Collie’s Ray Colgan and Harvey’s Dante Burnham intergenerational friendship based on love for lawn bowls

While new friends can be made at any age, it is not often there is a decades-wide age gap. But two South West lawn bowlers have proven that is not an issue, bonding over their shared love of the game. Collie Bowling Club member Ray Colgan, 93, and 12-year-old Harvey Bowling Club member Dante Burnham first met in 2020 when their respective towns were facing off against each other during a tournament in Eaton. “I was watching him and his mum was sitting there and I went over and said, ‘is that your little boy?’ and she said ‘yes’,” Colgan said. “I said ‘he’s going to be a champion, that boy’.” At the end of the tournament, the pair got a photo together, which was framed and now sits in the mantlepiece at Colgan’s house. The 80-year age gap was no issue for the pair, who hit it off straight away. Colgan admits he was not expecting to strike up the intergenerational friendship. “When I met Dante, we just got on together and every time we see each other, we have a chat and I encourage him with his bowls,” he said. “It’s been really good and I look forward to meeting up with him when we go do bowls.” Dante described Colgan as “a pretty good mentor”. “He has told me to keep on going throughout the years,” he said. The pair are yet to directly play against each other, but Colgan joked he would likely come off second best in a game. Dante’s father Anthony Burnham said the pair have a mutual respect for each other. “Ray’s always encouraging Dante and for Dante, it’s good to have a figure like Ray to bounce things off and have a chat to,” he said. Those who are interested in trying the sport out are asked to contact the Harvey or Collie bowling clubs.