It’s affectionately known among members as the little joint on Marshall Street.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But the Dapto Bowling Club’s small, close-knit membership has been dealt a big blow – with news the bowlo’s doors will close for the final time on Friday.
The decision has shocked and saddened many of the club’s 922 members; including 72-year-old Ruth Turnbull, who said it felt like they’d been “thrown out”.
Ms Turnbull, known to many as ‘Mary’, has been a member for about 16 years; her partner, Ray, a supporter for even longer.
Read more: You know you’re from Dapto when ...
And while “there’s lots of bowling clubs in the Illawarra” to transfer to, it was the “comradeship and the friendship” formed over the years that Ms Turnbull will be sad to see go.
The decision to shut the doors comes on the back of failed attempts to keep the financially-stricken business afloat.
The club was placed into administration in September. A deed administrator was appointed a month later, stripping the club’s directors of their powers.
According to its most recent finances, the club incurred a net loss of $92,293 in the year to June 30, 2017, and had a deficiency of current assets to current liabilities of $476,628 as of that date.
Deed administrator Robert Brennan said it was “never an easy decision to close a club”, but the business was no longer considered viable.
Mr Brennan said the club needed a “deed fund” of about $1.8 million by October 17 to “satisfy the DOCA [deed of company arrangement] and provide a payment of 100 cents in the dollar to creditors”.
An amalgamation with another registered club and the sale of assets were among the options investigated, he said. A proposed merger with the Collegians Club was knocked back earlier this year.
Mr Brennan said other measures were put in place to try to keep the business operating, including eliminating unnecessary costs and a reconfiguration of the club to make it more appealing to the public.
“In the end, and especially over the last six weeks, the patronage and spend at the club was not enough for the business to be considered viable,” he said.
Ms Turnbull said while she and other members knew of the club’s poor finances, many were angered by the short notice given about the closure.
“It has been on the cards for quite a while, but we didn’t think we’d be thrown out,” she said.
“They gave us notice on Thursday night that they’re closing the doors next Friday [July 20].”
Mr Brennan said some members were verbally told of the imminent closure after a board meeting on Thursday night. A notice has also been placed on a noticeboard.
“We made a conscious decision to give members and staff a week’s notice of the closure. It is usual practice for less than 24 hours notice being given,” he said.