Klub Triglav
BALINANJE

Prvo balinišče na Triglavu

In some parts of Slovenia bocce is nearly a religous experience: every Sunday afternoon the men gather at the bocce courts that can be be found in the backyard of almost every village guest house throughout Slovenia and play the ancient game with the heavy brass balls.

Southern European migrants brought the game with them to Australia and introduced it to their ethnic clubs. Many Australian Slovenians built bocce courts in the backyards of their homes and their friends and relatives made those places a center of their social life.

Very soon after the Triglav club land was purchased in 1971, Karlo Samsa from the Primorsko region of Slovenia built the first set of bocce courts on Triglav Club land with the help of his brother Vinko and a number of friends (they had all played bocce at his place). A great number of enthusiastic players started gathering at the courts every Sunday to play bocce. Even though it was not the custom for women to play the game in the old country,  here the ladies bocce section soon emerged in Triglav Club.        The bocce started as a social game, but it soon led to competitions, first amongst themselves and later  against the players of the other clubs. The club also became a member of NSW Bocce Federation and they were very successful in the interclub competitions.

In 1977-78 the club’s building’s foundations were laid and while waiting for the finances for the club, the bocce players decided they had to change the layout and increase the number of old bocce courts.They decided on six courts and so they started building again. It was once again Karlo and Vinko Samsa building the frame and walls for the six new bocce courts and Danilo Šajn provided the concrete for the foundations, as he had done for the whole club. With the help and donations of a great number of bocce players and friends, they were able to have an official opening within a year and from there on they were able to host their share of Bocce Federation competitions, the new Triglav Bocce court being at least as good as if not better than the courts of the other participating clubs. The only problem was the rainy season that kept preventing the planned competitions.

After the club’s new building was finished,a special interclub competition was also organised for the opening of the club premises in the year 1982 .

The competition was for the Cup of Ivan Cankar, provided by the ‘Slovenska Izseljenska Matica’. Many players attended from all the various clubs.

A few years later, they decided to put a roof over the bocce courts. Bocce secretary Janez Bradač had good connections and he had found a factory  that was being pulled down. He talked them into donating the steel framework to the club. Bocce players and friends donated  money to cover the expenses of transporting, cutting, welding and  shaping the frame and the cost of the roof. With the voluntary work of all helpers the work was finished with a great opening in March 1989, when bocce players from all around Australia took part in the opening competition.

For years, Triglav Bocce was part of NSW Bocce Federation and many big competions took place  at the club and at other participating clubs, as all the clubs had a turn in hosting the competitions.

At the amalgamation with Panthers Club the bocce courts received a new renovation, again with voluntary work done by bocce players and friends, while the materials needed were paid by the club and the joint effort produced one of the best courts in NSW. Since most of the players are retired, the games are now played twice a week. For many years now junior players have trained with the club’s bocce coach Lojze Magajna. Some of the club’s juniors have qualified to represent Australia in the world championships, but to our regret, there are not many of them since most of the juniors are already involved in their own schools regular sports programs.

Aging is not merciful to anyone and the number of players keep diminishing with the years, but the ones left are a tough bunch. Many older players come by on Sundays to support the current players and have a chat with old mates.
In some parts of Slovenia bocce is nearly a religous experience: every Sunday afternoon the men gather at the bocce courts that can be be found in the backyard of almost every village guest house throughout Slovenia and play the ancient game with the heavy brass balls.

Southern European migrants brought the game with them to Australia and introduced it to their ethnic clubs. Many Australian Slovenians built bocce courts in the backyards of their homes and their friends and relatives made those places a center of their social life.

Very soon after the Triglav club land was purchased in 1971, Karlo Samsa from the Primorsko region of Slovenia built the first set of bocce courts on Triglav Club land with the help of his brother Vinko and a number of friends (they had all played bocce at his place). A great number of enthusiastic players started gathering at the courts every Sunday to play bocce. Even though it was not the custom for women to play the game in the old country,  here the ladies bocce section soon emerged in Triglav Club.        The bocce started as a social game, but it soon led to competitions, first amongst themselves and later  against the players of the other clubs. The club also became a member of NSW Bocce Federation and they were very successful in the interclub competitions.

In 1977-78 the club’s building’s foundations were laid and while waiting for the finances for the club, the bocce players decided they had to change the layout and increase the number of old bocce courts.They decided on six courts and so they started building again. It was once again Karlo and Vinko Samsa building the frame and walls for the six new bocce courts and Danilo Šajn provided the concrete for the foundations, as he had done for the whole club. With the help and donations of a great number of bocce players and friends, they were able to have an official opening within a year and from there on they were able to host their share of Bocce Federation competitions, the new Triglav Bocce court being at least as good as if not better than the courts of the other participating clubs. The only problem was the rainy season that kept preventing the planned competitions.

After the club’s new building was finished,a special interclub competition was also organised for the opening of the club premises in the year 1982 .

Balinarji leta 1989

The competition was for the Cup of Ivan Cankar, provided by the ‘Slovenska Izseljenska Matica’. Many players attended from all the various clubs.
A few years later, they decided to put a roof over the bocce courts. Bocce secretary Janez Bradač had good connections and he had found a factory  that was being pulled down. He talked them into donating the steel framework to the club. Bocce players and friends donated  money to cover the expenses of transporting, cutting, welding and  shaping the frame and the cost of the roof. With the voluntary work of all helpers the work was finished with a great opening in March 1989, when bocce players from all around Australia took part in the opening competition.
For years, Triglav Bocce was part of NSW Bocce Federation and many big competions took place  at the club and at other participating clubs, as all the clubs had a turn in hosting the competitions.

At the amalgamation with Panthers Club the bocce courts received a new renovation, again with voluntary work done by bocce players and friends, while the materials needed were paid by the club and the joint effort produced one of the best courts in NSW. Since most of the players are retired, the games are now played twice a week. For many years now junior players have trained with the club’s bocce coach Lojze Magajna. Some of the club’s juniors have qualified to represent Australia in the world championships, but to our regret, there are not many of them since most of the juniors are already involved in their own schools regular sports programs.

Aging is not merciful to anyone and the number of players keep diminishing with the years, but the ones left are a tough bunch. Many older players come by on Sundays to support the current players and have a chat with old mates.