To celebrate Cooroy Badminton Club’s new renovation, funded by Cooroy Bendigo Community Bank, they are hosting an exciting challenge tournament on 24 August.
The Cooroy Bendigo Community Bank Challenge Tournament will have Australian and state, past and present champions playing on their new Olympic grade Taraflex Sports Flooring.
Senior and junior players are being encouraged to try the sport of badminton at the thriving club, which was first formed in 1974 at the Cooroy Memorial Hall with 25 local players.
They now have a dedicated professional coach who holds classes on Wednesday and Fridays for juniors, and seniors coaching on Fridays.
The Club has schools regularly using the hall and Pickleball holds regular twice weekly sessions.
Ben French was the first president of the club in 1974, alongside treasurer Walter Horn.
By 1977 there were 60 regular players playing in the old hall, where they did extensive fundraising with raffles, street stalls and dances.
A decision was made to build Cooroy Badminton Club and in February 1979 Noosa Shire Council approved a site next to the old tip, with the Council being the trustees.
A special meeting was held in April 1979 and a decision was made to approach the bank for a loan and the Government for a subsidy.
The estimated cost was $62,500 with memberships rising and fundraising in full swing.
Finally in 1981, with $11,000 in the bank, a building committee was formed including Bob Brook, John Pigdon, Bevan Mahoney, Phil Roberts and Norm Stacey.
These four men took on the task of supervising the build. Four months later, the first fixtures happened. The building cost was $69000 and was fully paid out in 1989 and the club was out of debt.
“We are so proud of their hard work to give us what we have today,“ club secretary Kris Blurton said.
Cooroy Badminton Club’s playing sessions are:
– Monday mornings social 8.30am to 11.30am; and social evenings 7pm to late.
– Wednesday mornings social 9.30am to 11.30ish; Wednesday Junior session 3.45pm to 5pm.
– Friday Junior coaching 4pm to 5.30pm; Friday nights social from 7.30pm till late
– Senior coaching available.
– Starting from 16 August, there will be four weeks’ free coaching for women and girls from 5.45pm
Contact Kris for bookings, krisblurton51@gmail.com
