Gender on agenda in BBD midweek pennant

Bowls Victoria has been in discussions with the BBD about the format of its midweek pennant competition in relation to the involvement of men and the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act.

The BBD indicated on its Facebook page on Friday it had been advised that its present rules for midweek division one pennant may not comply with the Equal Opportunity Act.

But Bowls Victoria chief executive Graeme Bridge says the association can continue to operate under its current format if members are surveyed and supportive of the status quo.

The BBD has had men play midweek pennant for the past six years since the amalgamation of what had been separate men’s and women’s associations into one.

But only women can play in midweek division one.

Division two, three and four sides have had one male per rink who could play lead or second, while division five sides have been allowed two males per rink with the same position restrictions.

“To lawfully discriminate to exclude one sex from a competition, the BBD has to survey its membership to build an evidence base to support any potential claim for discrimination,” Bridge said on Friday.

“That information was conveyed to the BBD in a regional meeting at Elmore on Wednesday, May 17.

“If they want to run a competition where they restrict where men play they have to survey their membership to get their support in regards to what they’re doing.

“The BBD can’t have rules in their local competition which are in effect discriminatory unless they have built that case to support what they are doing.

“Nothing here has to change, provided they have the evidence to support it.

“Bowls Victoria will take a keen interest in seeing what the responses are from the clubs.

“Bowls Victoria is all about actively encouraging participation by all its members and future participants.”

Following its discussions with Bowls Victoria, the BBD board – with the understanding it must make change to its format in relation to equal opportunity – has presented three midweek pennant options to its clubs, who have until July 15 to vote.

Option one is for midweek pennant to be open for all divisions in which there are no restrictions, meaning a team could be potentially filled with 12 men.

Option two would be the same as what’s currently in place in regards to division restrictions, with the only change being a division one side would also be able to select one male per rink.

And the third option is for a women only competition likely to run on the same day and same time as an open competition, with the number of divisions for each to be determined by the tally of teams entered.

“We’ll wait until we get the results back from the clubs as to what happens next. If the clubs want change they will vote for it,” BBD secretary Geoff Howes said.

Bowls Victoria has a membership base of about 42,500. According to its figures, 65 per cent of its members are male and 35 per cent female.

Bendigo’s 2017-18 pennant season starts in October.