BUNBURY (WA)
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1979 - BUNBURY CAR CLUB FINANCE CRICIS
1979 - SLEE ANDERSON & PIDGEON ACTS ON BEHALF OF BUNBURY TOWN COUNCIL
4th July 1979
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1979 - EMERGENCY MEETING
12th July 1979
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1979 - BUNBURY CAR CLUB NOTIFIES ALL GUARANTORS
12th July 1979
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1979 - BUNBURY CAR CLUB GUARANTORS MEETING MINUTES
17th July 1979
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1979 - JOHN SIBSON MLA MEDIA RELEASE
19th July 1979
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1979 - NORM DORSETT GUARANTORS PRESENTION TO COUNCIL
On the 18th of July 1979 a Deputation of Guarantors met with the Bunbury Town Council Finance Committee to discuss the future of the Bunbury Speedway, The Bunbury Car Club Deputation consisted of Graeme Wheat, Ron Sharpe, Brian Lee and Norm Dorsett.
18th July 1979
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1979 - SOUTH WEST TIMES REPORTED
19th July 1979
*********************************************************************************************************************************
NOW SPEEDWAY FACES RACE AGAINST TIME
Bunbury Town Council has given the management of the Bunbury Speedway 42 days to come up with a firm proposal for the future of the speedway.
In 1975 the council rescued the club from financial dire straights by agreeing to a $50,000 self supporting loan in special circumstances and now speedway operators, Bunbury Car Club are faced with debits totalling about 486,000.
The club has achieved a net profit for four of the last seven years, In its first year 1973, it suffered a loss of $665,000, for the next four years net profits of $87,000, $13,800, $1,400 and $1,700 were recorded, but in the last two years the club has suffered losses of $17,000 and $11,500.
26th July 1979
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1979 - BUNBURY CAR CLUB & THE STATE OF PLAY
It was at this point that even to the most devoted members of the Bunbury Car Club, that the general feeling within the Guarantors and the general membership was there was no light at the end of the tunnel.
The Bunbury Town Council refused to extend any sort of life line to the club, They simply wanted there rent money and if not paid they would throw the car club out and lock the gates, as they were in breach of there lease, Also the club would not be componsated for any of the infrastructure on the site.
When all seemed to be lost, it was one single member who refused to give up, Brian Lee was that member, he knocked on doors, speaking to anyone who would listen in the hope that someone would have a solution to the problem.
It was at one of those one on one meeting that Brian spoke to another member slash guarantor, A house painter by the name of Steve Almond who had no form of formal training in money matters, but Brian thought he had a workable idea.
It was simple Steve said, We need one person with $80,000 or two people with $40,000 or four people with $20,000 and so on, Brian ran with the idea and before long he and Graeme Wheat were running around with clip boards signing up people for $250 donations the keep the speedway open. The simple plan that was thought up by a local painter and sold of by Brian Lee and Graeme Wheat was a winner, many guarantors and members were the first to step up.