The best regional club.

That is what the Lakes Entrance Bowls Club was recognised as at Community Clubs Victoria’s 2018 award night at the Sofitel Hotel in Melbourne on Saturday, beating more than 1400 community based clubs from around the state for the top honour.

Other winners on the night included Pakenham Racing Club, which was named the best metro club, and the Wonthaggi Workmen’s Club, who received the highly sought after best club parma award.

For manager, Michele Fielding, the award was a testament to the hard work and care shown by everyone at the club.

“It is a real team effort,” she said.

“We are just trying hard to be the best we can be. In the hospitality industry it is all about the customers. They come first and we do our best to make sure they are catered for. We employ as many local people as our budget allows so there are a lot of good people in our team.”

Michele said it was an honour to receive the award.

“We are very honoured to receive the award. It was an outstanding achievement,” she said.

“It was a very pleasant surprise to beat some of those big clubs from western Victoria. We entered a couple of years ago and were finalists so this is the first time we have received an award.”

Despite receiving the award, the team at the Lakes Entrance Bowls Club will continue to look at ways they can progress.

“The challenge now is to improve,” Michele said.

“I said on our application that it is no use staying the same. You have to always be looking to improve and get better. There needs to be constant improvement.”

PICTURED: Lakes Entrance Bowls Club chef, Jen Bourne, manager, Michele Fielding, and duty manager, Mark Campbell, were all smiles after receiving Community Clubs Victoria’s best regional club award last week. (PS)