FOR many years, Moree Services Club has been known as “The Home of Sport” – and the description still rings true today.

The term was coined 50-odd years ago and, during the 1980s especially, was used every weekend on radio station 2VM’s Saturday morning sports digest program when Moree Services Club legend Rex Kelly was handed the microphone.

Moree Services Club, in its current site at the eastern end of Albert Street since 1968, was established in 1947 in the building now occupied by TAFE NSW.

The building was originally the home of Moree Municipal Council.

Over the years, sport and recreational activities have been added to the club’s to-do list.

There is now no shortage of activities at Moree Services Club, which boasts more than 5000 members.

The club is home to outdoor sports including netball, soccer and touch football as well as lawn bowls and the increasingly popular barefoot bowls each Wednesday night.

Club director, Michael Ivanov, who helps run barefoot bowls with bowls club president, Wayne Tighe, said there was no end in sight to the mid-week ends.

“We are starting to get a lot of families and their children playing, which is really great,” Michael said.

“It’s a fun night out and the perfect way to learn how the game works.”

Indoors, there is darts and snooker as well as cards – poker and euchre – and line-dancing.

Off-campus, patrons are encouraged to wet a line and join the fishing club or venture across town and play nine or 18 holes of golf under the Moree Services Club banner.

Ladies’ netball will start soon and head sherang Melina Shearer said the social competition was open to financial members of the club, with an initial $10 registration fee.

Teenage children of club members are encouraged to play and form teams.

“The games will play for one hour, and even though it’s a social competition we will still need umpires – not serious ones, though,” Melina laughed.

“Eventually when numbers permit, we will have social days and nights at no extra cost. There will be a meeting once a month as per club requirements, and we’re always looking for committee members.”

School students aged 16 years and older – boys and girls – are invited to nominate school teams.

“We want to promote health, fun, laughter and exercise in a local community group that gives all ages a chance to get out and play netball with friends,” Melina said.

Lawn bowls are played all-year round, and the Servies Magpies club recently hosted the pennants State play-offs.

Barefoot bowls each Wednesday night are drawing more players each week, and the club will host a huge afternoon on Saturday, October 19 to raise funds for Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

A newly-constructed all-weather structure on the northern side of the club spans more than 3300 square metres across two bowling greens, allowing social and competition bowls in just about all weather conditions.

 

Club CEO Rob Shields said the structure was city-class.

“Our covered bowling greens are national quality,” Rob said.

“Steve Glasson (2004 World Outdoor Bowls Champion) has toured the world playing bowls, and said there’s nothing better. He came and played at the opening and said it’s up there with the best.

“As well as the bowling greens and sporting ovals, we’ve now got a wonderful play area for kids, which is perfect as we come into summer,” he said.

Rob says Moree Services Club always welcomes new members.

“We structure our costs so people can come and enjoy what we offer at an affordable price, and that makes it happy for everyone. We’re family oriented,” he said.

Club contacts

Bowls Indoor:  Amalda Field 0409 316587

(Wednesdays – registration 6.30pm for 7pm game)

Bowls Men’s: Wayne Tighe 0428 542299 or Lorraine Bartel 0477 020895

(Mufti – Wednesdays 10am and Saturdays 10.30am; Colours – Sunday 1pm)

Bowls Women’s: Lorraine Bartel 0477 020895

(Thursdays – Registration 10am)

Cards Euchre Club: Amalda Field 0409 316587

(Saturday 1pm-4pm)

Darts Senior: Teneile Shearer 0248 135122

(Thursdays 7.30pm)

Diggers Swimming: 0418 743813

Join any Sunday from Oct-April but must register/nominate by 12-noon Saturday at www.moreesport.com

Fishing: Malcolm Smith 0427 255169

Turn up 9.30am third Saturday of month for meeting at Services Club to join.

Golf: Russell Carty 0418 611439

Tee Off – Sundays between 7am-8am

Netball: Melina Shearer 0466 419557

(Wednesdays 6pm at Moree Services Club courts)

Snooker: Ray Squires 0474 245485

Sunday Mornings

Touch Football: Beth Livet 0432 514664

Play Mondays for over 30s, Tuesday nights for mixed. Summer – register in September. Winter – register in April.  Registrations at Facebook page.

Line Dancing: Tanya Neeves 0422 789144

Moree Hockey Association: Claire Dunlop 0477 522070

Moree Services Soccer: Samual Adams 0413 733018