Clubs from across the state have been recognised for outstanding contributions made to their local communities at the annual Clubs NSW Clubs and Community Awards.
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Eleven winners and 11 highly commended awards, from a pool of 69 finalists, were announced at the gala event at the International Convention Centre’s Grand Ballroom in Sydney last weekend.
Among them was the Tathra Beach Bowling Club, which took out the “Emergency Services” Award for the role it played in the aftermath of the devastating Tathra bushfire.
The club industry funded the deployment of Team Rubicon Australia volunteers (who are Australian Defence Force veterans and emergency service personnel) to help in the recovery effort in Tathra.
Tathra Beach Bowling Club acted as a base for the Team Rubicon Australia volunteers to plan their recovery efforts. The club also provided the volunteers with meals and assisted where required, to ensure the volunteers had everything they needed during their deployment.
The club also acted as a hub for members of the community to come in if they needed assistance or someone to talk to, and the club would then act as a conduit between the locals and Team Rubicon volunteers.
Residents could drop into the club to explain they had lost belongings, or needed assistance with clean-ups at their home that had been damaged or destroyed by bushfire, and the volunteers would go and assist them at their property.
Around 1000 people, including NSW Racing Minister Paul Toole and Shadow NSW Treasurer Ryan Park, were on hand to witness the enormous contribution of clubs across the state.
From coordinating bushfire recovery efforts, to manufacturing electronic safety devices for women who may be at a high risk of domestic violence, to providing scholarships to nurses and midwives, and using CCTV to help solve a homicide, clubs were recognised for a diverse range of contributions.
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ClubsNSW CEO Anthony Ball said awards organisers faced a tough judging process, with a record number of high calibre entries received.
“Clubs make an enormous social contribution to the areas in which they serve, and the stories we heard on Saturday night were nothing short of inspirational,” said Mr Ball.
“The Clubs and Community Awards are all about recognising initiatives which encapsulate the spirit and ethos of the entire club industry.”
