A well-known bowls club in Brisbane that survived the Spanish Flu, two world wars and the Great Depression is fighting once again to keep its doors open.
Booroodabin Bowls Club in Newstead, affectionately known as The Boo, has been struggling financially due to the recent COVID-19 lock down.
Members and patrons have been trying to save the important piece of Queensland history through crowdfunding.
"It's a situation that many clubs are facing at the moment but also for us it's about saving the history, as it will be lost if The Boo can't continue," general manager Daryl Sheriff told ABC Radio Brisbane.
"The club was born out of the relationship with captains of industry and politicians.
"The Premier of Queensland, Boyd Dunlop Morehead, was the first president of the club and Lord Lamington was the first patron of the club as he was a member and player there."
Mr Sheriff said the community wanted to hold on to the club.
"The ravages of war and the Spanish Flu, the Depression and the floods have all hit the club but it survived," he said.
"The minutes of the meetings around the Spanish Flu mention how well they played on the bowls green, but unfortunately they don't reference how they pulled through.
"If the 'old girl' could talk we could understand what she's been through and how she did it."
A club open for all
The club applied for State Government funding but was unsuccessful.
Mr Sheriff said Clubs Queensland had been calling for relief for community clubs for "a long time, but calls have been left unanswered".
"This is why we've gone to crowdfunding to get some support, so we can keep the old girl going.
"It's State Government land and it's under a deed of trust with the Brisbane City Council, so they [are] a stakeholder in its future and I believe it would be an eyesore on Breakfast Creek road if it closed."
The club does not have gaming on site and operates with 100 per cent social bowling to ensure its accessibility to the local community.
The Go Fund Me page reads:
"Our historical building tells its story, and it would be a terrible loss if our community couldn't hear it. By saving our historical building, you'll help our community retain its uniqueness.
Staff have been placed on Job Keeper until the club looks to a re-opening date sometime in July, when restrictions would allow 100 patrons in the club.
"It's not viable for us to do it for 20 patrons," Mr Sheriff said.
"We hope it will be business as usual then, with our meals being offered to people and for people to be able to enjoy the sunshine and being on the green."
