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Marlene Castle (nee Sadgrove)
Marlene Sadgrove was born in Onehunga, Auckland and attended Te Papapa Primary School before she and her two older brothers, Ray and Noel, moved with their parents to Otahuhu. There she attended Otahuhu Primary before moving on to Otara Intermediate School and then Otahuhu College. She was a member of Seddon House. At Otahuhu College Marlene was a student in the A Form of the Commerce Course for three years. In 1960 she gained School Certificate. She played netball, and for Marlene, her schooldays were an enjoyable experience. She contributed to school life as a Librarian and as an assistant in the school bookroom. Marlene would have liked to continue at school beyond the three years, but it was an expectation that girls in those days would go to work for a short time, marry, and then bring up a family. After leaving school she worked in Khyber Pass at the Four Square Headquarters in the accountancy department. Her next employment was with an accountancy firm in Parnell. Marriage to Bruce Castle, the rugby league Kiwi captain, followed. That entailed a move to Australia where Marlene lived for two years in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. A daughter Raelene, and a son Ryan were born soon after this. During the twenty years that the family lived at Bucklands Beach, Marlene began playing golf, while her husband became actively involved in the game of bowls. He suggested that she should give it a try and when she enquired in 1982 with a view to joining the local club, she was informed that membership was closed. She has now been playing bowls for twenty-two years and after only six years of participation in the game, Marlene was selected to play for New Zealand. As part of her extensive international achievements and representation, Marlene participated in the Asia Pacific Championships from 1989 and won a range of medals over a period of eight different games:- 5 Gold, 8 Silver and 1 Bronze. Gold and Silver medals were won in the International Pairs and Mixed Pairs in Australia in 1995. Marlene has represented New Zealand at four Commonwealth Games between 1990 and 2002. Participation in the World Bowls events in Scotland, England and Australia resulted in Silver and Bronze successes in the Triples and Fours. In 1996 the New Zealand team was unbeaten in three Test series in South Africa. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals have been won in Singles and Mixed Pairs in World Indoor Championships between 1993 and 2001. She participated in Trans Tasman, Irish and English Test Series when every test but one, was won. Her New Zealand achievements include Champion of Champion Singles, NZ Superbowl Singles seven times, National Fours, Pairs, Mixed Pairs and Triples. Marlene has been the recipient of the following New Zealand Awards:-
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