SHOALHAVEN Heads product Karen Murphy will headline Bowls Australia's bushfire relief tour, which will stop in and assist numerous South Coast communities.
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The week-long tour, aimed to help areas affected by the summer's bushfires, will start on Monday, July 6 at the Deniliquin RSL Bowls Club, before Murphy, Bowls Australia CEO Neil Dalrymple and national coach Steve Glasson head to Jerilderie Bowling Club later that afternoon.
"Bowls Australia's disaster relief fund supports clubs who are affected by flood or fire," said Murphy, who retired from the sport in 2019 after 23 years representing her country.
"We thought it was important to visit these affected clubs and show support.
"Personally, I wanted to be involved as I am a former Australian player with Bowls Australia and I have been a BCIB [who insure the majority of the clubs on the tour and support the Jackaroos] ambassador for 32 years."
On Tuesday, after a visit to the Adelong Bowls Club, the trio will drive to Batemans Bay.
Former Bomaderry High School student Murphy and her colleagues will then visit the Tomakin Sports and Social Club from 10am on Wednesday, before checking out Club Malua, who was decimated by the fires, that afternoon.
This will be followed by stops at the Tathra Beach Bowling Club (3-4.30pm on Wednesday) - who has recently installed a 12-rink synthetic green - and Club Sapphire (from 6.30pm).
The tour, which has already seen a number of these clubs receive disaster relief funding, will then be returning to Melbourne via Mallacoota Inlet Bowling Club and clubs in the East Gippsland region (Lakes Entrance, Metung and Lindenow).
"It is great to show support by visiting these clubs and let them know we care," the 45-year-old said.
"A visitation from the clubs' insurer, national sporting organisation representatives and elite players visiting, hopefully, this creates some interest within the club and community."