Over the years Harden has seen many changes, whether it be the Miami Beach-like palm trees planted in the Main Street, a few of the town’s legendary businesses closing down, or the pool’s new shed; it’s fair to say for a country town which hadn’t seen much change for 100 years, has, at least over the past 20 years seen plenty.

One consistency of the town has been the reliability of the Harden Bowling Club, more specifically Olga Vincent and her service. Olga has been pouring cold brews behind the Bowling Club’s bar for nearly 20 years.

Now it’s time for Olga to be on the receiving end of a chilled beer where she can enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

 

 

After all her years of service, Olga has plenty of fans, all of whom were full of praise for her when talking to the Times.

“I’ve been working with Olga for 10 years, it has been great, she’s a pleasure to work with, a great friend as well” Rose Hamilton said. Very good pleasure to work with, no problems whatsoever. We nearly worked three or four days a week together, it’s been very good.” 

“It’ll be a little bit of an adjustment for the regulars, we’ve got a new lady who’s started here recently, we have to train her up on how to open and close the club. 

 

 

President of the Club Shane McKellar is sad to see Olga go, but hopes to see her enjoy her retirement.

“It is sad, but she’s been here for the people in the Club. She’s been here through the good times and she’s been here through the hard times so she has seen a whole lot. During the hard times she’s the only one who stayed on to help everyone get through those hard times. 

“It’s been a pleasure to work with her and she will be sorely missed,” he said.

 

 

“Olga, you’ve been part of keeping this pub going. Good luck to everything you do in the future. 

Though Olga has stayed the same throughout her nearly 20 years, the Bowling Club has of course changed both minor and major. She shared with the Times some of the differences between her first and last day.

“The clientele has gotten younger and younger. When I first started here there were plenty of older men but not any young men but now it’s about 50/50,” Olga said.

“Back in those day, there was a more of an older dynamic but now there’s a mixture. With the business house bowls and things like that there seem to be a lot more young people coming in.

She said working weekends takes its toll on you so she’s looking forward to having that time free now. 

“The most rewarding was building friendships with all the regulars, I loved coming into work and having conversations with them.

“Working every weekend just became a bit too difficult and was taking a toll, over the past few years it’s just been Rose, Wendy (Brown) and I. Before then I would’ve worked with around 30 bar staff.

 

 

“We plan on doing a bit of caravanning, nothing special planned, we just want to go when it isn’t school holidays.” 

She said she’ll never leave Harden because she loves it too much. 

“Now [Cody and I] can go away, I don’t need to get time off work. I can do what I want. 

“I’ll still be around to have a drink and socialise I’ll just be on the other side of the bar which I’m very much looking forward to.”

Tully Potts