When Carla Miles relocated to Norfolk Island with her family in 2019, never in her wildest imagination did she think she would be attending a World Bowls Championship less than five years later.
As she completes final preparations and prepares for a flight to the Gold Coast for next week’s tournament, reality has begun to sink in for the Shepparton Golf extraordinaire.
The Bunbartha talent will don the green and white colours of Norfolk Island, a tiny external territory of Australia, at the 2023 World Bowls Championship which starts next week.
When Miles first stepped foot on the small island, she had yet to follow the same path as her mother Anne ― a stalwart of the Goulburn Valley Playing Area bowls fraternity.
But it was a “sea change” move to bowls-mad Norfolk Island where Miles discovered her love for lawn bowls.
A little less than five years later and Miles is now at the top of her game in what has been a meteoric and spectacular rise in the sport.
“My family and I decided to move for a sea change in 2019 and we said we’d give it 12 months and we ended up staying for three years,” she said this week.
“I had never played bowls before moving over there, my mum is a very successful bowler, but I just hadn’t picked up a bowl. Over in Norfolk, it’s pretty convenient and easy to play bowls all year round and I took it up and loved it.”
Miles recounted how one lesson, at Norfolk Island’s only bowls club, was the starting point for her impressive journey.
“There’s only 2000 people who live on the island and there’s one bowls club,” she said.
“There’s quite a large number of members and I went down for a lesson and the person who took the lesson said ‘you’re ready for socials’ now. I didn’t stop; I started with socials and then transitioned into pennant. I just really, really enjoy the sport.
“I never thought after three years that I would be attending the World Bowls Championships and I feel very privileged and honoured. It’s a bit surreal really.”
Miles met the eligibility criteria to represent Norfolk Island upon returning to the Goulburn Valley last year.
Her shift back to Bunbartha also came with a delicate choice.
Which GVPA club to join?
Shepparton Golf won out due to close proximity and it was a move that delivered Miles a memorable 2022-23 summer.
Miles won the midweek pennant title with Golf followed by claiming the state singles event in the GVPA.
Her season culminated with an appearance in the Vic Country squad against Metro.
Despite her class efforts on the greens, Miles revealed she was hesitant to nominate for Norfolk Island’s women’s team.
“I had a good season with Golf and leading up to the closing date for nominations they (Norfolk Island) encouraged me to put my name forward,” she said.
“I knew I had qualified due to the length of time I lived there and I knew I was eligible, but I didn’t know if I should because I wasn’t living there anymore.
“But when they encouraged me to apply I was keen to nominate. When I got the call (to say I made it), I was stoked. I couldn’t believe it.”
Since finding out that she was a part of the World Championship squad, Miles has been spending the winter months out on the practice greens with her partner and friends.
Although all of her training for the championships have been completed in the GVPA off-season and have required “self-motivation” ― Miles has been busy with three days a week out on the practice greens.
With all but one of her team members situated in Norfolk Island, in the Pacific Ocean less than 1500km from mainland Oz, training with her triples and fours outfit has its challenges.
Yet, she isn’t short of international experience.
Miles joined the Norfolk Island contingent at last year’s Commonwealth Games as team manager, but this time around she will be in the thick of the action.
Miles will take to the green in second, behind the lead, for fours and triples play in the women’s events.
“Regardless of the results, I’m looking forward to this opportunity and experience of a lifetime and taking away as much as I can to help me progress in the sport,” she said.
“I feel so privileged and honoured to represent Norfolk Island at the highest level. I will be trying my best to be a valuable team member.”
Miles will take to the greens on Tuesday morning for the opening clash of the women’s fours against Canada.
Matches will be streamed live on the Bowls Australia Facebook page and YouTube channel.