This year's event rolls off on February 12 and will add to the $180,000 it has raised since its inception in 1987.

The inaugural Charity Bowls Day was played on March 5, 1987. The finals were held at the Dandenong Central Bowls Club, which was on the site now occupied by Dandenong Plaza.

The inaugural day raised $3000 for the Dandenong and District Hospital Auxiliary and was won by the team skippered by Harry Kirkham from Dandenong Workers' Club.

During those early days the event was organised by senior council officers in conjunction with representatives from local bowls clubs. Outside

sponsorship was limited, with proceeds mostly

coming from entry fees and associated raffles.

In 1995 the event struck serious organisational problems. The Rotary Club of Noble Park was then invited to take part and the council handed over the organisation to the club.

With the resources provided by the Noble Park Rotary a wider net was cast to involve sponsors, and money raised from the day has more than trebled.

■ In a new move to promote increased participation, entries will be accepted in pairs or fours, pairs dependent on them being able to be suitably converted to fours for the event. Entries will cost $10 per player.

Entry forms are available from all local bowls clubs, the Rotary Club of Noble Park or at Highway Bowls Centre, 61 Walker Street, Dandenong. Entries close on January 28.

The winning team in the final receives $500 cash plus trophies and runners-up $240.