Warrick Henderson on the tennis courts at Yarrawonga Lawn Tennis Club.
Victorian State award winning local lawn bowls greenkeeper at the Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort, who also looks after Yarrawonga’s lawn tennis courts and football oval, Warwick Henderson, is off to Wodonga Bowls Club.
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The 58-year-old, popularly known as ‘Wocka’ has ceased duty after solely looking after Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort’s two bowling greens and still working at the Yarrawonga Lawn Tennis Club courts and adjacent J C Lowe football oval before starting in Wodonga on March 1.
“It was a tough decision, after 10 years at the golf club and 14 at the tennis club,” he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“There’s been a lot of satisfaction in seeing the surfaces of the bowling greens and tennis courts really improve. Tennis players from out of town liken the court surfaces to Wimbledon and Kooyong, and lawn bowlers have spoken so well about the surfaces, that they’re second to none – that’s been very pleasing.
“There were challenges but we got there. You’ve got to have balance – the fertiliser regime and the soil balance. Surfaces must be smooth and true, the right bounce in tennis and top greens. It’s taken work but it’s something I’ve given my all.”
Yarrawonga Lawn Tennis Club has 23 lawn courts and four flexipave courts, and for its big Easter Tournament which attracts over 1,000 entries, has 30 more green courts on the adjacent football’s J C Lowe Oval.
Club president Daryl Bennett spoke so highly of Henderson. “He’s done a great job, to bring the courts up to a standard which, as far I’m concerned are the best not only in Victoria but the best in the whole country,” Mr Bennett said.
“Tennis Victoria bring their events up here because of the standard of the courts. We’re very sorry Warwick’s going.”
2019. On the greens at the Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort, the year of the state award.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort’s bowls tournament Anne Miles described Henderson’s departure as “a very huge loss”. “We’re not happy he’s going,” she said.
“It has been a privilege to play on both of our greens – they are the best in the Ovens and Murray and probably in Victoria.
“Warwick is a real perfectionist and we’ve been so lucky to have had him. We wish him all the best at Wodonga.”
Henderson has been “an amazing greenkeeper” according to the golf club bowls’ greens director Ray Irvine. “We’ve had the best greens in the O and M for quite some time,” Irvine said.
“He’s really dedicated to his job. He prepares greens beautifully, checks the lists of all players in competitions and makes sure everything is in tip-top shape. Members are disappointed he’s going.”
The ability of Henderson was formally recognised when he was named Greenkeeper of the Year 2018/19 by the Victorian Greenkeepers Association (VGA).
Over the years, he has helped out at the Tungamah and St James Bowling Clubs. Tungamah Bowls Club treasurer Steve Flanagan said Henderson has been a tremendous help with fertilisers, herbicides and greens’ maintenance resulting in laser level, top surfaces.
Henderson is also well renowned on the football field. A field umpire of some 660 games, which includes over half in the Ovens and Murray league and several O and M grand-finals, the much-respected umpire has at least 40 games to go before possible retirement from a top country league.
“Yes, I’m going again. I still have a couple more years at least – I want to get to 700,” the very fit Henderson said with season 2024 not far away.
“My son Jeremy (28) has run the boundary line in three grand-finals when I’ve umpired.”
Golf club course superintendent Chris Burgess described Henderson as “a true professional at his game”.
“With nearly 40 years of knowledge with bowls he’s been outstanding for the club to get the greens to a standard that bowlers consider are the best possible, if not the best in Victoria,” Mr Burgess said.
Wocka has loved living and working in Yarrawonga. “After 26 years I’ve had to make a tough call.” Wodonga Bowls Club, which has three greens and 21 rinks in need of repair, is in need of a top greenkeeper.
“They’re very repairable,” he said. Wodonga has got their man who, along with wife Tracey, is wished every success from his many admired sportspeople.
