SHE calls it a home away from home.And for many of the regulars of the Redlands Sporting Club, its facilities provides solace from the busyness of every day life.
Marketing manager Doreen Thomas said the club was a unique place located in a small community.
"People feel safe here away from the bustle. It's a great place to get away and to feel comfortable and welcome. It's a great place to spend time and to feel as if you belong. The area of Wellington Point provides that connection," Doreen said.
The Redlands Sporting Club opened in 1983 as a home to the cricket, bocce and bowling clubs.
"We had the three major sporting bodies of Redlands Cricket, Redlands Bocce and the Wellington Point Bowls Club on site and our charter is to take on more groups over the years," Doreen said.
These include social golf, Sports Karate Australia, the Redland Swim Club, Moreton Bay Game Fishing Club, Redland and Southern District Equestrian group, social darts and chess.
The club underwent extensive renovation and expansion in 2007, doubling in size to enhance the existing function centre, free daily entertainment, coffee shop, steak house and buffet world.
"Our charter is to also provide entertainment through sports, food and the arts and to give to the community. We give more than $640,000 annually to sports, youth programs, the disadvantaged, schools, child care and charities. That equates to more than $6 million over the last 10 years," she said.
The club has 20,000 plus members and provides free entertainment, a members' courtesy bus, ample car parking, discounted dining options, bars and gaming lounges, meeting and event venues and in-kind support for local community groups to make use of the club.
"When the Redlands residents support the Redlands Sporting Club it means more than just supporting one club; it means they are supporting the whole community. When we work with the community, play together and care for one another, it's the community that profits," General manager Rick Veale said.
"We would like to acknowledge the continued support and benefits from the Redlands Sporting Club which has enabled us to grow our membership by 30 per cent over the last three seasons. The grant support through the Sports and Recreation Coordinator has enabled us to improve our facilities and provide better service and support to our athletes and members," Redland Swim Club's head coach Nick Pedrazzini said.
