As 2025 draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what Blind Sport has meant to me — not just as physical activity, but as confidence, connection, and community. More recently, that reflection has centred on a new and unexpected joy in my life: Blind Lawn Bowls.
It’s all happening in Geelong
After moving to Geelong, I discovered Blind Lawn Bowls. The bowls club is at Highton, about five minutes from where I live, and a great example of inclusive sport. The accessibility at the Highton Bowls Club, combined with the generosity of Dawn, Inclusion and Wellbeing Officer, and volunteer coaches Rick, Peter, and Russell, volunteer coaches, created a welcoming environment. Their encouragement, patience, and practical problem-solving made participation feel natural.
Over the years, I’ve tried a wide range of blind sports, beginning with tennis. However, living with long-term injuries, including multiple fractures, left me with ongoing pain, reduced mobility and, more recently, a stubborn frozen shoulder. Sadly, playing tennis regularly became unsustainable. I moved on to table tennis, online fitness sessions, gym circuits, swimming, walking, and running. Blind Golf came next, and although I committed fully with weekly lessons over several months, the physical cost proved too high.
Then along came Blind Lawn Bowls
As an ambassador for Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria, (BSRV), I was invited, along with Monique, a new BSRV ambassador, to be a ‘meet and greet’ person at a Come and Try Blind Bowls session at Highton Bowls Club in Geelong. We both loved the experience and now attend weekly to practise, learn new skills and socialise.
A Hacksaw and a Bionic Arm – what’s the connection?
Blind Bowls has given us the opportunity to trial different bowling arms. These are adaptive aids that enable players with mobility challenges, such as injuries, illness and balance issues, to deliver the bowl without bending. For me – I use a hacksaw, while Monique uses a bionic arm. Along with the bowling arms, we each have a director (support person) to direct the ball, describe the play and to provide transport to and from the venue. Thank you, Caroline and Rachael.
After the usual practice session, we often play a game against each other – two teams of four. There is also another player with low vision, Adam, who plays seriously and independently, without a director!
What’s the best thing about Blind Lawn Bowls?
For our final session of the year, we watched two of the professional coaches, Rick and Peter, play against each other. As they played, they explained their different techniques, scoring and other features of the game. We finished the morning with a small celebration, enjoying delicious homemade cakes and slices.
Rick then asked each of us what we felt was the best thing about blind bowls. For most people, it was the social aspect. It’s about belonging, confidence, laughter, frustration, adaptation, and showing up — even when your body doesn’t cooperate the way you’d like it to.
Final Thoughts
For anyone navigating injury, vision loss, or uncertainty about whether sport is still ‘for them’, I can honestly say this: there is a place for you.
BSRV has already given me something just as valuable as physical activity: the freedom to try, adapt, and keep participating on my own terms.
And to the coaches, volunteers, and support workers who make Blind Sport possible: your impact reaches far beyond the green, the court, the field, the track, or the pool. You help people keep moving — in every sense of the word.
