Glenorchy Golden Years Club will fold due to lack of volunteers and members

A much loved club for those over 50 is about to fold after falling on hard times. Here’s why the club is closing.

Golden Years Club Glenorchy. Image: Beth Nugent

A Tasmanian senior’s club, which hosts activities for those over the age of 50, is set to close as membership dwindles and the club struggles to find volunteers to keep it running.

The Golden Years Club in Glenorchy began in 1967, and at its peak in the 80s and 90s, had more than 500 members.

The club has run indoor bowling, country music nights and other activities.

“We used to run bingo, card games, there is bowls clubs that used to operate from our building … we had bus trips, there used to be a tai chi class and of course country music still runs on a Tuesday night,” club secretary Beth Nugent said.

Ms Nugent, who has been secretary for five years, said the club was a big part of the community, but had been on a “slow decline” since Covid.

“Numbers have dropped dramatically, we are running at a huge loss,” she said.

“The whole club is built on numbers coming through the door, we rely totally on fundraising.

“Xmas lunch will be our last event at the Glenorchy Golden Years.”

Activities at the Glenorchy Golden Years Club.

The club has told the council, which owns its building on Main Road, that it will not be extending the lease beyond the end of the year because of its problems with membership and volunteers.

“It’s so sad to see the club fold,” Ms Nugent said.

“We need volunteers, we need people in the key positions.

“If we were to get some people willing to give it their time and step up into managerial positions we could save it, but we need people to step up which is not easy.”

“We can’t get members let alone people who will give their time in volunteering some of the management.

“Any club is only as good as the people running it and the enthusiasm they impart.”

Activities at the Glenorchy Golden Years Club.

For the less than 100 active members left Ms Nugent said it was a big loss.

She said for some seniors, the club was their only form of socialisation and recreation.

“They’re so sad, some of them it’s very difficult for them to understand the club closing,” she said.

“Some of them are totally reliant on the club activities, exercise activities for example.”

Activities at the Glenorchy Golden Years Club.

It’s hoped the council can continue running some of activities for older people in the community.

“Council have done what they can, they‘ve tried to help us,” Ms Nugent said.

“They have said at this point, some of the activities could continue in their own right, to what extent I don’t know, that’s entirely up to council.”

Glenorchy City Council mayor Sue Hickey said the council was considering the future of the building.

Sue Hickey. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“It is disappointing the Golden Years Club will not be continuing beyond 2024. As a club, it has provided a range of services to older members of our community for a long time, and I know its services and presence in our community will be sadly missed,” she said.