Lawn bowls is one of the largest participation sports in Australia with around 800,000 people taking part annually. The ABC has recently made the shock announcement that it will dump bowls from its programming schedule.
Federal Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan, who visited the Hamilton Bowling Club today, has joined outraged bowls-viewers around the country by distributing a nationwide petition to ‘get bowls back on the ABC’.
Lawn bowls is one of the largest participation sports in Australia with around 800,000 people taking part annually. The ABC has recently made the shock announcement that it will dump bowls from its programming schedule.
President of the Hamilton Bowling club, Mr Ron Steff, has said of the announcement, “There is real anger in the community about this decision.”
Chairman of the board of the Hamilton Bowling Club, Mr Edwin Maclean said, “Bowling is a sport which is now played by all ages and the program is a tool for promoting the sport which is something that should be encouraged, not cut.”
“Hamilton bowlers, like those across the country, are shocked to hear that after 30 years of being able to enjoy watching bowls on television, the ABC has now decided to dump its programming of the popular sport,” Mr Tehan said.
“The ABC has a Charter set out in section 6 of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 that states it should broadcast programs that contribute to a sense of national identity and inform and entertain, and reflect the cultural diversity of the Australian community and further requires it to provide a balance between wide appeal and specialised broadcasting programs.
“Bowls appeals to a wide demographic across generations and there is no justifiable reason to axe all bowls programming. Both participation and viewership numbers are strong and the ABC’s own charter demands its inclusion in the ABC programming schedule.”
Mr Tehan said he wants people to have their voices heard and sign the petition that is being circulated by his office as a means to let the ABC and Government know that the ABC Charter is adhered to.
“Bowling clubs are an important part of Australian communities, particularly in regional areas. Participation in bowls is an important way for hundreds of thousands of senior Australians to stay active and live healthier lives.
“I encourage those concerned to pick up a copy of the petition from one of my offices, or ask their local bowls club to put them out to be signed. We need to fight to make the government understand that the community wants to ‘get bowls back on the ABC’.”
Copies of the petition can be downloaded from www.dantehan.com.au and http://www.bowlsaustralia.com.au/
Media Contact: Lisa Downs 03 5561 6405 or 0400 192 205
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