Footy, cricket and lawn bowls, Jim Jennings has played them all.
And at the age of 93, he’s showing his sporting prowess is just as strong as it was when he was a young man.
Jim last month snatched his fourth Deniliquin RSL Bowling Club A-grade club singles championship from the clutches of Rod Reid.
The win cemented the standing of the veteran as one of the most talented Deniliquin bowlers, who was described by the club as “an outstanding competitor and worthy champion”.
When this feat was reported by the Deniliquin Pastoral Times, the well wishes came rolling in from readers.
And that’s because he is a true gentleman to boot.
Jim was born in Deniliquin on April 30, 1929 and grew up on a dairy farm about 5km north of Deniliquin with his family.
His long and distinguished list of sporting achievements over a span of six decades would have him go down as one of the most successful identities in the history of sport in Deniliquin.
After his schooling Jim served three years of an apprenticeship with the cordial manufacturing company, Riverina Brewery.
After the family dairy farm was sold, his family moved to Melbourne but he remained.
He took on the milk run for almost ten years.
He is best remembered for trundling the streets of Deniliquin with the clinking of milk bottles echoing form the rear of his horse-drawn cart in the early 1950s.
His professional career was varied through the years, but his final 16 years in the workforce were spent as coordinator of a 10 strong cleaning team at Deniliquin High School.
Jim’s dedication to sporting pursuits was just as impressive.
His cricket career with the then Deniliquin and District Cricket Association began in 1947 and continued for 26 years.
He began his journey with Mundiwah North B-grade side and then later played A-grade for West.
He holds the club record for the most games played with 278.
Jim was an outstanding right arm off-spin bowler and the DDCA’s highest wicket taker, still holding the record of 809 wickets.
On 48 occasions he took five or more wickets.
Jim had the honour of being elected the first life member of the West Cricket Club.
It was a year before he picked up the bat and ball for the DDCA that Jim debuted on the local footy fields.
He pulled on the boots for North Footy Club in the Edward River Football Association in 1946, later transferring to West in the same association.
“In those days you played for the team in the zone you lived in. It was when I got married I moved to the West,” he explained of the transfer.
In speaking of his early days as a kid honing his footy skills, he eluded to a clever way to practice with one of his mates.
“Footies were scarce in those days, and costly,” he recalled.
“So we got a sugar bag and wrapped it in paper, tied it tight and kicked it to each other and through the centre of tyres for accuracy practice.”
This practice was mostly in partnership with his good mate Gordon ‘Whistle’ Clancy.
Jim’s many football achievements include playing and coaching reserves and senior football with the Deniliquin Football Club, which later became the Deniliquin Rams Football Netball Club. He was also captain for a time or two.
He received best and fairests at both club and league level, topped goal kicking tables, and reached the prestigious milestone of 300 senior games.
For his efforts, he was made a life member of the Deniliquin Rams in 1982.
Jim also coached footy at St Michael’s School and Deniliquin High School.
Jim is still seen regularly at Rams footy training nights and matches, supporting his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as they also go through the football and netball ranks.
After giving up highly energetic forms of sport, Jim says he turned to bowls in later life.
That was 43 years ago now.
He spent 10 years as a playing member of the Deniliquin Bowling Club, winning pennant and club games.
He then made the move to the Deniliquin RSL Bowling Club, with friend and fellow bowler Wayne Bradley saying he is an asset to the club.
“He is still active and enthusiastic with his involvement in lawn bowls, at a continuing high standard at his age,” Wayne siad.,
“Both remarkable and inspiring.”
Jim’s achievements with the Deniliquin RSL Bowling Club over 33 years are too many to list, but they include multiple singles, pairs and triples championship titles.
He’s claimed wins in tournaments like the President’s Handicap, Harry Peers Memorial Fours, Open Triple and Alan Plant Memorial Fours, and has a few divisional Campaspe Valley Bowls Association premierships under his belt.
He was also named Campaspe Valley Bowls Association Skipper of the Year for 2004-05, and was made a life member of the Deniliquin RSL Bowling Club in 2016.
Jim says his attitude towards sport now “is not caring about winning, as much as enjoying talking to people and being a good sport”.
He said he is still appreciative of his late wife Pat for supporting him through whichever sport he wanted to try his hand at next.
“I was very fortunate to have a wonderful wife - she was half of all my success,” he siad.
“She never complained about anything and never stopped me from doing anything.”
Jim has not only participated in sport, but has also mentored others.
He has been passing on his knowledge and promoting sportsmanship and a healthy lifestyle to numerous schools, teams and the indigenous community for decades.
Friend Bill Hetherington said he has helped shaped the sporting careers of many local people.,
“Many of the youth would present at his home for further tutorage or personal advice,” Bill said.
“A number of outstanding members of the community have passed through Jim’s hands and today respect him so much for what he has taught them in sport and sportsmanship, as well as leading a respectful life.”
While many his age would have retired from sport by now, Jim says he is driven to keep going because of the opportunity it gives him to “meet people and exercise, which leads to good health”.