FOR more than half a century, the Lautoka Bowling Club has been more than just a sporting venue, it has been a place of friendship, laughter, competition and community but today, its future hangs in the balance.
With the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) having sold the land, the long-standing club is expected to officially close between the end of March and April this year. For its members, many of whom have spent decades walking the greens, the news is heartbreaking.
Life member David Bennion, a familiar face at the club, says members are keeping their fingers crossed that a new piece of land can be secured so the association and the game can continue.
“This place has been a big part of our lives.
“It’s not just about bowling. It’s about people, friendships and staying active,” Bennion said.
Roots in the Sugar Industry
The Lautoka Bowling Club dates back to the Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR) days, believed to have started in the 1950s. Bennion recalls that in the early years, bowling clubs in sugar towns such as Lautoka, Rarawai and Labasa were largely reserved for expatriates.
“Back then, every Wednesday afternoon was bowling day.
“It was a social thing for the expats, and locals were not allowed.”
That changed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when locals were finally welcomed, around the time CSR transitioned to South Pacific Milling Company and later to FSC.
“That was when everything became more localised. A lot of local people started making use of the facilities.”
Bowling quickly became popular among FSC staff and officers, with Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays set aside for social games. While many viewed bowling as a sport for older people, the club quietly produced several national representatives and officials over the years.
A Personal Journey
For Bennion, the club holds deeply personal memories including the start of his bowling journey with his wife.
In the late 1980s, while still heavily involved in hockey, Bennion was “ordered” into the sport by the then FSC general manager, the late Ram Karan Singh.
“He sent me a memo and told me to find three boys and report to the bowling club,” Bennion laughed. “That’s how it started.”
Soon after, his wife and sister-in-law were also encouraged to take up bowling. By the early 1990s, both Bennion and his wife had fully embraced the sport.
“When I couldn’t run much on the hockey field anymore, I turned to bowling.
“It keeps you moving, and it keeps you young.”
One of the highlights of their bowling journey was winning an invitational tournament in Vatukoula, where Bennion and his wife each walked away with $1,000 after a tough six-game contest.
“But more than winning, “it was about being part of something.”
Fighting to Keep Bowling Alive
As closure looms, club members are exploring all possible options to keep bowling alive in Lautoka.
One proposal is to establish a new green at the South Sea Club, where discussions are ongoing with trustees. Another option being considered is converting an unused lawn tennis court within the FSC compound into a bowling green.
“We are trying everything. We just want a place to continue.”
He believes the loss of the club will be felt strongly by the business community, especially with popular Wednesday night business house competitions providing a space to socialise, network and unwind.
“It’s a place where people come together, share a drink, talk business and relax,” he said.
More Than a Game
For Bennion, the possible closure of the Lautoka Bowling Club is not just the loss of a sporting facility it is the loss of a way of life.
“This place keeps me young, it’s my exercise. Walking up and down those greens that’s what keeps me going.”
As the sun slowly sets on one of Lautoka’s oldest sporting institutions, its members hold on to memories of wooden bowls, friendly rivalry and lifelong friendships and to the hope that bowling in Lautoka will find a new home.
David Bennion in Lautoka. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
David Bennion (front) with Litia Adibenau and grandson Atticus Deejay in Lautoka. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
