By Liam Twomey
TWELVE months ago the Werribee Bowls Club (formally Werribee RSL) was just trying to avoid relegation.
This year the club has transformed from the hunted to the hunter, establishing itself as a genuine challenger for a premiership.
However, a change in fortunes on the greens isn’t the only difference at Werribee. The club has also severed ties with the RSL and reverted back to its traditional name.
President Jim Rayner said it was great to be in control of the club in such an exciting time.
“As of the first of December the RSL and our club demerged and we took over the management of the club in our own right,” he said.
“With that happening there have been lots of renovations taking place and we have got rid of the poker machines. It’s now a pokies-free venue which we like to think is a good thing. We in no way are sour on the RSL. We have a very good relationship with them. The relationship has always been good. There have been lots of stories floating around the town but none of that is true. We parted on good terms.”
The demerger opens up a range of possibilities for the club, which is no longer constrained to open for a specific number of hours. Volunteer staff will also enable money to be spent on other things with the clubrooms already receiving a fresh coat of paint. Rayner said despite the possibility of having more money, Werribee would not begin paying players.
“That’s one thing we are not going to do, we don’t pay any players, we haven’t paid any players for the 10 years that I’ve been here,” he said.
