FEATURE: CLUBS QLD WINNERS

And the winners are…

Queensland clubs kick up their heels at Awards for Excellence

QUEENSLAND CLUBS KICKED up their heels at the Awards for Excellence gala dinner held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The 2022 Keno & Clubs Queensland Awards for Excellence on March 22 proved an opportunity to shine a spotlight on all the good work in the clubs’ sector and a chance to come together and celebrate those successes as well as the enormous contribution that clubs make day in, day out in their communities.

Top awards on the night went to North Lakes Sports Club for Club of the Year Grand with the recently refurbished The Lion in Richlands picking up Club of the Year Enterprise and Football Club of the Year.

“Thank you to our wonderful members, staff, management team and board members. Without your support, this would not have been possible,” The Lion Richlands club said.

Kedron-Wavell was awarded Best Licensed RSL and/ or Services Club and finished third in Club of the Year (Enterprise). Club of the Year Intermediate being awarded to Blue Fin Fishing Club at Inala.

Outgoing Clubs Queensland CEO Kelly Egan said Brisbane’s community clubs had stood tall when they were needed more than ever, commending their resilience in the face of ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Despite the constantly evolving landscape, our clubs have continued to provide invaluable service and social support for members and local communities,” Mr Egan said.

“It has been particularly special this year to be able to again gather face-to-face for the awards night, which was a richlydeserved acknowledgement of the great work of clubs statewide. Community clubs have a proud history of fostering local spirit and delivering top-shelf facilities. Brisbane has again been prominent for the exemplary way its clubs have maintained their connection to community.”

This year, entrants completed a questionnaire and provided a list of all cash and in-kind donations and services provided from 1 January to 31 December, 2021, along with an OLGR Community Benefit Statement. The change was introduced to recognise that while money may not have been coming in as it used to, it is still going out and was in recognition for the continued contributions clubs made to their communities.

Due to the continued forced closure periods and subsequent trading restrictions brought about in response to COVID-19, financial reports did not form part of the 2022 Awards Program judging criteria.

Nominating into the Awards for Excellence was free and the benefits of participating include internal review, marketing opportunities, complimentary benchmarking and learning tools via the Mystery Customer judging element.

And the winners are:

Best Licensed RSL and/ or Services Club:

Kedron-Wavell

Best Bowls Club Club:

Pine Rivers

Best Football Club:

The Lion Richlands

Best Surf Life Saving Supporters Club:

BMD Northcliffe

Best Sports Club:

Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron

Best Multi-Sports Club:

Caboolture Sports Club

Best Dining 1 to 50:

Cantina on Russell, Toowoomba Sports Club

Best Dining 51 to 100:

Courtyard Café, The Broncos Club

Best Dining 101 to 200:

Social Café, Bribie Island RSL and Citizens Memorial Club

Best Dining 200+:

The Precinct, Norths Leagues & Services Club

Special Achievement Award, Responsible Gambling:

Frenchville Sports Club

Special Achievement Award – Responsible Service of Alcohol:

Coolum Surf Club

Health & Wellbeing Supporting All Veterans & The Community They Live In:

RSLA Gympie Sub Branch

Support of Sport Success in Provision of Community Sporting Facilities:

Caboolture Sports Club

Heart of the Community A Love of Humanity:

Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Supporters Club

Young Manager of the Year:

Jack Orr, Maroochy Surf Club

Club Chef of the Year:

Jeramiah Abrogar, BMD Northcliffe

Club Director of the Year:

Kevin Kaeser, Caboolture Sports Club

Club Secretary/ Manager of the Year:

Steve Ratcliffe, Club Pine Rivers

Club of the Year Non-gaming :

Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron

Club of the Year Boutique:

Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Supporters Club