WHEN the doors to Mayfield Bowling Club closed in 2017 the community decided to step in and save their local.
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A team effort by young Mayfield families is now well on the way to sparing the club from the same fate as numerous bowlos across the region.
Timothy and Sally O’Connor, of Mayfield, are part of the team that did not want to see this community asset lost.
They joined the club’s board of directors mid-2017, making Mrs O’Connor the first woman to be elected to the board.
“It was closing down and a bunch of us … opened it back up,” Mr O’Connor said.
“I put my hand up, if you need some help, and the next thing I know is I am on the board.”
Mr O’Connor works in construction and has played a pivotal role in conducting repairs and works to the club.
“I run my own business and I’ve got all the tools,” Mr O’Connor said. “We’ve put a new kitchen in, we have done loads, maintenance and repairs and a bit of a clean up.”
The bowlo had 650 members but since the revamp several hundred more have joined.
The kitchen is open and new chef Jason Kuyltjes has introduced a new menu.
“We are doing simple, cheap bistro foods,” Mr Kuyltjes said. “Food that will appeal to everyone, with an emphasis on families.”
The restaurant is open Wednesday to Saturday for dinners, plus Saturday and Sunday for lunch.
A coffee stand at the front of the club for morning commuters is expected to open seven days a week from this week.
The club still has two active greens. On the third green there are plans to build a play area for children.
“We are looking at putting a proper kids area there, with various things for kids, slides and play equipment in the next year,” Mr O’Connor said.
There are still two full-size snooker tables at the bowlo. Meat raffles are held every Friday from 6pm and Sunday from 1pm, with happy hour schooners at $4.40 until 3pm.
“We also have an extensive wine list now, so we are catering for everyone,” Mr O’Connor said. “We are still catering for the bowlers, but also the community that lives here, young families.”
Australia Day saw 400 people at the club enjoying outdoor activities and lunch.
“It was a great success, beyond our wildest imagination what happened here,” Mr O’Connor said. “It was unbelievable to see all the kids here. The place was jammed and you couldn’t even move. We took $10,000 over the bar.”
The club has managed to turn a profit and has created six jobs.
The bowlo will also be running a family friendly event on Easter Saturday, including an Easter egg hunt.
