AFTER 12 years of service at a Newcastle sports club Jaci Lappin applied for the position as secretary-manager.
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When the former manager of the Family Hotel was not even granted an interview for the position by the club she resigned and took on the role as secretary-manager of Carrington Bowling Club.
Ms Lappin had something to prove.
In 2008, she walked into a club $300,000 in debt with a membership of just 212. The club was teetering on the brink. She was advised by financial advisers the chance of the bowlo making a financial recovery was very unlikely.
“It was obvious the bowls was bleeding the club rather than keeping it alive,” she said.
A change of direction was desperately needed.
“I told the board our business plan and strategic plan needs to focus on community. It’s the only way we can move forward.”
With little to lose, the board backed her all the way.
“The focus needed to be on community groups, we threw the club open to any fundraisers, we don’t charge for the space.”
The club took the view if it supported the community, the community would support the club. And that is exactly what happened.
It took seven years to clear the club’s debts. For her efforts Ms Lappin took home less money than bar staff while working in a role that saw her behind the bar, doing cellar work, maintaining greens, cooking, general maintenance, marketing and running the business side.
She never took a holiday and kept working through a breast cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and two hip replacements.
“I would lay on the bed at the hospital on Fridays having chemo, and then come into the club on Friday night to run the raffles,” she said.
The club opened its doors to various groups: ukulele, trivia, yoga and even a colouring-in group. It began to sponsor local sporting teams and has been dog friendly for five years.
Carrington Bowling Club now turns over $1million per year.
The club community has raised funds for all the works that have gone on at the club, including its commercial kitchen.
Currently the club is raising funds to go solar, which will save it about $4000 a month on electricity costs. It is also fundraising to build a sports viewing deck on the southern side of the club and to replace the roof of the club.
In recent months the club has been the subject of noise complaints.
Ms Lappin said she felt it was unfair for people who move into Carrington to complain about a club which has been established since 1941.
