Charlestown Aim To Be Big Movers For Suburb
Newcastle Herald
Wednesday December 3, 2008
CHARLESTOWN Bowling Club will be operating from a new club and bowling on new greens from the end of next week.
Long-serving chief executive Doug Hitchcock said yesterday that Charlestown now had the capacity to grow from just being a bowling club into becoming the social hub for the suburb.Hitchcock, who racked up 20 years as CEO last month, said the club's Patricia Avenue operations would close for the last time on Sunday night and their new $23 million facility with three greens in Lincoln Street would open on Friday week, December 12."It is a case of Christmas has come early with one door closing and another opening," Hitchcock said yesterday. "The Patricia Avenue premises have served the club well since 1947, but the opportunity to relocate to Lincoln Street was too good to refuse."With General Property Trust requiring our current premises as part of their plans for the expansion of Charlestown Square, it provided us with the golden opportunity to gain a brand new club with three new greens."Even though our club is in a reasonably financially secure position, we would never have been able to borrow the sort of money required for such a project."Hitchcock said Charlestown would now a have a facility to benefit the community as a whole."Everyone will benefit with a new club which is twice the size, three new greens two grass and one synthetic underground parking for 180 cars, a much bigger TAB area, brand new bar and facilities, ultra-modern gaming lounge and the new CBC bar and grill under the control of executive chef Shane Pobje," Hitchcock said.Hitchcock said Charlestown will be bidding their current premises a fond farewell between now and Sunday."Charlestown will play their final match at home in the Big Bowls Challenge on Thursday night against defending champions Kurri Kurri, and a victory in that match would put us in a good position to make the play-offs," Hitchcock said."Then on Sunday there will be plenty of entertainment with bands, a jumping castle and cricket match involving some Newcastle and Country players on the greens to mark our final day."Hitchcock said the club would not trade from Monday to Thursday next week while relocating to their new premises."And while the synthetic green will be ready for play the same day the new club opens for business, the grass greens probably will not be ready for another week," he said."Our greenkeeper, Greg Geise, was rubbing them in today and they should be ready for play by December 18 the day of the official handing over ceremony."
© 2008 Newcastle Herald