A New Era for Sport in the Whitsundays
The Whitsunday region marked a historic moment with the official opening of Club Whitsunday in the Whitsunday Sports Park precinct at Airlie Beach. The Honourable Mr. Andrew Willcox MP, Federal Member for Dawson, had the distinct pleasure of cutting the ribbon on this groundbreaking development, which promises to be a cornerstone for both the region’s sporting culture and community spirit.
Club Whitsunday, now fully operational and trading for lunch and dinner seven days a week, offers a range of gaming and wagering options, fulfilling its promise as a vital community hub. With significant local support and an extensive network of partners, this facility stands as a testament to the hard work and dedication of all involved.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Ry Collins, Mayor of the Whitsundays saying “This highlights what can be achieved when community vision and ambition along with three levels of government all working together can deliver a common goal for the community.”
The opening event, filled with family-friendly activities like face painting and a train ride for the kids, was a celebration of what has been a long journey. Local sports teams, community members, suppliers, construction partners, lenders, and government representatives all gathered to mark this significant occasion for the Whitsunday region and its sporting community.
Clay Bauman, Councillor for the Whitsunday Regional Council, spoke about the collaborative approach that helped bring the project to fruition. “I think it's terrific for all the sports clubs in the regions. We have worked with them for so long and now it's a license bar with pokies, with so many features separate it from other clubs.”
For Justin Butler, Chairman of Club Whitsunday, the opening was a deeply personal moment saying "I want to thank all the sports clubs that call the Sports Park home, including AFL, Touch Footy, Soccer, Netball, and the new code of Cricket," he said. "It’s been a long road, but we’re finally here. My family has been with me through this journey, and now we can look forward to more time together.” Justin said that “This Club should be a hub for building community spirit and sports for decades to come in the shire.”
Federal MP Andrew Willcox echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the commitment of local leaders in turning the vision into reality. "I’m pleased to do the official duties, opening club Whitsunday here today, it’s a project I've been involved in since beginning, going back to my mayoral days. I’m really pleased with Justin Butler, who's put blood, sweat and tears into this.” He said, “It’s a fantastic facility and it opens up being able to host touring games form all the different areas with the biggest advantage that it’s for the locals, and the profits of this club will go back into the local community.”
Club Whitsunday General Manager, Josh Prowse, expressed his gratitude for the local support saying “The Club’s trading now, with more events and functions booking here each day.” He wanted everyone to know that “every dollar spent, the more we get to put back into supporting the local clubs.”
Finally, Amanda Camm, MP Member of the Queensland Parliament, praised the tenacity of those who made the project a reality saying, “I think the tenacity, particularly of Justin, and those on his committee, from the initial concept now to what we're seeing, it needs to be commended. They never gave up.” She also said, “the facility inside and outside out is a quality finish and they should be congratulated.”
With the doors officially open, Club Whitsunday is poised to become a central gathering place, not only for sport but for the broader community. The journey may have been long, but the outcome is a facility that will benefit generations of sports enjoyers and club-goers to come.