From a major new advertising campaign to a key advocacy win and a record Conference turnout.
Those of us who work in and around clubs see every day the difference they make. We know clubs exist to serve their members and support the people and causes that matter most in their communities, but it’s equally important that the broader public understands what makes clubs different and the value they continue to deliver across NSW.
On Sunday, ClubsNSW launched a major new advertising campaign under the Your Local Club banner, centred on a message that goes right to the heart of who we are: Clubs. Not-for-profit. All for community. The campaign will run over the next five weeks across print, radio, digital and social media channels right across the state, reinforcing that clubs exist to support their communities, not to make individuals, shareholders or foreign owners richer. This is a very important point that often gets overlooked.
Whether it’s supporting grassroots sport, providing affordable meals and entertainment, creating local jobs, funding community initiatives or simply offering a welcoming place for people to connect, clubs continue to make an extraordinary contribution to communities across the state.
I encourage all clubs to loudly get behind the campaign and help share these messages. This campaign is an opportunity to remind the broader community that every dollar generated by clubs helps strengthen the places we call home. You can download the marketing assets here.
This month also delivered an important advocacy win with the passage of the Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill.
Clubs operating on Crown land have faced considerable uncertainty in recent years and ClubsNSW has advocated for legislative reform to provide greater certainty and protect these important community assets.
The Bill provides certainty for the 273 clubs that sit on Crown land, many of these small and in regional communities, their 6000 employees and 850,000 members, allowing them to plan and invest for the future.
Earlier this month, I joined ClubsNSW CEO Rebecca Riant and Chief Member Officer Bernadette McLoughlin on a road trip through the New England region, stopping in at various towns including Boggabilla, Boggabri, Moree and Narrabri.
We met some truly remarkable club people who continue to deliver outstanding experiences for their members despite facing a range of challenges that living in a remote community brings. One club spoke about operating for six weeks without a reliable internet connection, yet still finding ways to support members and keep services running. These are important conversations that we can bring to our elected representatives — real stories often unheard.
The trip concluded with a tour of the major redevelopment underway at Wests Tamworth, which will include a greatly enhanced food and beverage offering. It’s clear from seeing the project nearing completion that it will deliver significant benefits for the local community for many years to come.
As many of you will have seen in our recently released 2026 Annual Report, enhanced governance has remained a major focus for ClubsNSW over the past 12 months.
From our partnership with the Australian Institute of Company Directors to the delivery of director education, governance resources, regional training opportunities and practical compliance support, we have continued to invest in helping club boards and leaders navigate an increasingly complex operating environment.
Over the past year there has been more than 4500 directors trained, and 316 courses and seminars offered. I am grateful to the many directors, executives and managers who have embraced these opportunities and demonstrated a strong commitment to continuous improvement. You can read about this and plenty more in the Annual Report, available here.
Before I sign off, I’m thrilled to announce that a record number of tickets have been sold for the 2026 ClubsNSW Conference & AGM, which will take place on the Gold Coast next week.
As the biggest event on the club industry calendar, the Conference provides an invaluable opportunity to learn from industry experts, discuss the issues shaping our future and connect with colleagues from across the state. I look forward to catching up with you there.
