Staff and management of Morwell Bowling Club have been praised by Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, for their remarkable efforts to reconstruct their club following a devastating fire last year.
Over sixty firefighters had rushed to the blaze in last August, but despite their valiant efforts only ten per cent of the main building was salvageable due to the collapse of the venue’s roof.
The fire also claimed irreplaceable memorabilia belonging to the 110-year-old club.
Adding to the devastation, the club had just undergone a two-year multi-million-dollar renovation headed by manager Teena Johnson.
While the Federal Member toured the facility with Ms Johnson, he remarked on the extraordinary recovery.
“As we approach the one-year anniversary of the fire, it’s amazing to look back and see everything the club’s board, staff and volunteer members have achieved,” he said.
“There’s a fully-functioning bistro operating under a temporary dome, the main fire-damaged building has been demolished and reconstruction could start as early as next month, and the smoke-damaged function room is on track to re-open in December,” Chester continued.
Local sub-contractors worked with Gippsland company Farnham Developments to get the club’s function room up and running as soon as possible prior to commencing the major works, which are expected to be completed in around 18 months.
“Well done to everyone involved in bringing this important hub of the community back to life as quickly as humanly possible after such a devastating fire,” said Chester.
The cause of the blaze was discovered to be an electrical fault occurring in the switchboard.
