Vale Graham McFarlane
Roderick (Graham) McFarlane was a proud and deserving recipient of an Order of Australia medal in the General Division of the 2002 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his service to lawn bowls, particularly through the ACT Bowls Association.
Graham served many years on both the ACT Bowls Association and Belconnen Bowling Club Boards. He was awarded Life Membership of ACT Bowls in 2000, the year he was also awarded the Australia 2000 Sports Medal.
Graham’s contribution to bowls over the last forty years in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory is enormous. He was one of the top experienced administrators in the game of lawn bowls. In NSW his contribution attracted Life Membership of the Clarence River District Bowling Association, the Caringbah Bowling Club where he served terms as President, also a term as president of the Grafton Bowling Club and President of Zone 1. On the local scene he served a term as President of Belconnen Bowling Club, progressed through the ranks of office, over a decade, from assistant secretary, secretary and a record term of five years as President.
Testimony of his outstanding organisational skills, he has been the pivot point person in organising numerous National Championships on behalf of Bowls Australia including a national Sides Championship at Tuggeranong Bowling Club.
David Allen, editor of a National Lawn Bowls Magazine, in March 1997 wrote –
“Big Mac’s (RG McFarlane) humble credo “I’m big, not big time” is a classic understatement. He is simply a great Australian”. Roderick (Graham) McFarlane was a proud and deserving recipient of an Order of Australia medal in the General Division of the 2002 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his service to lawn bowls, particularly through the ACT Bowls Association.
Graham served many years on both the ACT Bowls Association and Belconnen Bowling Club Boards. He was awarded Life Membership of ACT Bowls in 2000, the year he was also awarded the Australia 2000 Sports Medal.
Graham’s contribution to bowls over the last forty years in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory is enormous. He was one of the top experienced administrators in the game of lawn bowls. In NSW his contribution attracted Life Membership of the Clarence River District Bowling Association, the Caringbah Bowling Club where he served terms as President, also a term as president of the Grafton Bowling Club and President of Zone 1. On the local scene he served a term as President of Belconnen Bowling Club, progressed through the ranks of office, over a decade, from assistant secretary, secretary and a record term of five years as President.
Testimony of his outstanding organisational skills, he has been the pivot point person in organising numerous National Championships on behalf of Bowls Australia including a national Sides Championship at Tuggeranong Bowling Club.
David Allen, editor of a National Lawn Bowls Magazine, in March 1997 wrote –
“Big Mac’s (RG McFarlane) humble credo “I’m big, not big time” is a classic understatement. He is simply a great Australian”.
Outside of bowls Graham had a very distinguished career with the Postmaster General’s Department and later Australia Post over a period of forty years. He, like many others in the service, started as a humble telegram boy to be postmaster, one of the top administrators for the Hunter Valley Region and eventually became Tasmanian State Manager. After Tasmania he was domiciled in Sydney’s GPO in Martin Place where he was responsible for policy and corporatisation of the Australia Post network. He is a life member of the NSW Postal Institute.
Graham was also very community minded with years of service to Apex as president and secretary. He was organising secretary for an Apex Zone Convention including meetings, accommodation and associated functions for some 400 visitors.
Bowls ACT extends condolences to Grahams family.
Pictured: Main: Graham with ACT players Adam Jeffery, Paul Totterdell, Peter Roach and Ron McGlashon.
Second: Graham with former local Member and keen bowls supporter Bill Stefaniak.
Third: Graham with former President RVBA John Gullen
