Wollongong Tennis Club and Wiseman Park Bowling Club are in amalgamation talks. Photos: Keeli Royle.
Two Illawarra clubs could soon become one with the members of Wiseman Park Bowling Club (Wisos) and Wollongong Tennis Club (TC) to vote on a proposed amalgamation early next month.
The venues first announced their intention to merge in September when they released notices to members explaining that the bowling club expressed interest in an amalgamation which would see it as the ‘parent’ club with the tennis club being the ‘dissolving’ club.
More details have now been revealed within a memorandum of understanding (MOU) document which has been made public before the vote takes place.
The MOU outlines that if the amalgamation goes ahead with the approval of members, all assets, debts and liabilities from the tennis club will be transferred to the bowling club.
The agreement would see the TC site as essentially an additional venue for Wisos, but people shouldn’t expect major rebranding or a name change any time soon, with the document making it clear that “the amalgamated club will trade from the tennis club premises after completion of the amalgamation under the name ‘Wollongong Tennis Club'” and “the traditions, amenities, sporting facilities, sporting activities and memorabilia of the tennis club will be maintained by the amalgamated club” with honour boards to be displayed in their present form or electronically.
Staff from the TC will also be protected with the requirement that “prior to the completion of the amalgamation, the bowling club will make offers of employment to all of the tennis club’s employees”, however it is not clear whether external vendors that operate through the premises will be included in this, with an announcement shared on Facebook that the venue’s food operator The Bistro on Beaton would be “exploring new and exciting catering options in the new year” with “their last day of trade from the TC will be the 21st December 2024”.
TC memberships will also be honoured with patrons given the option to transfer their subscriptions and become part of a separate class of the bowling club’s membership as “Tennis Club Members”.
Life members of the TC will continue to be recognised as such but only at the tennis club premises and will not be required to pay annual membership fees while also receiving life membership to a relevant “Tennis Sub Club”.
The tennis club is currently operating on an expired lease, however it has accepted a five-year lease with Wollongong City Council for the licensed venue and beer garden.
The newly refurbished tennis courts are not included in this lease as they are in a “holding status”, however the venue is likely to reap the benefits of the upgrades once completed, which will allow international standard tournaments expected to attract professional players.
Upon amalgamation Wisos will also acquire the entitlements of the 26 gaming machines and the benefits of the function space.
Members of both clubs will vote in separate general meetings to decide whether the amalgamation will go ahead.
The tennis club’s meeting will be held on 5 December and the bowling club’s on 8 December.
Full documents are available on both the Wiseman Park Bowling Club website and Wollongong Tennis Club website, with members encouraged to contact their venue’s CEO with any questions.
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