THE King Island Boat and Fishing Club met last weekend to adopt a new constitution which removes discrimination and outdated norms.
Club president Gary Johnson said that the club is looking for new members, new memberships and people to take on committee roles and to volunteer in the boats.
“We have got the facilities, but we need the people to run them,” he said.
While every island organisation is calling for volunteers, the King Island Boat Club has only really noticed membership and participation drop in the past few years.
Even though there is population growth in Grassy, this is not being felt by the club.
“It’s been the last couple of years that we have felt the decline.
“We need people in [motor] boats. People don’t seem to be as interested in the boats like they used to. We need people to come down to the club, jump in a motorboat, run round the harbour, not pay for the fuel, and help the juniors learn how to sail.
“Since I’ve been here, we’ve been nearly going to close, and then all of a sudden, you get an influx of people.
“It’s about getting the groups – families go to school and then you have a little group, and you get one of those little groups who come down and they all follow. And that’s what we need down here now.”
The Boat Club ran a program a few years ago with King Island District High School.
“That was quite a few years ago. The school came in and we tried coaching with them with the aim of them using the facilities, and we man the boats for a while, and train their pupils to sail. But that faded out,” Gary said.
The Club needs more volunteers with boat licences, and you don’t need to know how to sail to drive a boat.
Matthew Archer periodically alerts islanders when he is running a boat licence course on the Boat Club’s and Community Noticeboard Facebook pages.
A person does not need a boat as the club will provide as needed.
The motorboats are safety and retrieval boats for the juniors and those on the harbour.
The Boat Club also provides a safety boat at the Festival of King Island when there are harbour water activities in the festival’s program.
“Most of the volunteering is on water so, you need to have a boat license. A volunteer boat support person doesn’t need a licence. We have to get the kids on the water to learn how to sail. And that’s how easy it is.
“You just get on the water, but to get them on the water, is our problem. So, we need more people with boat licences,” he said.
The Boat Club is more than training and coaching the juniors to compete in the Stonehaven Cup and regattas.
“We have Quests. They’re 14 footers and they’re very adult friendly. Adults can get out in the harbour and have a bit of fun. We have a few women who really enjoy sailing.
“Michael Youd skippers and takes them out and instructs, and they have a good day.
“There’s no reason why adults can’t come down and mingle with the kids. We have 22 boats.
“While we are out in the ocean and training the others, we’ve got someone in shore to look after the ones in shore.
Looking to the future, Gary said sometimes that the only way to get things going is to quit, but he is concerned that it could mean the end of the club.
“That’s the problem on the island. If something stops here, it doesn’t start back up again.
“We don’t want that to happen. We always have a job down to be done at the harbour, but more than that, the facilities are here. I want people to just come down to Grassy Harbour and have a nice day.
“Bring the kids down to play on the beach if they’re too young to sail. We’ve got canoes and things, so you can paddle around.
“It’s a great spot for some fun on King Island. Where else can you go on the island, where there’s a licenced bar on the beach, weekend barbecues, roaring fire in winter and club membership comes with a venue?”