Viv honoured for years of bowls service

Viv honoured for years of bowls service

Helping a visually impaired aunty play indoor bowls has led to a half a century of involvement with indoor bowls for local woman Viv Hudson, who was awarded life membership from the Horowhenua Indoor Bowls Centre at the annual general meeting late last month.

Viv was introduced to the sport in Wellington in 1975 as a guide for the blind, volunteering to help her late aunty Hazel Orme and others participate, having recently retired from competitive hockey herself.

“I went along and helped out and played from then on. That was how it all started,” she says.
Viv became a New Zealand umpire in 1981 and umpired internationally when New Zealand played Australia at Balclutha in 2011.
Having offered her services to New Zealand Indoor Bowls she was appointed the NZ Umpires representative on the NZIB executive and served in this position from 2006-2013.
Viv has also represented the Horowhenua Centre over many years as a player and has enjoyed the challenge that the game provides, to play fairly and “enjoy the game”, and dispel the myth the sport is restricted just to “older folk”.
Off the mat, Viv has served terms as president and treasurer, and on match committees for Horowhenua. She has played out of the Ihakara Indoor Bowls club since 1979, where she is also a life member.
Most of her playing was with her father, Percy Hudson, and another aunty, Rene McLeod, who were both great bowlers. 
The award was an emotional time for her and as she accepted it,  felt humbled to receive it from patron Bruce Pedley, with whom she has played many games.
On receiving the award, Viv said “I had no idea it was coming”.
Viv is also a member of Waitārere Beach Outdoor Bowling club, serving on the match committee and part of the selection team.
She is also on the board of Bowls Kapiti Coast.
Her motto is to “give back to a sport which you have got something out of “.
Viv is always around to encourage new players and continues to love the sport on a regular basis. After 50 years in the sport she says she will continue to play as long as she is able.