31 October 2024

From Canberra's best burgers to inspiring leaders, local clubs shine at awards

| Dione David
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Awardees at ClubsACT 2024 Clubs and Community Awards

Canberra Southern Cross Club CEO Matt Walshe celebrates success with Canberra Hospital Foundation chair Susan Proctor at the ClubsACT’s 2024 Clubs & Community Awards. Photo: Kobi-Lee Hiebl.

The Club of the Year pulled off a hat trick as innovation, adaptation and the Territory’s best burgers were all celebrated with vigour at ClubsACT’s 2024 Clubs & Community Awards.

Canberra Southern Cross Club claimed the Contribution to Sport, Community Development & Wellbeing Award for its Cupcakes & Conversations initiative, the Emerging Talent Award for CSCC Woden central manager Jason Nguyen and the top gong, Heart of the Community – Club of the Year (Large Club).

“Jason was in good company among the other finalists, all of whom had clearly done remarkable jobs for their respective clubs. But we are all incredibly proud of him. It was a very well-deserved award,” CSCC CEO Matt Walshe says.

“We were also thrilled to have the efforts of our staff acknowledged for the Cupcakes & Conversations initiative, which aimed to normalise conversations around mental health among staff.”

READ ALSO ClubsACT joins forces with Canberra Hospital Foundation in a year-long fundraising endeavour

Winning the Heart of the Community award was “icing on the cake”.

“We’re not a football club, we’re not an RSL club, we are above all else a community club,” Matt says.

“There’s not a day goes by that we aren’t approached for some form of help, whether it’s a school fete asking for vouchers for their chocolate wheel, the Carols by Candlelight looking for funding or a sports or social group in need of sponsorship.

“Resources permitting, we’ll always say yes because we know it matters to our community, and so it matters to us.”

Canberra Racing Club also enjoyed a winning streak, taking out the Arts & Culture Award for its Festival of Speed and topping the Small Club category of the Canberra Hospital Foundation & ClubsACT “Best Burger Competition” for its Korean fried chicken creation, the “Feed the Seoul Burger”.

“I think some people would’ve been surprised to see us win for a leisure food – as an event space we’re more known for our three-course dinners and luncheons. But our head chef and his team are very talented, and I wasn’t surprised at all,” Canberra Racing Club’s Robbie Ringland says.

“Winning the Arts & Culture Award however, was particularly exciting for the club because the Festival of Speed was a significant investment and diversification project. For a thoroughbred racing club to dip its toe in something new – the world of motorsports – was a risk.

“The event was wildly successful with 13,500 people through gates, and have since hosted other successful motoring events, with a number of motoring groups also keen to partner with us. It has opened the gates to expanding our offering to the Canberra public. So the risk paid off.”

READ ALSO Not just a flex: how this group of Canberra health clubs plans to lead fitness sector

Canberra Racing Club shared the Arts & Culture Award with the Irish Club, which won for its Bloomsday event and was also named Heart of the Community – Club of the Year (Small Club).

Vikings claimed the Education, Learning & Development Award and Individual Service to the Industry (Michael Peel), while Eastlake won the Celebrating Diversity & Social Inclusion Award and was the Large Club Winner in the best burger competition.

Clubs of the ACT support more than 1000 community groups. The annual Clubs & Community Awards recognise the outstanding social contributions they make in their local communities across core community value categories.

It’s a celebration of the many ways our clubs form part of the social fabric of our communities, according to ClubsACT operations manager Kate Palmer.

“I think Bill Shorten summed it up well in his speech on the night – these are non-biased places people can come, enjoy and belong,” she says. “I don’t think many people know the lengths, depths and breadths our clubs go to to serve their communities, so this is an important platform where people can share those stories.”

Awardees at ClubsACT 2024 Clubs and Community Awards

Canberra Racing Club won twice over. Photo: Kobi-Lee Hiebl.

Winners of the 2024 ClubsACT Clubs & Community Awards:

  • Arts & Culture Award
    • Winner: Canberra Racing Club – Festival of Speed
    • Winner: Irish Club – Bloomsday
  • Celebrating Diversity & Social Inclusion Award
    • Winner: Eastlake – A safe space for the community to connect and grow
      • The Rotary Club of Gungahlin
      • The Yerrabi View Club
      • The Men’s Table
  • Education, Learning & Development Award
    • Winner: Vikings – The transformative power of education enhances individuals’ lives across all age groups
      • Cadet program
      • Apprentice chef program
      • ASBA / Headstart Program
      • School Scholarship Program
  • Contribution to Sport, Community Development & Wellbeing Award
    • Winner: CSCC – Cupcakes & Conversations
    • Highly Commended: Ainslie – Breaking down the stereotypes of masculinity
  • Sustainability & Environment Award
    • Winner: Ainslie – Greener Fairways, Stronger Community: Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club’s Commitment to Environmental Stewardship and Community Wellbeing
  • Hospitality Innovation Award
    • Winner: Harmonie German Club – Taking it to the Streets
  • Emerging Talent Award
    • Winner: CSCC – Jason Nguyen
  • Individual Service to the Industry
    • Winner: Vikings Group – Michael Peel
  • Canberra Hospital Foundation & ClubsACT ‘Best Burger Competition’
    • Small Club Winner: Canberra Racing Club – Feed the Seoul Burger
    • Highly Commended: Irish Club – Soft Shell Crab Burger
    • Large Club Winner: Eastlake – CHF Chicken Burger
    • Highly Commended: Vikings Group – The Ham Burger
  • Heart of the Community – Club of the Year
    • Winner: Large Club: CSCC
    • Winner: Small Club: Irish Club

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