VALE LINDSAY CAPUANO
Once again Doncaster Bowling Club says farewell to a special member.
Lindsay Capuano was held in such high esteem that three members and one past member either wrote or spoke of his long association, his mentoring and his activities with Doncaster Bowls Club at his well attended funeral service.
To those who did not attend here are their words.
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Peter Hanson/ Ian Golding.
”Lindsay, who would have turned 90 in April, joined the Club in 1993 and almost immediately involved himself in various of the responsibilities required to run an organisation such as ours. He joined the then Management Committee in 1994 and took on the job of House Maintenance, a position he held for four years. He had two terms on the Men’s Bowls Committee, where his penchant for asking questions became ‘ folk lore’. He also spent 12 months on the Constitution Committee.
In 1998 Lindsay became an accredited coach and took up a position on the club’s coaching panel holding the position of Coaching Convenor for over 14 years. Following this period Lindsay ‘retired’ from coaching but with the introduction of Richard Lovell as Club Coach in 2015, he set about assisting Richard with the many drills and training regimes that were then introduced.
Lindsay has has a huge effect on many new and not so new members in assisting with learning the game or fixing a problem with delivery or the like. He was a mentor to many and had an ear for all and his influence in this area over the years cannot be quantified. On the green Lindsay was a more than handy bowler, playing in various of our pennant games for many years. After a break from playing due to ailing health, it was good to see him return to the green in recent times, enjoying the game he loved.
He was granted a ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ in 2007.”
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Richard Lovell.
”Although I only knew Lindsay for seven years, during that time, and especially at my time at the Doncaster Bowls Club, I found him to be an invaluable source of information about the history of bowls in Victoria and the club. He would often give me videos of past events and of coaching methods that would inspire me and others.
He became re-vitalised in his coaching and was of great assistance to me during my time at Doncaster, always there to give me a lift when things were getting tough, and when the results were not going in the right direction during pennant season. Although not good for my waistline, his regular contribution of Tim Tams during our morning break was always appreciated.
He was full of valuable knowledge, and his willingness to always be on hand to help bowlers of all abilities was greatly appreciated, not by those just starting out, but also by established bowlers. Lindsay would impart little words of wisdom and give encouragement to bowlers who felt they were under-performing, giving them the lift to do that little bit better. He enjoyed playing and being part of the team, and his contribution to bowls over the many years will be remembered and appreciated by many.
The last two years were especially tough for him as Covid curtailed his activities and stopped him being part of the club that he gave so much time too. He would ring me often to discuss bowls and coaching, and our conversations along with the videos he often replayed I’m sure helped him get through the times because he couldn’t get to the club.
Lindsay will be sadly missed, not only by me, but I’m sure by all those friends and players who were lucky enough to have had the great pleasure in being part of his life. Thank you Lindsay, for the inspiration you were to many.”
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Phil Rock spoke also, reiterating much of the above and then added his own special memories.
Phil Rock.
” On Saturday evenings a few of us members would share a meal at the Box Hill RSL and Robyn Johnson would bring Lindsay the result sheet from the day’s pennant games. Lindsay liked nothing better than to pore over the results, proud for the club when we won and sharing the disappointment when we lost.
Lindsay thought of all members as his friends , he was aware of our strengths and weaknesses as far as bowls was concerned and happy to share his skill and knowledge when asked. All of us are better bowlers because of Lindsay. I am sure I am not alone in saying that I will miss him.”
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His daughter Julie Capuano told us that he was named after the poet Adam Lindsay Gordon, she then outlined his life , growing up in Northcote and being apprenticed to a building and joinery firm. He played football for the Murry Rovers and won the Best Clubman Award.
He met Terry at a dance, she was the love of his life, he married her, built a home in Ferntree Gully where their two children were born.
He rose though the ranks in the companies in which he worked from a Factory Supervisor to a Contract Manager. When he retired travel became a priority especially overseas. After Terry had a stroke he became her primary carer, but when she died he lost his lust for life. His last thoughts were of her.
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Jake who is one of Lindsay’s grandsons spoke of the things he had been taught by him; to be thoughtful to others, to be relentlessly curious, to have follow though, and what love and devotion is.
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When we look back on Lindsay’s contribution to Doncaster Bowls Club these qualities forever shine though.
Several members have said how Lindsay would quietly come up beside them and whisper in their ear, “ You could be a club champion,” and it worked!
VALE TO A MENTOR, A COACH, AN OLD FASHIONED PATIENT GENTLEMAN.. Lyn Goodman.