SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
OPENING OF THE EXTENSION TO THE
MT PRITCHARD AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY CLUB LIMITED
MT PRITCHARD 9 JUNE 1985
Mr President, Mr Grace, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It was with much pleasure that I accepted your
invitation to perform the official opening of the
extensions to this magnificent club. Ted Grace had
extolled the Club's virtues so strongly that I had to
come to see for myself the progress you have made in . the
development of your club.
Looking around at what has been accomplished, members,
directors and staff can all be proud of the giant
strides that have been made since the opening of the
club in 1961.
The transformation of what was then the Mt Pritchard
Workers Club established in some old huts, into the
magnificent edifice we see today is truly remarkable.
Three features characterise your club, namely:
You have kept your original premises, a reminder of
your humble beginnings;
You have retained your initial patron, Gough
Whitlam, a continuing reminder of your Labor roots
( Gough incidentally officially opened the club
under its new name in 1968); and
You continue to fulfil the promise, enshrined in
your club's name, of serving the local community.
Since the fifties licensed clubs in New South Wales have
undergone a remarkable expansion both in suburban and
country districts. Although many clubs have retained
their specialist nature, there has been an evolution to
the larger clubs such as your own which can rightly be
considered community centres.
Recognition of clubs such as your own as community
centres is, I think, very impprtant.
Clubs such as this can be a focal point where people of
quite diverse background can be at one with each other
in a relaxed environment.
Clubs' importance in our communities is highlighted by
the fact that the community they serve is a microcosm
of the pluralist society that Australia has become.
One of Australia's greatest strengths has been its
acceptance of people from quite diverse nationalities
around the world.
Our plurality and diversity is a national asset to be
cherished and safeguarded.
We live in a society which, while supporting a common
group of institutions, legal rights and obligations
leaves individuals free to maintain their particular
religion, language and customs. In this way local
communities, such as your own, contribute to the
richness and traditions of our nation.
In an important sense of national unity can only exist
where individuals feel at home within their local
community. In this respect clubs such as this play a
crucial role.
They bring men and women, young and old, people of
diverse ethnic and economic'backgrounds, together. Many
people now share in the recreational and leisure
possibilities presented by the clubs.
Here in Australia we have seen developed, over time, a
strong network of voluntary organisations which carry
out a range of activities vital to the health of the
community. Their role is indispensable in a society
such as our own.
Our clubs are an essential focus for such activities.
In this regard, the bricks and mortar are basic
ingredients to providing facilities, but the really
important role of the club is to provide services first
to its members but also to the wider community.
Gone, hopefully, are the days where larger clubs were
just poker machine and beer palaces. Clubs such as
yours are now community and social centres providing
entertainment, and a venue for functions and meetings
both of your own sports clubs and outside organisations.
Clubs such as yours not only serve as a focus for some
of these activities; they should also be developing new
directions and dimensions for local involvement.
Let me give you an example.
This International -Youth Year is a good time to look at
the needs of the younger people in our community. I
know the Fairfield City area has a very high youth
population. I am sure there are ways in which this Club
could examine support for young people in things such as
low-cost recreation, health, legal help, accommodation,
or transport. I invite you to consider the challenge.
This Club could, for example, examine how best to make
its facilities available for use by young people in the
local area. In this regard I believe there is a
particular need for services for young women. I am
certain you could think of many other ways of
contributing to the youth of the Fairfield area.
Celebrations such as you are holding today give everyone
concerned an opportunity to reflect on the direction of
the club and the contribution it is making to its
members and the community.
It is in this spirit that I have much pleasure in
declaring these extensions open, and extend my best
wishes for the future activities of the club.