Brisbane boaters enjoy Moreton Bay

by Bob Wonders on 28 Jun 2007 Brisbane boaters don’t have Sydney Harbour and they don’t really care – they have the magic of Moreton Bay! Bob Wonders takes a close-up look at the Moreton Bay Boat Club.

The Moreton Bay Boat Club, situated on the northern tip of the Redcliffe peninsula, overlooking Scarborough Boat Harbour, is home to more than 3000 members, more than 500 of them dedicated boat owners who make full use of the fabulous expanse of water on the club’s doorstep.

Gary Nolan, currently serving his third year as the club’s Commodore, comes straight to the point when asked to describe the club.

'It’s the best club on the east coast,' he declares, 'but perhaps I’m biased,' he joked.

'Nevertheless, we promote the organisation as the friendly club with the million dollar views and believe me, that’s exactly what it is.'

The Moreton Bay Boat Club was established in 1963, and if any proof is needed with regard to its friendliness it can be found in the fact that there are still active foundation members on the books.

'Some of the old timers are in their 80s now,' club official Bob Mayhead, who manages the club’s 118-berth marina, explained. 'But fellows such as Jim Miller, Jimmy George and John Youden were there in 1963 and remain active members today.'

There are four divisions within the club, game fishing, cruising, scuba diving and sailing.

Commodore Nolan was delighted to inform me that the Game Fishing Division had recently received 5-star accreditation from the International Game Fish Association.

Game Fishing Division’s Simon Fletcher said two tournaments were scheduled for September; one of them designed for junior anglers, the other a full-on sportfishing tournament.

All divisions within the club are active, regularly holding competitions within the Moreton Bay Boat Club membership ranks and pitting their skills against other clubs between the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

The big news at the club at present is its planned extensions.
The original club house has been expanded and improved over the years and is currently awaiting final approval for work to begin on extensions involving a new restaurant, deck and pontoon.

Commodore Nolan expects the work to be completed before year’s end.

The present club facilities, however, are not to be sneezed at; the Harbourside Restaurant is one of the club’s favourite spots and opens for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday with an extensive (and appetising!) menu.

A staff of 13 is employed full time, among them operations manager Sean Williams, the very efficient Joy Hogarth, responsible for promotions and events and Nancy Fisher, who attends to the all important paperwork.

Member interest is maintained with membership ‘lucky draws’ held in the club every Wednesday and Saturday.

Boating, however, is what the Moreton Bay Boat Club takes seriously. The club owns and operates a limited radio room, using 27MHz and VHF to monitor club competition and promote safety on weekends and public holidays. It also conducts courses in radio use, navigation and boat handling.

Other facilities available to members include hot and cold showers, laundry and key access to the marina.

The club offers membership in four categories, Full Member, Associate Member, Social Member and Junior Member.

Frankly, at $200 per year for full membership, I’d rate it as an absolute steal.

If there are any keen boaters in and around the Brisbane area who are not members of the Moreton Bay Boat Club, I’d have to suggest they’re not thinking clearly.

Membership is open, so take a tip and call Joy Hogarth, telephone (07) 3203-5188.

The club’s mailing address is PO Box 96, Redcliffe, Qld 4020, or visit the website, www.moretonbayboatclub.com