Pride & Passion: Key Ingredients for a Winning C&C Submission

Submissions for the 2024 Clubs & Community Awards close this Friday, 1 March. So, ClubLIFE took the opportunity to sit down with Broken Hill Musicians Club General Manager Michael Boland — whose club has taken home an award two years in a row — to find out why entering the Clubs & Community Awards is so important and what he believes constitutes a winning submission.

Q: Broken Hill Musicians Club regularly enters the Clubs & Community Awards — why do you feel it’s so important to tell your club’s stories?

A: Clubs, as we know, do a lot for their communities, and it’s important to get the best stories of helping the community get out into the public, and just a nomination will do that. You get a bit of excitement around it. You get your members and the local community talking about it. Whether or not you become a finalist, or you take the top prize out, it’s just a great way to get the things we do for our communities out there. 

Q: Your club’s submissions have taken home the win in their respective categories two years in a row — what makes an award-winning submission?

A: Be genuine. Write exactly how you feel about the category and how you feel it has benefited the community, members, or the club. Make sure you have a lot of supporting information to go with the submission. I always add the media that comes with the story. We’re always on the front foot, making sure we promote what the Club does to the media, and we post it on our Club’s own social media outlets to share the feel-good stories of what we’re doing. I find putting all that in there to really paint a story of exactly the category you’re entering and why you feel it’s important to be recognised. Back it up with as much information as you can. 

Q: How has the Club benefited from entering the Clubs & Community Awards?

A: Plenty of media opportunities have come from it. Interviews on local radio and the ABC — which is a different kettle of fish in the regions, as it is in the city. ABC in the regions is very much embedded in their communities, and they love great community stories. We have had radio, TV and print media exposure which makes our members proud. The members talk about the two awards that we have taken out! When I got back to the Club, I took the trophy out into the bar and all the members and staff got photos taken with it, which then got posted on our social media. It makes them really feel part of the win and the submission. Because ultimately, they are. They are the reason why we’re there. Our members allow us to support the community.

Q: What advice would you give to other clubs considering entering the Awards for the first time?

A: In short, just do it. I really support anyone entering for first time. Whether or not you’re a finalist, or you end up taking it out a couple of times like we have, just be proud of what your club does in the community. Be proud of the members supporting the club to allow you to do it. It’s a great opportunity for reflection. When you sit down to write the submission, you really reflect on the good you’ve done in the community. We’re not immune to the consistent attacks in certain areas of the media and sitting down and doing this activity really helps you to refocus on the good that clubs do in the community. 

Q: Your acceptance speeches are always a highlight of the night; do you have advice for others who might have to get on stage?

A: You’ve really got to speak from the heart. We are all passionate about what we do for a living and if you’re passionate, things will flow once you get on stage. Even if you think you’re absolutely stuffing the speech up, that no one will laugh, everyone is supportive and are right behind you. Even if it’s a 30-second speech thanking people in the community, or you get told to wind it up like I have a few times, people will love your passion and the fact that you’ve got up there, you’ve done the submission and are willing to talk on behalf of it. It just shows how passionate you are about your industry.

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To enter the Clubs & Community Awards, click here. Remember, entrants now only need to respond to one question to enter, making it easier and faster than ever before to submit your club’s story!