Ettalong club director dies following ill health
A director of the Ettalong Memorial Bowling Club, Mr Ken Dixon, has died aged 73 at Gosford Hospital on Sunday, May 25, following ill health for the past two and half years.
Mr Dixon was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in last year's King's Birthday Honours for service to youth, and to the community of the Central Coast.
He was acknowledged for his role as vice-president of the bowling club board and as charity bowls co-ordinator and as a board member of the Community Bank in Ettalong from 2013-2019.
He was a director of Stewart House and its director of finance since 2013.
His sporting involvements have included being a life member of the Woy Woy Bowling Club and its Pelicans Fishing Club and a member of the executive of Woy Woy Cricket Club and its president from 1998-1999.
Before he retired, Mr Dixon was general manager of finance and administration for the Department of Education and Training from 2005-2009, and its director of finance prior to that from 1989-2004.
Ettalong Bowling Club director Mr Kerry Watkins said: "He was a well known and popular person on the Peninsula who in recent years was involved in introducing and co-ordinating Dickos Dogs Wednesday morning bowls at Ettalong.
"The event has grown to be the most popular social weekly event on the Coast where well over 100 bowlers play each Wednesday.
"Over the years Ken has also raised funds for many charities including raising more than $100,000 for Central Coast Kids in Need."
Mr Watkins said: "Ken was a member at Woy Woy Bowling Club for about 40 years and took on the role of chairman and administrator when the club was trading poorly.
"He attempted to place the club in a position to trade out of its financial difficulties and was successful for some time.
"Unfortunately the club finally had to sell its premises and with little capital injection and increasing overheads closed in 2022.
"Originally Ken's fund-raising efforts were focused on Careflight at Woy Woy Bowling Club before teaming up with Central Coast Kids In Need.
"On closing, the Charity Bowls was briefly run at Everglades before being welcomed by Ettalong Memorial Bowling Club some six years ago."
Mr Watkins said Mr Dixon had been a keen sportsperson.
"He played First Grade cricket for his local Bankstown Cricket Club.
"Being wicket keeper, he found himself behind the stumps at a time when Bankstown fielded two of Aust,alia's fastest bowlers in Len Pascoe and Jeff Thomson.
"His love of cricket rarely saw him miss a New Year Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground where he was a long-time member.
"Being a Bankstown local. Ken was a loyal Canterbury Bulldogs supporter.
"Ken will be missed by his family, friends, and colleagues."
SOURCE:
Media release, 27 May 2025
Kerry Watkins, Ettalong Bowling Club