January 2010 President's newsletter
The Christmas celebrations are over now and a new decade awaits after the New Years Eve celebrations.
The golf and bowls clubs held their presentation nights during December with all that attended having a great time with food and refreshments in plentiful supply.
Towards the end of the month we will be celebrating our patriotic day on Tuesday 26th January - Australia Day. The club will again be supplying the usual activities fro bowlers, golfers and other members – keep an eye on the LED sign for further information, as well as a flyer to your home.
Trading. Our club, like most in Queensland, are finding that trading is slightly down compared to last year’s figures. The economic downturn of last year is finally biting our state. Our spending is being slowed until trading resumes to its normal level.
Sport. The AGM’s of the mens and ladies bowls clubs were held during December and we wish new presidents Jill Calloway and Ken Domin the best for the forthcoming year.
Vince and Janet Reibel will be supplying trophies for those competitors brave
enough to play bowls or golf on New Years Day.
Australia Day will be the day for the golf 27 hole stroke championship with
the barbecue supplying nourishment for golfers on their way past the clubhouse
as well as the bowlers competing in the “Skirts v Shirts” annual
event.
Saturday 30th January sees our bowlers start their competition in the “Super Challenge” with a home match against local neighbours Cooloola Coast Bowls Club – come and watch the best. We are looking forward to more wins this year during the competition with a number of trips to the north in the Hervey Bay area.
Developments. The golf course continues to be improved with safety features being installed wherever required. With the donation of funds from the Golf Club a pathway has been constructed between the third green and the fourth tee with the surplus soil being used to create a protective barrier of shrubs/trees to the fourth tee. The eighteenth green has been ripped out and a new green is being constructed again using funds from the Golf Club. Head greenkeeper Mick Hall has a job on his hands organising the contractors to work in line with his design and shape for the green.
The secretary/manager Mark Whiting has been busy over the previous months redesigning the restaurant so that it reflects the aims of the club. Old photos of golfing memorabilia have been framed and mounted as well as old golf clubs and a replica of a bowls end in the design of the Southern Cross. The food from our chef can only complement the surroundings.
The club has been contributing to our local area in number of ways recently. The recent fire near Cooloola Cove was fought by our local fire services as well as those from surrounding areas plus helicopters from the Queensland Forestry. These helicopters suddenly appeared over our dam with huge buckets dangling underneath scooping out copious amounts of water. Head greenkeeper Mick Hall was concerned that our water supply, which was low due to the requirements of keeping our sporting venues well watered during the drought like conditions, would take some time to replenish (the recent weather has been helping). The club was happy to be helping at a time of a minor disaster (could have been worse if not contained).
Clubs Queensland has negotiated a memorandum of understanding with the Queensland Government Department of Community Safety (through State Emergency Services (SES) and Rural Fire Services (RFS)) to allow clubs to commit assistance in periods of declared emergencies. Tin Can Bay Country Club was happy to commit our resources to this effort (see story in Gympie Times Saturday 26/12 page 6).
Staffing. We have had a wonderful staff during the year with only minor turnover. From the bar staff that keep us in a happy mood, to the greens staff that prepare our sporting arenas, the rangers in the starting box making sure the golf course runs efficiently, the bus drivers that allow us to have that extra drink before delivering us to our front door, and the reception and accounting staff that keep a happy face on the front door, I would like to thank you for your effort during the year.
Promotions. The IGA vouchers jackpot on the Sunday raffle have again reached over $1,000 and if it is not won by the end of this year we will be again giving a large proportion of the vouchers away to a number of lucky ticket buyers. Keep your eyes and ears open, checking our LED sign at the front of the club for the exact date this will happen.
In order to entertain members and guests in gaming activities a number of poker machines have hd new games installed and some machines have been replaced. If you haven’t noticed the difference, go and take a look. Approximately seventy members were recipients of the clubs Christmas Ham giveaway and twenty Lions Club Christmas cakes were distributed via the Sunday and Thursday raffles. All members should be happy with the festive season.
New Years Eve can again be celebrated at our club with entertainment being supplied by live music from covers band “Monkey Business”. Children will be asked to leave at 9.30pm so that the more mature of us can continue celebrating without being noticed. Also on the night chef Craig will be presenting a six course meal for connoisseurs in the dining room at a cost of $55 per head – other meals will not be available on the night.
See you at the T.C.B. Country Club.
Stephen Wallis.
President TCBCC.