VERN McINTYRE

L/R: Reg Humphryson, Vern McIntyre, Clive Adams

October 1, 2009

When Vern McIntyre wandered into the local Bowling Club in 1967 he had no idea that he was beginning a forty two year journey that would culminate in him becoming President of BowlsWA.

The Dumbleyung farmer and butcher had been a keen sportsman, playing in the local league football team , and was one of the leading golfers around, with a four handicap. It was when the tennis club started going backwards that he took up bowls, but it's a safe assumption that, being the sportsman he was, bowls would have inevitably joined the McIntyre repertoire.

Encouraged in the early days by Lou Meredith, Vern soon discovered that this was another game he could handle pretty well, and it wasn't long before his name started appearing all over the Honour Board.“I bought my first set of bowls for five quid, he recalled. “I've still got 'em.

Two singles championship wins were accompanied by successes in most other club events, with regular appearances in the league side, the Country team, and two games in the State Second Side, as third to Doug Arrowsmith.

McIntyre was a prominent participant in Country Week, taking off a fours title with Dudley Williams, Cass Dudek, and Maurie Scullard, and winning two pairs events, with John Black and Kevin Bairstow, respectively. He was also a member of the State squad.

Vern played in the Metropolitan Pennants in 1974-5, skippering a rink for Melville in the top red division. Moving back to Dumbleyung, he combined with Ray Nicholas to take off the Doubleview Masters Pairs in 1983, defeating Peter Sardelic and Milan Bacich.

McIntyre moved to Kelmscott in 1988, and joined Gosnells, where he skippered until his retirement from the sport a year ago. It was then that McIntyre became involved in the administrative side of the game. He has served for sixteen years on the committee of BowlsWA, including the Presidency, a period of significance on the greens committee, and is at present a member of the match committee.

Vern McIntyre has made a big contribution to bowls with his work on the greens committee. He was influential in having a timing device brought into Western Australia, and pushed hard on faster minimum green pace, as well as higher standards in greens before being approved. He has managed three State sides, and was a State selector for six years, three of which he served as chairman.

Forced out of the game twelve months ago with a painful back condition, Vern McIntyre is still working for the game, as a member of the BowlsWA match committee, and is a keen follower of the Gosnells pennant sides. He regards Bert Sharp as the hardest to beat, adding:“I played three for Bert in the State squad trials, and he was magic to play with.

A West Coast Eagles member, he is still an avid football follower.

Vern McIntyre has been an achiever in bowls, in the country and the city, on the green and off the green, and at the age of eighty five, he is still out there contributing, despite his health preventing him from taking part on the green.

Well done, Vern.

RON HEAD