focusinterview.
As the Marketing & Club Grants Manager at Port City Bowling Club, Katy-Lee Waldron’s role is busy but very rewarding. Katy-Lee and her team, Easties Crew 4 You, love to assist the community - whether it’s through volunteering, supporting causes or holding fundraisers. There are some exciting fundraisers and community events happening at Port City in the New Year, and Katy-Lee was more than happy to share the details with us.
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ort City Bowling Club has a remarkable team who like to help support the community and host fundraisers. Why are these activities important to the team - why do you like to
"give back"? Port City has a long tradition of supporting the community over the years, and it’s become a part of the club’s culture. Our Easties Crew 4 You love being involved in the community; not only is it a nice break from what we do every day, volunteering can offer a new perspective to our staff - seeing people who are worse off than you are, yet still hanging in there, can help you see your life in a whole new light. Recap 2016 for us. What were some of the community events Port City was involved with throughout the year? This year was by far the biggest fundraising years we have had in a long time. Our staff were very active participating in not only club driven events, but fundraising days in the community also. Caleb’s Trivia Fundraiser, The World’s Greatest Shave, Mayor’s Sporting Fund, Walk to d’feet motor neuron, The Big Dig, Sand Mudder, Movember, Daffodil Day, UGLY Bartender were just a handful of events our staff supported throughout the year. You have a few big plans for 2017. Firstly, tell us about the "Bowls for Balls" event scheduled for 25th - 26th January. What's the event in aid of, and what's on the agenda for the two days? 36 greater port macquarie focus.
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have heaps of
We Bowls for Balls will complete their challenge wonderful prizes kick off the year’s as a way to continue supe th r fo and giveaways porting people who need fundraising initiatives e ag ur co en day, and we s es help and to keep raising for 2017, raising dr to s am all of the te ay awareness of blood canawareness and funds D ia al tr us up in A t of bi a cers and the help/funds for testicular and prosd ad to e them tate cancer. The barestill needed. fun.” foot bowls challenge On Saturday, February event will commence on 18th from 3pm, Paint the Australia Day eve at 2pm, Town will be joining forces with with 24 teams participating over the club and Claudia to provide you two hour sessions to complete a continall with an evening of eating, sipping and uous 24 hour game of barefoot bowls. painting, all whilst raising funds for a great We have heaps of wonderful prizes and cause. Guests will receive a glass of champagne giveaways for the day, and we encourage all of on arrival, paint canvas, supplies and artist dithe teams to dress up in Australia Day theme to rection to complete a beautiful creation. Tickets add a bit of fun. All of the funds raised for the are available from the Paint the Town website or event will be donated to Cancer Council NSW. here at the club. For more information or to register your team, What else is on the agenda so far for 2017? see our friendly staff at reception or contact our We have an event in pipeline which will Bowls Co-ordinator Phil at the Club on 6583 be raising awareness of Juvenile Myositis, also 1133 or by email phil@portcity.com.au. referred to as “JM”. JM is rare and life-threatening autoimmune disease, in which the You also have a team member, Claudia, body’s immune system attacks its own cells and who's planning to climb Mt Kilimanjaro in tissues. The Cure JM foundation is very close February. Epic task! What does she hope to to our colleague Chris and his wife, after their achieve, and who is she raising funds for? second eldest daughter, Ellie, was diagnosed in Yes, our Finance Manager Claudia always February 2012 at age five, after being ill for 12 wanted to do a trek the year she turned 40. It months. was a personal goal to prove to herself that she After six months of treatment, Chris’s wife, could complete anything she put her mind to. Aimee, found the Cure JM website. The ability However, after The Easties Crew attended the to connect with other parents changed everytop fundraisers event in Sydney for The World’s thing, as they realised they were not alone. Greatest Shave, she was so moved by what the They connected with other Australian families, Leukaemia Foundation achieves and decided to
and Ellie was able to meet children going through the same battle she was facing. Ellie reached remission in 2016. Port City plans to hold a fundraiser to create awareness of the disease, to assist Aimee’s passion for helping Australian families connect to the local resources and help available in Australia. What's the most enjoyable part of your role at Port City Bowling Club? That’s a tricky one, as I really enjoy all aspects of my role as Marketing & Club Grants Manager at the club. Not only do I get to organise all of our fun and exciting events and promotions; I also get to be involved in the club’s contribution to the community via the fundraising events we hold and the Club Grants Program, which Port City donates over $300,000 to each year. It’s a very rewarding job, especially when I am to award a donation that will change somebody’s life. How can readers assist the club with its community work? Readers can assist with the club’s community work by simply attending our club fundraisers. How can we find out more info about what you do? The easiest way to keep up to date with the club’s activities is to like our page on Facebook, check out our website, subscribe to club emails or read the latest copy of our club magazine, Pulse. Thanks Katy-Lee. Interview by Jo Robinson.