Commonwealth Games lawn bowler Margaret Sumner OAM has died

Born on July 7, 1941, the Terang bowler died at South West Healthcare on October 16, aged 81.

She was the beloved daughter of the late Kath and Bill Terrington, wife of the late Allan Sumner and sister to the late Marion and Bill Carey, Shirley and Ian Brown, Maureen and Jim O'Donohue, Michael and Barb Terrington, Kevin and Julie Terrington and their families.

Sumner grew up with her family on Occupation Lane on a farm between Garvoc and The Sisters where they had 156 acres of land and milked 64 cows.

She studied at The Sisters State School then Terang High School. She left school when she was 14, remaining on the farm milking the cows. When she married Allan in 1966 the couple moved in as the proprietors of Garvoc Hotel.

Brother-in-law Ian Brown said bowls was a top priority for Sumner. "Bowls was important to Margaret, if anything was on like weddings, if she had a tournament, bowls came first - the bowls was her life," he said.

He has fond memories of his sister-in-law. "In about 1961, we'd been out to Occupation Lane for dinner on the Sunday night, and Bill and Kath, her mother and father, had taken her to a bowls day in Mortlake. Bill came home that night and said 'she's going to make a champion'," he said.

Mr Brown praised the "excellent" work of the Warrnambool Base Hospital nurses who cared for Sumner.

Terang Bowling Club said Sumner was a much-loved champion, friend and dedicated club member.

Committee member Graeme Downie said she was a wealth of knowledge.

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"She was friendly, happy and a very positive and encouraging particularly of new bowlers and players and just somebody that was always around the club helping out with everything that needed to be done - from making cups of tea to running the events," he said.

Sumner was honoured at the Western District Playing Area mid-week pennant matches on Tuesday, with all Terang members wearing black arm bands and a minute's silence was observed.

Her career began at Terang Bowling Club in 1979, where she won the club singles title 15 times. She represented Victoria in 132 matches plus 168 for her country.

She competed in the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada and won silver at the 1998 games in Kuala Lumpur. She received an OAM in 2009 for her service to lawn bowls.

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