A bid to restore a time-honoured bowls club’s green has reached the final stretch, with the community urged to get behind the project.
More than $35,000 has already been raised for the restoration of the Cooroy Possums Bowls Club’s bowling green, leaving $10,000 still to be secured through its Save the Green campaign.
The club, which has been at the heart of the hinterland community for more than 80 years, is the last non-gaming bowls club on the Sunshine Coast.
Its future was secured after Sunshine Coast locals and Your Mates Brewing founders Matt Hepburn and Christen McGarry stepped in and invested hundreds of thousands of dollars revitalising the venue during the past two years.
They transformed it into Crackerjack while preserving the history, character and community spirit that have defined the Possums.
The club now has more than 100 active members. It hosts weekly bowls, social competitions, community events and families.
The next step is restoring the green. The upgraded surface will allow the club to continue welcoming bowlers of all ages, host larger competitions, attract more visitors to Cooroy and preserve the facility for future generations.
The community and government helped with $35,000 for the project. To help reach the fundraising goal, Crackerjack has invited people to a Save the Green event on Sunday, August 16.
The community fundraiser will feature live music, a ‘flipper’ competition, raffles, auctions, face painting, family entertainment and food and drink specials, with proceeds helping complete the restoration.
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As part of the campaign: $10 from every carton sold on the day will be donated to the project; $2 from every schooner sold will go directly towards restoring the green; and funds raised through raffles, auctions and donations will also contribute to the campaign.
Mr McGarry outlined the campaign’s significance.
“This isn’t just about saving a bowling green. It’s about protecting one of the last places where people from every generation can come together,” he said.
“Clubs like the Possums are part of the fabric of regional communities. They’re where lifelong mateships continue to thrive.
“We’ve invested hundreds of thousands of dollars because we believe this club deserves another 80 years. The community has already helped raise $35,000, and now we’re inviting everyone to help us finish the job.”
