Go Clubs Newsletter | March 2025

The Gambling Community Benefit Super Round for up to $100,000 is scheduled to opening the coming months.... 

Please read on to find out how you can get your ducks in a row to ensure your organisation has the best chance of success. 

Planning is an important component of applying for any major grant.  If your project is important to your organisation, it's equally important to plan for it.

✔️Grant Check List

1.  Strategic Planning Does your organisation have a strategic plan?  Referencing and/or supplying this with a grant application will help support your application.  If you don't have one, please reach out to our Go Clubs Officer to support you on how to create one simply and easily. 
2. Identifying Shared Use:  Is there an organisation, school, or community group you can partner with that can share your facility?  Shared use can support your grant application, especially with larger grant applications.  Please check with the Council / Landowner before entering into any agreements to ensure that this is possible.   
3. Landowner Permission:   If you are on Council land, you will need to apply for permission before applying for the grant.  Many grants require you to upload an approval document.   If not on Council land you will still need approval from the landowner/ State Government unless your club owns the property.  Please note this process take at least 4 weeks so an important component to consider.
4. Check Land Tenure if on a Leased Property:  Many organisations administrating large grants for infrastructure request that you have at least 2-3 years left on your lease.  If on Council land, please check with the Go Clubs Club Development Officer to link you with internal support.  A new lease agreement is a 6-month process so please ensure you have this planned out well ahead of time. 
5. Quotes and Concepts Depending on the level of grant you are applying for, you will need to obtain quotes at a minimum however for larger grants, concept drawings and/or detailed design may be required for your best foot forward.  If in doubt, please contact the Grant Administrator or the Go Clubs Officer if you need support. 
6. Read the Grant Criteria and Guidelines When applying for the grant please ensure that you fully digest what the grant criteria means and ensure that your response how the project aligns with the criteria.  Applications can be automatically dismissed if you have not addressed the grant criteria correctly. 
7. Letters of Support:  Letters of support can come from many places such as shared users, organisations, businesses, schools and your electorates Member of Parliament.   If the grant is external from Council, Council may supply a letter of support for major projects.
8. Contact your Go Clubs Club Development Officer:  Please feel free to contact your Go Clubs Club Development Officer any step along the way for support on 07 4044 3283
9. Masterplans:  Do you know if your land has had a current or former masterplan?  This can be really valuable in applying for grant funding as it demonstrates that Council has invested in external experts/ consultants that specialise in sports facilities.  These external consultants spend a great deal of time providing community consultation and researched the need in the infrastructure within the sporting precinct and localised area.  A masterplan is adopted by Council, meaning the Council has endorsed it.   Providing a link to a masterplan demonstrates there is evidence of the need and planning.   If in doubt, please contact the Go Clubs Development Officer. 
10.  Other Support Information: Lastly is there any evidence your State (SSO) or National Sporting Organisation (NSO) can supply in terms of participation rates, growth and evidence of infrastructure needs.   A number of SSOs and NSOs have invested in reports that may be able to support you. They may also be able to help with your grant application and offer a co-contribution. 

Turf Maintenance Workshop

The Turf Maintenance Workshop with Turf Expert Steve was rescheduled to due flooding, The new date is now Monday the 10th of March.  If your club has fields, this is one not to miss. 

Steve Kerwitz is the driving force behind our 5-star venues like Barlow Park, Martin Barlow Park, The Esplanade, and more. Renowned for its exceptional quality, Barlow Park has been compared favourably to some of Australia's leading stadiums, including Suncorp Stadium and the MCG. 

Steve's expertise extends beyond sports fields, encompassing championship golf courses. Steve and his team are dedicated to pioneering innovative turf maintenance practices and provide invaluable support to our local clubs.  Don’t miss this session! 

We will also cover opportunities for grant funding for field maintenance and equipment.

🗓️ Monday 10th of March 2025

⏰5:30pm - 7:00pm

📍 Barlow Park Corporate Room

Please register by contacting:   goclubs@cairns.qld.gov.au or 07 4044 3283

Thank you to those who completed the Go Clubs survey.  This has paved the way for some future programs and workshops.   We have number of workshops planned over the following months including how to use Canva to create club posters and social media tiles.  The social media workshop will be for committee members wanting to learn how to create targeted paid campaigns for membership drives, promoting events and much more. 

Persistence Pays Off:   Bowled over by Perseverance

Success in securing funding can be a challenging and often disheartening process, but for the Marlin Coast Bowls Club, resilience and persistence have truly paid off. After four years of multiple attempts and refinements, the club has secured vital funding to upgrade its facilities, ensuring a brighter future for its members and the wider bowling community.

The club initially sought federal funding for a building extension to install a commercial kitchen and expand the bar area, but the application was unsuccessful. Undeterred, they turned to State funding, only to be met with another rejection. However, instead of giving up, the club refined its application and persevered. Their dedication was rewarded when they successfully secured $250,000 through the Queensland State Government’s Minor Infrastructure Facilities Fund.

This funding enabled the club to complete Stage One of their project: the installation of a new commercial kitchen equipped with commercial dishwashers and air conditioning. With this crucial upgrade in place, Stage Two is now set to begin, which involves demolishing the old kitchen and expanding the bar area. These improvements mark a fantastic milestone for the club and the local bowling community, enhancing both the facility’s functionality and its ability to serve members and guests.

Beyond this major infrastructure success, the Marlin Coast Bowls Club has also been proactive in securing additional grants to improve sustainability and reduce operational costs. Through an energy efficiency grant of $70,000, the club was able to purchase two new fridge/freezers, install an additional 20kW of solar panels, and add 33kW of battery storage on top of the additional funded solar infrastructure. These upgrades have significantly reduced the club’s power bill from $1,600 per month to just $400-$500—a remarkable saving that allows the club to reinvest funds into other areas.

Much of this success is credited to the hard work and dedication of key club members. Committee member Calvin Twigger played a pivotal role in project managing the major infrastructure grant, with strong support from club secretary Greens Marion Sellwood. Their commitment and perseverance have helped transform the club, ensuring long-term benefits for members and the broader community.

The Marlin Coast Bowls Club’s journey serves as an inspiring example of how persistence and adaptability in grant applications can lead to success. Their story proves that while setbacks are part of the process, determination and strategic refinement can turn aspirations into reality, creating lasting positive impacts for community sports clubs.

Does you club have a good news story to share?  

Please contact:   goclubs@cairns.qld.gov.au

For more information on grant funding please head to:

Community Partnerships Grant    

Gambling Community Benefit Fund

Qantas Regional Grants  

Cairns Regional Council - Go Clubs Infrastructure Assistance Grant 

Leading Productive AGMs

We've all endured those endless meetings, barely keeping our eyes open, struggling to make sense of the chaos as everyone talks over each other. But fear not! Meetings don't have to be a dull affair. There's a secret to hosting kickass meetings and AGMs and we're here to demystify it for you!

Your AGM is your once-a-year opportunity to celebrate your organisation’s achievements and share your vision for the next year with members. It is an exciting time, so in this webinar, CPR Group will provide practical, step-by-step instructions for how to run effective meetings and AGMs.   Register now and unlock your ability to run great meetings and actually enjoy your AGM this year!

📣CRP Group 

📆15 May 2025

⏲️ 12:00 PM

The Power of Strategic Planning

What better way to predict the future of your club than to create it?

Planning is one of the most exciting tasks for club committees because it gives you the chance to set aside your day-to-day operations and dream up a big future. Some of the most successful turnaround stories in clubs started with those organisations planning ahead.

In this free webinar, we’ll explore how strategic planning can assist with your club’s growth and success and we’ll provide practical steps for club planning that actually works!    Register now and let us show you how to start putting together a great club plan!

📣CRP Group 

📆19 June 2025

⏲️ 12:00 PM

Scaling Your Club for Success

Is your club ready to grow and reach new heights? Whether you're looking to boost membership, secure more funding, professionalise your operations or strengthen your governance, having the right strategies in place is key.

Join CPR Group in this free webinar as we break down our insightful club levels framework and explore practical ways to scale your club sustainably. Learn how to move beyond survival mode, increase engagement, reduce volunteer burnout and position your club for long-term success.

This session is perfect for club leaders who want to future-proof their organisation and build a lasting legacy. Register now to take your club to the next level!

📣CRP Group 

📆 24 July 2025

⏲️12:00PM

Did you miss the Club IQ Strategic Planning Workshop?

If you missed this incredibly informative strategic planning session, fear not!  You could now view this at any time through the Club IQ YouTube Channel.

These bite sized webinars are designed for busy clubs and their committees.

📣DTIS - CLUB IQ

📆 ANYTIME

Did you miss the Budgeting for Clubs Workshop?

If you missed the budgeting for sports clubs workshop you could now view this at any time through the Club IQ YouTube Channel.

These bite sized webinars are designed for busy clubs and their committees.

📣DTIS - CLUB IQ

📆 ANYTIME

The budgeting tools can be found on the State Government website Please scroll to the bottom of the page under the heading 'budgeting'