Gosford City Bowling Club members were told they had a five-year lease but it looks like Central Coast Leagues Club is forcing them into a no win situation by cutting them adrift, putting a set of demands on them which they cannot possibly meet.
It is a sad state of affairs, when members of our community are treated with such disdain.
My father Ian Bennetts is a life member of the Club, past President on numerous occasions.
Gosford City Bowling Club has been his second home and one to many elderly and disabled members of our community.
The Leagues Club and Central Coast Council should be ashamed of themselves for their total disregard for the members of this club with such a proud history, which has given so much back to the people of the Central Coast.
Email, Jan 29
Leah Bennetts, Pretty Beach
Dear Gosford Community,
CCLC’s position may remain unchanged, but the facts surrounding this issue cannot be ignored. The agreement made in June 1987, which saw 15 poker machines and 671 sqm of prime land in the centre of Gosford handed over to CCLC, came with the clear expectation that CCLC would cover all costs in return. That arrangement has now been disregarded within just 84 days of a leadership change, prioritizing financial recovery over the well-being of vulnerable members of our community.
Yes, CCLC inherited a $5 million loss and $23 million in debt, but is the solution to discard the very people who have given their time, energy, and loyalty to this club for decades? These are not just “bowlers”—they are elderly, blind, disabled individuals, and proud Australians who have built and sustained this institution. To force them out for a mere $185,000, while disregarding the substantial financial benefits CCLC has enjoyed from poker machines and land assets over the years, is not just a financial decision—it’s a moral failure.
The so-called “Australian spirit” and the DNA of community support are being abandoned. Watching the sacrifices of fathers and grandfathers erased without resistance is shameful. The current generation has a duty to stand up for those who paved the way, ensuring they can spend their final days with dignity and happiness.
Australia, arise! This is not just about one bowling club—it’s about standing up for fairness, for our elders, and for the values that define us. We will not stop until justice is served.