Fingal Bay Bowls, Sports & Recreation Club 20 year celebrations!

In 1985 the Fingal Bay, Shoal Bay Progress Association formed a Committee to study the feasibility of forming a Club in the Fingal Bay area. This Committee was chaired by Roy Clark and consisted of six other persons namely John Hendy, Ray Dodd, Len Packham, Mrs Vi Adamson, Kevin Workman, and Bob King (as Secretary).

The findings of this Committee was that it was feasible to have a community based sporting club in Fingal Bay so planning commenced.

Then in 1986 a group of would be Lawn Bowlers commenced bowling on a monthly basis at various Bowling Clubs in the Newcastle District.

In 1986 Provisional affiliation with the Newcastle District Bowling Association was granted an application was made to incorporate the Club under the N.S.W. Companies Act. On granting of incorporation the Fingal Bay and Shoal Bay Progress Association passed a resolution to sever connection with the newly formed Public Company, The Final Bay Bowls, Sports and Recreation Club Ltd with a Board of Directors of the 7 persons who had performed the Feasibility Study.

Building plans were drawn up by Paul Sinclair and a Development Application submitted to Port Stephens Council for the construction of a "factory with windows" in 1987 by local builder Graeme Sosso. Whilst the building was
under construction "Dad's Army" was formed from volunteers to perform ground enhancement including construction of the first green under the direction of Gordon Periers, greenkeeper at Nelson Bay Bowling Club. By Melbourne Cup Day
of that year the slab was down, walls were up and the roof was on and some windows in, so we held our very first Melbourne Cup Luncheon. All attends had to supply their own chairs, tables and food.

On the 12th December 1988 The Fingal Bay Bowls sports and Recreation Club, opened its doors for trading.

The growth of the club in the first ten years was frantic, with about 6 extensions that increased the size of the club.

The last 10 years (1998 to 2008) has been a period of consolidating the club and its finances, of looking to the future, but still continuing to strive to improve the club facilities so that all members and visitors walk out of our club saying "WOW, what a great little club", I will definitely be back.

Four years ago , the club moved away from volunteers running the club and employed a full time Club Secretary Manager Mr Stephen Ellias.

A special thanks to all our members and visitors who have shown support for this club over the last 20 years and with their continued support we will be still here to celebrate our next 20 years.