Flood-Ravaged Club Needs Funds

Devastatingly, the building which has housed the Club since 1958 was inundated and it will now cost at least $600,000 to get the popular venue’s doors to reopen.

“It was distressing — you’re walking into a destruction site! There was two feet of mud and water in the place. The reception desk was rolled over on its side and the damage throughout the entire Club was very severe,” said Secretary Manager Peter Hemingway.

“Fortunately, we have double-glazed windows. If those windows were to break, we’d have all our windows blown out and the flood would take the Club completely away! Everything would have floated away.”

“The river was running at 60 kilometres an hour past the Club. If a window broke it would be all over.”

ClubsNSW has reactivated the Clubs Helping Clubs initiative to support those who have been most acutely impacted by the floods, and Taree Aquatic Club is in need of urgent assistance.

“Our catering equipment is completely written off. We had 37 poker machines written off. That’s a significant amount of money,” said Peter.

“As well as cash funds to allow us to buy what we need, we need catering equipment. Three-door under bench fridges, deep fryers, chargrills, flat top hot plates, four or six burner stoves, an espresso coffee machine and grinder — those are the main things we need to restart our kitchen.”

The Club also suffered through the 2021 floods, but the water level was a metre higher inside the venue this time around. Even so, with the initial clean-up process coming to an end, a sense of positivity has returned.

“Initially I wondered if we could even come back from this! In 2021, the Club was able to salvage the kitchen and the poker machines. This time all of that went underwater. But we are definitely starting to feel better about things and about rebuilding,” said Peter.

“The Premier Chris Minns has paid us a visit and I made it pretty clear that the $130,000 concessional loan plan for businesses isn’t going to cut the mustard. Businesses are on their knees, and they need cash grants. He advised me that is something he is looking at and wants to do. So that’s great — we will wait and see.”

Member clubs interested in providing direct support to another club — financial or otherwise — are encouraged to express their interest by contacting ClubASSIST on 1300 730 001 or at [email protected]. Similarly, if your club is suffering as a result of the floods, please contact ClubASSIST on 1300 730 001 or at [email protected].