PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2024/25

​

​When I took on the role of President the Sailability Shorncliffe club was in a good position. We had weathered the Covid crisis and were back on our feet financially and our numbers were improving. I had a number of goals that I wanted to introduce, however I spent the first 3 months just talking and listening. 

​

The most successful thing I did was to introduce a free sausage and bread for all our volunteers. This encouraged our volunteers to have a break with a coffee and sausage, and this gave me the opportunity to talk with all our volunteers to seek advice and plant seeds for the future of the club. This strategy was very successful. Volunteers offered advice and their help to introduce change.

​

With the help of our volunteers we now have introduced the following:

Training Programs - We now have a wonderful written training program for both the dingy skippers and for our two motor boat crews. This has been very successful with a number of new duingy skippers completed the program and we have a number of experienced boat operators.

All our areas of operation run smoothly and in harmony with each other. The cooperation between each area is so important for the smooth running of the day.

Website - Our website is now as good as, if not better, than any other club. The information displayed is a great help for promoting and explaining who we are and what we do.

Facebook - Our Facebook image is alive and well, not only by our volunteers but by some of our clients. The image portrayed is so positive and friendly.

Videos - In the last two years we have had three videos done on what we do, the latest was on TV Creek to Coast. These videos are a great promotion and help recruit volunteers, clients and financial supporters.

Supporters - We now have a number of siupporters, large and small, who support our club financially and with goods, and this makes our job so much easier.

I am so pleased to announce a supporter has paid for six Aspley Special School students to attend each Monday for the last term of 2025.

All our volunteers now wear club shirts and hats free of charge thanks to supporters. 

We have enjoyed two free Christmas parties and two free outings thanks to supporters.

We now have new hoist bar supports and slings which were supplied by another generous supporter.

Corporate Day - We have introduced a Corporate Day where our supporters are shown exactly what we do and this was a great success last year. We have another planned in November.

Maintenance - A number of volunteers have started a maintenance team "The Smart Team" and they have done a complete overhaul of all our dinghies and repairs to both our power boat trailers. As you all know boats require a lot of maintenance and this is expensive, but we now have the expertise and the fiannces to do a complete job.

Financial Position - We are very well known in the local community now and local clubs and businesses have given us massive support with goods and money. Like many other clubs, when Covid hit we struggled financially and this is why we have worked hard to raise a sinking fund which is now in a fixed deposit that allows us to operate for two years without any income if necessary. This money is to be kept in reserve because you never know when a disaster is about to happen.

We have a supporter who has paid our insurance for the next year and we have a nice sum in the bank for running expenses.

I believe we are handing over the club ijn a very strong position and the challenge to the new committee is to improve on what they receive.

Numbers - Our numbers are now increasing and in recent weeks we have had well in excess of forty clients a day.

​

There are always things that need to be done such as power to the shed. Purchase two dingies that were sold after Covid, only one will fit in the shed now. Extend the shed by one bay, with the BCC Town Planning expiring in February 2027.

​

I must thank all our volunteers who have helped me in my role as President, without your help we could never have achieved all that we have, so thank you one and all.

It would be remiss of me not to mention Peter Kearney "the Magic Man", he has been the rock that I have relied on all of this year when my wife has been sick, so thank you Peter Kearney.

​

It's been a pleasure.

​

Peter Tyrrell, President Sailability Shorncliffe 2023-2025

​​