Celebrating another year of supporting the Port Macquarie community
The Westport Club has been part of the fabric of the Port Macquarie community since 1958. Friendship and community form our foundations, and our vision – to make a significant contribution to the quality of community life – is embedded in everything we do. Our vision not only underpins the club, its operations and our team, but also extends to our members who have generous hearts and kind spirits and is demonstrated through our community grants and sponsorship program.
The past 2 years has seen The Westport Club undergo a complete transformation as we invested 13 million dollars into creating a modern and exciting entertainment destination for the whole community to enjoy. During the refurbishment we also took the opportunity to donate items such as furniture and crockery to community groups such as Rotary Lodge at Port Macquarie Base Hospital, CentreCare, Port Macquarie Croquet Club, Junior Rugby Union Club; West Port Macquarie Tennis Club; the HopeShop and Marine Rescue Port Macquarie.
Our Community Grants program
Over the past 12 months, The Westport Club’s Vision was supported through the many partnerships we have with welfare organisations, schools, sporting, community and networking groups;
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is The Westport Club’s longest standing welfare partner. The Salvos’ support for our local community has not gone unnoticed and we are proud to offer them a hand just as they do for those less fortunate in our community. The Annual Red Shield Appeal Breakfast, which is held at The Westport Club has raised over $100,000 to date, supporting vital salvation Army welfare programs. Our support extends to their Christmas Hamper Appeal through donations from our Christmas under the Stars event. To date approximately $20,000 has been gifted to families and individuals so they may enjoy the special festive spirit that Christmas brings.
Dyslexia Support Mid North Coast
The Dyslexia Support Mid North Coast trained a specialist teacher to become a schools ambassador, supporting students with learning difficulties to read and write, offering an extension to The Westport Club’s “Write to Read” program, which was launched in 2010.
Lifeline
Lifeline is proactive in looking for opportunities to raise awareness of mental health and brings support to our community. The HALT (Hope Assistance Local Tradies) program gave Lifeline an avenue to host a series of workshops to raise awareness of mental health and provide support programs for those in the trade industry.
Climb Your Own Mountain
‘Climb your own mountain’, a series of motivational, anti-bullying and leadership workshops delivered to over 6,000 students by one of Australia’s inspirational speakers, Lorin Nicholson, emanated from a training program for our staff last year. We first got to know Lorin when we hosted a lunch for his fundraising ride from Brisbane to Melbourne. Lorin is legally blind and is an incredible guitarist! His engagement with the students at Tacking Point Public School received comments like “Lorin is an awesome musician and I now won’t give up so easily”; and “Lorin’s taught me to realise that I can do a lot more”.
Learning Links
The Westport Club’s partnership with Learning Links started in 2012. Their Reading For Life program is an intense 15 week literacy program providing one-on-one support to primary school children with reading disorders and helping them to feel confident as learners. The latest programs were taken up by Lake Cathie and Telegraph Point Public Schools.
Mother’s Day Classic
In spite of the horrendous weather conditions, over 500 people supported this years Annual Mother’s Day Classic which raised important funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation towards research into finding a cure, plus raised vital funds to support our local Cancer Clinic at Port Macquarie Base Hospital.
Alzheimer’s Australia (NSW)
Stage 1 of The Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia friendly garden was constructed at the Port Macquarie Centre located on Bridge Street and will provide a place of activity and socialisation with therapeutic benefits for dementia sufferers. The garden will be officially opened next month. Our region is rated the third highest for dementia in Australia. A frightening statistic!
Endeavour Mental Health
Funding provided by The Westport Club allowed Endeavour Mental Health Clubhouse to purchase additional computers which will provide ongoing support to participants for with their integration back into the community and the workforce.
1st Port Macquarie Sea Scouts
1st Macquarie Sea Scouts was able to replace the roller door on their Buller Street hall and purchase barbecue Equipment using funds from our Community Grant’s program last year. Sea Scouts often support community-based activities for which the barbecue will be used.
Vision Camp
Many activities cannot be funded through the schools general budget. Telegraph Point Public School P & C sought and received funding to send their school’s visually impaired students to the NSW annual Vision Camp. Such camps help inspire these young teenagers to grow in confidence and self-advocacy.
Port Macquarie Hasting’s Domestic Violence Specialist Services
A grant provided to Port Macquarie Hasting’s Domestic Violence Specialist Services supported the refurbishment of an interactive playroom to stimulate activity in a safe and supportive environment for mums and children to reconnect following the trauma experienced through domestic abuse.
The House with No Steps Art Diction
The House With No Steps Art Diction, a fun community project (which is still ongoing) allows people with disabilities the opportunity to engage in and take ownership of a public art project whilst improving the aesthetics of community spaces and reducing vandalism in our region. Their ‘works of art’ adorn our streets through Port Macquarie-Hastings.
Aspect
The Westport Club assisted the local Aspect school in delivering specialist autism training sessions for 40 community members including families, educators and health professionals. As a follow up to these training sessions, free one on one consultations were provided to families to establish an individualised plan for their child.
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
The Westport Club also provided a grant to Guide Dogs NSW /ACT which funded the purchase of ‘Miniguides’ for 15 locals who are vision impaired. Miniguides are hand held ultrasonic echo-location devices that help with navigation, hence empowering individuals to remain independent and active longer.
Affiliated Clubs and Sponsored Groups supported by Community Grants and Sponsorship
Sport and social interests play an integral role in the social fabric of our community. The foundation of this Club was formed 59 years ago through lawn bowls, which continues to have four active clubs today who provide a social and competitive opportunity for their members on the greens. Over the past 10 years The Westport Club has recognised the importance of sport and other activities to our community and supports a variety of Clubs in many ways, through cash funding of junior development programs, various competitions and in-kind funding for events held at our Club.
Port Macquarie Basketball Association
Port Macquarie Basketball Association recently became affiliated with The Westport Club and has used their sponsorship to develop The Westport Club Basketball Academy, run the Aussie Hoops program making basketball fun for young players, and offering financial hardship scholarships to help players continue their skill development, an opportunity that may not have been possible with this financial assistance.
Port Macquarie Rugby Club
Celebrating 43 years of Rugby, the Port Macquarie Rugby Club, or Pirates as they are affectionately known, has long held successful teams in various grades. Port Pirates has been a part of The Westport Club community grants and sponsorship program for many years, and last year introduced a women’s competition, bringing a new and exciting dimension to their club. Our Club’s sponsorship supports Pirates junior development program and helps the Club maintain a strong presence in the local rugby competition and representative arenas.
Port Macquarie Tennis Club
West Port Macquarie Tennis Club has seen an amazing growth in their Club over the past couple of years, especially at the junior level. The Club offers a scholarship program aimed at providing juniors with intensive training to develop their skills to the highest level. The Westport Club is proud to fund two of these scholarships each year.
Hastings River District Senior and Junior Cricket Associations
The Westport Club is a major sponsor of The Hastings River District Senior and Junior Cricket Associations, providing funding that allows each Association to run their respective summer competitions, develop junior players, host regional Carnivals and continue to lift the standard and profile of cricket on the Mid North Coast.
Port Saints Netball Club
Having sponsored Port Saints Netball Club for over 10 years, The Westport Club was enthusiastic when approved by Saints to expand our sponsorship to support initiatives in developing umpire and coaching pathways programs for their umpires and coaches through a specified training program, as well as providing access to resources and equipment.
The Westport Travel Club
The Westport Travel Club offers many social activities for like-minded people. Established 50 years ago the Westport Travel Club has also experienced tremendous growth in their Club’s members. Their Club provides a variety of trips and excursions that explores the many attractions of our beautiful state and beyond.
Networking and social groups
The Westport Club is also proud to support networking and social groups.
Hastings Business Womens’ Network
The club is a proud host venue of The Hastings Business Women’s Network monthly coffee catch-ups in Hastings Coffee Co. In this casual environment potential members get the opportunity to experience the value of the Network through informal conversations with existing members.
Rotary Club of Port Macquarie West
Recently we welcomed ‘home’ Rotary Club of Port Macquarie West. Their weekly dinner meetings and special occasions are held in our Events Centre. Rotary encourages and fosters the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise. This reunion will see our Clubs work more closely on projects that encompass our shared vision to make a difference in our community.
Hastings Ladies Probus Club
Hastings Ladies Probus Club is an association of retired and semi-retired people who join together in Clubs. The basic purpose is to provide regular opportunities for them to keep their minds active, expand their interests, and try to enjoy the fellowship of new friends. These ladies continue to enjoy monthly catchups over lunch at The Westport Club.
Learning programs
Support for new and innovative education programs is a strong focus for our Club and we continue to look for opportunities to bring new and exciting programs to our region that will support a child’s learning experience.
Library regeneration program
Our Library Regeneration Program, partnered with Dymocks Childrens Charities, was established in 2009. This program continues to support the rejuvenation of libraries in schools and preschools. When Lake Cathie Primary School opened in 2015 it had no books. Last November over $10,000 worth of new books donated by The Westport Club helped to fill the school’s library shelves.
Teaching and learning with Mathletics Program
The Westport Club’s Teaching and Learning with Mathletics Program has gifted free subscriptions to the online Mathletics program, to over 3,000 students from 13 schools in the region each year since August 2014. This program was made possible by partnering with 3P Learning, founders of Mathletics. Incorporated into the Program our Club has held an annual competition where students compete for amazing electronic prizes for themselves and their school.
Youth Frontiers
Youth Frontiers is another program which evolved following The Westport Club’s staff involvement in a youth mentoring program called Max Potential. Youth Frontiers last year offered 16 students to undertake a mentoring leadership and community engagement program, through a combination of one-on-one and group sessions. Local Community Leaders volunteered their time to support and mentor the students through the 20 week program which concluded with an amazing showcase event.
Christmas Under the Stars
Christmas Under the Stars is The Westport Club’s flagship event and is one of our favourite nights of the year. Now recognised as Port Macquarie’s premier Christmas event, Christmas under the Stars brings the community together in song with thousands enjoying an evening of true Christmas spirit whilst taking
in the amazing late afternoon and evening views of our beautiful foreshore in front of our Club.
Each Port Macquarie Community organisation that we support has a special place in the heart of our business. This is just a brief summary of some of the ways that The Westport Club has supported our local community members in the past year through community grants and sponsorship, both cash and in-kind; we hope you enjoyed reading some of their stories.