Goulburn Valley Bowls Divison welcomes four new members to Hall of Fame

By Zac Standish

Apr 27, 2022

Worthy recognition: Tallygaroopna’s Mark Ryan enters the GVBD Hall of Fame. Photo by Megan Fisher

The who’s who of Goulburn Valley bowls descended on the East Shepparton Bowls Club last night to celebrate four new inductees to the GVBD Hall of Fame.

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Honoured as part of the organisation’s annual presentation night, Tallygaroopna duo Mark Ryan and Matthew Robertson, East Shepparton’s Stacey Collier and Shepparton Park’s Beverley Cahill made up what is a star-studded class of 2022.

Established in 2016, the GVBD Hall of Fame now has 23 members, while Edna Harling, Keith Warburton, Roy Rowan, Jean Sprague and Wally Sinclair are recognised as legends.

No further members received legend status as part of the 2022 ceremony.

Entry to the GVBD Hall of Fame caps off an excellent month for Redlegs duo Ryan and Robertson, who were both key cogs in Tallygaroopna’s maiden Allan Matheson Shield premiership triumph.

Beginning his bowling career in 1998, Ryan has made a habit of premiership success in his illustrious career, taking part in three division one Murray League flags with Nathalia and seven Goulburn Valley titles with Shepparton Golf, Mooroopna, Shepparton Park and now Tallygaroopna.

Of those victories, six came as coach, where he famously brought maiden division one triumphs to Mooroopna, Shepparton Park and Tallygaroopna.

Welcome to the Hall of Fame: Matthew Robertson joins the GVBD after a distinguished career. Photo by Holly Curtis

He has also represented Victoria on countless occasions, and has a stellar individual resume which includes a runner up in the PBA Scottish Welsh International Open in 2008/09 and Victorian Open Men’s Singles championship in 2011/12.

Joining long-time teammate Ryan in the Hall of Fame, Robertson sports a similarly impressive record.

An eight-time club champion, he has been synonymous with success since he started at Mooroopna as a 13-year-old, participating in eight division-one premierships across his time at Shepparton Golf and Tallygaroopna.

At association level Robertson has been equally as impressive, six singles championships, six pairs championships and being crowned the singles champion of champions on three occasions.

After a three-year stint as lawn bowls coach co-ordinator with Benalla in the Ovens and Murray competition, Robertson then returned to the GV, where he helped build the Tallygaroopna Bowls Club into the powerhouse it is today.

Joining the Redlegs pair in the 2022 intake is recent Goulburn Murray Singles Champion of Champions Stacey Collier.

Following in the footsteps of her father Bob, Collier joined the Mooroopna Golf Bowls Club as an eight-year-old, and has been a member of five further Goulburn Valley Clubs (Mooroopna, Shepparton, Tatura, Hill Top and East Shepparton).

Collecting eight club championships across the journey, she has represented the region on the national stage with distinction, winning several state singles and pairs titles along with a state fours title and World Under-25 Championship.

She also enjoyed a distinguished junior career, claiming a Victorian Junior Singles championship in 1998/99 and Australian Junior Singles championship in 1999/2000.

Stellar career: Stacey Collier has been a stalwart of Goulburn Valley bowls. Photo by Bianca Mibus

Collier is renowned for her impact on other club members during her career, as she has always been willing to help other bowlers and impart her knowledge on the next generation.

Rounding out the class of 2022 is Shepparton Park legend Beverley Cahill.

Beginning her bowls career as a 36-year-old with Stanhope, Cahill immediately took the game of bowls, warming to its social aspects.

An individual resume highlighted by an Australian Open triples triumph in 2012, Cahill has won four Goulburn Valley state triple crowns, a Victoria Open triples title and two Goulburn Valley state fours titles.

Along with her success in triples and fours, Cahill has won five club championships and three Goulburn Valley State Singles crowns.

Joining the club: Shepparton Park’s Bev Cahill forms part of the 2022 Hall of Fame induction. Photo by Ray Sizer

She has also enjoyed great success at pennant level, participating in nine premierships over her careers with Shepparton and Shepparton Park.

But while her bowls resume speaks for itself, Cahill had an equally as profound influence off the green, holding numerous executive positions.

Serving as chairperson of the GV match committee from 2008 to 2011 and then again from 2015 to 2019, she has given much of her time to helping grow the game in the region.

At club level, Cahill was president of the Ladies section of Shepparton Park Bowls Club from 2014 to 2016 and has played a part in organising countless events including the Queens Birthday Tournament.

● Photos from the presentation evening will be printed in Thursday’s News.