BOOTED AT BOWLO

WORLD TITLE CLUB DRAMA

The couple credited with transforming the Broadbeach Bowls Club from a venue on the brink of collapse into a globally renowned establishment have been sensationally ousted on the eve of the World Bowls Championships they are hosting.

A year after accepting the Daphne Pirie Spirit of Sport title at the Gold Coast Sports Awards for their services to the club, chairman Barry Gilbert and wife Colleen, the general manager, were informed last Friday that they won’t be involved in it moving forward.

The duo claim they were told by new chairman Wayne Adams that their positions at the club would end the same day as the Championships that they helped deliver.

A furious and heartbroken Barry Gilbert revealed the staggering millions they had personally invested since taking on the role in 2008 along with the family tragedy that had unfolded during their tireless commitment to Broadbeach.

“I’ve sacrificed my grandchildren by not going to see them play sport because there was no one to look after the club,” Barry said

“I hadn’t gone down to see my mother who was dying in hospital because we couldn’t get someone to run it, and now they cut us.

“We’ve saved the club probably two million in wages in the time we’ve been there, we’ve worked seven days a week without one holiday and now a few people come in and get rid of us.”

Gilbert claimed Colleen worked for $565 a week until September 20 last year, when it increased to $1500, in order to save the club money.

They have also successfully lobbied to have $3 million in renovations done to the club after the world titles.

The club was in financial ruin when they joined.

It owed $150,000 and barely able to pay the couple of staff they had while trying to survive each day.

They were on the verge of handing over the club to Kurrawa Surf Club within a week before the Gilberts worked their magic.

The club is now a bucket list destination for bowlers from around the world who come to see the club’s life-size statue of a bull, another thing brought in by the Gilberts, play on the greens that hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games and have a beer at a club that will host the 2023 World Championships.

Forty-four nations will descend on the region across five locations including the Broadbeach, Helensvale, Musgrave, Mudgeeraba and Paradise Point bowls clubs.

Adams was contacted for comment but did not respond to calls or text messages.

The news of Barry and Colleen’s departure has quickly made its rounds on the Gold Coast, with one ex-board member and businessman, who wished to remain anonymous, labelling it ‘totally wrong.’

“They’ve built this phenomenal business and it’s very sad that they can’t leave it in a more human way,” he said.