Costing a fee of two guineas paid for by his father, Francis, so began what has this year become 70-consecutive seasons of membership with the club for Harry.

While 90-year-old Harry no longer plays – he bowed out on a high with a division seven premiership in 2012 – he has continued to maintain his South Bendigo membership for what is now a platinum anniversary.

“I was 20 when I joined in 1947 and the club was based in an old weatherboard building… the ladies had their own clubhouse separated by lawn and the rules back then were no women were allowed to come into the men’s club,” Harry recalled on Wednesday.

“So things have changed a fair bit now from back then when I first joined.

“I was three months shy of turning 21 when I joined, so I wasn’t allowed to go up to the bar yet to get a drink.

“In those days, you had to be 21 before you could get served a beer, so that was a bit hard for a few months. Dad would get me a soft drink… but I couldn’t wait until I was 21.

“My dad bowled at the club for about 50 years, and both my grandfathers (Francis Buckell and Joseph Knight) played with the club and served as secretary and treasurer, so it has been a family affair for a long time.”

After initially starting out as a social bowler, Harry first played pennant in the 1950 season, starting in South Bendigo’s top team.

But he quickly realised the seriousness in which pennant was played at the top level in Bendigo wasn’t for him and he was content to slip down the ranks.

Of the 70 years Harry has been involved at the club, one of his most memorable seasons was in 2004-05 when he played pennant in Division C2 alongside Bob Palmer, Ron Meurer and Lindsay Raeburn – an experienced rink with a combined age of more than 320.

“The four of us were the longest-serving members at the club,” Harry said.

“We only lost two games out the 14 we played that season and the club thought it was fantastic that four old blokes with more than 320 years in age was able to play so well.

“We made the finals and went on and won the C2 pennant against Eaglehawk.”

That was one of nine premiership teams Harry has played in through what he estimates is about 868 games of pennant for South.

As well as his nine premierships, Harry was also South Bendigo’s 1977 B grade champion, and in the same season also took out the Bendigo District Bowls Association’s Division B pairs championship with Cliff Foreman.

Of the many photos that adorn the South Bendigo walls, one features the opening of a previous weatherboard clubhouse in 1932 that features a six-year-old Harry.

“I don’t remember the opening that day… 85 years ago is a bit too long ago,” Harry said.