Robert Parrella (born 9 June 1944) is an Italian born, Australian international lawn and indoor bowler.

Bowls career

Commonwealth Games

Born in Italy Rob came to prominence when winning a silver medal in the

1982 Commonwealth Games The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Australia, from 30 September to 9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium (named after Elizabeth II), in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the a ...

behind

Willie Wood William Vernell Wood Sr. (December 23, 1936February 3, 2020) was an American professional football player and coach. He played as a safety with the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL). Wood was an eight-time Pro Bowler an ...

. Despite this success he fell out of favour with the Australian selectors and it was not until 1989 that he represented his country again. In the

1990 Commonwealth Games The 1990 Commonwealth Games ( mi, 1990 Taumāhekeheke Commonwealth) were held in Auckland, New Zealand from 24 January – 3 February 1990. It was the 14th Commonwealth Games, and part of New Zealand's 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations. Partic ...

he won the singles Gold and in the

1994 Commonwealth Games The 1994 Commonwealth Games ( French: ''XVéme Jeux du Commonwealth'') were held in Victoria, British Columbia, from 18 to 28 August 1994. Ten types of sports were featured at the Victoria Games: athletics, aquatics, badminton, boxing, cycling, ...

he won a bronze medal in the

singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

World Championships

He only competed in one World Outdoor Championship in

1992 File:1992 Events Collage V1.png, From left, clockwise: 1992 Los Angeles riots, Riots break out across Los Angeles, California after the Police brutality, police beating of Rodney King; El Al Flight 1862 crashes into a residential apartment buildi ...

Asia Pacific Championships

He has won three gold medals at the Asia Pacific Bowls Championships in 1989 (singles and pairs) and 1991 (singles).

National

He has twice been

Australian National Bowls Championships The Australian National Bowls Championships and the Australian Open are organised by Bowls Australia. Bowls dates back to 1845 in Australia but it was not until 1910, during the 1910 Carnival of bowls that South Australia proposed the formation of ...

singles champion and four times pairs champion.

Awards

Rob was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on Australia Day 1996 for service to sport, particularly lawn bowls and on 14 July 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for significant contribution to lawn bowls as a competitor. Other awards include recognition as Bowls Australia Athlete of the Year in 1989 and induction into the Queensland Sports Hall of Fame on 4 December 2009.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parrella, Robert Australian male bowls players Living people 1944 births Commonwealth Games medallists in lawn bowls Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Australia Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Australia Bowls players at the 1982 Commonwealth Games Bowls players at the 1990 Commonwealth Games Bowls players at the 1994 Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 1982 Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 1990 Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 1994 Commonwealth Games Italian emigrants to Australia