Fours champions had average age of 84

The Umina Beach Men's Bowling Club's 2025 Fours Championship final has been won by a team with an average age of over 84.

The final of the Championship was played in glorious sunshine on Sunday, February 2, according to club secretary Mr Peter Springett.

"This epic David and Goliath final was played between the Superstars, comprised of Lee Cribbs, Jayden Moody, Brett Jacobson and Greg Shirley, and the Oldies, comprised of Gordon Azzopardi (71), Norm Lang (90), Brian Butterworth (89) and Allan Jones (87).

"The Oldies had been playing very well as a team in the earlier rounds, but this was going to be their ultimate test.

"The Oldies got out to a 5-1 lead after four ends, a 10-2 lead after eight ends and a 16-4 lead after 11 ends.

"The Superstars won four consecutive ends and reduced the deficit to 16-12.

"Everyone in the huge crowd of spectators thought: 'Here it comes'.

"But the Oldies, led by Azzo, dug deep and won the next three ends one, two and four, making it 23-12 after 20 ends, so no need to play the last end.

"Allan Jones was probably the player of the match and guided the Oldies round the park very well, all afternoon, but Norm, Brian and Azzo were sensational as well."

SOURCE:

Social media, 2 Feb 2025

Peter Springett, UBMBC

Umina clinic success leads to call for another

Since opening 12 months ago, over 12,000 patients have been seen at the Peninsula Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Umina Beach, according to Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid.

"That is why I am fighting for another Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in the south of the Central Coast," he said.

The walk-in clinic is open seven days a week with extended operating hours.

"Medicare Urgent Care Clinics help reduce pressure on our hospitals and emergency departments, allowing them to focus on higher urgency and life-threatening conditions.

Dr Reid said: "As an emergency department doctor, practising medicine at the Wyong Hospital Emergency Department, I understand how important Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are.

"Medicare Urgent Care Clinics help reduce pressure on our emergency departments and provide an avenue of urgent care for people when they have urgent but not life-threatening illnesses.

"These clinics treat minor fractures, sports injuries, insect bites, and minor infections, just to name a few.

"It is clear how successful the Peninsula Medicare Urgent Care Clinic has been since opening in 2023.

"Another clinic will ensure even more people can access a free doctor when they need to.

"Over the coming months, I will be taking my petition suburb to suburb, door to door, and asking our Central Coast community for their support.

"I want to gather as much support as possible, for another clinic, to show the Health Minister that this additional clinic is needed," Dr Reid said.

The petition may be signed online, via http://penne.ws/NarXep.

The Peninsula Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is located at 297 West St, Umina.

SOURCE:

Media release, 4 Feb 2025

Gordon Reid, Member for Robertson