About Us

The Bowls Past Presidents Association of South Australia was founded in 1968. The Association, which is affiliated with Bowls SA at the highest administrative level, provides a forum for bowlers who have served their Club, Association or Region, to participate in social, competitive bowls as well as social activities with other bowlers of similar backgrounds.

For many years, membership of the Association was restricted to male bowlers who had been President of their Club, Association or Region. Several Associations for female bowlers who had also served as Presidents were also established

At its peak soon after the amalgamation of the Ladies and Mens Association’s , in the mid 1990s, membership stood at almost a thousand (1000).

However, as the number of bowlers and bowling clubs in South Australia steadily declined, mostly due to ageing and the lack of interest among younger people, inevitably, so did our membership.

In an effort to at least slow the decline, the Association has widened its membership criteria, first by introducing Associate Membership, whereby partners of Members could join, and more recently, after a referendum of Members, Social Membership. Whereby any bowler registered with Bowls SA, can join the Association as a non-voting Member on payment of a small fee. All classes of Members are eligible to take part in National and State Carnivals, in addition to inter-Branch games.

Since its inauguration, the Association has established a reputation as an organisation to promote the principles of sportsmanship and fellowship which are the bases of this great game. Mixed gender games are held approximately monthly and include intra and inter Branch competitions.

Our games are based on enjoyment and fellowship, competitive, but not for Pennants or cash prizes. They offer the unique opportunity for bowlers to play on greens all across SA from Mount Gambier to Ceduna, Port Lincoln, the Riverland and everywhere in between.

A State Carnival is conducted biennially and a National Carnival, between the various State Associations, is held in the alternate year. The most recent National Carnival was held in Canberra ACT.

The next State Carnival will be hosted by the Southern Branch, based around Goolwa, Victor Harbor and neighbouring clubs