The Board of the Australian Croatian Club Limited is pleased to announce another strong profit for the 2010/11 financial year. The figure reflects a huge increase on last year’s result and continues the profitable trend of the last three financial years (compared to the approximate $270,000 in losses for the three years to 30 September 2008 under previous administrations).
Key features of the result include:
• 37% increase in gross bar revenue; and
• 292% increase in gross bistro revenue.
As a result 2010/11 can once again be classified as another successful year for the Club, and for this, the Board would like to offer its sincere appreciation to all those members (over 100) who volunteered their services throughout the year. As a result the Club has been able to eliminate all of its bank debt, well ahead of schedule.
Key achievements of the year included:
- obtaining food and liquor license approval for the Club’s new outdoor dining area;
- participating in the ACT's Multicultural Festival on both the Friday and Saturday;
- "Hrvatska Fešta 2011" which resulted in over 800 people attending the three day event, that even generated general media interest in the Republic of Croatia;
- highly successful Deseti Travanj celebrations;
- rejuvenation of Antunovsko with the replacement of the traditional Zabava with a successful gala Seafood Night; and
- taking the lead in organising the highly successful demonstration in support of Croatian General’s Gotovina and Markac with in excess of 2000 Croatians in attendance.
- A number of head winds do however face the Club, in particular government compliance activity. For instance:
- the Club has been disproportionately hit by the changes to legislation with respect to the sale of alcohol. The Club has in fact experienced a 300% increase in its Liquor licence fee (to $9,000) in just two years; and
- the Club’s occupancy loadings were severely restricted which included a maximum of 140 people for the Main Hall. The Board has now committed to installing new toilet facilities which will increase the Club’s occupancy loading capacity to in excess of 500.
The Board of Directors is however confident of the outlook for 2012 with key elements including:
- strong forward bookings for the first half of 2011/12;
- the Friday Night Bistro continuing to provide a family friendly environment that all members should be proud of;
- the Club celebrating not only the 20th anniversary of the Australian Government’s recognition of the Republic of Croatia, but also Deseti Travanj, Mothers/Fathers days and Croatian National Day; and
- "Hrvatska Fešta 2012" on the weekend of 9-11 March 2012 to feature not only HFS Croatia and Major Minor but new Sydney kolo group DOMOVINA.
The Board on Ante Mrkonjić (President), Ante Šporčić (Vice President), Mirko Kesak (Secretary), Tomislav Džaja (Treasurer), Ante Nazor, Dennis Pećar, Veselko Pilatić, Ivan Peric, Mirko Kesak, Marija Lemić and Josip Jadrić.
Finally, the Board would like to thank the following people for their outstanding efforts in 2010/11, you really are the heart and soul of the Club. Ana Benc, Kata Mikulić, Marija Perić, Kata Rac, Zdenka Šporčić, Branka Ivančić, Janja Perić, Ante Šporčić, Mirko Kesak, Veselko Pilatić, Ivan Perić and Josip Jadrić.
