Warrnambool lawn bowler Grant Gibson opens up on battle with Motor neurone disease

"When the proper diagnosis came through, and it was all laid out to me, it was quite confronting," he said.

"The professor said you'd be in a wheelchair within three years, and there's a 98 percent chance you'll be dead within five.

"Neale Daniher has had it for 15 years, but he is in the one percent.

"When that is actually on you, and your mortality is questioned, it took me a little while to process that."

But when the time does come for Gibson's likely move into a wheelchair, it isn't going to stop him continuing to compete out on the bowling greens.

Playing in Warrnambool Gold's midweek division one team on Tuesday, Gibson, known to many as Horse with the initials GG, celebrated with teammates after a dominant win over City Rubies.

With Gibson often taking on the role of skipper in last year's Saturday competition, the 56-year-old stepped into Gold's fold three weeks ago as the third on Jon Clegg's rink, hoping to play a supporting role.

Since then, Gold has won two of three games, beating City Diamonds by 31 shots and City Rubies by 38 to even their record.

"Everyone did their bit for their position today, and when we were in trouble, we got out of it," Gibson said of the City Rubies result.

With a log jam occurring in the middle of the midweek division one ladder, it means Tuesday's winning result was even more critical to separating Warrnambool Gold from the pack.

An avid golfer over the years, Gibson would be considered a newcomer to the game of lawn bowls after picking it up six years ago.

First playing with Lake Bolac, Gibson crossed to Warrnambool Bowls Club last season after he and wife Judy moved closer to Mortlake.

Throughout the past year however, the effects of Gibson's MND have taken a toll, with a walking stick and right leg brace now aiding his walk.

"I couldn't shower myself, or go to the toilet, I needed help with a lot of things," Gibson said.

"But I've been doing some different rehabs and got on some different drugs which has helped.

"I went to the MND clinic just over a week ago and they were shocked that I walked in there."

Gibson said the effects of the disease were hard to explain, comparing it to having a ghost inside the body.

"There are different types of MND and I've got the worse," he said.

"When I couldn't walk, my left arm and my face were doing stupid things.

"Thankfully I've managed to keep it at bay, but it's a strange disease. There is no rhyme or reason, it's just random."

"Kid you not, I would have fallen over 100 times this year and been knocked out a few times."

In the days and weeks after his diagnosis, Gibson said he had initially let the disease take over.

But he has since rebounded with the support of many, including the bowls fraternity, with his own wicked sense of humour fully back on show throughout Tuesday's game.

"With positive thought, and with a lot of decent support, I've come better," Gibson said.

"I've got a lovely wife, Judy, who spoils me.

"And I was at the MND clinic for four hours the other week, and there were five experts from different fields and I've never felt so spoiled; they really cover every little thing.

"But it's funny when these things happen, people you thought we're pretty good mates, all of a sudden, back off.

"But then other people who were maybe more acquaintances, show another side.

"Death, marriages and babies, it can bring the good and bad out of people and I've seen that."

While Warrnambool Gold claimed a dominant win on Tuesday, the remaining division one midweek clashes all went down to the wire.

City Sapphires pulled off a stunning three-shot upset over competition leaders Koro Orange, while at Port Fairy, Port Gold edged ahead of City Diamonds by two to claim its second win of the season.

In a top four showdown, it was third placed Tera Gold who got the better of top two Timb Maroon, 61 to 56 at Timboon Bowling Club.

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