Today, women are a familiar sight on bowling greens. But it was not always so.
On May 6, 1999, The Fiji Times looked back at a time when women were barred from playing bowls, with the Suva Bowling Club operating as a strictly men-only institution during the colonial era.
Ladies were allowed onto the premises only as spectators — or to make tea and sandwiches, or clean the clubhouse on Saturday mornings.
At the time, the club was located beside the Suva City Library, just metres from its present site opposite Thurston Gardens.
In January 1926, a modest pavilion — about 10 metres wide — was built, featuring a high-pitched roof, folding glass doors, cupboards, tables and chairs. The building was later extended in 1928 to include bowls lockers, a bar, a storeroom and a ladies’ rest room.
Women were officially accepted as members of the Suva Bowling Club in July 1955.
For several years, Suva’s greens were plagued by “a series of annoying hills and dales, bumps and hollows”, often leaving players jumping in frustration.
“It was hard to imagine any bowling club which did not have a goodly number of members and sometimes money, if they could afford it, spent on working for and supporting the club,” the report noted.
“There was always somebody at hand, more than ready to donate prizes and trophies for the benefit of their fellow members.”
In this regard, the Suva Bowling Club was considered fortunate, enjoying strong sponsorship for specific events over the years.
The club accumulated numerous trophies for competitive play, including one of the oldest, most prestigious and valuable prizes — the South Pacific Singles trophy, once contested by selected players from Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.
In later years, Australia and New Zealand became Fiji’s main competition.
Fiji first entered the international bowls arena in 1950 at the British Empire Games in Auckland, 38 years after the sport was established locally.
Since then, Fiji Bowls has been a regular starter at almost every major international bowls event.
Toko Masiniika (left) and Matelita Cava with the prestigious Pineapple Cup at the Suva Bowling Club. Women were not allowed to play bowls during the colonial era. Picture: FILE
Green warden Meja Singh rolls the lawn to ensure flat surface. Picture: FILE
