How Wyong Group became heart and soul of community

A small, intimate club with minimal reliance on poker machines hasn’t stopped the Wyong Leagues Group (Goulburn Railway Bowling Club) from helping people achieve great outcomes.

The Bowlo is one of 12 clubs in NSW which belong to the Wyong Leagues Group, a major sponsor of the Goulburn Monopoly board game.

Venue Manager Scott Cooper says the Wyong Roos Foundation is focussed on grassroots charitable organisations which kept all funds raised circulating in their communities.

Being a small club means the Bowlo relies on high quality food and beverages to keep people coming through the door with enough patronage to underpin facilities. Head chef Kensie Wu is playing his part too, building a good following with his menu of delicious food at the “Tablelands at the Bowlo” restaurant.

Pointing to the superbly maintained bowling greens, which can host up to 150 players over a weekend, Scott says they need the backing of what happens inside the club.

“This is the soul of the club inside, if it is not strong inside, the rest doesn’t happen,” he said.

Smaller sporting and social clubs, including the growing Goulburn Croquet Club rely on the facilities, as do families.

The family of Nathan Young, who is recovering from scheduled brain surgery during which complications occurred, chose The Bowlo for their raffle draw and the outcome was extraordinary. “You couldn’t move in here on Saturday night there were so many people,” Scott said.

The club has a history of achievement. For example, a nine-year-old girl inspired by her mother turned up on the greens in 2008, to play barefoot bowls. Years later that girl, Ellen Ryan, became the first Australian to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.