Just before 6am on 22 January, Ben McPherson, manager of Nambucca Leagues and Sports Club, received a call from security the club was on fire.
Rushing to the scene still blurry-eyed, he tried to put out the flames after he called triple zero. By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had already taken hold.
More than 40 firefighters and nine fire trucks, including an aerial ladder platform, worked to control the blaze, but the club, located on the NSW mid-north coast, suffered significant structural damage, including the collapse of its roof.
“This has been a devastating loss for the Nambucca Heads community, with the destruction of a much-loved local facility. Firefighters worked tirelessly under extremely challenging conditions to protect life and property and contain the blaze,” stated Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell.
The fire has been a devastating blow to the club, particularly given the club recently completed renovations. Investigation into the cause of the fire continues and access to the site remains closed.
Despite the loss, McPherson is determined to rebuild, pointing out the club’s significance in the community.
“There’s been a lot of patrons, members, and footy players who have come through the club over the years. We were obviously a very community-based club as well – we were major sponsors for the cricket club and the rugby league – so we were heavily involved in the community,” he said.
“We also supported other various sponsorships for individuals and athletes. Even though it’s a small club, it has a very big history and it’s very active in the community, so there’s been a lot of people affected by this.”
McPherson said he has already been approached by some local architects and hopes the rebuild will include a second storey and an elevator to improve accessibility between the two floors.
“It will be a long process, starting with the total demolition of the remaining structure and going from there,” he said.
In the meantime, the club is the process of replacing lost memorabilia and equipment. “We’re in the process of contacting sporting clubs around the country to try and get their assistance for paraphernalia to replace the stuff we’ve lost,” McPherson said.
“We’ve had a lot of the community reach out and offer copies of the photos that we’ve lost. I also have photos of the complete honour boards we had in there, so we can have them reduplicated as well.”
The club is also working with neighbouring venues to ensure its staff have work and that club events can continue.
“I’ve lived in town since I went to school here, so I know a lot of people. They’ve reached out and have helped take on some of our staff and keep some of our functions and tournaments going too.”
This article first appeared on Club Management Autumn. Read the full copy of the magazine here.