The roof over the Macksville Scotts Head Surf Lifesaving Club has been a bit of a sorry state for the better part of a decade.
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While you couldn't dampen the resolve of one of the biggest and very committed volunteer groups in the Nambucca Valley, the same could not be said for the building it calls home.
Club president Greg Bell said persistent leaks had destroyed sections of ceiling within the hall, with some leaks coming dangerously close to electrical fittings.
"We've had to replace sections of the ceiling," he said.
"We get a substantial amount of money from the hire of the hall for weddings and birthdays and the like. As you can imagine, it's not great to have that sort of a function if the roof is doubtful."
And an adjustable awning over the deck which looks over the main beach was recently wrecked during a particularly ferocious storm.
The club has been wanting to fix the leaky roof for quite some time - a sealant applied when the grant-funded deck extensions and major building upgrade happened a few years ago was only a temporary fix.
But the cost of a new roof was out of the question, when there's also need for things like a new Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB).
So it's easy to understand why Greg Bell was "pretty elated, really" to hear yesterday's news that the club's application for a piece of the NSW Government's $4 million Surf Club Facility Program pie had been served up to them.
Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey congratulated committee members in securing the $83,000 grant, which will go a long way to funding the replacement of the roof.
"We're very fortunate to have received a substantial amount. It's really a credit to the people who put the grant application together," Greg said.
Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said this year's program had a special focus on clubs in drought and bushfire affected areas.
"The drought, bushfires and COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on communities across NSW," Mr Lee said.
"The efforts of surf life savers and surf life saving clubs to provide refuge to thousands of people evacuated during the bushfires was the epitome of the Australian spirit.
"That's why we prioritised clubs in drought and bushfire affected areas who are so deserving of this support."
The club committee is set to meet next week to discuss the next steps involved in getting their new roof, ahead of the new season which starts in late September.
Greg said now is the perfect time for such a major construction to occurr, with the club closed to patrons due to COVID.
The great news for the Macksville - Scotts Head club has been met with disappointment for the other surf club in our Valley.
The Nambucca Heads SLSC was hopeful its application for funding to construct its new balcony would also be successful.
"Congratulations to Macksville Scotts Head Surf Club in receiving funding today to replace their roof. (But) it's not so good for Nambucca Heads Surf Life Saving Club - we were unsuccessful in our bid to receive funds for the building of the deck," president Gary Colston said.
"This will not stop us moving forward we will be fundraising and looking for support from Nambucca Valley Council and a number of businesses that have put their hand up to support us.
"It's just another hurdle that we as a club and community need to work through to make our surf club an awesome place to be - see you at sips this Sunday. 11.30 to 5pm."
Learn more about the Surf Club Facility Program: https://sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants/SCFP