Every bowler has heard the term ‘club person’.

It paints a picture of someone who is dedicated to their club, who goes above and beyond for the club, who is always there for the club, and who is always one of the first to put up their hand for a working bee or whatever.

We love them, and every club wishes they had more ‘club people’.

We particularly like the ‘club person’ who does things unconditionally, who does not insist on having things done their way, who does not need to be the club boss, and who simply wants to help whenever and wherever needed, bringing joy and happiness in doing so.

Kimberly Carraher is one such person. She is a treasure at the Forbury Park Bowling Club in Dunedin, and now she is also Bowls New Zealand’s Club Person of the Year 2025.

It is no wonder. In the four years she has been a member of the club, following in the footsteps of her parents Miriam and Cyril Torrance, she has made a huge impact by doing what a ‘club person’ does—anything and everything.

Club Life Member Mike Bracegirdle is one of her biggest fans.

“For the last two years,” says Mike, “she’s run the ‘Give Bowls a Go Fridays’ at Forbury Park Bowling Club every week during the season, introducing bowls to a mix of newbies, school kids, adults, disabled, whoever.

“She also runs the club’s Bowls3FIVE twilight competition. Now in its third year, it attracts a full green of participants, including non-bowlers, every week for eight weeks over the season. There’s even a waiting list.

“Thanks to her dedication to recruiting and supporting new people into the club, Forbury Park was able to enter four teams in the Junior Fours for the first time ever this year. We won both the men’s and women’s competitions.”

Her club involvement and skills go far beyond the games of bowls.

“Kimberly is responsible for our club’s online and social media presence,” adds Mike. “Her skills even extend to graphic design. She designed our new logo and visual identity, which we introduced recently, and now use across all our signage, strips, and merchandise.”

Bowls New Zealand National Para Coach and Community Manager, Kevin Smith, is also a big fan.

“She’s actively involved in Bowls New Zealand’s ‘Have A Go at Bowls’ events for blind and disabled participants,” says Kevin. “More specifically, she has embraced coaching and directing fellow Forbury Park member Sonya Woodrow, who is vision impaired.

Sonya Woodrow and Kimberly Carraher with Sonya's Guide Dog Vesna

“Both Kimberly and Sonya want to be the best and already make a formidable visually impaired team. They are down practising at the Hopes Stadium in Dunedin every week.

“They’ll go far, not just because of their prowess and hardworking ethic, but because Kimberly brings so much energy, enthusiasm, and inspiration to the game. She’s fantastic.”

Nothing exemplifies that more than when Kimberly and Sonya recently appeared on national television as this week’s ‘Good Sorts’.

As frontperson Haydn Jones observed, “This is a sparking tale about two women who found each other at a Dunedin bowls club. One can see and one cannot. Together they are going to do some amazing things.”

Congratulations to Kimberly Carraher on being Bowls New Zealand’s Club Person of the Year.