2025 REFLECTIONS
As we arrive at the end of the year, it is encouraging to look back over the last 12 months. So many people have participated in the many activities of 2025, it is incredible to be part of such an amazing community group.
The Bush Tucker project started by the previous committee has been completed (official opening awaiting signage delivery), our cafe has become firmly established and the new community shed should be finished early in the new year. Significant work has been done by the Grouonds Team : mitigating sinkhole situations, improving drainage, managing our water supply and waste disposal developing our garden and natural areas as well as safety and aesthetic improvements to the office / cafe area. Our Office Team have been working tirelessly to manage the increased workload that the camping and the cafe business are generating. Our River Team have also had a busy year and have been supported by numerous local river guides and volunteers. The Cafe Team is is now a well oiled machine. Finally, we hosted our first Harvest Moon which was a wonderful success.
The committee members would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everybody who has helped out this year.
Committee
At the recent AGM, a new committee member has taken the place of Alex Bonfiglioli who has been a committee member for two years. Thank you Alex for your contributions throughout this time. We welcome our newest committee member Forti Nienhaus who has previously worked for us as a river guide and has hit the ground running since he has started on the committee. He will be a very valuable contributor.
The committee’s goal for the next 12 months is to build a sustainable business that requires considerably less volunteer input. We are very aware of volunteer burnout and want to see the business stand on its own two feet and maximise local employment at the same time.
A Tough Decision
If you are familiar with the recent history of the Canoe Centre, you will know that we have been trying to claw our way back from significant losses following the 2019 fire, COVID and spiralling costs. The amazing 80% increase in camper numbers in the last financial year resulted in a significant decrease in our financial losses in the last 3 years, and we were hopeful that we could turn a profit in the current financial year. While we are not-for-profit organisation, we clearly need to be generating income in order to manage and maintain the property and cover our ever increasing costs. At the start of December, our building and content insurance premium was increased by 50% to over $36,000 a year. This outlay would effectively means that a working profit is unlikely to ever be attainable. After personal consultation with over 75% of members , the Management Committee took a difficult and somewhat radical decision.
We have not renewed our building insurance (Public Liability Insurance remains unchanged) . We have elected to bank the previous contents insurance premium ($2000 monthly for the foreseeable future) and keep this money in a term deposit to build a solid Disaster Repair Fund. We will also use a portion of that money to improve our fire safety infrastructure- specifically sprinkler systems on major building assets. We already have water and pumps, fire trailer and fire hoses, some of which we shall upgrade to reduce risk. In this way come all we hope we will be able to continue trading and keep our community owned property safe and financially sustainable.
We will always need volunteers as they have been the backbone of this facility for many years. If you are interested or able to help out next year, please reach out as we will welcome your assistance with open arms.