General News
21 July, 2022
Maryborough Highland Society, golf club named finalists in community club awards
Two of Maryborough’s community clubs have been named as finalists in 10 categories for the Community Clubs Victoria awards gala next month. The Maryborough Golf Club and Maryborough Highland Society were recently named finalists in two and eight...
Two of Maryborough’s community clubs have been named as finalists in 10 categories for the Community Clubs Victoria awards gala next month.
The Maryborough Golf Club and Maryborough Highland Society were recently named finalists in two and eight categories respectively with awards ranging from best chef of the year, community club restaurant, best charitable giving program and best club renovation.
A finalist for the best community club renovation and chef of the year awards, Maryborough Golf Club general manager John Sedunary said it meant a lot to staff.
“The chef award is for our chef Ian Cannons and means a lot to the club in so far as that Ian has been an absolute leader for us and has helped to raise our profile in the community,” he said.
“We literally have people come from all over to eat here, I regularly speak to people who are dining here and have said they heard about us and decided to travel here and try it out.
“To be a finalist for the renovations award is nice as well, what our renovations have done is made the most of our major asset — the golf course.”
Mr Sedunary said the awards recognise the club’s dedicated staff and the effort they put in.
“We recently had Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas here and as I welcomed him and he started to walk in, he actually stopped and commented on the facilities we had,” he said.
“What we’ve done is we’ve created a really family friendly, warm and inviting place and these awards reflect that.
“What’s wrapping around those awards are the team we have here, the building and chef are not standalone, they’re supported by a great and dedicated group of staff and I think that’s great.”
The Maryborough Highland Society is also a finalist for community club chef of the year, as well as the prestigious community club of the year award, something general manager Malcolm Blandthorn said he’s eyeing off.
“What we’re most excited about is actually being up for club of the year, last year the Royal Geelong Yacht Club won the regional award and the metro winner was Greyhounds Entertainment in Springvale so it is quite a prestigious award,” he said.
“Those two clubs are massive and so to even be named as finalists is great for us and the town.”
It’s just one of the eight awards the club is in the running for and Mr Blandthorn said it was a surprise to see the club named a finalist for so many awards.
“We put in 11 submissions and then to be named as finalists in eight was quite remarkable, it’s a reflection of the hard work all our staff and volunteers put in,” he said.
“I’m rapt we’re finalists for club entertainment program of the year because we do aim to be the total entertainment venue so we’re very pleased to be a finalist there.
“As a team, we’re also very proud of the individual awards for both Jenna Townsend as chef and Shaun Dewhirst as assistant manager, it’s great to see and acknowledge their continued efforts.”
Community Clubs Victoria also offers a community service award which the Highland Society have won for the past eight years running.
Mr Blandthorn said the award covers a number of initiatives the Highland has, including its community nights where the club donates to community groups.
“There is a community service award we have won the last eight years in a row but there aren’t actually finalists for that, they give those awards away on the night so there is an opportunity we could also win that as well,” he said.
“Our community nights fall under that, we give all the proceeds of our raffles to a local community group and with online sales this year, donations have been up around $1500 most weeks which is great.
“There are a lot of volunteer organisations out there and this is a good way to recognise the work they do in our community.”
Award winners will be named at a gala dinner in Melbourne on August 6.