Erin Gumbleton at Star Bowl Shepparton ahead of the Special Olympics.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Erin Gumbleton is ready to strike.
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The Echuca local is gearing up to take on the Special Olympics held in Melbourne next week, as her weekly ten-pin bowling at the Shepparton lanes is set to take her to national stardom representing Victoria.
Gumbleton, who lives with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS), a rare, complex genetic disorder present from birth caused by the loss of function of specific genes on the paternal chromosome, regularly has the Special Olympics circled on the calendar, but her venture into ten-pin bowling is fairly recent in comparison.
“She’s been in the Special Olympics for 33 years, but the first 27 or so were for swimming,” Erin’s father Frank Gumbleton told the News.
“She represented Victoria a number of times, and did so for Australia at the Asian Pacifics one year.
“After that she said to me ‘I’ve got my green and gold jacket’, and wanted to do something different.
“She did equestrian for a few years, but ten pin bowling is her main sport now - although she’s been playing that regularly for at least the last ten years.”
It’s no surprise Gumbleton has been a regular mainstay at the Special Olympics.
Erin Gumbleton is ready to roll.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
A glance at her parents’ lives indicate there isn’t a day Gumbleton hasn’t embraced sport.
Frank Gumbleton is a two-time VFL premiership play with North Melbourne in 1975 and 1977, and is now a lawn bowls operator out at Shepparton Park.
Her mother Margaret was an avid netballer in her heyday too.
“We always say give it a go, and coming from a sporty family it’s pretty much something she’s always been around,” Frank said.
But while there’s the glitz and glamour of medals and merchandise, it’s the personal connections that keep Erin coming back to sport.
“Most importantly, she loves the friendships involved,” Frank said.
“She doesn’t care if it’s win, lose or draw, she has a good time and catches up with people she’s connected with over the last 15 years or more.”
The Special Olympics Opening Ceremony will be conducted on Monday, October 19, while Gumbleton’s appearances in singles, doubles, and team ten-pin bowling events are scheduled across October 20 to 22.
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