From surviving to thriving: Mount Pleasant bounces back
With the sporting landscape always shifting and changing, its important for clubs to adapt in order to not be left behind. One great example is that of Western Australia’s Mount Pleasant Bowling Club.
It was only two years ago the Mount Pleasant Bowling Club was winding down due to an imminent forced closure, with the local government wanting the land for residential redevelopment.
Due to the uncertainty for the future, the club was losing members, and was struggling financially, nearly broke.
Fast forward to the current day and due to the tireless work of committee members past and present, with the help and support of some prominent local government council members, the club has not only survived, but is now beginning to thrive.
The club has been very active in opening their doors to the local community, and now have several partners on board including Melville Cares, South Side Symphony Orchestra and The Reformed Church of Melville which not only brings in more revenue for the club, it opens the club to a wider community.
To help celebrate the new granting of a 21 year lease, the club recently decided to have an Open Day, and invite anyone from the community along to have some fun and maybe learn to play bowls.
The marketing plan included radio advertising, print media, social media, public signage and the good old letter box drop.
The recruiting committee headed by Arthur Peters and Greg Samson, sought the help of Bowls Australia Regional Bowls Managers in Steve Unsworth and Clive Adams.
Arthur said the assistance and guidance and strategies given by the RBMs were of great help, and some of their ideas were implemented on the day.
The club was also assisted by the use of a Rookie Rollers kit, with activities and games taken advantage of by dozens of children on the day.
More than 250 people came through the gates and enjoyed games and activities including bowls, face painting, symphony orchestra performances, choir recitals, balloons and bubbles, and music and singing from The Beatles to Buble and hourly draws for free social memberships.
In another positive for the club, 36 new members signed up on the day, with several indicating an interest to take up the sport.
Congratulations to the club for the success on the day, which would not have been possible but for the huge team of volunteers getting behind the club’s efforts.
Contribution by Steve Unsworth – Regional Bowls Manager (Southern WA)
Find your local RBM: bowls.com.au/rbms
