SLSC renovation finished

AFTER an interrupted and protracted rebuild, Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club is ready to open its doors and memberships are proving to be very popular.

The club appealed to supporters, volunteers, and local businesses to help complete the final landscaping duties.

A post on the club’s Facebook page made special mention of South Coast Garden Supplies and Anco Instant Turf who provided turf, soil and path toppings.

Jan Juc SLSC president Aaron Green said the club missed opportunities to host several key fundraising events throughout this year, which had placed some financial strain on the club.

The club is now assessing their options for a grand opening.

“We have locked in an official opening with government, council and other parties for the 16th of December,” Mr Green said.

“That will be the opening for the co-funders, which will be a really significant milestone.

“We only finalised that last week. Initially we wanted to have a really big opening, but obviously with all the COVID restrictions in place we have to look at who is coming from each of the three levels of government. Our board of directors will be there, the developers… we need to be careful not to exceed any number limits.

“We are hoping restrictions continue to ease between now and then so we can have more people attend. At the moment it would be a formal opening with the signatories, but hopefully we can have our members in attendance.”

The club is in the precarious position of balancing town-wide anticipation and COVID restrictions as they prepare to open.

“We opened Sunday for a last-minute soft launch of the bar after putting into place the required COVID-safe plans for hospitality. It was hugely successful with a number of people dropping in for a cold drink from the Bells walking track. We expect as this location being hugely popular, our biggest concern is that we have too many people show up, while COVID restriction are in place,” Mr Green said. “We don’t want to be in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.”

Competition and juniors training resumed and despite the excitement surrounding the reopening, Mr Green is pragmatic.

“Hospitality… although it’s important and hopefully a good revenue stream for us to help pay for the lifesaving operation, our core priority has been getting our lifesavers and programs back on the beach.”

Head to janjucsurfclub.com.au for news and membership information.