18/09/2025
Congratulations to Russell Dawson who has just been awarded Life Membership. A well deserved honour, Russell has been a great asset to the Drouin Bowls club, and has worked very hard to better our club. He is respected and loved by all, always doing his best to please and help members.
Russell was a good all round cricketer in his younger days. He especially enjoyed his spin bowling. He loved his fishing, rabbit shooting and of course his football. His team of Geelong will be with him until he dies. Russell spent a period of time in the army and served his country in the Vietnam war.
After retiring as General Manager at Shaw Industries through ill health he and Irene moved to Drouin. Russell has enjoyed his time of 30 years living in Drouin, where he played golf and joined the local bowls club in 2002.
He played in the pennant teams for a number of years, unfortunetely he had trouble with his right foot, and could not play for a while, he eventually got himself an arm and he is happily back again enjoying his bowls.
Russell worked on the bar for 20 years, firstly helping Ian Rhodes, then Russell took over the bar and became Bar manager. He was on the selection committee and in 2016 he became a Board member. He took on the job of Vice -Chairman, then Chairman of the board. He began to apply for grants and was successful with a grant of $6,400 to replace the indoor bowls mats. He then applied for another large grant for $248.000, for our number one Green.
The Latrobe Valley Authority finally authorised the grant after 10 months of meetings, with a good result.
Russell worked in conjunction with Andre De Waele to secure many other grants to refurbish inside and outside the clubrooms. These included the bar, painting both inside and outside the club rooms, new carpet, blinds, new fridges and freezers, lighting upgrades, air conditioners, upgrade of men's toilets, pantry, new outdoor shelters. None of these refurbishments would have been completed without the help of the hard working members of the club. Russell also was part of the team of the RSL Drouin/Warragul clubs who represented country Victoria at Moama and Deniliquin bowls clubs.
Russell is currently looking after sponsorship and any new projects that will help our club.
Thank You Russell for everything you have done to help our club and all us members, and wish you all the best for the future.
