By TANIA PHILLIPS
Pic 106048cas1: Two of the driving forces behind the project, Liz Ross and Sharon Buchanan celebrate the opening of Casuarina’s new clubhouse.
Pic106052-cas2: The future and present of the Casuarina club in front of their brand new clubhouse.
pic106058-cas3: Casuarina president Paul Crane.
Pic106059-cas4: Oliver Crane and Zac Allen cut the ribbon to officially open the clubhouse.
pic 106063-cas5: Madison Fitzpatrick cuts the cake along with youngest club member Jules Loenker and his dad Casten.
pic 106068-cas6: Caption: Sharon Buchanan, State member for Tweed Geoff Provest, Liz Ross, Paul Rippon from Clarence Properties, Paul Crane and Tweed Mayor Barry Longland.
pic 106069-cas7: Paul Crane, Peter Madden of Casuarina Beach Coast Care who contributed to the wall of fame and Sharon Buchanan.
CASUARINA Hockey club now has a new home with the official opening of their clubhouse on Sunday afternoon.
The official ribbon was cut by inaugural team member Oliver Crane, along with young member Zac Allen, who celebrated his birthday on the day and marked the end of an eight-year effort.
“It has taken eight years of determination to see the clubhouse to completion and it is exciting to finally have a home for our club and venue for our members,” club member and one of the driving forces behind the project, Sharon Buchanan said.
“It is also a place that will benefit other community groups.”
Casuarina Hockey Club was founded in 2001 by Margie Coleman with one Under Seven team entered in the Tweed Hockey competition in that first year.
Three members of Casuarina’s original Under Seven team have gone on to representative hockey.
Madison Fitzpatrick has just been selected for the Queensland Scorchers and is a member of the Australian under 21 side while Savannah Fitzpatrick and Oliver Crane have also played for Queensland.
The club currently has 19 teams, six senior teams and 13 junior teams, has 202 players and featured in seven grand finals this year – winning the Under 13 boys and taking back-to-back crowns in the Division One women’s.
“The club has a strong culture and the Casuarina Hockey Club executive is proud of the club’s growth and success,” president Paul Crane told the gathered members, supporters and dignitaries.
“The Casuarina Hockey Club is extremely grateful for everyone who contributed both financially and with product or time.
“To ensure the clubhouse reached completion the club received tremendous support from the Tweed Coast Christian Church who gave the club a wonderful, inspiring and heart felt boost when they needed it most.
“A number of club members have really stepped up and have made massive contributions of time and effort to get the clubhouse finished this year.”
During the opening the club acknowledged the support received from the NSW Government through Member for Tweed Geoff Provest and Tweed mayor, Barry Longland, Stewart Brawley and all the Tweed Shire Council staff involved.
“In February an initiative to raise funds was begun with a ‘Wall of Fame’,” Paul said. “This was a massive community effort to raise funds and the club is grateful to these contributors.
“Peter Fahey and Paul Rippon from Clarence Property were the first company to really kick-start stage two of the project, things began to gain momentum. Many members of the construction team have contributed significantly.”
He said a lot of the tradespeople involved in building the club went above and beyond the call of duty to finally see the dream of a clubhouse realised.
Paul said the determination of Liz Ross, who oversaw stage two of the building project, and Sharon Buchanan was part of the reason they were able to get the project finished.
“The Club owes an enormous thankyou to our club members and everyone who kindly supported the project in time, product and money,” he said.
“It has been a real team effort.”
