Friday, January 24, 2025

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Club Whitsunday A Community Club

Club Whitsunday is Airlie Beach’s first true community club, designed to offer a modern, dynamic space for everyone to enjoy. Unlike traditional sports clubs, it serves as a vibrant hub for the entire community, featuring a full range of amenities including a stylish bar, a contemporary bistro, exciting wagering options, and a spacious gaming floor. Open seven days a week, Club Whitsunday provides an elevated hospitality experience that caters to both locals and visitors alike.
The all-new club boasts a custom-designed kitchen and back-of-house facilities, featuring impressive additions like a large charcoal oven.
In addition, Club Whitsunday has successfully secured renowned local chef Zibby Deca, who has dedicated his recent years of work honing his knowledge and skills in charcoal cooking and food preserving, Zibby explained that with the club's charcoal oven he now has the “privilege of sharing” his “knowledge and passion with guests.”
Thanks to the quality of the kitchen design and fit-out, as well as the creation of a brand-new menu, the club has already received glowing reviews for its food. The menu offers a variety of options, including great value choices, along with high-end, locally sourced steak and seafood dishes.
Club Whitsunday isn’t limited to just one sport. While it will support the five primary member codes—AFL, Football (Soccer), Netball, Rugby Union, and Touch Footy—it will also extend its support to associated codes like Cricket and Rugby League that use the park facilities.
Members can join the club for just $5 per year and receive a membership card for discounts and rewards. Members can choose a sporting or community organization to support, with more funding directed to the groups selected by members based on their spending. Club Whitsunday rewards those who support it.
Justin Butler, President of Club Whitsunday, expressed his excitement about the club’s opening:
“Personally, for me, it’s the culmination of a passion project that I figured would take 4 years but ended up taking 10 years.
“After a long haul, I’m enjoying handing the day-to-day running of the park over to other volunteers and the day-to-day running of the Club over to paid professionals. I’m looking forward to getting back to my family, business, and personal sport.
“A lot of people have put in countless volunteer hours over the years to get to this point, as they could see what a massive change this club will bring to the community.
“In time, it will take a huge load off the volunteers of all the sports, as they no longer need to spend hours providing food and drinks for players and spectators. Instead, they can focus their time on attracting more players, coaching teams, and managing the growth of their sports.
“Consistency in field maintenance, such as herbicides, fertilising, top dressing, and line marking, will lead to some of the best playing surfaces in the area. Improved lighting, additional shade, and more seating will also support the growth of sports in the region.”
Sports tourism is increasingly becoming a major contributor to Airlie Beach’s thriving visitor market. From local teams travelling from Mackay for home matches to large-scale events like the Sea Eagles AFL preseason and the Touch Footy Whitsunday Cup, sporting events are filling local accommodations and boosting the hospitality sector.
Airlie Beach has also attracted high-profile events, such as Qld regional NFL Gridiron and Rugby League, thanks to recent upgrades to its facilities.
Previously hosting the NRL Kangaroos training camp and Cowboys Young Guns and with upcoming events like the Firebirds netball match, the region is poised to continue attracting top-tier sporting events, further driving tourism growth. Club Whitsunday look forward to AFL, Football and Rugby Union enticing their top-tier teams for exhibition matches and so on. Club Whitsunday will undoubtedly serve as a vibrant hub for these events.

Zibby Deca, Executive Chef of Club Whitsunday, cooking on the brand-new charcoal oven. Photo Credit: Victoria Velton.
Nilo Ballance and Maureen Barnard arriving to the all-new Club Whitsunday. Photo Credit: Victoria Velton.

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