By BELINDA PARKES
Pic: Ian McKnight on the Ian McKnight Green at Cudgen. Picture: TANIA PHILLIPS
THE sport of lawn bowls has had few members more dedicated or passionate than Ian McKnight.
The Cudgen Leagues Bowling Club treasurer has volunteered his time to the sport he loves in a diverse range of roles for close to 30 years.
From district representative player to accredited national level umpire and national coach, most of Mr McKnight’s time in more recent years has been given over to administrative roles running the sport at a local, state and national level.
His far-reaching contribution to the sport of lawn bowls has been recognised with an Order of Australia Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list announced on Monday.
“It came as a complete shock but I feel very humble that people would think highly enough of me to nominate me for this very prestigious award,” said Mr McKnight.
“I just hope I can use this to progress the sport even further.”
Mr McKnight has always been an active sportsman who has been prepared to do more than just turn up to training or competition.
Even as a young footballer, cricketer and basketballer in his late teens he was taking on roles with his clubs.
As he passed his peak years in those sports he tried his hand at golf, which the left-hander says he “failed miserably”, so he turned to the newly-opened Cudgen bowls club and quickly embedded himself in the sport.
Over the years he has been part of pennant-winning sides and a district representative player but behind the scenes is where he shines brightest.
He is a life member of the Tweed Byron District Bowling Club where he has spent 20 years in roles ranging from secretary and publicity officer to the greens committee, coaching panel or as a side manager.
He has also earned life membership to the Cudgen Leagues Bowling Club where he is current treasurer but over the years has held the positions of president, secretary and selector.
Mr McKnight is the vice president and a director of the Cudgen Leagues Club and deputy president of the Royal NSW Bowling Association. He has been on its board since 2000.
Mr McKnight’s involvement has encompassed the sport at all levels from the zone through to a national level with Bowls Australia.
The 72-year-old said bowls was one of the biggest competitive sports in Australia even though in the past it had been considered a sport for the “more senior” sportsman.
These days, however, he says there are many more women and young people mastering the sport with world champion bowlers still often being left unheralded in the media.
“A lot of people start from a social point of view and you can take it as easy or as seriously as you like,” said Mr McKnight.
“It is a sport you can play all your life. We have centenarians still playing.”
Mr McKnight said he was left feeling somewhere between “shocked, chuffed and humbled” on being told of his OAM honour.
“I dearly love the sport, and my club, but I wouldn’t do it without the assistance of my dear wife Pat.
“She has been a rock for many years.”
