Drayton Bowls Club's search for founding members' family

IN THE uncertain aftermath of the Second World War, a small band of Toowoomba residents came together to create lawn bowls club in Drayton.

70 YEAR ANNIVERSAY: Hoping to find family members from the Drayton Bowls Club's founding members are (from left) chairman Len Bartz, descendent Neil Postle and member Ron McDougall.

IN THE uncertain aftermath of the Second World War when the population of Toowoomba was just 32,000, a small band of community-minded citizens came together to create a lawn bowls club in Drayton.

Now, 70 years later, the Drayton Bowls Club and a descendant of the original club committee, are coming together to celebrate the anniversary of the club.

Neil Postle, the son of founding club co-secretary Les Postle, is hoping to find other descendants of the initial committee.

Club records show the people (listed below) who attended the first meeting and were involved in its groundwork.

"The list comprises names that read like a map of streets in the Drayton and Harristown area,” he said.

"The Drayton Bowls Club is fortunate to have kept good records of their history and the efforts that the original founders of the club put into establishing this club were significant.

"Often they found themselves having to be very creative in how they achieved the goals they set for their fledgling club.”

The Drayton Bowls Club will host a 70-year celebration on Sunday, August 21 from 9.30am. The day will be filled with lawn bowls for members and guests. There will also be a luncheon and display of pictures and memorabilia.

Mr Postle said it would be a special event for current and previous members but would be intriguing for the family members of the club's initial founders.

"I'm sure they (founding members) had hopes for the future of the club,” he said.

"I think they would be very proud to know that 70 years on from the day they shovelled soil, tended carefully to turf, fund raised, and negotiated for building materials during post-war shortages - (that) there are still people enjoying the fruits of their labour.”

Descendants can contact Neil Postle on 46958204.

The Drayton Bowls Club is at 46 Gipps St.

Originally published as Drayton Bowls Club's search for founding members' family