From voluntary administration to a club that now holds its own against strong competition within Goulburn’s hospitality sector, the Railway Bowling Club is consistently profitable, according to venue manager Scott Cooper. Photo: John Thistleton.
In the hospitality industry for 38 years, serving and working with people every day, Scott Cooper changes into an introvert on his days off.
It’s an indulgence for the venue manager who runs the Goulburn Railway Bowling Club for the Wyong Leagues Group. Yes, the club’s customers are his favourite part of his role. But on his days off, a solitary escape is cathartic.
On a day off recently, when the weather was sunny and calm, Scott jumped on another indulgence, his new Harley-Davidson motorbike, and rode 400 kilometres to and from Cootamundra.
“It’s been a long time coming, a long time dreaming and a lot of saving,” he said after buying the powerful Low Rider ST. “I’ve always had bikes and thought, one day, and now the kids are older and everything else has perfectly landed, it was a good time to do it.”
Eighteen years ago, the prospect of a “perfect landing’’ looked shaky.
After 21 years at the Goulburn Workers Club, Scott had taken up a new position at Ainslie Football Club. The commute to and from Canberra wasn’t what he had imagined. For example, after a 3 am finish at the club, he would be driving along Kinghorne Street in Goulburn with the sun rising and magpies carolling their dawn chorus.
Neal Thornton, a former president of the Railway Bowling Club, bumped into him up the street one day and said they were having difficulty filling the manager’s role because they were in voluntary administration. Neil encouraged Scott to apply for the job.
“I said to my wife Jo afterwards, what’s the worst that can happen?” Scott said. “I thought I would give it a crack here [at the club] and 18 years later, I’m still here.”
It was a risky career move. Bowling clubs were closing everywhere. An industry veteran once warned Scott to never touch anything green. He was referring to bowling and golf clubs sinking into a financial quagmire because of the exorbitant cost of maintaining their greens. Snooker tables were another ‘’green’’ risk.
“I had never worked with an administrator,” Scott said. “It was one of the best experiences I ever had, because I learned to manage with no money.”
As for a solid work ethic, Scott had already learned that in spades from his father, Fred, and mother, Jill, who had worked all their lives.
Jill worked at the Fosseys department store, had a stint with the TAB near the Tattersalls Hotel and then was at Snellings dress shop and several other dress shops.
Scott Cooper was among many motorbike riders to lend their support to the Classic Riders Club of Goulburn’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride in May. Photo: Jo Cooper.
A fitter and turner with the railway, Fred had worked three jobs. He cleaned the Exchange Hotel every day before the dawn chorus, then went to work at the railway. He and lifelong friend Barry Cranston would cart hay in the afternoons over summer and weekends, which provided Scott’s happiest memories of his father.
“Working with Dad in the hay fields. It was hard; Dad said the only job he did that was harder was picking potatoes,” he said.
Fred’s consistent work ethic became legendary as he took on the presidency of the Goulburn Racing Club, a position he held for 22 years. He was renowned for rolling up his sleeves for the club.
In his teens, Scott bought a dirt motorbike, which he rode to and from school and later to work at the AGL Gas Company, where he landed a traineeship in administration for two years.
Then he worked for the Goulburn Workers Club.
“I did everything from admin to cellar to bar, picking up glasses, and lasted there for 21 years,” he said.
A much-respected manager, David Mantle, advised him that in order to make a success of a career in the club industry, you had to understand and be able to talk with everyone from the cleaners to the cellar people right through to your board of directors, suppliers and sales reps.
The bowling club, which opened in 1951 after volunteer railwaymen cleared land alongside the main southern railway line and sowed a bowling green, employs about 17 staff plus the kitchen team of six.
When Scott took the helm in 2008 and began rebuilding the business by getting customers to come back, administrators continued looking for a buyer or partner, and a year later, Wyong Leagues Club added the Goulburn venue to its stable of licensed clubs.
Being small in an uncertain industry makes the Railway Bowling Club more dependent than ever on strong community ties, which Scott is happy to nurture.
Original Article published by John Thistleton on About Regional.
