Clubs land state's top awards

Pictured: Norths Executive Sous Chef Nic Ash, Max Gaming's Trudy Schwerin, Norths Executive Chef Hoss Moshtaghi and Norths Front-of-House Catering Manager Nick Clay.

Three Moreton Bay sports clubs have been named the best in the state at the Keno & Clubs Queensland 2024 Awards for Excellence.

Norths Leagues and Services Club’s hospitality accounted for two of the four trophies claimed at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Kallangur club won Best Dining - Large for “The Precinct” and Best Chef of the Year for Hossein Moshtaghi.

The Precinct also entered the Clubs Queensland Hall of Fame for Excellence for its third win in this category.

Caboolture Sports Club (CSC), based in Station Rd, Morayfield, won the prestigious trophy for Best Sports Club.

Under the CSC umbrella are Caboolture Rugby Union, Caboolture Sports Cricket, Caboolture Sports Dog Obedience, Caboolture Sports Football, Caboolture Sports Softball Association and Caboolture Touch Association.

Club Pine Rivers, at Bray Park, also waved the flag for Moreton Bay at the awards, receiving the trophy for Best Bowls Club.

That also qualified Club Pine Rivers for the Clubs Queensland Hall of Fame for Excellence for its third win in the category.

“The awards night recognises outstanding achievements in civic contributions, sporting camaraderie, exceptional hospitality, community mindedness and individual professionalism,” Clubs Queensland CEO Kelly Egan said.

“The role of these clubs goes well beyond serving meals or fielding a sporting team – in almost every case they become the lifeblood of their community, a family away from family or even just place of support when a little friendly respite is required.

“The Excellence Awards put the spotlight on all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making these clubs a vital part of their community including at clubs like Club Pine Rivers, Caboolture Sports Club, and Norths Leagues and Services Club among many others.”

The Keno & Clubs Queensland Awards for Excellence are in their 25th year and recognise the achievements of the industry and honour the community club sector’s contributions.

Moreton region clubs were part of a major fundraising drive for Clubs Queensland’s Operation ClubsCare which raised more than $250,000 for victims of the state’s summer weather disasters.

Clubs in Queensland are membership-based, not-for-profit organisations providing services to members and the local community.

There are more than 1200 community clubs in Queensland with a combined 4.1 million memberships.

Clubs employ more than 24,000 people, return over $460 million in community contributions and generate annual economic activity valued at more than $2 billion for the State’s economy.

The surplus is used to deliver services in surrounding communities and for visitors. This includes cash contributions, non-cash benefits, community assets and mobilising volunteers.