Bermagui Country Club is close to the town and the ocean. It has an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts and a bowling green. Photos: Supplied.
Strong support from Bermagui Country Club (BCC) members to amalgamate with the Queanbeyan Sports and Community Club (QSCC) and Vikings is a “shot in the arm” for the Vikings’ CEO as he begins turning BCC around.
BCC has been in financial trouble on and off for 10 to 15 years and was close to insolvency. ACT-based Vikings and QSCC, also known as Campbell & George, were willing to amalgamate to rescue BCC.
On 5 August, 359 BCC members turned out to overwhelmingly vote in favour of the amalgamation. On 12 August, 59 QSCC members voted unanimously in support.
Anthony Hill has been CEO of Vikings since 2012. He oversaw Vikings’ transformation of QSCC in 2014 and the subsequent turnaround of the NSW club.
Mr Hill said BCC was in a similar position to QSCC 11 years ago in needing financial strengthening and being close to members’ hearts. He said that passion for QSCC was evident on 12 August when members, many of whom have been with QSCC for decades, came to give the amalgamation their blessing.
“One member said we are voting yes because we know what they [BCC] have been through. He has been with us through thick and thin and is one of the stalwarts,” Mr Hill said. “QSCC has not lost its original feel and is more than a building. It is a club they are proud of and that is what we want to do in Bermagui.”
Mr Hill’s first job is to restore BCC’s financial health with some tried-and-trusted commonsense management approaches.
“First and foremost is to stop the bleed and start the investment program,” he said.
Early changes will include new carpet, a fresh coat of paint and replacing ageing plant and equipment.
Tanya Hill will manage Bermagui Country Club and report to QSCC general manager Andrew Hunter.
Mr Hill sees great opportunities to leverage the club’s location near town and the ocean, the golf course, which he said was a “real gem”, staff, club members and the goodwill of the town.
“The challenge is to win back the hearts and minds of the residents of the Bermagui region,” he said.
In the first 12 months, he would like to see club member numbers grow and intends to achieve that by listening to what members want, which he calls ”placemaking”.
Also on the cards is rearranging the floor space. That includes reconfiguring the bar, kitchen and dining area so they can better accommodate the surge in numbers in summer and adjust to quieter periods. Because the clubhouse is so large, that can be done without having to close BCC, unlike QSCC’s renovation.
Mr Hill wants the club to become the first choice for locals and visitors looking for a meal or coffee and cake.
“Food is a great way to introduce the club,” he said. “If they come for an event and enjoy it, they will come back with their friends or family.”
Having been in hospitality for 27 years, he sees value in making venues family-friendly because there seems to be less downtime for families these days. He sees potential for food vans, live music and activities for kids in the alfresco area at the front of the club, noting QSCC’s outdoor area, The Paddock, has been successful.
In 2014, QSCC was in administration. Vikings has since turned the club’s fortunes around, with membership growing to almost 12,000.
Vikings has a long affiliation with BCC through Vikings Fishing Club, and the plan is that QSCC and Vikings members will visit Bermagui to use BCC’s facilities.
“A lot of Canberra people who are our members go to Bermagui anyway, so we can work that relationship,” Mr Hill said. “We have close to 60,000 members across QSCC and Vikings, who we can market to through our social media. We just need to sell the town.”
At the 30 July information session, it seemed that BCC’s one bowling green was a weak spot in its offerings.
Mr Hill said it would likely cost $400,000 to fix the surface. His first focus must be the business before turning to the outdoor sporting facilities.
“There is no desire to do anything other than improve the membership,” he said. ”That grows the business so we can continue investing in the space.”
BCC staff will benefit from Vikings’ comprehensive training programs in greenkeeping, club management, and food and beverage. The relevant Certificate III, Certificate IV and diploma courses can be done remotely.
Vikings has an extensive Sports & Community program that has supported future Wallabies, cricketers, bowlers, and BMX world champion Caroline Buchanan over the years. It is keen to explore how the program can support the Bermagui community.
“I appreciate the faith the BCC members have placed in us,” Mr Hill said. “Our job now is to deliver on it.”
