THE definition of a registered club is 'a non-profit organisation for the benefit of its members'.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
According to the latest publicly available annual report on its website, the club made $1.6 million in profit in 2017, with $27 million in turnover. That same year, 53 per cent came from poker machines.
According to the Presidents Report in the 2017 Annual Report the club subsidises sporting facilities and social clubs to the tune of $315,899 a year.
I started swimming at the OESC pool over 45 years ago as a member of the Polar Bears, and have swam at the pool regularly ever since.
The benefits of the pool to the Orange community are immeasurable.
Can you imagine how many members have used and continue to use the pool?
How many of Orange's children have learned to swim in the pool, how many members of the Orange community have used the pool for injury rehabilitation, children's fitness via the OESC Polar Bears, the disabled in the community to help with general fitness and wellbeing, let alone members that just like to do a few laps to relax and increase fitness?
The benefits of the pool to the Orange community are immeasurable.
Unfortunately, the Fitness Perfection 25-metre pool closed last year due excessive repairs needed, which has created a shortage of swimming infrastructure needed to serve the needs of the community, which has grown considerably.
Surely a club that makes millions a year can find another $100,000 a year to subsidise the pool?
The $6.5 million (approximately the same amount it cost to develop The Greenhouse of Orange) worth of repairs that are all of sudden needed could be worked into future budgets.
The OESC Annual General Meeting is due to be held within the next two months - maybe it is time to vote in a few new Directors?
I urge members of the OESC and the Orange community to contact the management and directors of the OESC and Orange City Councillors to voice their objection and prevent the closure of the pool.
Paul Bertrams
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS AND VIEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...