TABLE OF CONTENTS

How Southport Won $35,000 for Their Clubhouse

Southport Croquet Club secured $35,000 for a new veranda and funded court lights through council. Club president Charlie Ernst shares what worked.

Croquet Queensland Media

Jul 20, 2025

Every club has a wishlist. New court lights, a modern clubhouse, an all-weather veranda. These are big-ticket items that can change a club's future. But for volunteer committees, the path from idea to funded project can feel daunting.

At Southport Croquet Club, they've done it multiple times. A new veranda. Court lighting. Here's how.

Start with the right question

Club president Charlie Ernst says the key is a combination of planning, persistence, and knowing where to look.

The veranda: $35,000 from a major grant

Their new veranda was funded by a $35,000 grant. The application took months of preparation.

Major grants like this require lead time. Southport started planning well before the application deadline opened.

The lights: A different path

For court lights, Southport took a different approach — building a relationship with their local council over several years.

Council funding works differently. It's often about timing, relationships, and being ready when opportunities come up.

Find a grant writer

One of Southport's most effective moves was finding the right person for the job.

Having a dedicated grant writer — someone who enjoys the research and paperwork — made the difference. Not every committee member needs to do everything.