On behalf of the Board, I submit for your consideration, approval and adoption, the Annual Report and Financial Statement for the year ending 31st December 2023.
The year had many challenges for our Club together with many other establishments, following on from the relaxed post Covid end to 2022 when the population let their hair down celebrating the end of the Covid lockdowns.
Increased interest rates and theimpact of the cost of living burden on all of us had a marked impact on the amount of discretionary spending available to us all. This was reflected in the results for the year being good but far less than 2022.
Bowls
31st October 2023 was a sad day for the Club when the remaining bowling green was closed. Bowls has been a part of this club’s history for over 60 years. It has provided asocial and sporting outlet to a countless number of local people. Sadly, though it has suffered falling participation rates over recent years. At the same time costs to maintain greens has increased considerably.
At the end of August 2023, the club’s professional greenkeeper for many years terminated his services. Quotes to maintain the green were obtained and even with an offer from the bowling groups to contribute $30,000 towards the maintenance, a deficit of around $50,000 would still have resulted, a situation that with regret, the Board could not support.
Development
The external pressure on the club industry to reduce the number of gaming machines and control the amount of money spent on gaming has not decreased since my report last year. In fact, in some of the media outlets, it has increased. We must therefore maintain our focus on developing alternative means of attracting income. As reported in last year’s report your Board and Management team are actively pursuing plans to build a new club on the bowling green site and build seniors living units.
How to finance those plans has resulted in a go slow approach but we now see some light at the end of that tunnel. We have met with two banks who have shown interest in our proposal and we have asked our Architect and Project Manager to prepare plans for a DA submission in mid-2024. With the State Government encouraging housing development to ‘go up not out’, particularly near transport routes and within 400 meters of a shopping centre, has made some difference to our approach to the development.
The present thinking is to construct a single level club at ground level with two levels of underground parking and some operational facilities below ground and build 2 floors of units above the club. In that way there will be some income from this stage 1 to help fund the stage 2 operation where the existing club will be demolished and more units built on the then vacant site, including the existing car park. Plans to date anticipate approximately 60 units being built, mainly 2 and 3 bedrooms.
The development team has visited several single level clubs during the year and is confident that the footprint available on the bowling green site will be adequate for our needs in the future and will result in a new vibrant club that people will want to visit with far less relatively unused space we have at present that still needs to be maintained.
I repeat my words from last year’s report ‘We want to ensure that the club will remain open during the development process and encourage members and their guests to please be patient and understanding during that time. It will be for the greater good in the end and will ensure that Forestville RSL Club will be the ‘go to’ place for local families and friends in the long-term future.’ That ambition still exists today.
Performance outcomes
As indicated above, 2023 has been very challenging and has shown that the end of year results of 2022 following Covid was a ‘blip’ in the economy. Notwithstanding that on behalf of the Board and members I thank our CEO Ian Thomson, his Executive Leadership team and all staff members for their efforts during the year. There is a lot that happens behind the front desk that very few get to know about and the dedication of the whole team to serve our members and guests is first class.
Any surplus is better than a loss and while this year was not as good as last year, we are not just accepting that things cannot be better. The Management team and Board are constantly monitoring trading results to see what efficiencies can be achieved and what else can be done to attract more foot traffic to improve the overall result.
I acknowledge the contribution ofMichelle Joosse during her time as a director and welcome Michael Raymer to theBoard. I also thank all my fellow directors for their support during the year.
The Board and Management extendour sincere condolences to the families who lost a loved one during the year.
While change is occurring at Forestville RSL Club the Board and Management are looking forward to working together with you to ensure that each one of you, regardless of your age, have an enjoyable time at your club as we strive together to improve the club facilities. Without your continued support, we have no club, it really is that simple.
While the impact of Covid has reduced in 2023, we look forward to improved trading opportunities in 2024 and seek your support to make our club better.
Tony Mooney
President