COLIN FLEAY

L/R: Colin Fleay and Keith Doncon after the 1983 State Pairs win.

October 1, 2009

When Keith Doncon was presented with well deserved induction into the WA Bowls Hall of Fame recently his praise was generous and emotional for second cousin, lifelong mate and longtime bowling partner, Colin Fleay. He paid tribute to Fleay as a much under rated player, and one who he valued greatly as player and team mate.

Doncon is probably the highest profile ambassador for the town of Wickepin, as an outstanding footballer and even higher credentialed bowler. With a population of 244 at the last census, Wickepin is just as famous for the achievements of it's sportsmen as it is as the inspiration behind many of Albert Faceys's stories in A Fortunate Life, with a strong sports culture in the town producing many outstanding sportsmen. Badminton, Basketball, Bowls, Cricket, Darts, Football, Golf, Hockey, Netball, and Tennis enjoy solid support from the tightly knitted local community, and many have made their presence felt on the State scene.

Fleay and Doncon won their first State Pairs championship in 1983, the year they were also runners-up in the National Champion of Champion State Pairs, and were later runners-up to Scarborough's Peter Collins and Denis Spargo in 1990-1. They combined in State Fours Championship winning combinations in 1995-6 and 2000-01, won Country Week pairs in 1994-5, and were victorious in the Country Week fours in 1997-8 and 1999-2000.

While Keith Doncon enjoyed a stellar career on the interstate stage, the laid back Colin Fleay was content to concentrate on his business interests in Wickepin. "I really think that if Keith had moved to the city he would have achieved even more," Colin maintains. "Along with Bert Sharp, he's the best player I've seen who could perform whatever the prevailing conditions, weather or green."

While it was Fleay who recruited Doncon to the Wickepin Bowling Club, it was a shortage of bowlers that initially enticed Colin to the sport. "I was playing tennis, and the season had just finished when one of the bowlers asked if I'd fill in for the club fours that Sunday," he said. "I'd never even held a bowl before, but we ended up making the final. The following week there was a big wedding on, the club was short of pennant bowlers, so I got enlisted for that, too."

Fleay had been a better than average footballer over fifteen seasons with Wickepin, as a key defender. He recalled many hard fought clashes with Rovers centre half forward Henry Slawinski, playing in premierships in 1965(under Ron Bewick's coaching), and 1967(Joe Fanchi). Among his teammates were Ron and Keith Miller, Greg Astbury, and Geoff Taylor, all of whom made their mark in the WANFL. Colin was an Upper Great Southern League representative and is a life member of Wickepin Football Club.

Both Colin and Keith were from farming backgrounds, but Colin later diversified into a farm supplies business specialising in chemicals and fertiliser, and sold real estate. It was at Wickepin that Fleay first encountered Reg and Neil Payne.

Reg and Neil had the Wickepin Hotel. Neil intended to play football at Wickepin but wrecked his knee at his first training run. Grandfather Mick, who had passed away in that year, had bequeathed his left-handed Dunlops to his grandson Neil - not thinking they would ever be used. So Reg went to Narrogin, bought Neil a pair of brown bowls shoes, dusted off Mick's Dunlops and Neil had his first game in the Club pairs. Somehow, they reached the final where Fleay and Norm White beat them in a close game. All winners and runner-ups were eligible for the League playoffs a week later, and Payne, in a master feat of skippering managed to take his novice son to victory.

Another to later make his mark on the bowls world was Stewart Davies, who was a kid at school and practiced on the green but never played.

Colin played in many interzone sides, and recalled a game at Geraldton against a State side who flew up for the Sunday afternoon contest. Halfway up, the pilot sombrely announced: "We have some bad news." All passengers worriedly waited for the next revelation, and when it came, while a worry, it was also a huge relief. "Your bowling gear has mistakenly been sent to Kalgoorlie."

The contingent laughed the episode off on arrival at Geraldton Airport, but their relief when stepping onto the tarmac was apparent. Most of them were using the in-vogue Taylor International or Classic Two's, so there was plenty of ammunition to be found.

Fleay played in Country Allstars sides for fifteen years, and remembers his first game well.

"It was at Victoria Park," he said. "I was leading for Roy Gardiner and right behind us Ron Sexton was playing Brian Currie from Narembeen on B Green. I heard a roar at one stage and turned around just as the marker signaled one shot to Ron, who was the reigning Champion of Champions. It was his opening score on the scoreboard, which showed Brian on 29. Brian got the necessary two on the following end."

Colin represented the Upper Great Southern League for twenty four years, was president of the League for two years, and was in a similar capacity at Wickepin for another two years in over two decades of committee service at the club. He was part of ten first division pennants in the League, won four club fours championships, five triples, four pairs, and four singles. In none of those did he play with Doncon. "We made a conscious decision not to play together in club events," he said.

................L/R: Harold Manton, Keith Doncon, Mark Hiller, and Colin Fleay.
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.......................State Fours Championship winning combinations in 1995-6

In 2004 Colin moved to Perth, bought a house south of the river, and joined Melville. Winner of the Oakley Award as best premier league bowler at the club in 2007-8, he was also part of a club triples championship side....

Buying a house further North, it was the presence of country bowlers such as the Caffells, Kevin Pickering, Bob Couper, and former Narrogin identity Trevor Barron that influenced Fleay's move to Osborne Park, where he was part of their 2010 premier league pennant, and has become a highly respected and hard working member of the club.

Colin is a great supporter of many bowling carnivals around the State, and has chalked up wins at the Bedford Bowl in 1990, 1993, and 2004, the Wickepin Merino Fours four times, the Safety Bay Spring Classic in 2009, and was in the successful team at the Kellerberrin Golden Pipeline Fours this year. The man who was runner up to Geoff Oakley in the 1990 State Singles and won the Llord Christie Medal as outstanding country bowler in 2000-2001 showed he still had it by partnering Graeme Evans and Pat Caffell to win the 2011 over sixties Triples more recently.

Colin's wife Paula was a keen bowler before forced off the green due to ill health, and his nephew Dion is a leading footballer at West Perth, representing the State.

"I miss Country Week," he admitted, and nominated his Country Sixteen, with players he has played with or against, and a rink from each zone.

South West: Ron Taylor(skip), Milton Bandy, Geoff Whyatt, John Cowin
Southern: Keith Doncon(skip), Roy Gardiner, Kas Dudek, Colin O'Brien
Eastern: John Sharp(skip), Pieter Harris, Gary Caffell, Ron Thomas
Northern: Barry Parker(skip), Geoff Ellis, Joe Criddle, Brian Harris

One of the nice guys of the game, Colin Fleay is still playing top division bowls, continues to support city and country carnivals, and is always a tough man to beat.

He commented about what he perceived as an erosion of standards on and off the green today. "Etiquette is being lost as the argy bargy sometimes goes over the top, and the attempt in some quarters to turn bowls into another AFL is having a detrimental effect on peoples enjoyment of the game," he said.

But he was quick to add: "Having said that, I'm enjoying my bowls at Osborne Park." Colin's involvement with club activities, whether on the green, a fundraising event, or work on the green or surrounds, has made him a popular member of the Saints.

RON HEAD