Registered clubs report increased profits

The three Peninsula-based registered clubs have all reported increased operating profits for the 2024-2025 financial years.

Ettalong Diggers reported a profit of $2.07 million, an increase of 4.42 per cent on the previous financial year, with gross revenue of $26.7 million.

Ettalong Memorial Bowling Club reported a profit of $1.68 million, an increase of 4.18 per cent, with gross revenue of $14.2 million.

Everglades Country Club reported a surplus of $233,341, an increase of 23.8 per cent, with gross revenue of $15.1 million.

The figures were disclosed in their financial reports prepared for their annual general meetings this month.

Ettalong Diggers reported it had made loan repayments of $1.9 million, reducing borrowings to $2.63 million.

Diggers chief executive Mr Col Murphy said this was "$400k more than the bank requirement of $1.5 million".

It also reported equity had increased by 12.0 per cent to $19.3 million.

"This result reflects our ongoing focus on prudent financial management, debt reduction, and sustainable growth," Mr Murphy said.

The report said bar sales had increased by 17.58 per cent to $3.56 million, with a profit of $905,057, which was up 28.7 per cent.

Poker machine takings had increased by 11.7 per cent to $16.7 million, with a net profit of $8.93 million, an increase of 8.64 per cent.

Catering sales increased 11.72 per cent to $4.45 million, with profit increasing by 29.1 per cent to $207,064.

The report gave a number of other statistics about the club.

It stated that Diggers had 27,910 members.

It served 249,659 schooners, 82,012 glasses of wine, 130,355 soft drinks and 52,253 coffees during the year.

It had served 15,054 schnitzels, and hosted more than 190 live performances, 2800 bingo games, and more than 1000 meat tray raffles.

It had given 50 community organisations more than $466,500 in club grants and in-kind support.

It had also reduced its C02 emissions by an average of 32.89 per cent and its average energy consumption by 10.35 per cent.

The 12,826-member Ettalong Bowling Club reported a 4.14 per cent increase in poker machine "net clearances" to $7.24 million, with net profit increasing 2.56 per cent to $4.19 million.

Bar trading turnover increased 7.68 per cent to $5.23 million, with a net profit of $450,641, an increase of 19.7 per cent.

Income from bowls decreased by 7.32 per cent to $163,194, with a loss for the bowls operations increasing by 17.24 per cent to $434,355.

Everglades Country Club general manager Mr Ross Seabrook said: "This year has been challenging, particularly since February, as we embarked on major club renovations.

"We were fortunate that we had very strong trading in the first seven months of the financial year, which cushioned the disruptive impacts of the building works.

"A review of the operations of the Company during the financial year and the results of those operations show poker machines, golf, bottle shop, bar and catering accounts were profitable."

"Food and beverage had the strongest revenue growth, increasing by 12 per cent compared to last year.

"Food and beverage now accounts for 48 per cent of total revenue.

"While we experienced modest growth in gaming (2%), disruption to our gaming floor during renovations did have an impact.

"Revenue from our sporting businesses was mixed, with golf revenue increasing by $143,000, or seven per cent, while bowls revenue dropped by $10,000 or 44 per cent.

"During the year, number two green was completely renovated to enhance the playing surface and provide better facilities to address declining bowls membership.

Unfortunately, the decline has been exacerbated by the higher cost of bowls affiliation fees, which are unaffordable for some members, despite subsidies provided by the Club.

"Unfortunately, Bowls NSW sets fixed affiliation fees based on historical member numbers, and as membership declines the cost per bowler increases.

"We have made several attempts to have this changed, but Bowls NSW has rejected our requests."

SOURCE:

Annual reports, 18 Oct 2025

Ettalong Diggers

Ettalong Memorial Bowling Club

Everglades Country Club.

Several crews attend Mt Ettalong fire

Several Rural Fire Service crews attended a fire on the Pearl Beach slopes of Mt Ettalong, near the water tank, on Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11.

The fire was initially attended by crews from Pearl Beach and Patonga brigades.

However, as the fire continued to burn uphill, additional crews from Avoca Beach Rural Fire Brigade, Copacabana Rural Fire Brigade, Empire Bay Rural Fire Brigade and Kariong Rural Fire Brigade also attended.

Although there was no threat to properties on Beryl Boulevard, residents were advised to monitor the situation.

Tankers staged at the water tank, with two additional units positioned at the fire trail monitoring conditions and maintaining containment where possible.

Due to the steep terrain, crews were unable to safely contain the fire ground overnight and continued to monitor and patrol the area as conditions permitted.

It was a long night for crews as they remained on patrol with fresh crews attending in the morning.

Crews maintained the containment lines, and extinguishing fire as it slowly came downhill towards properties.

Conditions remained stable and worked in the area throughout the day.

By around mid-day, the fire was mostly extinguished and fully contained.

Firefighters from Pearl Beach and Patonga continued to monitor the area, as other crews returned to their bases.

The cause of the fire is being treated as suspicious.

Anyone with information about the fire, including any suspicious activity seen in the area, is encouraged to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

SOURCE:

Social media, 10 Oct 2025

NSW Central Coast Incident Alerts

Pearl Beach Brigade, NSW RFS