Bright and Murton life members

MEMBERS FOR LIFE: Kahutia Bowling Club members Kevin Bright (left) and Murray Murton have been awarded life membership of the club. Picture by Judy Taylor

The Kahutia Bowling Club has doubled the number of its living life members to four.

Kevin Bright and Murray Murton were awarded life membership at the club's annual general meeting late last month for their outstanding support and ongoing service.

Murton said he was encouraged by a cricket friend to give bowls a go and enjoyed some of the similarities to his sport. He joined the club in 1996.

“I came along and found that it had all these elements cricket had, like line and length.”

Murton is now club president. This is his second stint in the role. The first was in 2006-07. He had become a committee member three years after joining the club, became vice-president in 2004-05 and was duly elected president.

He has also served as the club's secretary and treasurer. He is now co-treasurer and has been club bar manager for the past 15 years.

He's still an active competitive bowler, and has won 10 Gisborne-East Coast Centre titles and a gold star — awarded for winning five centre tournaments. He expects to receive the “bar” for his second lot of five centre titles some time this year.

Bright joined the club in 1994 and was elected on to the committee four years later. He has served as vice-president twice and has been on the social committee for 20 years.

He took up bowling on a “spur of the moment” decision to try it, giving up golf to play.

“A friend of mine talked me into coming in and having a roll-up and I took a liking to it.”

Both men said it was an honour to be recognised for the work they put into the club.

“You give service to the club to help out, that's the important part, and you feel very humble when they honour you,” Murton said.