Community & Business
15 November, 2023
Help us or we will have to close down
WITHOUT the support of community members, the 100-year-old Ravenshoe Millstream Country Club will be forced to close its doors.
Club caretaker Reg Dwyer said if they failed to get the support of the community to patronise and volunteer at the club, they would become insolvent and unable to trade.
Built by the members in 1922, the club has been a hub and a place for the community ever since.
With a nine-hole golf course, a clubroom to seat 90 people, a fully-licensed kitchen and bar, it’s the perfect place for a celebration, to enjoy a drink after a round of golf or to pop in and enjoy a meal at one of the club’s fortnightly dinners.
“It’s a hell of a good resource – there’s just no one to help out,” Mr Dwyer said.
Just before Covid hit, Mr Dwyer said the club was doing “quite well” and it was a popular spot to visit.
But since then, it hasn’t been the same and they have struggled to get back on their feet.
Mr Dwyer said they were reaching out to the community for support so they don’t lose the facility.
The club currently has about 70 members, including social and playing members, but it was only a handful of them who maintained and worked at the facility.
“It’s a country club with a golf course,” Mr Dwyer said.
There’s also a camping area which Mr Dwyer said attracted visitors - grey nomads in particular - and brought in additional cash each month.
“We encourage grey nomads to come, play and stay…we encourage them to come and use us as a base.”
Mt Garnet local Rose Beatton said the club was a vital piece of community infrastructure, a recreation hub, a place for the community to meet in times of crisis and somewhere for the locals to catch up.
“This has been a much-loved community space which has unfortunately had a bad run, but (the committee) is determined to work hard to turn it back into a thriving hub for everyone, especially its members and the local community,” she said.
The committee needs members and anyone with time on their hands to help give the club the love it needs.
“The committee believes that with a bit of support from those who have the time to spare the club will not only achieve their goal of staying open, but could perhaps surprise everybody at what was possible.”
Ms Beatton said joining the committee might spark a love for golf, a want to be involved with the maintenance of the green, or maybe a desire to help cook in the kitchen.
“That is why this place is unique, there is so much scope to find out what you would like to do there. You might even want to hold an art class - anything is possible,” she said.
Drop in and see the team behind Ravenshoe Millstream Country Club at one of their fortnightly Friday evening meal nights or stop by for a drink from 4-6pm Monday through to Thursday.
“Come down and have a natter and a chat … chomp on a chip,” Mr Dwyer said.
For more information or to join the club, phone 0457 567 547.
