SPOTLIGHT ON GEOFF KNIGHT

1. Your Name, your club and position.

Geoff Knight, Collarenebri Club, Secretary Manager.

 

2. What is your biggest or has been your biggest challenge with the Club and your role?

Being in charge of a small club means being hands-on and this is certainly the case here at Colly. It also means that you have to achieve a happy medium not only with staff but with the members and local community alike.

Collarenebri is a great little town and the people have accepted both my wife Chris, and myself. Both of us are involved in the community wherever and whenever we can be of assistance and that goes a long way with the locals.

One of the downsides of a small town is getting “good” staff and it has taken me approximately 15 months but I believe I now have the foundation of quality personnel who are willing to learn and go out of their way to ensure customer service is of a high standard.

 

3. What have been some of your achievements or highlights since being at the Club?

I started in November 2016 being the 3^rd Manager since the Club came out of administration in March that year.

With the help of the Board we were able to finish that year with a net profit of $20k after a loss of $250k the year before.

Since then with a new Board and better-trained staff, we are currently looking at a profit closer to $100k this year. An achievement I could not do without all of Colly being involved at one time or another. Our membership has increased by 20% in the last 12 months and the Club is back to playing Championship bowls and pennants.

We have recently purchased a “Jack Attack” kit from Bowls Australia and initiating a junior bowls program in conjunction with the local school.

 

4. Is there a piece of advice or something compelling you have learnt that you can pass on to our readers and up and coming managers.

A Club Manager’s role can at times be very stressful. Being a member of the CMAA and attending meetings whenever I can is the best thing I have done as it not only allows me access to the resources of the union but by attending meetings I network with other Managers who are always willing to help in any way they can.

This is particularly important to Manager’s in small clubs and I would urge anyone that hasn’t attended a CMAA meeting to do so. It may cost the club a few dollars but the outcome is well worth the cost.

 

5. Outside the Club and your role there, do you have any hobbies or passions? Tell us a bit about you.

Being an old bloke I have plenty of hobbies. I am a keen fisherman but yet to throw a line in the Barwon. I also play a bit of golf whenever the opportunity arises and always have a game of bowls.

Over the years I have also assisted local sporting clubs by strapping and preparing players for their game of footy or soccer or whatever the sport may be.

Apart from that both Chris and I enjoy cruising whenever we can.