RAYMOND Terrace lawn bowls legend Natasha Van Eldik has achieved her proudest honour yet as an inaugural World Bowls Hall of Fame inductee.
The Port Stephens “queen of the greens” is one of 30 international bowlers – including 10 Jackaroos – recognised for lawn bowls excellence.
The decorated Van Eldik will celebrate her prestigious achievement at a special induction ceremony during the inaugural World Cup, which takes place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 4-8 November.
Other Australian Jackaroos to be inducted include Mark Casey OAM, Lynsey Clarke (Armitage), Kelsey Cottrell, Rex Johnston OAM, Karen Murphy AM, Dorothy Roche OAM, Aron Sherriff, Rebecca Van Asch (Quail) and Brett Wilkie.
The induction ceremony will be attended by Bowls Malaysia’s royal patron; the Sultan of Terengganu, Mizan Zainal Abidin.
The first inductees, whose achievements have set an exceptionally high standard, were put forward by a specially appointed awards and nominations committee led by chair Kerry Clark of New Zealand.
All inductees have achieved outstanding results across World Bowls pinnacle events (World Championships and Commonwealth Games) as well as the World Champion of Champions, World Indoor, Atlantic Championships, Asia/Pacific Championships, WIBC/IIBC World Indoor, and World Bowls Tour Open Singles.
World Bowls president Brett O’Riley said the first Hall of Fame induction is a landmark moment and embraces the players who have shaped the sport and still actively contribute across a gamut of roles.
By Chris KARAS
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