Dennington bowler Mark Savage opens up about dealing with epilepsy

The club stalwart, who lives with epilepsy, has only just returned to the game after a tough couple of years.

Not only has he played every match this season, he's also making a significant contribution off the green as a board member.

"Unfortunately with my epilepsy I haven't been around, this is my first season back for 18 months, I've been trying to get it under control, I'm still trying to get it under control - I've got to go to Melbourne at some stage," he said.

"The doctors have told me to get out and try and do things.

"Because with my epilepsy I can just collapse now, I don't feel it coming on and that's the worst part about it.

"That's why I haven't been working or anything like that."

Savage explained it had impacted his balance when playing bowls.

"It's good to be back and getting out and doing things and everything like that but I still suffer a little bit," he said.

"I just use a thing (stick) for my balance, I'm all right I still bowl with my hand but I just have a thing to hold me up a bit."

Savage wants to raise awareness about the neurological disorder.

"There's all different forms of it, it's unreal," he said.

"I've had it for 40 years now and I was all right, I was on the medication and everything and going all right.

"Then it struck me again about 18 months to two years ago and then I got put on new tablets and they couldn't get them because of COVID and then I had to start all over again.

"When I first had it (recently), I had it in the shower at home and I just went down and got badly burnt.

"But there's other people a lot worse off than me."

The former panel beater said his next hope was to get back into work when he is ready.

Right now, he's also making a positive impact off the greens at Dennington Bowls Club.

"I'm on the board at the moment, we're looking to do a few upgrades at the club which has been good," he said.

Savage's Dennington Mariners lost a 59-57 shot thriller to Lawn Red at Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Bowls Club in Western District Playing Area division two on Saturday.

The division two outfit is the club's top weekend pennant side.

Savage, a one-club player, has been at Dennington about 20 years and joined after a long cricket career.

The all-rounder played at Dennington, West Warrnambool and then captain-coached East Warrnambool across 25 years. He said he was also part of East Warrnambool's team of the century.

Savage is also a Dennington Football Netball Club life member and still supports the Dogs when he can.

A 100-goal season in the Warrnambool and District league reserves was among his highlights.

While he got plenty from his footy and cricket careers, he wishes he had picked up lawn bowls earlier.

He headed straight for the greens when he retired from cricket in his mid-30s.

"At the stage when I started it was known as an old man's game, I wish had taken it up earlier - I really do - instead of just standing out in the cricket field," he said.

"I really enjoy it, the camaraderie, meeting new people, I've travelled everywhere with it."

Savage has strong heritage at the bowls club. His dad Wally is a life member and also one of the club's founding members.

One of Savage's career highlights was when he and close mate Barry Crimmin won Warrnambool Bowls Club's iconic Autumn Classic pairs in 2012.

Another highlight was winning a division three weekend pennant premiership with Dennington.

Meanwhile, in division one results Dunkeld scored an exhilarating 57-55 shot win against Warrnambool Gold at Warrnambool.

Terang Green beat Timboon Gold 63-54 at Timboon while City Red escaped with a 59-51 victory over Port Fairy Red at Port Fairy.

Koroit Blue thumped Warrnambool Blue 75-43 at Koroit and City Gold posted a 59-46 victory against Mortlake Blue at City Memorial.