Mr Rob Parrella OAM

Parrella learnt to play bocce on the backstreets of Naples but it was after he moved to Brisbane aged 10 that he first played lawn bowls – the sport which would bring him fame as the first Australian bowler to win an individual Commonwealth gold medal – at Auckland in 1990.

Rob was a long-term archrival of David Bryant and lists his greatest ever thrill in the game as the time he beat Bryant to reach the finals in the 1990 games.

A colourful character who has perfected the fast drive One of Australia's most prolific Commonwealth bowlers, a career spanning over three Games and bringing him a complete set of medals, bronze, silver and gold in the men's singles.