Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club members and guests aren't exactly kicking up their heels in this new era of COVID-19 restrictions, but they certainly have been celebrating the club's emergence from hibernation.
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Many people consider the club their second home; the club is their life, manager, Terry Green said.
Mr Green acknowledged the importance of ensuring everyone who walked through the front doors were in a COVID safe environment.
"We want everyone to feel safe, especially the oldies," Mr Green said.
Before the club's re-opening staff began preparing, undertaking and completing a number of certificates and courses, to comply with the Public Health (COVID-19 restrictions on gathering and movement) order 2020.
Today their achievements, which includes COVID-19 awareness for food service and infection control training certificates, are on display in the club.
Now a members only club, patronage has been limited to 300 (subject to NSW Government legislation of one person per four square metres of floor space). At full capacity the club can hold up to 500 patrons.
Members are greeted with a smile and a scan from a thermometer, heat camera and sanitiser before swiping in with their membership card.
Mr Green believed many of the COVID safe measures would remain in place long after a suitable vaccine was developed.
"Things will never be the same again."
We've received a lot of positive comments from visitors acknowledging our duty of care.
- Terry Green
Cutlery, condiments and napkins have been removed from dining tables and bundled into safe packaging, while all staff have undertaken the COVID-19 awareness for food service certificate of acknowledgement.
"We've received a lot of positive comments from visitors acknowledging our duty of care."
Comfortable enough for the club to reintroduce cash housie, bingo, raffles and the tipping competition, while restricted bowls began earlier this month.
While some staff members voluntarily resigned following the forced closure of the club, the majority returned to full and part-time work under the JobKeeper program.
Mr Green attributes the exceptional customer service for much of the club's popularity and success.
"We have exceptional staff at the front door; the staff are caring and many members build friendships with the staff."
But that also extends to management.
Following the shut-down Mr Green phoned many members to ensure they were faring well during the pandemic.
Mr Green believed there was a bright future for Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club, with a number of positive changes earmarked for the future.
He said the club industry was very adaptable and saw this hiccup as an obstacle that could be overcome and adjusted to, much like the introduction of RBT, smoking bans and the stigma surround pokies.
"We have all got around them and we will all get around this again."
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