By Sheree Hoddinett
Brett Sellars or PegLeg as he’s also known is certainly no stranger to a bowling green. Bowls is a sport that’s very much become a big part of his life and one that has seen him play on a national level with his ultimate goal to hit the international scene. His foray into the world of bowls began when his son actually started the sport in 2008 and PegLeg was convinced to join him.
PegLeg’s journey has followed a somewhat different path to others out there. He was just 12-years-old when a cancer diagnosis meant his left leg had to be amputated. Now 51, PegLeg takes it all in his stride, but considers himself one of the “lucky ones” as he’s still here to talk about it.
“I was told I had cancer in my knee and it was bad enough that my leg had to come off,” PegLeg said. “In the beginning I used to have what I call a Barbie doll leg, so it looks like a real leg. But with working on fishing boats and trawlers with the floor and then in panel beating shops with airlines and power leads, it just wasn’t a practical option anymore. So I chose a straight peg leg with a hoof at the bottom of it, which was a lot safer! And that’s kind of where my nickname came from.”
The nickname of PegLeg has been in the mix now for about 20 years and one he was more than happy to go by once he joined a bowls club for the first time in 2009.
“I played socially for a few years and then I discovered disability bowls and it just went from there,” PegLeg said. “I have been taking it a lot more seriously in the last few years and the results are starting to show.
“I haven’t represented Australia yet, so I haven’t got my Para Jackaroo cap number but it’s definitely what I’m working towards and hopefully I get selected next year and get my number.
“I’m excited about what lies ahead. It’s been a great journey so far and I’m just looking forward to seeing where it takes me from here.”
Once considered an ‘older’ persons sport, bowls is definitely gaining more traction with the younger generation. PegLeg, who now bowls fulltime, is a member at Solander Lake Bowls Club (after being at Bongaree Bowls Club for 13 years) and even he’s seeing the younger players coming up through the ranks.
“Just at our club at Solander Lake, we have three juniors there now and you can just see how their bowls is growing,” PegLeg said. “We have members that are in their mid 90s down to 13-year-olds. So it's actually pretty cool to have that mix.
“I wish I had started a lot younger, but these guys definitely have a bright future ahead of them. You look at a lot of the Australian representatives now, they're all younger people. So it’s definitely more of a mixed sport now compared to what it used to be and there's no age barrier anymore.”
Even with his growing list of achievements, including his most recent gold win in the Para Pairs at the National Development Series on the Gold Coast earlier in July, it’s surprising to hear PegLeg considered giving away the sport he has grown extremely fond of. It was his amazing and supportive partner that encouraged him to keep playing and she is the reason he continues to aim high.
“I have a growing number of medals from state and national championships but I’m still looking for that cap number,” PegLeg said. “That's the ultimate goal, lining up the cap number for Australia.”
Quiet and humble about his achievements, PegLeg has never thought about his potential of being a mentor to others living with life-changing circumstances like what he went through.
“I've never really looked at it like that. I just try not to let it stop me,” PegLeg said. “If I want to do something, I'll find a way around it to get it done.”
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