Small Club with a Big Heart

As the turbulent waters descended on the community, taking them completely by surprise, Cudal Bowling Club became an island of refuge — both physically and metaphorically. 

Despite being a small Club with just four casual bar staff, the beloved venue remained open around the clock for 48 hours as the emergency unfolded. It provided shelter for close to 60 people until the roads became re-accessible to vehicles, which was crucial given the town was without assistance from emergency services for 72 hours. 

Not only were the roads cut off, but the town was without electricity, phone reception or internet. In order to provide power for those sheltering at the Club, staff quickly sprang into action, sourcing a generator from a local farmer’s shed. 

The bulk of the manual rescues during the emergency were conducted by Club president Greg Wiltshire, one local police officer and a Rural Fire Service officer, with the team physically pulling people out of the raging waters. 

Greg said once the Club’s situation became known, the wider club industry was quick to offer a helping hand via the Clubs Helping Clubs initiative, including DOOLEYS with a significant financial donation.
“We had a lot of calls of support. We had Cowra Bowling Club send one of their managers over so I could give staff a break,” he said.

“DOOLEYS’ support when they rang me up … I was about to come in and tell our staff that we had to cut the hours back … and when they rang me, I couldn’t believe it, I just sat there and cried to be honest with you. Being able to use those funds to pay our staff and be open … we wouldn’t be here without them.”

^{ABOVE: Cudal Bowling Club volunteer Kitty Walsh stacks emergency supplies on the shelves.}

Cudal Bowling Club provided three meals a day for those in need — not just in the immediate aftermath, but for almost a month after the flooding subsided. Initially, the Club’s food supplies were utilised, until a trip could be arranged to the nearby Orange township, where staff arranged for supplies to be replenished. 

And it wasn’t just food. The Club also purchased essential items such as cleaning products and underwear for the many locals who left their properties with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

In total, the Club acted as an official evacuation centre for three months, with Service NSW also utilising the venue as a base to assist locals in accessing grants and relief payments.

On the last day as an official evacuation centre, the Club served up a free lunch, giving the community an opportunity to come together again, talk and gain some closure. 

You can hear more of Cudal Bowling Club’s story in this episode of ClubTV.