Bowls Gr8 for Brains

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Australia
Lavington, NSW
Bowls Gr8 for Brains

Our Board consists of Veterans with lived experience of Post-Traumatic Stress. (8 people will take their own lives every day in Australia – Lifeline stats).

A Registered Australian Charity supporting our heroes at the local bowlo - embracing the power of community and Peer Support toward better mental and physical health. Our group is passionate about helping people, and passionate about finding positive solutions to the ever-increasing rates of suicide and self-harm in Australia. We believe this can be done through the sport of bowls. Bowls is a sport that includes the below elements that are proven to be pathways to better mental and physical health:

● Physical Exercise
● Reintegration into the social environment
● Targeted and directed activity that stimulates brain function
● Engaging in activities that divert the brain’s attention away from distressing thoughts and brings people into the moment
● Learning new skills

BG4B is a peer support group at the local Bowlo, a place where people are introduced to the game of bowls in a friendly and supportive environment, where they can enjoy a cup of tea, learn about the game of lawn bowls, and perhaps make new friends along the way. Our program is inclusive, accessible and free to the community. Our groups meet at least twice monthly.

01/11/2025

Hi everyone,

Due to circumstances beyond our control Bowls Gr8 for Brains and the Dandenong Club have taken the hard decision to postpone our Charity Day to a date yet to be confirmed.

Those who have entered should have received an email advising how we will refund your entry.

We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused and please look out for each other.

28/10/2025

🎉 On Melbourne Cup Eve, join us for Bowls GR8 For Brains Annual Charity Day! 🎉
Hosted by The Dandenong Club, this event is all about bowls, mateship, and mental health 💚
You’ll enjoy:
🏆 4 games of 9 ends – teams of 4
🍽️ Great two-course lunch provided
🎤 Guest Speaker - Steve Glasson OAM (BG4B Ambassador)
💰 $2,800 prize money
💸 $280 per team
Monday 3rd November from 9:30am (Club opens at 9:00am).
A huge shoutout to the amazing supporters — Dandenong Club, Bowls Australia, Henselite, and Premier Bowls Wear — for helping us keep the Bowls Gr8 for Brains program rolling! 🧠💪
Grab your friends, roll some bowls, and support a great cause.
We can’t wait to see you there! 😄
👉 Register now: https://tinyurl.com/bg4b3rdcharityday

12/10/2025

Our stand at the Shoalhaven Veteran & Family Expo

16/06/2025

Another gr8 morning at Commercial Club Albury. Our social group sessions run every Thursday from 9am - free with coaching provided. Good times with friends. ☕️

14/06/2025

Great barefoot bowls morning today with some veterans and family. Numbers were down a bit due to the weather, but those who attended enjoyed themselves.

Thanks to Shoalhaven Heads RSL for providing the bbq lunch.

Special thank you to Megan from Invictus for all her assistance in putting this together.

16/03/2025

It is with deep regret that we announce the tragic passing of Allan Bounader. Our thoughts go out to Allan’s wife Deanna and family at this sad time.
Allan was one of the founding members of Bowls GR8 for Brains and played a big role in us becoming an Australian not for profit at the time.
Allan was our initial Vice Chairman becoming our Chair. He was a passionate member, mentor and advisor to not only the organisation but especially our Albury group.
Allan will be greatly missed.
RIP Allan Bounader

25/02/2025

First day back at the Nowra Veterans Hub today.

Twelve participants had a great time bowling and coffee.

Thank you to Megan from Invictus for all she does.

Also thank you to Terry from Nowra Ex Services Club for coming along and helping, plus also for his club donating the equipment.

11/12/2024

We were delighted today to be able to present to the Chirnside Park Country Club a plaque to acknowledge the tremendous support the club provides to Bowls Gr8 for Brains and in particular the annual charity day held the Monday before Melbourne Cup each year

The club's sponsorship and hosting of the event is outstanding, and we are extremely grateful for it, huge thanks to the Club's management team and board for the ongoing support

Accepting the plaque on behalf of the Country Club is the Clubs Sports & Communications Coordinator Declan Johnson, Bowls Chairman (and BG4B Board member) Gavin Wall, along with Warren Griffin - Head of Club Support @ Bowls Australia (BA Liaison for BG4B), and Neil Dalrymple CEO World Bowls (and BG4B Board Member)

14/11/2024

Our goals are more than just supporting our mates.

Family is so important to all of us.

Young Jocobie, grandson of our very own Darren Draper enjoying his first official tournament with 2 fabulous mentors.

10/11/2024

🎉 starts TODAY!!

Tune into BA's YouTube channel at 1pm AEST for Rinkside Live

👉 https://www.youtube.com/

05/11/2024

We would like to thank the Chirnside Park Country Club Bowls club and the entire team from the Chirnside Park Country Club for your generous support in hosting our 2nd Annual Charity day.

It was such a warm, fun and heartfelt day where fun, laughter, connection and comraderie was the order of the day.

Such a great day out

The monies raised - including the kind donation of prizes from Chirnside Park Country Club and our sponsors will support us in reaching out and supporting those who need it most.

Here's to better mental health outcomes rolling the humble lawn bowl.

Feeling very blessed to have so many great people around us. 💜

Address

Lavington, NSW
2641

Website

HTTPS://BOWLSGR8FORBRAINS.BOWLS.COM.AU/

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Who we are:

The NSW Retired and Former Police Association, and, the Albury sub-branch of the RSL are working in partnership with the Australian Lawn Bowling Community to promote lawn bowls as a long term therapeutic option in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress, with our target group being those who served our Country in a front-line capacity. We are currently developing a sustainable, accessible, and suitably supported lawn bowling program for veterans.

Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and other mental health related conditions are common amongst serving, transitioning, former and retired Defence Personnel, Police, Firefighters, Paramedics, Doctors and Nurses, and even our volunteers in Organizations such as SES and local rescue units. The issue has attracted a lot of attention in the national domain as the rising rates of su***de amongst this demographic is tragic, and the quality of life of those who live with this condition often diminishes significantly. This issue also presents a burden on an already struggling health system.

There is now wide medical evidence supporting the following as being pathways to recovery:

Physical Exercise, Re-integration into the social environment, targeted and directed activity that stimulates brain function, and engaging in activities that divert the brain’s attention away from traumatic memories and brings people into the moment.