Vale - My Little Mate

It is widely acknowledged that any bowler is welcome whenever he visits or joins another club and my experience is no exception when I joined Everglades and met My Little Mate.

You would probably know how it is when you change clubs, you might say to yourself "Am I good enough to put my name down as Skip or do I wait and see how the selectors will receive me?"

In my first game, the decision of where I play and with whom was already decided and I found myself in new and strange company and on the end of a Mother of a hiding.

With head bowed and fearing reprisals from such a start, I stumbled upon a small group of guys who thought I might be good enough to skip in their social scene. One of these blokes came to be My Little Mate.

He hadn’t been bowling for long but he demonstrated his natural talent and his exuberance toward his newly chosen sport.

This fellow had a long and successful career in Rugby League and would have played in higher grades but for the exceptional talent displayed by those above him.

He had other talents as well.

He was active in the Bridge-to-Bridge Event for 15 years and involved in the administration of the event after that.

My Little Mate had been playing lead with his friend Stan before I came along and doing quite well.

I saw his talent as a Second and that’s the spot he occupied in a social team which included another "new guy" named John and we three embarked on a social calendar every Wednesday and Saturday.

Stan likes to play Second and he often feigned displeasure of having "lost" him, but he knew he was a player of the future and stood aside to offer him the opportunity.

My Little Mate came on so well he was given a chance at Second in the Pennants of 2001.

Nobody tried harder or with more determination, he was a complete success in the spot. He played in all 10 rounds with a better than average win ratio and his dedication was noted due to unfailing attendance for the entire Pennant season.

I asked My Little Mate to play in the Zone Pairs this year.

He was delighted to be asked and questioned whether he was good enough.

I must have has a dizzy spell when I found I had entered the Seniors Pairs by mistake and you can imagine my embarrassment when I had to tell him of the error and that he was ineligible due to his youthful age.

True to his wonderful disposition, he said: "That’s too bad. Get yourself another partner and win the bloody thing."

The result of the tournament is now history and there is little doubt that his input helped to win the day.

Tears don’t come easy from this craggy face but they flowed freely at My Little Mate’s funeral on July 27.

John and I stood side by side with a good number of fellow bowlers to form a Guard of Honour and I left a space for Stan who was overseas and upset having to miss saying "Goodbye".

You see My Little Mate died from complications following surgery.

He had played in the Frank Kemp just days before with Glenn and I and impressed us all, new friends and old, with his confidence in the outcome and he approached the surgery just as he had with his bowls, calm and sure.

He gave me the pleasure of his company and his friendship, which I cherish.

He had a special love for bowls and all those who played it; he will be especially remembered for that.

I will miss My Little Mate, Noel Beringer, as will all his friends and fellow bowlers here at Everglades.

His happy disposition and his ability to place everyone at ease will be a memory for all of us for many years.

Bruce McDonald, September 3