Ryan Dixon

Bowls Co-Ordinator Norfolk Island (2020-2023)

I have enjoyed vast experience in many roles for the Norfolk Island Bowls club including:

-Organising International Tournaments

-Completing draws for local and international tournaments

-Running junior development squads

-Being a general committee member for ten years

-Liaising with the greenkeeper regarding tournaments and rescheduling as needed

-Organising/planning yearly bowls calendar

-Creating club championship draws

-Promotion of four international tournaments

-Coaching roles for local members and international representative teams

-Organising and running “High Performance” meetings and practice sessions for Commonwealth games and World Bowls events

-Presentations for Bowls representative teams exploring mind set, inspiration and self-belief.

-Research and adaptation of sports psychology and its relevance to both bowls and individual bowlers

- Awareness of the NSW Clubs Governance "Code of Practice"

-Knowledge of Health Work and Safety practices

-A clear understanding and respect for confidentiality and its relevance to club outcomes

-Member of Norfolk Island Match Committee

-Member of Norfolk Island Bowls Council

-Member of Norfolk Island Overseas Committee

-Employed at a bar worker for the club.

Having moved to Norfolk Island in 2012 I have experienced many different jobs during that time. Norfolk is undoubtedly a unique and wonderful experience which has given me many skills and strings to my bow as per required in such an isolated setting. These jobs include:

Flooring Trades

-Carpet Laying.

I have professional skills in all aspects of this trade. From laying carpet in brand new homes to removing and replacing carpet in current homes. This is a labour intensive job and requires aspects such as ordering of goods, customer service, mathematical planning, furniture removal, reinforcing weak or damaged flooring structures, installing of smooth edge and underlay, joining carpet, finishing edging and problem solving. This job also requires invoicing and liaising between customers and multiple building supply companies on the island in which shipping and freight are always a problem. Customer service and communication is paramount in this trade. as is forward planning and time management.

I have worked in this job frequently for the past ten years.

-Floor Sanding

Sanding and coating floors in various buildings on the island including homes, businesses, accommodation and heritage listed buildings. This job aligns with the carpet laying job as described above in terms of requirements and organisation. Large quotes are involved and initial sanding of many jobs is very intensive as they are imperative to the quality of locally milled timber which is often quite substandard.

This trade is often assumed as something that can be done quite quickly but some jobs in standard housing can take weeks. This job requires various machines which must be serviced and maintained. It also requires many unique tools, materials and flammable or toxic liqiuds or coatings which must be shipped to Norfolk and then used in a safe manner.

Floor sanding and renovating is a skilled job and much pride is taken in the final product of my work. As can be assumed word of the quality of work travels very fast on a small island with a population of two thousand people. So i am pleased to have maintained constant work for a ten year period.

-Vinyl and Commercial Vinyl

Another facet of flooring which my employment has involved is laying vinyl. This is another trade that involves many skills and tools and is a labour intensive job. Among many private jobs I have also installed commercial vinyl in the local Hospital on Norfolk Island which involves much preparation and care. Work, Health and Safety requirements must be adhered to in jobs such as these so my knowledge in this area is sound. This trade also requires most of the preparation and customer service skills required as above.

I have worked numerous hours laying carpet tiles and click together flooring as well as vinyl planking over this span of ten years as well.

• I have performed as a singer/guitarist professionally since I was 18 years old.

Starting my career singing in pubs in The Rocks in Sydney. I have continued to perform in bands, duos and as a solo entertainer to this day. Having over two hundred songs in my set list I cover a range of rock music and ballads ranging over many decades and catering for all age groups.

Performing in pubs, clubs, festivals and concerts with thousands of gigs scanning over 25 years.

I have also written an original album which depicts stories of convicts which is selling well on Norfolk Island and has accrued over fifty thousand listens on Spotify to date despite being available for less than one year.

I spent these years selling musical instruments as I play many different instruments to a high and professional level.

My retail experience skills were accompanied by my ability to demonstrate guitar, piano, saxophone, clarinet, harmonica, bass, drums, organ, and banjo. I also had success in demonstrating and thus selling a lot of computer programs and sound technology for this successful retail store being the largest on the Central Coast.

This job harnessed my ability to communicate with people of all generations and show appreciation for how diversity must be respected. It also showed me that one must never assume they know the credentials or abilities of someone without knowledge. This skill has very much been used in my role as a Bowls Co-ordinator and is undoubtedly an underrated aspect of leadership and understanding.