code was relaxed. Club colours were allowed and we could finally wear long shorts or pants.”
Strict dress codeHowever, a strict dress code wasn’t the only obstacle for Carol and other female players.
“Up until 1989, when the women amalgamated with the Poverty Bay East Coast Men’s Centre, we would have to travel to Hawke’s Bay to play in Centre and Champion of Champion events,” she says.
“It was a bit of a nuisance to travel there when the men got to play here.”
Despite the women’s league being housed under the Poverty Bay East Coast Men’s Centre, gender separatism in the sport continued with many clubs and competitions remaining single sex.
“It did take a long time to vote women in. They had tried before 2008 but some were still opposed,” Carol says of the club where she is now president.
In 2010 Carol and three other women were the first female players to join Gisborne Bowling Club.
“We were warmly welcomed from the start,” says Carol, whose move to the club was encouraged by husband Arthur’s retirement from work.
More time with ArthurJoining the club meant Carol would have more time with Arthur, who had been a member since 1982.
The new president has not only been a leader of gender equality in the sport, but of achievement.
“The most satisfying part of my bowling career would be winning the Burton Cup,” says Carol, who won the Beetham Lifestyle Village Burton Cup triples tournament alongside two male team mates in 2015.
The 116-year-old regional event opened its doors to female competitors in 2013.
Before the doors were opened, Carol was achieving titles in the women’s league — winning multiple centre and club titles before joining Gisborne Bowling Club.
“I enjoyed many highlights playing for Riverside. To name one would be being in the team that won the Theo Nicolas Women’s Easter Fours in 1999, which was equivalent to winning the Men’s Burton Cup,” she says.
“I was particularly delighted with skipping and winning the Ella Gibson Graded Fours with my team of leads and twos, and winning my Gold Star in 2009.
“It’s nice to win as much as I can,” says the Burton Cup title holder.
Decline in attendanceDespite relaxing regulations and breaking down gender separation, Carol has noted a decline in overall club attendance in the past 10 years.
“It’s probably just a sign of the times,” she says, suggesting high-work commitments mean fewer people have time to commit to sports clubs.
However, the parent of four and grandmother of nine is not phased by the declines and would like to see membership grow during her presidency.
“Bowls is a good game for all ages — a way to form good friendships. There are also variations of the game to be played,” she says, mentioning both competitive and social events.
Carol is very encouraging to any new bowlers and says it is a sport that provides great competition, companionship and social interaction.
“We are very fortunate to have such great facilities, some fabulous greens and a club house that has a wonderful view over the harbour.”
Carol’s presidency has been well-received by fellow club members.
“We’re all delighted with her election,” says Anne.
“Carol has given so much to the club. She does lots of fundraising, is always in the garden and has an amazing knowledge of the game.”