Churchills words Never, ever, ever, ever, ever give up! come to mind when you ponder the life of Arch Baxter, born 1st July 1930 in Edmonton, London just down the road from Churchills Oxford birthplace.

Arch lives in Elizabeth, South Australia and joined the Elizabeth Bowling Club in 1983, in his 50s having never tried the sport before. He is now in his 33rd year there, but no reflection on him, the Club as he knows it, is closing its doors this month to amalgamate with Munno Para Bowls Club. Both Clubs will compete under the banner of the Playford Bowling Club at Munno Para while they await the construction of new greens (one under cover) at the old Elizabeth site.

Not wanting to be idle after his, planned for, retirement in 1987, 3 years shy of 60, Arch joined his wife Renee as a member of the South Australian Miniature Club and started making miniature furnishings and objects in 1984. The Miniature Club has done very well in supporting Charities over the years. Arch states that So far the Club would have made over $25,000 for charity and most of that would have gone to the Childrens Hospital. Last weekend (Aug. 2016) I was demonstrating with my wood lathe for two days at our Miniature show, which we hold in August every year, and all profits from that show go to charity. Alas his partner in this venture (wife Renee) passed away in 2006 but his love of woodturning and miniature woodwork remains.

Arch started bowls a year before taking on the Miniature hobby and says At the start of my bowling career, I was that bandy a pig could have run between my legs and not touched the sides

In 1990, in a year of great surgical despair, he and Renee however, won the 1990 Mixed Pairs Championship. He was Club President in 1994, won the Mens Pairs Championship in 2003/2005 and served as Tournament Director on about five occasions. He has also served as a member of the S. A. Arm Bowlers Committee.

Back tracking however to 1990, two knee replacements where on the agenda and hopefully two short breaks away from bowls was all it would take.

Six months after this right leg 1990 knee replacement however, the screws came lose, and he had to wear a splint. It didnt mend so it had to be done again and it was six months later again, and 1991 before his left knee could be done. That one turned out fine and they told him that both knees should last him for at least 10 years before they would need to replace the inserts.

The inserts werent guaranteed for ever and wear and tear would eventually take its toll twelve years later in 2013 when he would have to have a new insert put in his right knee.

This came at a bad time for Arch had been bowling well up to now, and had just been selected to represent South Australia in their State Armed Squad The Sturt Peas in the very first National Armed Bowlers Championships in Corowa in September 2013.

Surgery was to take place just three months before this big event, the most coveted of his bowling career so far. Hopeful all would go well, he had the operation, and was happy to leave the hospital five days later expecting a quick recovery. Three days later it dislocated and he returned to hospital where manipulation got it back in place but necessitated the wearing of a splint. The splint came off six weeks later, but . you guessed it, it dislocated again after just three days. This time they could not get it back in place, so surgery was scheduled for August just 4 weeks before the National Armed Bowlers Championships in Corowa.

I thought that was goodbye Corowa, but they made me a special splint which I had to wear in bed at night and no one knew that at Corowa during the day, I was also wearing a splint to play.

Arch had both shoulders replaced (2010 & 2013). He is a south paw and when he had his left shoulder replaced in 2013, after the mandatory six weeks in a sling, he went for a final check-up hoping to rid himself of the sling forever and get the go ahead to drive again.

Not so, the Surgeon sent me for further ex-rays and said Bad news Arch, I said Why he said It has got to be done again as it has come apart, and to do it the same, as it was done previously, was another three to four-hour operation and that could be life threatening to you. So what was decided in the end was the less testy thirty-minute job which restricted the forward movement of my left arm. I could move it backwards ok, which is not, as it turned, out a bad thing, as that is how I get my weight. Weight is how far I have to swing my arm back! (Hey thats true for every bowler! Ed.) Arch was now a left hander with restricted forward movement and some shots would be lost forever, but he was able if required, to switch to his right hand.

Arch has been using a DHB bowling arm since 2012 and as does, cream rises to the top, he made the South Australian State Squad for a second, third and fourth time to play at Beresfield (2014), Tranmere (2015) and Broadbeach, Queensland in 2016.

He was invited to tour New Zealand in June 2016, as a South Australian member of the Australian Squad sent to showcase Armed Bowling in that country. He was twice lead for Lee Wesley (Vic.) and twice for Barry Anset (Vic.). Sometimes when the greens are heavy I bowl right handed, I think Barry Anset was winding up the other Skips because he said Change hands Arch! then when I went to play the back hand he said Nouse your right hand!

Following his 2016 interstate and international sojourns and after considerable observation of his teammates play, Arch decided to upgrade and upsize from his 3 Taylor SRV to a 4 Henselite Dreamline XG. He is very happy with that decision and is convinced they have nice constant line even in the windy conditions. Something he expects will improve his game and keep him in top performance and in consideration for a few more Nationals. He just loves catching up with the mates hes made through the Armed Bowlers fraternity. Particularly his Victorian mates the insatiable Doug Corrigan and Barry Anset.

Archs son John has a Badges & Medallions business in S. A. called Auswidebadges

The Company is currently making badges for the S. A., Victorian, NSW and possibly Qld Squads. See above.

Youd have to say that after so many knee and shoulder replacements and associated hiccups Arch is of the never give up ilk Good on you Arch! Long may you reign.