The festive spirit was out in full force last week as Taren Point Bowling Club hosted its very first combined Ladies and Gents Bowlers Christmas Party. With 66 bowlers coming together, the day was filled with friendship, great bowls and a generous dose of Christmas cheer.
This year’s celebration carried special significance, with every guest bringing a new, unwrapped gift for our Dandelion Support Network Christmas Toy Drive. The generosity was remarkable — a sea of colourful toys grew around our tree, each one representing hope for a local family doing it tough this Christmas.
We were honoured to have Linda Hodges and James Lavender from the Dandelion Support Network join us to personally thank our bowlers. Dandelion is a volunteer-led charity that provides essential items, clothing, toys and nursery equipment to families in crisis. Working closely with hospitals, social workers and community services, their team ensures children — from newborns to teenagers — receive safe and lovingly prepared items when they need them most. The gifts donated by our members will be delivered directly to local families, bringing joy to children who may otherwise have gone without.
In addition to the toy drive, 4 TPBC staff members and Penny Morton visited the Dandelion Support Network Headquarters this week, spending two hours helping prepare essential clothing packs for families in need. The experience was deeply rewarding, giving our team firsthand insight into the care and effort that goes into every bundle Dandelion provides.
The day began on the greens with a friendly roll-up, followed by a well-earned meal and festive sweet treats beautifully prepared by Janelle Craddock. A huge thank-you also goes to Penny Morton and Gai Coates, whose organisation and behind-the-scenes effort made the event possible.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to:
• Taren Point Bowling Club for donating $1,000 worth of toys
• All bowling and social members for your incredible contributions
• Cronulla RSL for donating toys
• Jeanette Williams for hand-knitting the most beautiful teddy bears, each destined to become a child’s treasured companion
The inaugural combined Christmas party was a resounding success — full of laughter, kindness and genuine community spirit. It set the perfect tone for the festive season and reminded us of the impact we can make when we come together for a meaningful cause.
Here’s to a wonderful Christmas, and to the spirit of generosity that makes Taren Point Bowling Club such a special place.