John Dobbie

John Dobbie was an Australian international lawn bowler who lived from 1914 to 2005 and competed at the very first World Bowls Championship, held at Kyeemagh in New South Wales in 1966. He began bowling in 1934 with the Glenferrie Hill Bowls Club in Victoria. At that inaugural championship he won gold in the triples, partnering Don Collins and Athol Johnston, took silver in the fours, and added a second gold as part of Australia's winning team in the Leonard Trophy team event. Away from international play he was a dominant figure at his home club, winning its championship eleven times, the first in 1947 in a final played against his own father. That father, Frank Dobbie, was himself a notable bowler who won the Australian national singles title in 1927 and 1931 while representing the City of Camberwell Bowls Club.