100 years ago this club began on the site it is now on today and in celebration of that remarkable time we invite all players be they social or bowling club members to come and celebrate this special event.

This club has endured through the good and the bad times to still be standing now as a monument to all the bowlers and volunteers who have helped out so much along the way.

From a time when we were just known as the bowlers from the Bowling and Sports Club we are now known as the Parkes Pirates with updated shirts and our lady bowlers have the same shirt design but without the Pirates logo.

The club has a rich history of success including commonwealth games finals participants in the early years, a state pennant in 2005 and recently in 2019 ,a state semi-final appearance in the over 40s pairs and state finalists runner-ups in Presidents 4s.

These are just a few of the many accomplishments of this club, so if you come and visit please take the time and view the honour boards in the club.

From our present volunteer greenkeepers Brett (baldy) Frame and Mark Dwyer and the numerous people who help them week in and week out to make our greens, gardens and surrounds so fantastic; to the regular bowlers who support our club day in and day out; we thank you.

I would like to make a mention of just a small portion of bowlers and terrific clubmen such as Colin Hayward, Colin Mudie, Bob Freeman, John Ward, Colin Woods, John Carr and so many other long time members of this club who were there way before my time; it would take me forever to mention them all. Please remember these are just a cross section of the calibre of volunteers we have in this club. There are so many of them that it would be remiss of me not to thank them all for their fantastic contribution to the ongoing welfare of our club.

On Saturday the Mick and Kim Horan Central West Glass sponsored invitational event comprising 7 teams of Parkes Pirates members will compete against 7 teams from 7 other clubs including the Parkes Railway Diggers, the Blue Mountains, Condobolin, Grenfell, and Forbes. After a certain amount of games which will continue throughout the Saturday, the 3 best performed teams from both the Parkes Bowling and Sports Club and the 3 best performed from the other clubs will play off on an aggregate board to decide a winner. Of course with the high standard of bowlers on display in this event will be an onlookers delight to watch. This competition will be an all-day event.

These teams both from our club and the visiting clubs will comprise players who have played at the highest level including state finals.

Players who are not selected in these teams are reminded that social bowls will be played at the normal time of names in by 1pm for 1:30 pm start on the Saturday.

On Sunday there will be social bowls at the following times; 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Everybody is welcome to play, be they social or members. Bookings can be made by contacting the club on 6862 1446. If you do not have a team or are a single entry we will arrange a team for you. We will be giving away bowls shirts (conditional on amount of participants) to those that pay and compete. Entry fee is $15 which includes a bowls shirt (conditional on numbers), bowls game; raffle tickets and sausage sizzle.

We have been very fortunate in having Tom Furey instigate the 100 shirts for 100 years bowling shirt promotion. This has resulted in clubs from all over Australia donating shirts to celebrate our centenary.

These shirts will be donated to players on an ad hoc basis on the Sunday as shirt numbers allow. This gives us a chance to recognise those clubs who have been so generous in their contributions to our club for this special event. We will be taking photographs of participants in their bowls shirt to acknowledge the clubs who have donated them.

On a personal note I would like to thank those clubs who have embraced the concept for the weekend and have contributed to our cause.

When Tom Furey came up with the idea I thought it was crazy but I was proven wrong by the fantastic response from clubs all over Australia and New Zealand.

Of course all bar facilities are available all day on both days.

So please Parkes residents, come and celebrate this milestone with us this weekend.