Over the coming weeks Queensland will start to open up, and for thousands of us it will start with a beer or a wine and a schnity at our local club.
Community clubs across the State will be spearheading a much needed $2.2billion boost to the Queensland economy as it emerges from its pandemic hibernation.
Many of the 22000 Queenslanders clubs employ will be back at work and suppliers will be back delivering the beers, wines, and meals that Queenslanders love.
As a former Government Relations and Communications Manager for Clubs Queensland and long-time participant in the club community, I am excited for the opportunities that lay ahead for Queensland’s community clubs:
This sector is vibrant and rich in all the things we’ve missed being under lockdown. Clubs and pubs are the heart of life in any town and underpin a sense of hope and optimism. They are ‘feel good’ places.
Clubs will lead us out of the economic after effects of COVID-19 quite simply because they will play a critical role in restoring the confidence required to kick-start the economy, particularly local economies.
The community club sector is strong and is built on connection. People have supported local businesses far more under COVID-19 than ever before. They have appreciated local businesses and the jobs they provide, and they’ve missed their clubs.Their local clubs are where they have caught up for cold beer on a Friday afternoon, taken their families for dinner or brunch, celebrated birthdays and watched their children play sport.
Let's not kick the industry when it's down
Unlike some industry commentators, I see a bright future for community clubs, and as we peel back the layers of trading, clubs will come back stronger. Most managers I’ve spoken to have spent their lockdown time wisely and have worked on their offering. Many have invested in their club’s amenities in eager anticipation of their members and visitors returning.
The doomsayers spreading their negative sentiment don’t speak for the club community. Misery breeds misery and that’s not what the community club sector stands for. It is certainly not what is required now.
I read an article where one pundit claimed that over 40% of Queensland’s community clubs will fail because of COVID-19. But where is the proof of that? I do not see any sense in peddling misery unnecessarily. Why kick an industry when it’s down? Especially a sector that means so much to so many people, in fact 2.4 million members.
Pragmatically, there will be a number of clubs who were already struggling that may not make it back, but we aren’t talking 40% of all clubs. That’s around 350 clubs disappearing in 3 months.
Prior to COVID-19, the industry had lost around 160 clubs over the previous 10-year period and even that figure included amalgamations of entities.
But....clubs need to open to do good.
Of course, for clubs to stay open and support local communities they must be open to trade and at present, there is limited scope for them to do that in a viable fashion. The community club managers I speak to have been very patient and completely support the health decisions and the need for the lockdown. And they will continue to do so.
But they are also at the coalface and are seeing the negative effects that social isolation is having on their communities and on their staff.”
It’s been dark with the lights off and there’s no doubt that social isolation is having a detrimental affect psychologically on their communities.”
It’s time for the government to set some timelines for fully turning the lights back on – and preferably not continue at a pace of one bulb at a time. The hope and confidence of communities depends on it.
The community club sector in Queensland contributed over $2.2billion into the Queensland economy and employs some 22,000 people across Queensland and will play a critical role in rebuilding local economies. It is critical they are up and trading as soon as is safe.
Community clubs employ local people and are big supporters of local businesses, procuring products and services and in some cases, financial support.
I believe there will be some rich opportunities for community clubs in the next 5 years, particularly with a supportive state government and importantly, supportive local government.
I’ve spent a lot of time with all levels of government advocating on behalf of community clubs. They know all the challenges faced by the industry and have expressed a willingness to support measures that promote sustainability.
Support for continuing innovation and diversification will be important as the sector comes out of lockdown, and all levels of government are very supportive of what clubs do for communities throughout Queensland. They have innovated their service offering under Covid to serve their community and keep connected. In fact, they’ve grown more confident with innovation in their offer.
There’s been home delivery and takeaway meals; drive through options and online social activities such as member cash draws and live music steaming for members to enjoy at home. Clubs were very connected to their members and replicated what they could, all the while supporting jobs, suppliers and local musicians who rely on them.
Necessity is the mother of invention and I see this continuing in community clubs with gusto.
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