The annual barefoot bowls day that helps to improve access to education and elevate living standards of the less fortunate is somewhat of a family affair for the Hawthornes.

Michael Hawthorne, a former Oxley High School student and Tamworth Public School captain, travelled to Kenya 12 years ago with World Youth International – and he hasn’t left.

He stayed on as the Kenyan co-ordinator for that organisation, and then as an aid facilitator in his own right, being fully self-funded.

Over the past nine years, he’s helped establish three aid organisations in Kenya and Australia – Friends of Rang’i, Happy Villages and Strategic Empowerment Program.

Early in 2009, Michael was instrumental in starting a school at Rang’i in Kenya, the St Jennifer Hawthorne Samber Quality School, in conjunction with the Rang’i Care Centre, which includes an orphanage.

More recently he has helped build a community resource centre, near the school and care centre.

Since 2009, Michael’s mother Jenny has been taking groups from Tamworth during the July school holidays to do volunteer work at Rang’i, fundraising ahead of their trip to pay for the projects they undertake.

These projects now encompass buying medicines for the St Jennifer school and five surrounding schools, maintenance and improvements at the schools, such as water tanks, classroom floors, roofs, desks, blackboards, textbooks, sporting equipment and more.

The Hawthornes would love some company on the greens at West Tamworth Sports and Bowling Club on Sunday. Registration is from 9.15am with play starting at 9.45am.

The cost is $10 per person, or $40 per team. Just turn up at the Belmore St club on Sunday to show your support. 

If you’re not much of a bowler, don’t sweat. You can buy up big on raffle tickets.