Dennington Bowls Club begins Bowling with Babies program

The club will host its first Bowling with Babies session on Wednesday.

The four-week program aims to support new and expecting mums to be more active, without the guilt of leaving their babies in the care of someone else.

President Tony Scott is hoping to get good numbers at the first session from 9.30am - 10.30am on Wednesday.

"It's for mums and mums-to-be to have a bit of fun and do a bit of physical activity," he said.

"It's not very demanding just one hour a week for four weeks (each Wednesday).

"We want to give mums a chance to socialise and learn a new sport."

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Scott said the club would provide facilities such as a playpen and change tables.

He added participants would get some basic bowls instruction but the focus was on socialising and fun.

The president said there was a demand for the program but he wasn't sure how many would attend the first session.

"There's been a lot of interest without a lot of people registered," he said.

Bowling with Babies, a VicHealth funded program, is a Bowls Victoria initiative.

In 2017, VicHealth announced $6.7 million in funding to 19 sporting organisations, including Bowls Victoria, to get more Victorian women and girls healthy and active.

Bowling with Babies was implemented and more than 700 mums have taken part in the program since it launched in 2017.

Scott, who is grateful to South West Sport for its support, said the club was pleased to take it on.

"We've been really promoting ourselves as a community club not just a bowls club," he said.

Scott said Terang Bowls Club had also hosted a Bowling with Babies program.

"They ran one in Terang in October which was quite successful," he said.

Scott said bowls involved more than championships and pennants and it was important to showcase the social side of the game.

"We're pushing that it can provide a good social atmosphere," he said.

The Western District Bowls Division released its first ever strategic plan earlier this year and one of its priorities is to drive up the number of the women playing the game.

Mums and bubs sessions are just part of the plan to help boost the number of women participating in bowls in the south-west.

In March, WDBD's Marian Treweek said the division planned to run a number of initiatives to encourage female participation.

"They have been declining in numbers because ladies are working longer and not taking the sport up at such an early age," she said.

"So the number of ladies playing have been dwindling over the past few years.

"We're hoping to work with some of the clubs and have some come and try days and perhaps some programs like mums and bubs and things like that which are suitable for females of all ages.

"Just to try and get them to come and play, not necessarily play pennant, just to come and have a go."

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