OVERSON, Barbara Joy 

28.01.1939 – 29.07.2020

Wife of Norman, Mother to Shell, Sue & Brad. Nan to Ruby & Ned. Will be sadly missed. “Always on the right bias!”

Barbara will be farewell-ed by family, only, in a Private Cremation Service, in the coming days.

Club members will be able to pay tribute to Barbara by way of a Memorial afternoon tea, at the Club, post covid when we can all get together again.

Safe passage Barb.

ABOUT BARBARA 

(More Photos below)

Barbara was a member of the Edithvale Bowling Club for 23 years. In that time, she demonstrated a significant and sustained commitment to the Club and its member’s far and beyond that of any other member.  Indeed, she is well known and respected in the Region, and beyond, and because of this Edithvale enjoys the respect of our neighbours and all in the Region. Her name is synonymous with the Club.

Barbara’s sporting achievements were:

• Club Champion 1999-2000, followed by wins’ in 04-05, 06-07, 07-08, 08-09 and R/up in 12-13. (She also won a few Club C’ships at her former Club, Patterson River.)
• She won the 1998 – 1999 Ladies Pairs, and followed up with win’s in 2001– 02, 04-05, 06-07 & 08-09.
• She won the Proportional in 2001-02, 05-06, & 09-10.
• She won the 2 bowl in 1998-1999, 2001-02, 02-03, 03-04, 10-11, 12-13, 13-14.
• She won the Ladies Seeded Pairs in 03-04 and 11-12.
• She won the Mixed Set’s Play Pairs with husband Norm in 07-8 & 08-09.
• She scored at least four “eights”, as a Skip, no doubt a record.

Barbara also had several wins and runner ups in the Group, later Region…. but always with bowlers from her Club, or representing our Club.

Most Notable of these were her wins in:

• the Group 20 Singles 2000-2001
• the Group 20 Fours 2000-2001

She has won other honour board events, those noted on our boards are:

Navy Week 96-97 (Hampton), Navy Week 97-98 (Hampton) and the Glen Eira Classic. There are wins on the “honour boards” of other clubs, the Mt Waverley Ladies Classic, springs to mind but there were others.

Barbara excelled as a “Team Player” usually as a Skip winning flags as follows:

• 2 – 1997-98
• 1 (Our Clubs First in Div. 1!) – 1998-99 (We were also Div. 1 Metro Champions in this year)
• 1– 1999-2000
• 1 – 2000-01
• 1 – 2001-02
• 1 – 2004-05
• 1 – 2008-09
• 1 – 2012-13
• 1 – 2014-15
• 1 – 2015-16.

At one time Barbara and her team were unbeaten in 19 consecutive rounds of Pennant and in those years she was the most successful Skip in Midweek Div.’s 1 & 2 and Saturday Div.’s 1 & 2. She set a fine example to all as a Skip. Always encouraging, friendly and supportive.

Our Club flourishes and will continue to do so because of her personal past input and support, whether that was her cheering from the side lines or her performance on the green.

She represented our Club in a good and fair light.

Barbara served on several Committees over the years.

• Ladies
• Match
• Selection

The positions she occupied were:

• Committee Member
• Vice President (2 yrs.) 2009-2010 & 2010-2011
• President (2 yrs.) 2011-2012 & 2012-2013
• Immediate Past President (2 yrs.) 2013-2014 & 2014-2015
• Board member 2015-16
• Coach
• Umpire

She was a tireless worker for the Club and whenever at the Club, she engaged in “whatever needed doing”, largely unnoticed. At home she spent countless hours doing things that would benefit the Club, also unnoticed.

She always contributed to the success of our Trading table…. made jams & pickles, scorecard holders, hand protectors, bonnets, knitted scarves, plants and earrings. Whatever it was she would “give it a go”!

In her years as President, she gave a gift of a specially (handmade by herself) packaged “Birthday Chocolates” to every lady member on the occasion of their birthday. We all “felt special” in those years.

She was the mainstay of our Gala Day “Plant Stall” for many years.

She often left free photos on a table for anyone to have following an event or a holiday enjoyed by Club members.

And…speaking of holiday’s let’s not forget that it was Barbara who got lots of our members to holiday together in Echuca and Merimbula over many enjoyable years. A big effort and I’m sure much appreciated by many members especially those for whom it was their “only” holiday.

She and Norm were willing “hands on” workers for “Barefoot Bowls” and “Get on the Green”, its predecessor. They did this for 10 years or more. A sterling commitment we may not see again.

Barbara has always provided website reports and photos of any event that she was asked to cover by our Web Editor’s. You never got a “NO” from Barbara. She was great at covering our “Cup Day’s” ensuring everyone had a hat and a chance to flaunt it. Indeed, outside bowls you never got a “NO” from her if you were a Club Member.

Barbara as a coach also excelled and helped many a new and accomplished bowlers on their way to better bowls.

In regard to Sunday Bowls……It may not have happened without her (and Norm) as she has personally resurrected this day at our Club twice!  AND…, Barb probably ran more of these day’s than anyone else at the Club. There are only a handful of members who took this on, but for Barbara it was just one of many things she did to promote our Club and keep new bowlers engaged.

Barbara, and Norm, probably spent as much time at the Club as at home, putting in a sustained effort, serving with gusto for nearly 23 years, the last 4 as a Life Member.

She will be sadly missed by family, friends and all who had the privilege of her company. (Pamela Bryant 29 Jul ’20)