Compromise is the name of the game
At 133 years old, the Poneke Football Club is one of the oldest rugby clubs in the country.
The club in Kilbirnie, Wellington, has produced 20 All Blacks. But tradition has had to make way for transformation, as Poneke moves from one sport on Saturdays to a multi-use, multi-code ‘‘hub’’.
Chairman Kevin Jenkins said the choice was a ‘‘no-brainer’’ once the extent of the threat to the club became apparent.
Insurance on the building tripled after the earthquakes, and cost more that the club’s income.
‘‘We can’t even afford to maintain our buildings, let alone get them up to modern standards,’’ Jenkins said.
It’s making room for American football, darts, bridge, dive and swim clubs, netball – and public meetings.
Poneke’s Ross Jamieson is responsible for bringing those new members on board – and he couldn’t believe the response he got when the call went out.
‘‘We were quite astounded by the number of clubs who came and joined, who contacted us and said ‘look, we hear what you’re doing, can we be part of it’?’’
Jamieson estimated the club would eventually reach about 2000 members – but it still required more work on facilities.
A grant of another $750,000 as part of the expansion, which will help pay for much needed such as female bathrooms and changing rooms.
Parting with tradition hasn’t been easy, but Jamieson said the new club’s aim is to be inclusive.
Memorabilia has been kept to a minimum, and teams can put their ‘‘club colours’’ on the wall via AV screens.
‘‘The rugby club probably has to stop their speeches and player of the day stuff,’’ he said.
For Jenkins, it’s a case of sink or swim. ‘‘It’s our generation’s turn to take a new approach. And that means change.’’