Our Outgoing Acting President’s Report

Our Outgoing Acting President’s Report

(As tabled at the AGM held on 3 July 2022)

I, Wayne Gray present this President’s Report as the outgoing Acting Club President and Vice President of Operations. I sincerely wish I could be at the Annual General Meeting to personally thank the outgoing Governing Council, Committee members and Volunteers for their efforts and achievements over the past seven years.

The introduction of the Governing Council by the then President Mr Barry Bradshaw in 2015, created a level of management that included President, Vice President Operations, Vice President Sport and Participation, Office Manager and Treasurer. The members of the Governing Council were given the overall responsibility of ensuring that efficient and effective governance and operations were carried out within their portfolios. They were tasked to ensure compliance with various Authorities and Local Government Regulations and the Club Constitution and By-laws for all sporting sections and members but not get directly involved in the day to day operations of the Bowls, Croquet, Darts and Club Facilities, this was made the responsibility of the two Vice Presidents.

Other areas the Governing Council are responsible for are Administration, Strategic Planning, Financial and Asset Management, liaison with Authorities, and sourcing and securing grants for improvements to the Club facilities for the members. The Vice President Operations has the overall responsibility to control and coordinate all activities within the Club facilities and grounds that do not relate to sports. The Vice President Sport and Participation is tasked with the day-to-day operations of the Bowls, Croquet and Darts Sporting Clubs within Sorrento Bowling Club.

This restructure has proven to be an outstanding success but not without the tremendous efforts and dedication of our 100 plus volunteers and staff. Some of those achievements include; • Numerous Bowls WA and Clubs WA awards for Club of the Year over the period • The Club’s induction into Clubs WA Club of the Year Hall of Fame and Runner Up in Bowls Australia Club of the year • Formal recognition by the City of Joondalup of the Club’s achievements at a publicly attended City Council meeting • Kitchen refurbishment • Covered BBQ area and covered pergola area • Solar power system to clubrooms • New offices and meeting room and expansion of the bar area • State of the art point of sales system • Furniture replacement throughout the bar area • Upgrading of the hall and external area lighting to led lighting • Upgrading the information technology system and replacement of computers • $200,000 in Grant Funding (excluding synthetic green) • New front entry gates and signage, which is in the process of being completed • State Government and City of Joondalup approval and over $300,000 Grant assistance to construct a synthetic green on E

Green. We are awaiting a proposal from the City of Joondalup to construct the synthetic green which is to be presented to the membership for their consideration

Succession planning has always been a major objective of the Governing Council but unfortunately, like most clubs recently, attempts to encourage members contemplating taking on a management role have not been successful. I am sure the incoming Governing Council will also address this strategy, hopefully with more success.

Members should have no doubt that the Sorrento Bowling Club is a business, and quite a complex business, with a turnover exceeding $1 million requiring careful management of Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Hospitality and Function Facilities including catering, five bowling greens and two croquet courts, compliance with Authority rules and regulations and a range of stakeholders that must be engaged for ongoing funding and support. All this in the face of years of Covid and Covid restrictions and the stress that these have caused.

I would like to thank the Darts Club for their annual donation to the Club. This year making a significant contribution to the recently erected shade sails and the replacement of the Mahjong tables.

I cannot thank enough the members of the Governing Council, Committee members, Volunteers, staff, and the general membership who have supported your Club during this difficult time and I acknowledge their sacrifice and efforts.

As the Treasurer has advised, the Club is in a very strong financial position which has seen revenues increased and costs contained which has also allowed membership fees to be kept unchanged for several years. Since the introduction of the Governing Council model to the Club in 2015/16, our cash position has doubled to over $200,000 with net equity also increasing by over 20%. Without the negative impact of Covid on the Club’s patronage our cash position would have been significantly more.

I would like to acknowledge the individual efforts of the Governing Council’s outgoing members; • John Abercrombie who resigned earlier this year after leading the

Club for over six years, including throughout the very difficult

Covid period • Pat Dichiera who managed the Club finances navigating through

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