THE YEAR THAT IS

PARLIAMENTARY CHALLENGE
The friendly competition between the teams of the major parties bring out the best in our politicians. It's up to the liberals this year to swing the balance of competition and surge to victory for the Victorian Parliamentary Trophy.

AUSTRALIAN UNDER 18 YEARS OPEN
Applications are now open for teams, contacted through their state Federations to enter the Australian Under 18 Bocce Open. State Teams will compete with other open teams in the three day event at the magnificent Casa D'Abruzzo Club, O'Herns Road, Epping in Victoria over the 26, 27 and 28 March 2004. Epping is a developing outer suburb of Melbourne. Teams from China and Japan have played in the past and have been invited to compete.

NATIONAL SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
This time it's Adelaide's turn. The Championship will be held at the Veneto Club, ToogoodAvenue, Beverley, South Australia. We are sure that the SA Federation under President Mirella Mancini will organise the Championships to their normal high standard. The question is whether the NSW men's trio can retain their Doubles and Triples crown this year. But the ones to beat are the Queensland women's teams. Last year they won everything, but everything! Singles, Doubles, Triples and the Precision Throwing. Ladies being women, I am sure there will be sole searching in the other states this year. Again, we are looking for additional teams to participate from marginal geographical areas of the sport, which are not represented. Contact your State Federations for details

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Annual General Meeting. The usual knock-about items will surface during the talk fest. The constitution, how are our subcommittees functioning, the buzz word at the moment, anti-doping and who will type up the minutes of the meeting.

WORLD WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP:
Now here's a nice one. Monterey near Paris, France in Autumn.
We have positions for five players to participate in the three traditional forms, Singles
Doubles and Bowl Throw and the Two Throwing disciplines, Precision and Progressive. If you think you are good enough, and your State representatives hasn't heard from you, put up your hand! Some of our lovely competitors in their traditional costumes would love to see you at the Presentation Ceremony.

TRI BOWLS:
This is a first too. Bowls Australia through the Moama Bowling Club are staging the first ever Tournament of the three codes of Bowls. The substantial prize money will also generate a lot of interest. Lawn Bowls is leading the way together with Bocce Bowls and Petanque. This is a great way to celebrate the cooperation of the bowling codes under the international umbrella of CMSB. Men's and Mixed competitions are scheduled. Contact your state federations for details.

WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP:
The World Under 18 Junior Championship is planned for 19 to 28 November in Chile. Now Chile, while it is a lovely place specially around the coastal resort area of Vin del Mar, it is the other side of our planet. We will be waiting till April, after the National Under 18 Championship, before making a decision as to participate.

INTERNATIONAL REFEREE
Federation of Australia together with the cooperation of the international body, the Federation Internationale de Boules and the state Federations, organised a Referee Course in three states in August. In Victoria at the Veneto Club, in New South Wales at the Marconi Club and in South Australia at the Veneto Club.
Christophe Levaillant, international Referee from France conducted the two day courses on the technical rules and the correct conduct of Bocce referees. There was a surprising number of people who attended the course. A total of 67 potential referees attended. Twenty seven from Victoria, 24 from NSW and 16 from South Australia. WA and Qld. Christophe also conducted Question and Answer sessions in country New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
The general feeling was that it was worthwhile and it cleared up many misunderstandings of rule interpretation. Examinations for qualified Referees were held at the end of the courses. It is expected that now the general standard of refereeing will improve.
The BFA would like to thank the coordinators and their supporters in the respective states for the successful organisation of the courses - John Inglese in Victoria, Penny Visintin in NSW and Mirella Mancini in SA.

INTERNATIONAL COACHING TOUR

Three sport professionals from France, participated in Bocce Bowl coaching seminars organised by the Bocce Federation of Australia in Sydney and Melbourne during November. Jean-Yves Peronnet French National Coach, National Trainer Thierry Cotte and the redoubtable Rapid Throw World Record Holder, Sebastien Grail.
The courses, at the Marconi Club in Sydney and the Veneto Club in Melbourne attracted some 42 passionate players and coaches from Qld, NSW, Vic and SA. A key strategy was to show the players how to manage their own development. Jean-Yves having coached 4 of the 6 winning teams at the recent World Senior Championships was a fund of knowledge, together with Thierry explaining the physical training and the lively demonstrations by Sebastien, impressed every one. Country NSW, ACT and Victoria benefited from coaching visits from the trio. At the conclusion of the tour Jean-Yves Peronnet attended the important National Coaching and Officiating Seminar at the Australian Sports Commission in Canberra. Thanks go to the State Federations in Sydney and Melbourne for their support of the tour.
The outcome of this tour has prompted the planning of a future tour in two years time while also continuing the coaching dialogue between the two countries.

WORLD SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
The Championships last October were held on the French Riverina in the fashionable resort city of Nice. The Australian team went into the Championships with high expectations. With a third placing for the Doubles in the last Championships and the additional pre training before these contests, this bolstered the confidence of the players.
But as coach Tony Biancacci said, the results of the five events, Australia's 5th through to 13th didn't display the true talent of the players. Anthony Parlato now playing from Victoria had the heavier load, Throwing the Precision, playing the Bowl Throw and partnering Victorian Valter Brecevic in the Doubles. New South Wales player Robert Mikuletic ran the Rapid Throw and combined with his state partner Steven Chiandotto in the Rapid Relay.
All nations were impressed with the awesome talent of the French - winning four titles from the six events with 26 competing countries. In turn, this bi annual Congress stressed for our sport the strictness of the newly approved WADA Anti-Doping policy.

COME AND TRY DAY
Bocce Bowls contributed to the Australia Day holiday celebrations on 26 January 2004,with a Come and Try day on the banks of the Yarra river at Birrarung Marr Park in Melbourne. The National Development Director, John Inglese together with support from Enrico Gatto gave over 2000 visitors the chance to try out. John reports that there was a lot of interest in the Rapid Throw, inquiries where they could play in social competition and more information on the sport.