The Fingal Rovers Surf Club members have helped many people over the years, but now it’s the club’s turn to need a helping hand.
Rovers’ club house is currently undergoing a major refurbishment to bring it up to standard with current regulation. However, it needs a $200,000 injection of money to be finished in time for this year’s surf season in September.
According to club president Robyn Wonson, the refurbishment is expected to cost more than $800,000.
“We have $635,000 now, earmarked for the project, thanks to $200,000 from the Tweed Shire Council as well as State Government money and a grant through Surf Lifesaving but we need more to completely finish the job,” she said.
“We are hoping to have the club house up and running by September.”
She said the group were now looking for support or ways to raise the much needed money.
The club house is currently an empty shell, as work proceeds on the building. The original plans, to build a bigger and better club, had to be modified after it was discovered that the building was within the 50 and 100 year erosion lines.
Instead, now the clubhouse is being refurbished so that it complies with current standards, including putting a lift in to provide more access to the top storey.
However, Ms Wonson said it had been a long affair, beginning back in March when the keys were handed over to the builder.
“It’s been a very slow process,” she said.
“We are currently waiting for the second DA. But everything that can be done is still moving along.”
She said the $200,000 will completely finish the entire project – something they hope (weather willing) to do by the start of the Surf Lifesaving season. Not that not having a club has stopped the Fingal Rovers crew.
Robyn Wonson said, although the club house is not really operational, the club would still be ready for action if there was an emergency on the beach.
“We handed the building over to the builder in March,” she said.
“But we still patrolled through to Easter, working out of a container near the beach. The container is still all set up ready to go and we are still in the callout system if needed.”
Anyone able to help financially or with fundraising ideas should contact Robyn on president@fingalroversslsc.com.au.
