In December 2017 members of Avondale Bowling Club Incorporated (“the Club”) requested Bowls Auckland Incorporated to intervene in the Club’s operations.
After extensive enquiries, investigations, and consultation with members, it was determined that regretfully the Club could not be saved and accordingly its assets needed to be sold to pay creditors and its operations closed.
All the Club’s assets have been sold as approved by the majority of the Club’s members. Distributions have already been made to support various bowling clubs and institutions totalling $2,110,000. The net balance held is approximately $1,800,000.
Following the dissolution of Avondale Bowling Club Inc by the Registrar of Incorporated Societies, the Registrar has directed pursuant to Section 27 of the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 that the surplus assets minus lawyer’s fees be transferred to Bowls Auckland.
As per the registrar’s direction the Bowls Auckland Board has determined that the appropriate manner to distribute these funds in accordance with the Club’s constitution, and to maximise the overall benefit to the sport of amateur bowls, is to form a fund named The Avondale Fund.
It is envisaged that the Fund will operate similarly to that of the well-known and successful Rawhiti Fund, including the establishment of a Deed of Agreement.
The Fund is to be applied to by bowling clubs within the Bowls Auckland area who were initially nominated by former Avondale Bowling Club members to receive an interim distribution. With the majority falling within West Auckland, which is the territory that has lost the benefit of the Club. The named bowling clubs all have the primary purpose of promoting the Game of Bowls as an amateur sport conducted for the recreation and benefit of the general public.
The eligible clubs are as follows:
• Grey Lynn Bowling Club
• Central Bowling Club
• New Lynn Bowling Club
• Glen Eden Bowling Club
• Blockhouse Bay Bowls
• Bridge Park Bowling Club
• Point Chevalier Bowling Club
• Pringle Park Bowling Club
• Te Atatu Peninsula Bowling Club
• West End Bowling Club.
A committee named the Avondale Fund Committee will be set up to administer the Avondale Fund comprising:
a) Two representatives from Bowls Auckland; and
b) Two members representing the named eligible clubs; and
c) An independent chair nominated by Bowls New Zealand from time to time.
The eligible clubs will be able to apply for a grant/s for specific purposes. Such applications will be referred to by the Committee to consider the suitability of the request, the amount to be provided and to monitor the use of the funds to ensure that the stated purpose in the request is achieved and done so on a timely basis. It is anticipated that the Fund will be fully distributed within five years to the eligible clubs after being established.
To ensure that the maximum amount from the Fund can be invested in the named clubs, over the five-year period, it is the intent of Bowls Auckland to cover the administrative costs including resourcing and processing grant applications.
Should anyone wish to view the application and supporting documents a request can be made care of Bowls Auckland Incorporated solicitor, the following contact details:
Foy & Halse
PO Box 26218
Epsom
Auckland
Email: [email protected]
Any further queries in relation to the establishment of the Avondale Fund can be directed to Dean Bartlet (CEO, Bowls Auckland) at [email protected]