When Wayne Turley first picked up a lawn bowl as a teenager, little did he know where the sport would take him.
In 2006, he won a Commonwealth Games gold medal, and today he was named in the Australian Day honours list.
Mr Turley has been awarded with a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division, for service to lawn bowls, as part of the Australian Day 2017 honours list.
The 44-year-old Miranda resident’s crowning glory in the sport was his gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, in the men’s triples event. Mr Turley is also heavily involved with coaching and stands on the Bowls Australia board of directors.
He said he got into the sport as a teenager when a friend took him along to a bowling green one Saturday morning. The rest is history.
“After I finished my HSC I started my apprenticeship as a green keeper, at Kyle Bay Bowling Club,” he said.
“Lawn bowls is such a great game not just for older people, but for young people and people with disabilities too.”
Mr Turley is no longer involved with international duties playing for Australia, as he raises a young family, but still represents NSW. He is also heavily involved with Taren Point Bowling Club.
