Matters might seem to have quietened down since last December – when it was announced Liza Butler brokered a deal with the CC to de amalgamate. Not so. There has been diverse activity & negotiations happening in the background, but the requirement for confidentiality and discretion prevented disclosure. If you recall the VRRA community meeting in January 2025 where Liza Butler warned us all for the need to avoid upsets; to be respectful and patient. So we complied: The community, by removing protest signs and not posting hostile comments. Friends, quietly continued operating in the background without any fanfare, thinking this would facilitate cooperation from the CC. How naive of us! We are now 4 months down the track and we still don’t have the club house opened, thus we missed the financial gains of the peak visitor period. I could go on with a load of details on the lack of cooperation, but for brevity: we did not receive the support of positive action despite demonstrating our good intentions.
Going back to December, a philanthropic organisation offered $2M to the CC to enable VGC to de amalgamate from the CC. The proposal was to revitalise the VGC whilst also providing disadvantaged youth with workplace training and employment opportunities in green keeping, horticulture, hospitality and hotel management. Such a project would attract considerable Government funding, esp training for Indigenous youth. However, this arrangement did not progress as it failed to meet the requirements of the charity’s constitution.
Nevertheless, it was the catalyst to de amalgamate from the CC. It also brought attention to the importance of benefiting our community in more ways than sport.
The CC Board have let it be known they want to be free of us. It is an unfortunate outcome but necessary. The work of our Friends group, with strong support of the community, have achieved an important milestone. De amalgamation from the CC is possible.
The CC wrote to registered clubs in NSW in February, inviting Expressions of Interest (EoI). Several prosperous Sydney clubs, and local clubs have come forward. The usual restrictions on confidentiality prevent details being provided, but suffice to say Members of the Working Group and Project Team have held numerous discussions with different parties to ascertain their bona fides and whether an amalgamation will be to our benefit.
Much of the background work has focused on the viability: Can we go on our own? (referred to as Scenario1) or, is it necessary to amalgamate with another club? (Referred to as Scenario 2)
In order to place us in a position to be represented by relevant authorities such as the Office of Liquor & Gaming, and Clubs NSW, a new entity was established by the Project Team: Jervis Bay Community and Sports Club. Three Directors from within our golf and local community have taken up positions on the newly formed Board, chaired by Craig Hatton. At this early stage significant considerations for the new entity are potential Financial models and opportunities, availability of Foot Soldiers, with a focus on maintaining a permanent green space.
Meanwhile – in order to cover all bases, research into the backgrounds and intentions of interested clubs continues. Of particular interest is an EoI lodged by a community club which has a philosophy of Profit for Purpose. They are a successful Sydney club, with a strong history of assisting & contributing to Communities.
Currently, Friends, and the Working Group, are determining the condition of the club house and looking to harness tradies interested in getting the club up to standard. Attempts to persuade the CC to reopen the club continue, but at least a bare minimum is to have the auditorium opened, although in desperation a shift to at least get the restaurant space opened is now being sought.
It is a long term project requiring attention to many factors and special considerations, and, we are all volunteers. Patience. While you are exercising your patience, think how you can contribute to establishing and maintaining a viable community and sport club.
Anne Everts
Working Group Member