May 2010 President's newsletter
April was a busy month with all the holiday makers visiting for long weekends, school children underfoot and solemn memories of fallen comrades. I was fortunate enough to lay a wreath at the Tin Can Bay service on behalf of the club. Other services for ANZAC Day were held at Cooloola Cove, Rainbow Beach and other parts of the Gympie Region. The weather was brilliant on the day but overnight the rain bucketed down to cause the cancellation of the annual golf and bowls competitions – these will be rescheduled for another day, along with the Legacy raffle and patrons will be notified (watch the sign).
The first of our charity days will be happening as you read this newsletter with Cooloola Coast Medical Transport holding their day on Sunday 2nd May (May Day holiday weekend). There will be golf and bowls, along with a huge raffle on the day, similar to previous years. The service that this organisation provides is used by many to keep appointments with medical staff in numerous locations. See what you can do to support them.
For those interested in model airplanes then the May Day long weekend should provide sufficient enjoyment to last for some time. At the airfield, near the end of the golf course, you will be able to see authentic models of various forms of air transport – one model has a wing span of 3.2 metres (be careful when you’re driving that you don’t concentrate on the planes). Hopefully the weather will be kind to these fly boys.
This weekend is also an extremely busy weekend for Tin Can Bay and surrounds with the start of the Bay to Bay sailing regatta starting on Saturday 1st May.
The major point of interest around the area at the moment is the proposal for a marine park in the area off Fraser Island. This will affect a number of commercial fishermen in our immediate area and every effort is being made to make sure all the information regarding peoples livelihood is presented to the appropriate authorities before any decision is made. We can only hope that sense prevails and marine parks and fishermen can survive together.
The next charity day to be held by the club will be on Sunday 23rd May in aid of the local Ambulance and Rainbow Beach Surf Lifesaving Club with the usual golf and bowls competitions and huge raffle on the day. See if you can support these worthwhile organisations.
It is disappointing to notice that a number of shops in the Tin Can Bay shopping complex have or are about to close. The commercial reality of the economic downturn in small country areas causes these occurrences to take place. The newer shops at Cooloola Cove shopping centre are still trading but finding it tough. Hopefully we won’t arrive at a “them and us” approach to shopkeepers in both centres, fracturing the good will between people living in close proximity to one another.
Trading. The figures for the first nine months of the financial year have been absorbed and it is highly probable that the club will operate with a reasonable loss this year. The turnover in the gaming area has reduced dramatically and is the major contributor to the loss, whilst our expenses have remained stable or increased slightly over the year. After a number of years of profit, reality has hit and we will be setting our budgets at a lower level, to allow for a reduction of the gaming income.
As a result of the increases in expenses changes have been made to the fee structure for golf and bowls membership. Our bulk green members will have little change to their fees. Those that wish to join and play their sport on an ad-hoc basis will find that they will have to pay membership fees the same as last year plus pay for six (6) game fees of their chosen sport at the time of renewing their membership. Green fees for both golf and bowls have been increased. The affiliation fee for golfers has been increased by the governing body and will be passed on to our competitive golfers. Junior member fees will stay the same to encourage the younger generation to join in. All members will shortly receive their renewal letters with golf and bowls bulk green members having their green fees terminating on 30th June this year.
Sport. Our men’s and women’s golf pennant teams have completed their season with a number of wins and losses, unfortunately not making any of the finals. The bowls pennants will be commencing shortly and there is a lot of pressure for high performance from our teams.
This month sees the start of the golf competitions with qualifying for the
zone four ball mixed championship and the vets starting their 54 hole championships.
The Mitre 10 day for golfers and bowlers will again be held on the Sunday of
the Queens Birthday weekend holiday (13th June) so make sure you have booked
your place in the event.
Promotions. Our Friday Night members draw is giving away $1,000
on Friday 30th April and the jackpot will be reduced appropriately. The Sunday
raffle has reduced the jackpot of IGA vouchers to $500 for Sunday 2nd May. A
number of the excess vouchers will be given away on Mothers day Sunday 9th May.
The restaurant will be open for both lunch and dinner on Mothers Day (see the
special menu at the club) so it may be prudent to arrange to bring Mum out for
lunch and dinner and also attend the raffle
See you at the T.C.B. Country Club.
Stephen Wallis.
President TCBCC.