Xplosions Bowl Melton named 2021 Bowl Patrol Centre of the Year

Tenpin Bowling Australia (TBA) would like to congratulate Xplosions Bowl, in Melton Victoria after being selected as the 2021 National Bowl Patrol Centre of the Year. 

In late January, Xpolsions was one of six centres named in the annual State Awards which put them in contention for the national award. 

Upon hearing the news Xplosions had won the Bowl Patrol Centre of the Year award, Centre Manager Lisa Houston said everyone was excited.

“It was a team effort,” Houston said. “Being new to the business and being new to bowling, we thought it would be a great way to get kids in the community involved and hopefully, through Bowl Patrol, we could help introduce them to the sport then see the Patrollers continue through the junior league and possibly further. 

“We don’t do it for the recognition, we do it because we love it. We can’t wait to see the program grow,” she added.

Situated northwest of Melbourne, the centre ran its first Bowl Patrol program in Term 2 last year. 

While lockdown restrictions saw their Term 3 program face challenges, their eight-week program the following term saw their commitment to bringing Bowl Patrol to the local community come to life. It was an incredibly successful outcome of over 30 Bowl Patrol participants coming through the doors in a short period.

Victoria/Tasmania Sport Development Officer Shaun Johnson congratulated Xplosions on their national award.

“It is no small feat being the National Bowl Patrol Centre of the Year despite the challenging circumstances faced in 2021,” Johnson said. “Xplosions Bowl Melton have believed in the Bowl Patrol program from the beginning and have successfully implemented this program as their ‘learn to bowl’ program for primary aged children.

“The team’s persistence and hard work resulted in many Bowl Patrol participants across the year. Xplosions Bowl Melton actively promoted the Bowl Patrol program in-centre and via their social media channels, which has been the perfect combination to attract new kids to our great sport of Tenpin Bowling. 

“I can’t wait to see Xplosions Bowl Melton’s Bowl Patrol program grow further in 2022,” he added.

The centre staff work collaboratively to enable children in the local community an opportunity to learn how to bowl no matter their ability. 

Lane Ranger Mel Seaver, who was selected as the Victorian Bowl Patrol Lane Ranger of the Year, and the team shared the experience via the centre’s social, driving further interest and excitement about the program. 

“It’s pretty exciting to receive this award, but it’s even more exciting to win Centre of the Year,” 

“The reason I love doing this is to see the excitement on the kid’s faces and see them improve every week. It’s really exciting for them.

“We would like to thank TBA for helping us, encouraging us and supplying us with the equipment which made it easier to host the program. Thank you to the parents who bring along their kids, without them we wouldn’t be able to do this.”