The club’s Head Coach Dave Lester said there were about 50 women referees, their head referee and an assortment of men in their entourage and security but most had never had a game of bowls.
“They absolutely loved it and were getting good, when they weren’t laughing, their competitiveness and athleticism really shone through,” he said.
“These are high-performing athletes in their own right, they have to train as hard as the best players in the world but they really enjoyed a different kind of day on the Lidcombe Bowlo green.
“We just had Smooth FM on but they were singing and dancing like crazy and when Natalie Imbruglia’s song ‘Torn’ came on, all the Spanish-speaking refs went off and couldn’t believe it when we told them she started out in one of our TV soaps.”
Men’s Bowling Club President Jim Phillips said the referees arrived in the morning before the club opened and were in the mood to let their hair down.
“For many, it is the first time they’ve been to Australia and they were raving about how beautiful it is here and how they will definitely return for holidays,” he said.
“We were taking photos and I tried to get them to say ‘Go the Matildas’ but they just laughed and said it was the one thing they couldn’t do because of impartiality.”
Club Secretary /Manager Stuart Mercier said it was a privilege to host them.
“It was such a wonderful day, really terrific, there were a lot of laughs and they all seemed to have a great time, we hope they come back,” he said.
