11. The Continuing Evolution of the Club 

The Kensington Gardens Bowling and Tennis Club is special because of the people who over the years have continued to make it. Coming from all walks of life, the members of the Club have worked hard to make it a unique and welcoming environment. Membership has included many members of the same family, and a number of families have seen three and even four generations enjoy the benefits of belonging to the Club.

The Club has an interesting history which reflects the many changes over time in our society. There was the initial struggle to establish the Club immediately after World     War I , with the hard work and generosity of the founding members, then the stringencies of the Great Depression, and not many years later, the another world war. After that the Club benefitted from increasing membership as South Australia enjoyed the prosperity that followed for some decades after World War II. In more recent years membership has fluctuated periodically with changes in the popularity of bowls and tennis amongst different age groups in the community. 

In the early years of the life of the Club its women members were instrumental in establishing women’s bowls in South Australia.   The Bowls Section’s successful history and culture were factors which led to the important merger with the Marryatville Bowling Club.  Following changes in the protocols laid down by Bowls SA Inc in 2006 arising from the continuing process of affording equal opportunity in society, the integration of  men and women bowlers in teams representing the Club has proceeded seamlessly. The Bowls Section is now looking to take full advantage of the recent establishment of its synthetic greens. 

The Tennis Section accommodated changing demands and interest in playing tennis by establishing mid-week ladies tennis and participating enthusiastically in the Saturday morning competition. More recently, with changes in lifestyle and family life that have made many members reluctant to give up their Saturdays to tennis, the Club’s courts became available for night tennis. 

Celebrating its centenary in 2019, the Club will open the time capsule placed in the Clubhouse during the Golden Jubilee Celebrations in 1969. 

The spirit of camaraderie that enabled the Club to overcome the challenges of its early years, and the hard work and support of the Club’s dedicated office bearers and committees are still very evident today. Their common objective is to ensure that the members of the Club, and succeeding generations of members, will continue to enjoy their chosen sporting recreation and the friendship that have been an integral part of membership of this outstanding and long-established sporting Club.  

Having regard to the Club’s excellent greens and facilities and its location adjoining well maintained cricket and rugby ovals within the natural beauty of the spacious Kensington Gardens Reserve, the Kensington Gardens Bowling and Tennis Club must surely continue to be regarded as a show case for the sports of bowls and lawn tennis in South Australia. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This history is based on information derived from a Club History covering the period from 1919 to 1969, compiled to celebrate the Club’s Golden Jubilee, and also from minutes and other records and information provided by a number of current members.

The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance received from various members, including Deane Jarvis, Gloria Sumner, Elizabeth Scholefield, Ian Cooper, Knoyle Cross, Dr Bernie  Lindner, John Henderson, Neil Jones and John Witham.