BOWLS: Hewan Gibson has just turned 90 but he wants to play his part in seeing a growth in player numbers in bowls clubs in the town.

This week, Gibson put on a bowls day to celebrate his 90th birthday with his bowling friends after his family celebrated the milestone in August.

"We have three active clubs in Warwick with a lot of history behind them but all clubs need more members,” he said.

"The population of Warwick is increasing and it is not being reflected in our bowls numbers.

"Many people are retiring to Warwick from coastal areas.”

Gibson said his own experience of joining the Warwick Bowls Club showed the benefit of membership.

"I had three good friends, John Kemp, Doug Bryce and Phil Evans and they were pestering me to play bowls when we lived on our property Hunters Hill at Cement Mills,” he said.

"One day in 1994 they cornered me in town and took me to the club, I took off my elastic-sided boots, spent a couple of hours playing and was hooked.

"For a time I travelled to bowls with Beau Ferrier and Arthur Bilbrough from the Cement Mills and Karara areas for Wednesday afternoon and Friday night bowls.”

Gibson and his wife Anne moved to Warwick in 2000, which meant even more bowls.

He is the current club patron and has been games director, selector and publicity officer.

Gibson has won A-grade championships in singles, pairs, triples and fours and was skip for the winning triples and fours teams.

"Bowls has meant a lot to me and probably helped keep me alive,” he said.

"After a busy life in the bush, once you mowed the lawn there was nothing much else to do, so bowls made a big difference in my life.

"I believe joining a bowls club would make a big difference in the life of many lonely residents.

"We might want to build up membership numbers but also want to help people.

"Being a club member enables me to be welcomed at any club in Australia and join a team for afternoon bowls.

"When I joined the Warwick Bowls Club, I gained more than 100 new friends and got to meet members of the other two Warwick clubs.

"I now try to play twice a week, Wednesday and either Saturday or Sunday.”

In the bowls competition played for his 90th birthday celebrations, Edwin Welsh, George Niven and Judith Cutmore were victorious in a field of 30 players.

Players interested in joining the Warwick club can call 46611516 or call in when play is on, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and some Sundays.

John Simpson provides free coaching to new members at the Warwick Bowls Club in Palmerin St.