Betty Herbertson is no stranger to wearing the green and gold but after hanging up her 1994 Commonwealth Games uniform, she thought her days of representing her country were over.
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That was until last month when the gun Soldiers Point bowler was selected to represent Australia's senior women's side in the 2019 Trans Tasman Test Series.
"I never thought I'd represent Australia again but I guess you can never say 'never'," Herbertson said. "This will be my fourth time presenting Australia."
The first time Herbertson played for Australia was in 1992, 15 years after she took up lawn bowls, when she was selected for the Australian Emerging Player Team to complete in New Zealand.
The following year Herbertson won gold with her Australian triples team in the Pan Pacific Championships in Canada. She played lead in the triples and fours. She returned to Canada in 1994 for the Commonwealth Games where she played lead in the fours.
Herbertson will lead of Australia's senior women's fours team in the Trans Tasman Test series, which is being staged at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast November 25-27.
She will represent Australia alongside Beth Quinlan (NSW), Anne Miles (VIC), Louise Witton (QLD) and Noelene Abe (WA).
"I'm fortunate. I know them all very well," Herbertson said of her Jackaroos squad. "I've played them all before."
Team selection for the Trans Tasman Test was made at the Australian Senior Side Championships at Ettalong on October 21. Herbertson's team placed third in the championship, which she said she was "very happy with".
Herbertson was part of the senior women's side that won gold in the 2018 Australian Senior Side Championships.
Immediately following this year's championship tournament selectors announced their picks for the Jackaroos squad. "I was the third name called out. I was elated," she said.
It was Herbertson's husband, Brian, who introduced her to bowls in 1977.
Wanting to know who this 'Kitty' was that her husband spoke of on returning home from the Portland Bowling Club, in Victoria where they lived, she joined Brian on one of his bowls day.
Kitty, it turned out, was the jack used in lawn bowls. Herbertson began bowling socially but quickly moved into competitions.
"She left me for dead after that," Brian said.
Herbertson's list of bowls achievements, from the district up to the national level, is extensive.
She was made a life member of Portland Bowling Club in 2009 and has a tournament named in her honour. In 2015 Herbertson made the move to Merrylands, in Sydney. She played with Soldiers Point in 2010 but moved back to Merrylands until 2017 when she and Brian made the permanent move to Port Stephens.
"It's paradise here," Herbertson said. "Now I'm representing Soldiers Point and Australia. It's a real honour."
Herbertson is just as popular off the green as she is on it. While speaking with the Examiner at Soldiers Point Bowling Club last Friday, a steady stream of patrons stopped by the congratulate her on making the Australian team.
"I've got a little motto," Herbertson said. "If you conduct yourself in such a manner as to reflect credit on yourself and your club, it will take you a long way and to reach your goals. Those are words I live by."
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
