A PLACE FOR ALL
We are creating a welcoming community club providing a place to meet and socialise, and creating a connected, diverse, supportive and healthy community.
We are revitalising the former Moorooka Bowls Club to make better use of the facilities. A mix of contemporary events and activities, affordable, sophisticated food and drink offerings, and a refurbishment will make the space more attractive and welcoming for the community to gather.
OUR VISION
Welcoming
A place to socialise and relax with friends and family that's close to home.
Contemporary cultural events
A reason to visit and return again. One off monthly events include outdoor cinema screenings, markets, live music, mini festivals and cultural events.
Sport and recreational events ‘on the green’
Our greens welcome regular sporting activities to encourage wellbeing and promote connection such as futsal, barefoot bowls, badminton, yoga, school holiday programs and hands-on workshops.
Food and drink offering
An affordable and attractive bar and restaurant where you can meet with friends or your local community group. Initially, we will began with a coffee cart, food trucks and an outdoor bar, and have progressed to a coffee shop and a fully function main bar. The next step will be opening the kitchen to provide an affordable, high-quality restaurant/cafe offering.
Community space
A place for the community to gather and make use of the facilities. Such as co-working office space, meeting room, rehearsal space and venue hire.
Social connection programs
Regular, tailored programs and activities as well as meaningful volunteer opportunities providing a reason to stay connected to the community and reducing social isolation.
A sustainable facility
The venue is run as sustainably and efficiently as possible, addressing our impact on the environment as well as that of our employees, volunteers and customers. Our sustainability subcommittee is constantly reviewing our programs and processes.
OUR VALUES
Respect
We value our people and community, encourage their ideas, and work together to meet the needs of our community.
Inclusivity
We create a culture of belonging, where everyone is welcome and participation and access is for everyone.
Passion
We use our drive and passion to energise, engage and inspire others.
Integrity
We are honest, open, ethical, and fair. We create a culture of trust through transparency and accountability,
Collaborative
We build strategic partnerships to ensure the community is getting the best out of their investment.
Sustainable
We are focused on building a long-term, sustainable business that serves our customers, employees and the environment.
OUR STAGED APPROACH TO OPENING
The Third Place Group is a group of passionate local volunteers interested in seeing the former Moorooka Bowls Club retained for community use. Our intention is to continue to grow the Clubhouse while attending to facilities maintenance and upgrades.
We have essentially started from scratch, with an ageing venue. When the club went into receivership in 2019 all of the assets such as tables, chairs, glassware and bowls equipment were sold off or removed from the club. Alongside insurances and licenses we also have huge operational costs to keep the venue open.
With the help of residents, the business community, our networks and grant applications we have made it possible!
Stage one
Membership crowdfunding campaign raised enough money to cover start-up costs and a basic fit-out of a garden bar.
Stage two
The Garden Bar is now open Thursday - Sunday evenings offering drinks and food trucks. The Greens will also be available for hire. The Garden Bar will allow us to continue with fundraising activities.
Stage three
The Main Bar and Dining Hall open Thursday - Sunday and recreational activities will be introduced such as social lawn bowls, yoga and badminton. We will continue to run bigger fundraising events.
Stage four
The whole venue will be open, including a flexible events room available for hire. Cultural activities such as markets, live music, children's arts activities and events will be introduced. The Dining Hall will be in full operation.
Stage five
We will continue to activate the space for the whole community to enjoy.
MEMBERSHIPS
Memberships will be available online soon.
SOCIAL $10
SUPPORTER $35
HOUSEHOLDER $60
Memberships are valid for 2 years.
WHO WE ARE
It was May 2019 when the Moorooka Community and Sports Club went into receivership. Like many in the community we were saddened by the news and curious about what would happen next. Often we would walk past the club, staring at it wistfully, dreaming of its potential and fearful of what it could become. Would it be the next Brisbane bowls club to fall into developers hands?
Realising we had the skills and network to do something about it, we decided to stop dreaming and start acting! The next thing we knew we had pulled together a proposal for the site. Fast forward 18 months (thanks Covid) and we were awarded the tender.
In order to be eligible to take on the venue’s lease we had to create a not-for-profit organisation. We called it The Third Place Group. A ‘third place’ is a space where people spend time between home (first place) and work (second place). We recognised a demand for a third place in Moorooka, where the community can gather and connect. Our purpose is to build a healthy neighbourhood social life and sense of community.
We are a group of volunteers and have been working in a volunteer capacity to get the venue up and running again. In the future we would like to be paid for our time, but for now we are motivated to see the club be that can strengthen our community and make Moorooka a great place to live. Your can read our constitution here.
You can view our 2021/2022 Annual Report here.
MEET THE TEAM
Our committee is made up of four passionate locals and three specialist professionals we roped in to help us achieve our vision.
Our strength lies in our experienced team who come from creative and community engagement backgrounds in different disciplines. We have a wealth of experience which will ensure the facility is managed in a viable, safe and financially responsible way.
PAULINE BELL
February 11, 2025
Pauline is a specialist in community engagement. She has vast experience creating, producing, programming and managing every aspect of major public arts, displays, venues, community events and festivals. Pauline was a regular before the club closed, and held several events when the club was running including the Brisbane Bellyflop Championships and her 40th birthday party. She is thrilled to be apart of the clubs revitalisation. Pauline has lived in Moorooka for over 16 years.
SIMONE PLUNKETT
February 11, 2025
Simone is passionate about being a part of and giving back to the community whilst putting her not-for-profit skills, particularly with community groups, and local business to good use. She is motivated by partnering and connecting like-minded and creative individuals who have a vision for our community to bring together friends, family, and local businesses to re-activate and enliven our local suburbs. With over 20 years of experience connecting and engaging individuals and businesses through philanthropic and commercial partnerships, Simone has delivered a positive impact in the community including large-scale community events and festivals to securing significant funding for community infrastructure
BROOKE SINCLAIR
February 11, 2025
A CPA qualified accountant with a background in taxation, financial accounting and the not-for-profit sector, Brooke has worked closely with artists and arts workers for over 16 years. Brooke is a committed professional with a keen interest in arts, especially local arts and culture, and a lifetime commitment to ethics in financial practices.
CATHY SCHILPZAND
February 11, 2025
Cathy is a qualified Chartered Accountant with experience spanning public practice, disability, and the not-for-profit sectors.
As a resident of the Moorooka community, Cathy is passionate. She is driven to have a positive impact on the community by bringing her commercial acumen to the community sector to ensure long-term sustainability.
PATRICK SHEPHERDSON
February 11, 2025
Patrick is a social researcher who has worked with communities across Australia to develop strategies to foster community connection, participation, safety and harm minimisation. Patrick’s father was a member of the Moorooka Bowls Club where The Clubhouse Moorooka now stands.
PAUL TOBIN
February 11, 2025
Paul is a qualified urban / environmental planner and community development practitioner, with over 20 years’ experience across Australia and internationally.
A Moorooka local for 9 years and having bowled on the greens in the past, Paul is excited to help the clubhouse succeed at its next chapter of life.
TIM AUGUSTON
February 11, 2025
Tim is experienced in media and communications having worked as a print journalist before moving into numerous public relations roles.
He has called Moorooka home since 2016 after moving from regional Queensland and is a proud Dhungatti man with traditional lands around Kempsey.
HISTORY
Moorooka Bowls Club was opened in 1968 and has been one of Queensland's leading clubs over the years. Its heyday came in 1982 when Queen Elizabeth II paid a visit when the venue hosted the lawn bowls for the 1982 Commonwealth Games.
In 2019, due to a decline in competition bowls the club went into receivership. In 2021 Brisbane City Council awarded a tender to The Third Place Group to revive the facility and continue its legacy as a thriving club for the whole community to enjoy.