Sunshine Coast community clubs have been recognised for their outstanding performance with podium finishes at the prestigious Keno & Clubs Queensland Awards for Excellence in Brisbane.
The Waves Club at Caloundra was crowned Best Bowls Club category, while Dicky Beach Surf Club and Coolum Surf Club took home second and third place respectively in the Best Surf Life Saving Supporters Club category.
Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Supporters Association’s Flags Bistro came third in the Best Dining (101–200 seating capacity) category.
The Best Bowls Club award recognises a bowling club for the outstanding standard of grounds and facilities offered to members and guests, as well as a strong promotion of the game of bowls to the community and development programs to support this.
The accolade caps a period of growth for The Waves Bowls Club in recent years. Since being acquired by The Waves Group and re-branded in 2018 the club has developed a state-of-the-art facility, including two synthetic greens making it one of the state’s premier bowls venues.
Dicky Beach and Coolum’s strong finishes in the hotly-contested Best Surf Life Saving Supporters Club category highlights the calibre of clubs on offer to coastal communities.
This category recognises Surf Life Saving Supporters Clubs that provide financial and consistent high standard support to Surf Life Saving.
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Judges noted the range and quality of facilities they provide to their members along with their community participation and junior development programs.
Clubs Queensland CEO Kelly Egan said the Sunshine Coast’s community clubs had been outstanding in their service and their support of their communities, pushing through the challenges of COVID-19 when clubs were temporarily closed.
“This is a great example of clubs that have really gone beyond their remit to support their community, becoming a focal point for people to come together again once it was safer after COVID-19 lockdowns,” Mr Egan said.
“This is what community clubs do best and the Sunshine Coast has been superb in the last year. These clubs have connected the community for a common cause even in testing times and still epitomised what it means to be local.”
About Clubs
• Clubs in Queensland are membership-based, not-for-profit organisations that exist to provide services to members and the local community.
• There are more than 868 community clubs in Queensland. Together, they hold 2.4 million
memberships, employ more than 22,000 people (with 9000 based in regional Queensland), return over $850 million in social contributions and generate annual economic activity valued at more than $2.2 billion for the State’s economy.
• The surplus generated by clubs is used to deliver important and highly valued services in their surrounding communities and to visitors to their region. This support includes cash contributions, non-cash benefits, community assets and the mobilisation of volunteers.
• These are important community hubs for social interaction and engagement. Members have a shared sense of values and belonging, and this strengthens the social fabric and promotes strong community cohesion.
• The Keno & Clubs Queensland Awards for Excellence are in their 22nd year and recognise the achievements of the industry and honour the community club sector’s contributions.
