GeorgeF
Hypercell = Hyperhook!
A sad day in Australian bowling history, Mt Louisa closing its doors today for the final time. To Judy and her staff, thank you for the fond memories, Currajong was such a huge part of my bowling life, I cant imagine life without it.
I'd like to encourage people to write there own personal memories of Mt Louisa lanes (aka Currajong Superbowl) to post them here. I've got a few I'd love to share
* My first bowling coach, Tony Toogood, a gentle giant who loved the game more than anyone I know. Always with a smile on his face, nothing but positive words of encouragement inspired me to be the best bowler I could be. I still have etched in my memory his 'turd' coloured Manhatten Urethane being hooked off the left gutter with his unconventional backup cranker style. RIP Tony, you were a generous and gracious man.
* Bowling in my first junior league at Currajong with a few friends on a Saturday morning, Leroy Simpson, Sean Trelour and ?? (someone else), we were called the Eagles. My mum purchased us cream coloured polos with a dark brown collar, my mum then 'hobbytexed' an Eagle on the back. With chocolate brown trousers we thought we were the best 7yr olds around. Every Saturday for 6yrs before we moved into the 'Teenagers' league featuring the NQ stars like Stephen Hunt, Matthew Savage, Troy Timmins, Fiona Bredsall, Peter Hunt, Kenny Bebb, Jason Moxham, Ian Dietric the list goes on.
During this league in the next few years, I purchased my first ever Urethane ball. My Brunswich Edge looked like a tomato and for the first time ever, I went Fingertip and hooked the ball a good 2 boards (not much has changed). I then got to represent Townsville and play along NQ legends like Joseph, Angelo and Sam Nucifora, friends I still have today. I couldnt have asked for a better and more stable bowling environment for my upbringing.
* Bert Harris - I'd like to thank him for the hours he put up with me hanging around the pro shop and watching him drill balls. I'd listen with baited breath on his tales of bowling in the big smoke against Australia's best, I never thought one day I'd get there. I may have been a pest and borderline stalker but I hung off his every word knowing one day I'd get to use the big drill press in the bowl. Whilst everyone thought he was a grumpy weirdo I got nothing bad to say about the guy, he helped and inspired me.
* Bruce Haskin aka 'Brolga" the lanky 6" tall employee who seemed to work at Currajong forever. He drilled balls, managed the bowl and was one of Townsville's greats back in the day (especially at Punari Street). I've know Bruce for over 25yrs and is a great friend. Not so much involved in bowling these days, he can always be bribed to come in and drill balls in exchange for a bottle of Kahlua
Bruce can still talk you ears off, I wouldnt change it for the world. Enjoy your golf now Brucey, you'll never have to drill a ball again!
* Judy and Ken Hunt - First introduced as the 'legends mum and dad' (Stephen was the legend not Peter), over the years Judy and Ken always had a passion for the sport. Ken focusing on coaching, my 2nd real coach I appreciated any words of encouragement he put forward. Judy, my surrogate mother, I have always felt close too, never having anything bad to say about anyone I learnt a lot about how to conduct yourself amongst others at the bowl.
Judy has put in blood, sweat, tears and heaps of money into the bowl in recent years. Something all bowlers in Townsville appreciate with a passion. With a lot of bowlers migrating to Kirwan there will be a significant number who will just retire from bowling full stop. Most league bowlers attended Currajong not so much because they wanted to be better bowlers but because of the social interaction which made Mt Louisa lanes the No.1 league house in Townsville.
Significant moments for me at mt Louisa lanes:
* Winning the North Queensland masters at Currajong
* Bowling a perfect game on lanes 13&14
* My father bowling his only perfect game with a dull as hell Track Superfreak
* Winning the Suncity open twice, the last just a few months ago, I am very proud and honoured to have won the last ever at Mt Louisa.
* Going fingertip when I was 13
* Purchasing my first ever Urethane ball in 1987
People from Currajong/Mt Louisa I'll never forget (for good, no so good and awkward reasons)
Adrain Mann, Kenny Bebb, Terry Burgess, Robby Merchant, Tony Toodgood, Justin Wellington, Ronald Roderick, Peter Hunt, Veronica Pitt, Stacey Millard, Fiona Bredsall, Troy Timmins, Matthew Savage, Geoff Off (bloody Victorian), Stephen Hunt, Steve Brunell, Gary Bailey, Gary Norman, Wally Walquist, Harvey Watkins, Paul Hatfield, Daniel Ponti, Shane Roseburg, Bob Brunell, Ricky Brunell, Sylvia Webb, Peter Draper, Gordon Neilson, Marg Condon, Kerrie Merritt (now Bailey), Alice Bailey, Bob Walker, Leroy Simpson, Tony Toogood
My entire family has bowled in that centre for just on 30yrs now, such a significant part of all our lifes, thank you for the memories.
I'd like to encourage people to write there own personal memories of Mt Louisa lanes (aka Currajong Superbowl) to post them here. I've got a few I'd love to share
* My first bowling coach, Tony Toogood, a gentle giant who loved the game more than anyone I know. Always with a smile on his face, nothing but positive words of encouragement inspired me to be the best bowler I could be. I still have etched in my memory his 'turd' coloured Manhatten Urethane being hooked off the left gutter with his unconventional backup cranker style. RIP Tony, you were a generous and gracious man.
* Bowling in my first junior league at Currajong with a few friends on a Saturday morning, Leroy Simpson, Sean Trelour and ?? (someone else), we were called the Eagles. My mum purchased us cream coloured polos with a dark brown collar, my mum then 'hobbytexed' an Eagle on the back. With chocolate brown trousers we thought we were the best 7yr olds around. Every Saturday for 6yrs before we moved into the 'Teenagers' league featuring the NQ stars like Stephen Hunt, Matthew Savage, Troy Timmins, Fiona Bredsall, Peter Hunt, Kenny Bebb, Jason Moxham, Ian Dietric the list goes on.
During this league in the next few years, I purchased my first ever Urethane ball. My Brunswich Edge looked like a tomato and for the first time ever, I went Fingertip and hooked the ball a good 2 boards (not much has changed). I then got to represent Townsville and play along NQ legends like Joseph, Angelo and Sam Nucifora, friends I still have today. I couldnt have asked for a better and more stable bowling environment for my upbringing.
* Bert Harris - I'd like to thank him for the hours he put up with me hanging around the pro shop and watching him drill balls. I'd listen with baited breath on his tales of bowling in the big smoke against Australia's best, I never thought one day I'd get there. I may have been a pest and borderline stalker but I hung off his every word knowing one day I'd get to use the big drill press in the bowl. Whilst everyone thought he was a grumpy weirdo I got nothing bad to say about the guy, he helped and inspired me.
* Bruce Haskin aka 'Brolga" the lanky 6" tall employee who seemed to work at Currajong forever. He drilled balls, managed the bowl and was one of Townsville's greats back in the day (especially at Punari Street). I've know Bruce for over 25yrs and is a great friend. Not so much involved in bowling these days, he can always be bribed to come in and drill balls in exchange for a bottle of Kahlua
Bruce can still talk you ears off, I wouldnt change it for the world. Enjoy your golf now Brucey, you'll never have to drill a ball again!* Judy and Ken Hunt - First introduced as the 'legends mum and dad' (Stephen was the legend not Peter), over the years Judy and Ken always had a passion for the sport. Ken focusing on coaching, my 2nd real coach I appreciated any words of encouragement he put forward. Judy, my surrogate mother, I have always felt close too, never having anything bad to say about anyone I learnt a lot about how to conduct yourself amongst others at the bowl.
Judy has put in blood, sweat, tears and heaps of money into the bowl in recent years. Something all bowlers in Townsville appreciate with a passion. With a lot of bowlers migrating to Kirwan there will be a significant number who will just retire from bowling full stop. Most league bowlers attended Currajong not so much because they wanted to be better bowlers but because of the social interaction which made Mt Louisa lanes the No.1 league house in Townsville.
Significant moments for me at mt Louisa lanes:
* Winning the North Queensland masters at Currajong
* Bowling a perfect game on lanes 13&14
* My father bowling his only perfect game with a dull as hell Track Superfreak
* Winning the Suncity open twice, the last just a few months ago, I am very proud and honoured to have won the last ever at Mt Louisa.
* Going fingertip when I was 13
* Purchasing my first ever Urethane ball in 1987
People from Currajong/Mt Louisa I'll never forget (for good, no so good and awkward reasons)
Adrain Mann, Kenny Bebb, Terry Burgess, Robby Merchant, Tony Toodgood, Justin Wellington, Ronald Roderick, Peter Hunt, Veronica Pitt, Stacey Millard, Fiona Bredsall, Troy Timmins, Matthew Savage, Geoff Off (bloody Victorian), Stephen Hunt, Steve Brunell, Gary Bailey, Gary Norman, Wally Walquist, Harvey Watkins, Paul Hatfield, Daniel Ponti, Shane Roseburg, Bob Brunell, Ricky Brunell, Sylvia Webb, Peter Draper, Gordon Neilson, Marg Condon, Kerrie Merritt (now Bailey), Alice Bailey, Bob Walker
, Leroy Simpson, Tony ToogoodMy entire family has bowled in that centre for just on 30yrs now, such a significant part of all our lifes, thank you for the memories.
