Drought, fire, flood and pandemic fail to dampen the community spirit of clubs across NSW, so after the toughest 18 months in their history, registered clubs from across NSW celebrated their outstanding efforts at the 2021 Clubs & Community Awards in Sydney last week.
About 1000 guests, including NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope, and Shadow Minister for Better Public Services Sophie Cotsis, celebrated the support that clubs have provided to their local communities at the International Convention Centre, Sydney, last Thursday, 20 May.
The winners and finalists were acknowledged across nine categories, including Arts & Culture, Bushfire Support, Clubs in Collaboration, COVID-19 Community Assistance, Drought Relief, Education, Fostering Grassroots Sport, Health & Wellbeing and Heart of the Community.
Clubs in regional and metropolitan areas were acknowledged for a diverse range of initiatives — from delivering more than one million litres of water to drought-affected farmers, to funding educational resources to assist children with learning difficulties.
ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis said that despite natural disasters – from bushfire to flood – a global pandemic and an extended shutdown period, registered clubs never stopped supporting worthy causes in their communities and, in many cases, provided more help than ever before.
“With winners and highly commended recipients represented from Casino to Coonabarabran, the Clubs & Community Awards is a testament to the club industry’s vital social contribution across the state,” Mr Landis said.
“From sheltering evacuees during the Black Summer bushfires, to curbing loneliness with thousands of welfare calls during the COVID-19 pandemic, clubs have continued to go above and beyond to support their members and the wider community.
“Given we were forced to cancel last years’ awards night due to COVID, it was great to see our industry come together once again and celebrate how clubs have helped in times of trouble to make communities that much better.”
And the winners are:
Arts & Culture – Coonabarabran Golf Club
Bushfire Support – Club Narooma, Mittagong RSL Club
Clubs in Collaboration – DOOLEYS Lidcombe Catholic Club
COVID-19 Community Assistance – Cabra-Vale Diggers
Drought Relief – Club North Haven
Education – Campbelltown Catholic Club
Fostering Grassroots Sport – Tradies
Health & Wellbeing – Dee Why RSL, Mounties
Heart of the Community – Paul Allan, Club Taree
Fostering Grassroots Sports – Tradies 
Health & Wellbeing – Mounties 
Bushfire Support – Club Narooma