Bowler Norm Margetic celebrates 99th birthday at ‘other home’ Geraldton Bowling Club

A Mid West bowling legend is 99 not out and still going strong.

A crowd gathered at Geraldton Bowling Club on Tuesday afternoon for a beer and nibbles to celebrate Norm Margetic’s 99th birthday.

Margetic, sitting at a table surrounded by family and friends and enjoying a beer, then addressed the crowd with the microphone to thank them for coming along.

“This is just like another home,” Margetic said.

“To one and all, thank you very, very much for what you’ve done.”

Club captain Joe Criddle said Margetic was the heart and soul of the match room, running the club’s raffles for more than 20 years.

“He’s a legend of the club,” Criddle said.

“He’s always there to help.

“He runs all the raffles in the club.

“It’d have to be in excess of $250,000 he’s raised over the years, and that’s being conservative.

“Everyone comes up and says hi to him when they come to our club.

“He’s an out-and-out champion, a true gentleman who helps anyone and everyone. His philosophy is ‘get up and get going’.’”

At the celebration, clubmates shared tales of bowling with Margetic in the 1970s, and visiting his family’s plumbing shop.

Margetic joined the GBC in 1958 and has been participating on the greens or as a volunteer ever since.

He was awarded life membership in the early 2000s.

Since retiring from work he has been a regular on the bowling scene, spending up to five days a week as a contributor and helper in the day-to-day running of the club and events.

Most Friday mixed scroungers through to weekend social days, a jovial Margetic will be found taking names and entries with perhaps an odd raffle or two.

The mixed scroungers on Fridays, with long-time organiser and mate Gary Smith, are a highlight along with the off-season Sunday men’s scroungers.

Margetic said the social days always guaranteed a laugh.