Bowling club considers merger

Woy Woy Bowling Club has appointed a new secretary-manager to manage the operations of the club, and is considering a possible merger with Woy Woy Leagues Club, according to club chairman Mr Ken Dixon.

The club has decided to recruit Mr Thomas Dunne as the new secretary-manager, who has wide experience in the catering, hotel and club industries.

Mr Dunne commenced duties on Monday, May 23.

Mr Dixon said that currently the club was trading profitably, but patronage and financial performance needed to improve to ensure long-term growth and ongoing survival.

Mr Dixon added that the landlord, Woy Woy Holdings, had no immediate intention to redevelop the site and would like to see the bowling club trading profitably on the site.

Mr Dixon further added that the priority of the board was to ensure that the bowling club remained open as a viable community facility and that bowling facilities continued to be available.

In January last year, the Woy Woy Bowling Club was handed back to its members following a period of financial difficulty.

The closure of the club appeared to be a very real possibility, according to Mr Dixon.

"Since that time, the board of management has endeavoured to develop a strong base for the long-term survival of the club," Mr Dixon said.

"These efforts have been constrained by a limited cash position, modest trading results and less than optimal community support."

The Woy Woy Leagues Club has been providing management services to the Bowling Club since January, on a cost-recovery basis.

During this period, the club's board has been reviewing the trading operations of the club and keeping a close watch on the club's overall finances.

A range of measures have been taken to reduce operating costs during this period and attempts have been made to increase patronage.

Mr Dixon said In light of these facts the board had been reviewing the strategies that might best support the long-term operation and growth of the club.

This work has been undertaken with the assistance of independent advice from Clubs NSW.

Mr Dixon said two of the options included a merger.

Mr Dixon said a merger may be possible with the Woy Woy Leagues Club whose management now had a reasonable understanding of the issues facing the club and could provide some degree of certainty for the future of the club.

He said that it may prove to be the best opportunity for the long term future of the club.

"We will work through the various issues before any recommendations are put to members on a merger," Mr Dixon said.

"Please note that a merger cannot take place without the agreement of members."

A possible merger with another club was also on table, Mr Dixon added.

For the present, the board had decided to recruit a new secretary manager and Mr Dixon asked members to support and work closely with him as the board endeavoured to grow the business of the Woy Woy Bowling Club.

Press release, May 27 Ken Dixon, Woy Woy Bowling Club