It’s like something out of a ’90s Aussie comedy film, as three elderly women embrace the power of pop music to save their beloved bowls club, which they’ve been playing at for over 40 years.

Rather than a movie plot, though, it’s an actual protest campaign from the members of the Chadstone Bowls Club in Melbourne, as they face having their greens demolished in favour of a fancy new stadium, The Age reports.

They’re not giving up quietly, however, and to raise awareness of their plight, they’ve strapped on their dancing shoes and reworked Beyoncé’s classic ‘Single Ladies’ in an effort to raise awareness of their plight.

And sure, the ladies may lose the melody a little here and there, but it’s still a pretty adorable effort as the nans trot across the green and bust out their choreographed dance moves, and has gained the matter a huge amount of attention, racking up over 600,000 views already.

“I’m only 82, but for some of the older members this is more than a bowls club, it’s their connection with their community,” Ms Terry Foster, one of the stars of the clip, told The Age, with club president Alan Jolly adding that council “didn’t see this level of opposition coming.”

However, Stonnington council did anticipate plenty of opposition for the club, but voted unanimously to demolish the courts regardless, claiming that there is a dire need for more netball and basketball courts, with both of these sports being more popular with the younger generation, and young women especially.

Mr. Jolly isn’t buying that explanation though, claiming that “The council officers did not look very hard or properly to find an appropriate site.”

“Everyone claims to be looking after senior citizens and acknowledging that there is a need to encourage fitness,” he adds. “And so what does this council go do? Whack the elderly and chuck them out of a bowls club and build a netball court that no one in the area wants.”

Council is now investigating three other potential sites for the new venue, although the bowls club remains its preferred location.

You can watch the video below, and if you want to support the fierce women and their longstanding club, head to the website – we can’t wait to hear their take on ‘Formation’.

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine