The Malvern Bowling Club has a long term commitment to everyone in the community having equal access to the club’s social and sporting facilities. We want every visitor to our club to safely enjoy every minute of their time with us.
However, the need to care for the beautiful and atmospheric old clubrooms and surrounds, which were built in the middle of last century, includes an identifiable need to improve physical accessibility and amenity. For while our club was founded by an act of philanthropy in 1911, unfortunately no one in those days spared much thought for things like disability access.
With this in mind, Malvern Bowling Club has embarked on a long term project called ‘Fairer Facilities,’ which aims to gradually bring the clubhouse and grounds up to modern accessibility and safety standards.
Fairer Facilities kicked off in early 2019 with the assistance of a grant from the Federal Government’s ‘Stronger Communities’ program, starting with the installation of an accessible toilet and other clubroom improvements, all designed by architect Paul Dawson. Stronger Communities has also funded the design of a wheelchair accessible entrance and we thank our current local MP, Katie Allen and former local MP, Kelly O’Dwyer, for their advocacy and assistance.
Despite the delays and financial damage wrought by Covid-19, the club is now partnering with the Australian Sports Foundation to fundraise $100,000 for the construction of the accessible entrance and other accessibility and safety improvements. This is the first time that donations to Malvern Bowling Club have been tax deductible!
If you’d like to assist us with a tax deductible donation, large or small, please click this link to our ASF fundraising page
Thanks to Victorian State Government funding assistance (via the Sporting Club Grants program) Malvern Bowling Club is now also producing a long term masterplan to ensure that future accessibility, safety and amenity improvements are professionally prioritised and targeted. The aim is to use professional expertise to ensure that any funds donated by club members or sponsors, or awarded in government grants, are responsibly and efficiently spent in areas of most need and benefit.