How a lawn bowls enthusiast orchestrated a bizarre $1million revenge from beyond the grave
- Melbourne bowler Bruce Hallman died last year
- His will contained a big surprise
A Melbourne bowler caused legal trouble when he died and left his entire estate to a rival bowls club – and some club members believe the move is revenge from beyond the grave.
Bruce Hallman was a member of Melbourne’s Doncaster Bowls Club for 15 years, and after he passed away in 2022, he left a donation worth more than $1 million to the sport he loved.
However, Doncaster Bowls Club did not receive a cent. Instead, Bruce left everything to a rival club he had only visited once: Donvale Bowls Club.
The only time Bruce set foot on the Donvale grounds was when he visited for new membership in 2019, and the experience must have been a good one.
Several months later, Bruce met with a lawyer and asked him to leave his entire estate to Donvale.
“If any member has any memories or knowledge of Bruce Hallman, we invite you to share them with us,” Donvale chairman Ian Bramstedt wrote in surprise in a club newsletter.
“His positive experience and admiration for our club’s friendliness and community offerings have led to this generous donation.”
Doncaster Bowls Club were ‘shocked’ and believed a mistake had been made, so they hired a lawyer ahead of a legal battle.
Bruce Hallman (pictured) was a member of the Doncaster Bowls Club in Melbourne for fifteen years, but after his death Bruce left his entire estate to a rival club.
Donvale Bowls Club (pictured) received more than $1 million from Hallman – and he had only set foot on the grounds once
But they were told the case was not worth pursuing further.
“We have challenged the will to some extent,” said Trevor Dawson, executive chairman of Doncaster Bowling Club News Corp.
‘But there was no point in continuing.
‘As far as we are concerned, the matter is closed. Donvale got the money and there’s nothing we can do about it.’
There is speculation among club members that Bruce had been unhappy with people from Doncaster and changed his will as revenge.
However, Mr Dawson disagreed with these claims.
Representatives of Doncaster Bowls Club (pictured) were shocked to hear the news and hired a lawyer
“There was no tension between Bruce and any of our members,” he said.
Donvale are excited about the windfall and already have plans to upgrade their facilities – including covering the greens with a dome for year-round play and installing lighting for night games.
“We will be one of the few non-slot clubs to have these types of facilities,” said chairman Ian Bramstedt.
‘A one-time donation like this deserves a one-time improvement in infrastructure.’