Global Impact with Local Action

As these finalists in the 2025 Clubs & Community Awards Environmental Sustainability category prove, a bit of creativity and a lot of heart makes a big difference when working towards a common goal to protect the environment.

St. George Leagues Club is stepping up in a big way by doing good for the planet and for people’s health.

Thanks to their involvement in the Recycle 4 Research initiative, the Club has turned empty bottles into something  more valuable - more than $10,000 in funds to support life-saving medical research.

Between March and December 2024 alone, the Club collected more than 102,000 bottles via the Return & Earn program.

Every container helped fund important research through the St George & Sutherland Medical Research Foundation (SSMRF).

The Club is committed to regular recycling efforts and keeps collection points running smoothly.

It’s all about creating a culture of care, both for the environment and for the community.

St. George Leagues is showing that even small actions like recycling a drink bottle can have a big impact, such as supporting research into cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

“By combining environmental responsibility with community health support, St. George Leagues Club is demonstrating strong leadership and making a meaningful impact on both the planet and local medical advancements,” said Laura Dolos, Executive Assistant at the Club.

From preserving the habitat of the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog to upgrading 90 per cent of club lighting to LED, Shoalhaven Ex Services Club puts the planet first, day in, day out.

Plus, the staff are pitching in with green ideas, from switching off lights early to managing appliance usage, they’ve helped cut electricity costs and reduce the Club’s carbon footprint.

One of the Club’s proudest achievements has been its commitment to water conservation. Through its involvement in the Shoalhaven REMS scheme, the Club now uses 38 million litres of treated water every year to maintain the golf course, bowling greens and cricket oval - all without touching valuable drinking water supplies. 

The Club is also clever with rainwater, collecting it from rooftops and storing it in holding ponds before sending it off to the irrigation dam.

Over 500 native trees have been planted around the golf course, helping restore the local ecosystem and beautifying the landscape. 

And at their Worrigee venue, they’ve added dual EV chargers for public use which are supported by a government grant. 

So far, these chargers have saved over 3000 litres of petrol and cut 1.35 tonnes of emissions.

Harnessing the power of the sun is another big win.