Corey Wedlock makes Comm Games dream team

From the greens of West Coffs and Urunga, Corey Wedlock will step on to the world stage at Birmingham - and he’ll have his greatest supporter in his late dad watching over.

A young man’s dream of representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games will shortly come true - though his dad who shared the hope won’t be there to see it.

Corey Wedlock - who forged his lawn bowls skill on the greens at the Urunga and West Coffs clubs - is eyeing his maiden Comm Games appearance at Birmingham (July 28-August 8).

The only regret is that his longtime coach, mentor and father, Glen ‘Bones’ Wedlock, won’t be at his side.

Bones, himself a quality bowler, died of a heart attack in hospital on May 15, at the age of 56. He had been battling cancer for some time.

“He was my biggest supporter and taught me everything I know,” Corey said.

Coffs Coast raised lawn bowls star Corey Wedlock with a photo of his dad Glen.

“That was always a goal of his to see me make the Commonwealth Games (the highest representative level you can reach in lawn bowls as it’s not an Olympic sport).

“But 100 per cent, he’ll be with me (in spirit) all the way.”

Corey is part of an 18-person Australian Jackaroos side, and while he made his name on the Coffs Coast, he moved to Sydney to link with the powerful Cabramatta club where he did a greenkeeper’s apprenticeship.

The 25-year-old now turns out for the Warilla club on the South Coast where he works as a groundsman.

Former Urunga bowler Corey Wedlock in action at the Park Beach Open Singles.

The Birmingham Games will not be Corey’s first foray to the UK, having recently been involved in a multi-nation selection trial where Australia was pitted against England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Malaysian bowlers.

“The greens are slower over there,” the Australian Male Bowler of the Year for 2021 said.

But the Aussies have a secret weapon.

Winners of the 2019 Ladies' and Men’s Golden Nugget Natasha Scott and Corey Wedlock.

“There’s a green that wasn’t a green at Mt Tambourine on the Gold Coast and it’s been prepared to as close as possible to the English greens - and we’ve been having camps up there,” Corey said.

While the youngster first represented his nation in 2017, making his first Commonwealth Games team has been special.

“I’m really looking forward to it, the whole experience,” he said.

Even as a 10-year-old, Corey Wedlock was turning heads on the greens. He is seen here with umpire Jim Brock in locker room before Waverley Bowling Club Men's handicap singles final in Sydney.

Corey has been bowling since he was about eight years of age, and despite Australia’s success in the sport, there’s not enough money in it to be a full-time professional.

“You need to have a pretty stable job that can give you a lot of time off for events and tournaments,” Corey said.

At Birmingham, the ‘baby’ of the Australian team will have plenty in his corner - his fellow Jackaroos, his mates on the Coffs Coast, and of course, Bones.