Rosie Lorenz and Marion Cartledge look forward to their fortnightly cuddles with babies at the Traralgon Bowls Club. The keen bowlers have been voluntarily running the club’s Bowling with Babies program since 2018.

Started by Bowls Victoria, Bowling with Babies is a wellbeing initiative for new parents, who can catch up and try the sport in a comfortable, relaxing environment that is safe for their babies.

“We’re very fortunate at our club to have a completely enclosed bowling green that can be used any time of day or night and in any weather,” explains Rosie.

Along with a handful of other volunteers, Rosie and Marion provide healthy snacks for the children, freshly baked scones for the parents, and supervision (and plenty of cuddles) for the babies.

The children play in a fenced-off area on the green equipped with mats and light-weight rubber bowls. While the children’s ‘bowling’ could be described as organised chaos, some of the parents have picked up the game with help from the program’s experienced volunteers.

“We don’t push it, but we do tell them if they want to learn, we’re not official coaches but we’re all bowlers so we do know how to play – so if any of them do show interest, we can show them how,” says Rosie.

Marion adds: “Some of the mothers feel a bit like teenagers, a little bit shy or embarrassed or think they won’t be able to do it, but they have tried it and had a laugh and had fun”.

“I think a lot of the mums also treat this as a time when they can talk and relax. Even if they don’t know each other, they all have the common interest of being new parents,” says Marion.

“I mean we’ve all been new mums, and we know what it’s like, it can be isolating,” Rosie adds.

The program has created a sense of community – attracting fathers and grandparents as well as new mothers – and has led to firm friendships.

“We’ve had 2 ladies who have been coming since the very beginning. Their children are now ready to start school next year, and one of them has had another baby since,” says Rosie.

“The toddlers interact with one another, and they’ve got to know one another,” says Marion.

“Even the babies do,” adds Rosie. “They’re so funny, especially the ones that are crawling, they’ll sit there and talk to each other, it’s gorgeous.”

The club actively supports the program as a community service, also providing changing tables, mats for the babies to lie on, and a Christmas lunch every year.

Even though COVID put the program on hold a few times, it’s now back up and running regularly, and attracting new participants from the local area and beyond.

“Our aim is to provide a safe environment and give the parents a bit of break,” says Rosie. “They trust us, and we love it,” says Rosie. “And hopefully down the track some of them will stay involved in bowling.”