After an unforgettable year with the coronavirus pandemic, ClubMulwala left financial year 2019/20 with an impressive $1.5 million profit and is looking forward to a safe but challenging 2020/2021 year.
“Amidst all the ‘bubble, bubble, toil and trouble’, ClubMulwala, through its great staff and management team, has managed to survive 2019/20 with flying colours,”club chairman Des O’Meara ESM OAM said at last Sunday’s Annual General Meeting attended by 20 RSL members and 44 associates.
“Stage 1 renovations creating major interruption to operations from April through till late December, a great first quarter of 2020 and then 10 weeks closure from COVID-19, leaves a financial year no one will ever forget.
“A profit of $1,523,193 is an excellent result that should make all club members proud of our CEO Alan Rowe and his team.”
Mr O’Meara’s stage one reference was in respect of the $6.2 million gaming/lounge areas remodernisation undertaken by Rubicon Design and Construct – which involved 50% spent locally on trade installations – and which was officially opened on December 19.
“I trust our members are enjoying our newly renovated club,” the third-year term chairman said. “I believe we now have a superbly modern club that puts ClubMulwala into the ‘Best Club’ rankings.
“ClubMulwala continues to support our local community charities and groups, donating over $255,000 in cash and/or in-kind support. This amount is less than previous years but was affected by the 10 week closure.
“ClubMulwala has a close allegiance with the Yarrawonga Mulwala RSL Sub-Branch and its Auxiliary, and the Cobram Yarrawonga Legacy Group and their Widows. I know that all these organisations appreciate our commitment each year.”
In presenting his sixth annual ClubMulwala report, club Chief Executive Officer Alan Rowe described the last financial year as “crazy, a year hopefully we will never have to encounter again”.
The profit, which compared to 2018/19’s $1,583,707 was described as “a great result” by Mr Rowe who said the club was on target to better the previous year’s profit before COVID-19 adversely affected all clubs.
“On March 23 when I had to tell over 100 staff in this room the club was closing, it was one of the toughest days I’ve ever had on the job.
“We can certainly look forward to the future with confidence as we continue to keep ClubMulwala as one of the premier clubs and destinations along the Murray.”
New appointments
Mr O’Meara advised the ClubMulwala Board, in December after a detailed tender process, appointed Johnson MME of Albury to conduct the 2020 audit of it accounts.
“On a sad note, we lost our long-time auditor, Jeff Haebich in November last year, after his gallant effort to attend our 2019 AGM,” Mr O’Meara said.
“The Board passed on our condolences to his wife Kaye and Jeff’s family.”
“This year we say goodbye to Director John Burn, who has moved to live in Rutherglen and hence is outside the radius of 30km required of a Director. I thank John for his contribution in his four years as a Director, especially noting his enthusiasm for all assistance given to our schools, tourism and the Yarrawonga Agricultural Show.”
The club chairman congratulated the return of those directors re-elected: Col Brennan, John Clarke, David King, Shane McBurnie and Paul Nieuwenhout and to three new directors.
Additions to the board and replacing John Burn (retired), Kerry Pendergast and Maree Collins were Enterprising Resource Planning Manager at Australian Munitions Mulwala Vicky Long, Principal of Yarrawonga College P-12 Damian Keel and Philip Friedlieb, a Relationship Executive with the Commonwealth Bank.