Club drives for more than bowling
President of Fiji MajorGeneral (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote launched the completion of renovations at the Suva Bowling Club.
The celebration marks the end of one of many phases of development for the club.
The renovations which included rebuilding the canopy, cost the club $60,000.
Tropical Cyclone Harold damaged the canopy., last year.
Trustee Philip Lacey said when he joined the club three years ago, he saw how it struggled financially.
The property sits on a million dollar view waterfront property, he said.
“It needed some help with the direction it was taking, to change the way it was operating,” Mr Lacey said.
The club was small with not enough members to sustain its operations, he said.
“It has large overheads and very few bowlers - 60 bowlers and around 60 members and 200 corporate members - back then,” Mr Lacey said.
“If we want to take advantage of the view, we need to grow the membership by offering something that people want to enjoy.”
Restructure
A restructure plan was set in place to make it more than just a bowling club, he said.
“It can’t survive as a bowling club.
“It needs to re-engineer itself as a club.”
Mr Lacey said Fiji offered itself as an international tourism destination for families.
“We want to continue to refurbish the club and add new features.
“We want people to come to Fiji to enjoy bowls with the whole family.
“We can’t generate additional revenue with a concrete that is not covered.
“A tent like that can now generate revenue from hire.
“The outdoor areas of the club are now available for hire.”
Mr Lacey said: “We want people to come here and afford to be able to come here - not come here only for half an hour because that’s all they can afford.”