Clubs Always Stepping Up for Community, Bush Summit Hears

The Broken Hill Musicians Club General Manager was the closing speaker at News Corp Australia’s National Bush Summit, held at Orange Ex-Services’ Club on Thursday and broadcast live on Sky News.

The Bush Summit, of which Your Local Club is a major partner, brought together some of Australia’s most influential decision makers to discuss the biggest issues facing regional Australia.

And Michael spoke about the critical role clubs play in their local communities, particularly during times of need. 

Up until recently, he told the audience, Broken Hill residents faced anywhere from a three-to-five-month wait just to see a doctor.

That all changed in 2023 when the Broken Hill Musicians Club attracted another doctor to the town by providing a disused office space — rent free — in return for bulk billing concession card holders and kids under 15. 

“He agreed to that, and the surgery now has 1100 people there,” said Michael.

“If you had to wait four months to see a doctor in Sydney it would be on the front page of every major newspaper.”

The Club also stepped in when the only cinema in the town was set to close its doors, which would have seen residents driving a six-hour return trip just to see a movie. 

“We saved the local cinema, we talk about youth crime, if there’s nothing to do, what are the youth going to do? Turn to crime,” he said.

“Clubs are there for the community, in times of need, we’re there for all stages of life — we are the backbone of regional NSW, we are embedded in our communities,” he said.

“Sixty-four per cent of the state’s 1000-plus clubs are located in regional and remote areas, they employ 40,000 people who aren’t FIFO workers, they are people who are a part of the community.

“Clubs are the largest employer in many towns. It means a lot of young people are finishing school and they can stay in their hometown because clubs provide employment opportunities and training opportunities.”

Michael explained the critical role of ClubGRANTS, which helps to fund local charities in Broken Hill such as Lifeline and St Vincent de Paul, and took aim at those critical of the scheme, which he said was the envy of other states.

“Regional people know what regional people need. If a regional person wants to have a punt and a beer at the local club, that’s a no-no according to elitists.

“They want ClubGRANTS paid into consolidated state revenue… if it goes into state revenue it will never be seen. It’ll go to the basket weavers in Balmain and the Manly Beach party… we won’t see a cent in regional NSW.

“I was recently in South Australia, and I went through what ClubGRANTS did — they couldn’t believe what the NSW club industry does for their communities and couldn’t believe the attacks from certain sections.”

The extent to which locals rely on their local club for support and camaraderie was particularly evident during a recent medical episode involving a member of the Broken Hill Musicians Club.

“There was an incident a couple of weeks ago, an older member had fallen over in her home,” said Michael.

“You’d think you’d call an ambulance, [but] no she rang the Club, that’s how much respect and love people have for their club.”

It left no one in the room without any doubt as to the positive contribution that clubs make to their local communities right across the state.

And it even led to a rave review from Sky News presenter and Bush Summit host Peter Stefanovic.

“Michael — what a speech — I think that was the speech of the day!” he said.