For quite some time, the names Brad Orr and Shepparton Golf Bowls Club have felt inextricably linked.
It was as if one embodied the other — which, perhaps, is natural and fitting when you’ve shared a raft of Goulburn Valley Playing Area premierships and representative call-ups far beyond the region.
The Golfers will feel altogether a different outfit going forward however, following the news of Orr’s decision to sign with Essendon in the upper echelon of metropolitan bowls.
Embarking on a historic streak of individual and team success during just shy of a decade at Golf, Orr had a hand in more triumphs for the club than there would be sufficient space to list in detail.
Perhaps, then, that made this the obvious time for a change of scenery.
“It’s hard to leave Golf after I’ve been there nearly 10 years with a lot of success,” Orr said.
“At the end of the day, it’s a decision I think is good for me and definitely challenges myself.
“Golf was fully understanding; I had another year left on my contract, but I had a good chat with then-president Warburton, he understood where I was at.
“They’ve always had mine and my family’s best interests at heart, and they’ve been fully supportive of it.
“I’m thankful to them as they’ve been pretty good to me over the last decade.”
Naturally, the chance to compete in Bowls Victoria’s Premier Division is hardly one to pass up at this stage.
Not that the standard of bowls represents the only motivating factor.
“Family life at home made this the right time to want to do it,” Orr said.
“With my kids getting older, I want to be able to spend more time with them, and the Friday night games are a big winner with keeping the weekend more free.
“I’ve got a fair few mates who play down there like Ant Flapper, so it was wise to give it a crack down there while I still can.
“I think I’m at the point in my career where I know I won’t be playing forever, so I need a bit of a new challenge.”
In true team spirit however, Orr reflects on a collaborative success as his favourite playing memory in the blue and gold of Golf.
“Winning the state pennant would be the best memory I had playing here,” Orr said.
“Winning that with 12 clubmates is the pinnacle of bowls.
“You get a lot of individual awards along the way, but I don’t think you can beat the team aspect of it.”