Encouraging participation strengthens club and community
Photo caption: Gary Spraggon, President, delivering a bowl at this week’s club day. Photo by James Stanbridge.
Maintaining membership is a challenge for many sports clubs, and one that the Ohope Bowling Club is very happy to be facing head-on.
President and coach, Gary Spraggon says the club is probably the strongest in the district, largely because of the committee’s effort to encourage participation in the sport and the use of its Harbour Road facilities.
“We’re getting an increase in people wanting to play on a casual basis, including corporate groups and others who want to make an outing of it, so we made the call to upgrade our kitchen to a semi-commercial standard to better cater for them. We made a successful application to the Eastern Bay Energy Trust and very soon we’ll be fitting new appliances. We also received funding to repair our floodlights, which is great because it allows us to extend the time that the greens can be used.”
As part of its awareness drive, Ohope Bowling Club is holding a “Have-a-go”, from 2pm this Sunday (7 May). “Anyone is welcome to come along and try the game. We’re asking for a donation, which will go to the Edgecumbe flood recovery,” Mr Spraggon adds.
Eastern Bay Energy Trust Manager Rawinia Kamau says facilities, such as the bowling club, act as community hubs. “We’re aware that it’s used several days a week by other clubs and organisations and available for hire to the wider community, so by supporting the bowling club, Trustees are effectively investing in an essential piece of community infrastructure.”
In addition to the grant to the Ohope Bowling Club, the Eastern Bay Energy Trust approved funding totalling just over $103,000 from the Community Events, Community Amenities and Community Development Funds at its April meeting:
Have a Heart Charitable Trust ($4,720.04) towards sound and lighting equipment hire for the 2017 Yeah Nah It’s Not OK Song Quest.
Fibre and Fleece Trust ($4,150.04) towards sound equipment hire for the 2017 Fibre and Fleece Festival.
Whakatane Lyceum Club ($2,088.28) towards exterior security lighting.
Opotiki Playcentre ($5,187.64) towards the supply and installation of heat pumps.
Opotiki & District Senior Citizens Association Inc ($3,925.47) towards the supply and installation of heat pumps.
Ohope Bowling Club (Inc) ($39,012.35) towards electrical wiring, lighting and appliances.
Maraetotara Trust ($46,752.13) towards electrical wiring, lighting, heating, insulation and a hot water gas system.
Kawerau District Council ($1,165.00) towards a data show projector for community use.