Goodna's bowlers show their metal
THEY are a resilient bunch down at the Goodna Bowls Club.
Almost two years ago the floods devastated the greens and destroyed the clubhouse.
While the greens were soon restored, the new clubhouse is still under construction and is slated to be completed on January 23 next year. In the interim the 84 members and more than 200 social members have made do using two small demountable buildings. But salvation is at hand with the new facility to contain a function room to cater for more than 100, a bar, kitchen and nine poker machines.
"There have been some anxious times. We have been under stress, but we have kept on going," club chairman Mal Levarre-Waters said.
"I am really pleased that we are finally seeing something being done."
Club secretary Cath Wilmington said the completed new facility would be vital for revenue that had dwindled since the floods.
"We have had to turn back a lot of functions and would have lost over $200,000 over the last two years," she said.
"But most of the members have stayed and pulled together and worked together. I think this new building will encourage new members."
Ipswich City Council and state and federal reconstruction funds have financed the new building.
Goodna councillor Paul Tully said it was "great to see them almost back on their feet".
"They have waited two years and have been very patient. I take my hat off to them," he said.
"You don't have a lot of bowls club anymore between Ipswich and Brisbane but this one services all the eastern suburbs of Ipswich through Collingwood Park, Redbank Plains and out to Springfield."
