The legendary bowler switched sports from tennis to start his career with the club in 1957 and started bowling in pennant teams in 1964.

He has gradually worked his way up the ranks to become captain of several pennant- winning teams.

“I started playing because I was finding tennis a bit too hard for me,” Bourke said.

“It began with night bowls for a few years.

“I always like the game and was happy when I got picked in the pennant side.”

Bourke maintained his consistency for several years and lists an A-grade pennant in 1969 among his proudest achievements.

Bourke was honoured by the club in 2010 with the naming of the “Kevin Bourke Green” at the Henty Bowling Club.

“That was a wonderful moment for me because it’s there for life,” he said.

“The club’s always been very good to me and that was a surprise.”

While the game has brought Bourke many good memories, he says the only disappointment was having a zone championship stripped away from the club several years ago.

“We’d won the zone championship but a few days later were disqualified for fielding an unregistered player,” he said.

“It was a real disappointment but we couldn’t blame the secretary at the time because the player was an honorary member and the secretary had never seen his name on the paperwork.”

Bourke’s playing days looked in doubt a few years ago when bowling became more difficult as he aged.

But a change of bowling arm and relinquishing the captaincy has since brought about a new lease of life for the 82-year-old. 

“I’m using a new bowling hand and I’m playing even better than I was before,” he said.

“I’m 82 now and I’ve got no real difficulty playing.

“It makes it a lot easier taking on a different role and not skipping (captaining).

“There’s less standing organising things so I get the opportunity to sit down and rest.”

Bourke served as club president from 1984-88, 1995-97 and then 2002-03.

He has been a club vice-president for more than 10 years over varying periods and received life membership in 1989.