The club-based drought relief effort is another fundraising initiative to spring from the furtive mind of the club’s Annette Miller, who was the driving force behind the Bowlo’s Ladies Night In earlier this year, raising money and awareness for local community groups.

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Now Annette has the plight of local farmers in her sights, and the club has come on board promising to match the membership fees dollar-for-dollar and invest the whole sum in bales of hay.

While the individual membership fee is modest (and immediately gives the new member a $10 discount at the club’s Greenview Restaurant, a $2 Keno entry and four tickets in the Friday night raffle the month of their birthday), the uptake in membership has already realised more than $900 since the signs went up at the end of July.

“There’s been a surge the last couple of week,” Annette said.

“In one case we had 12 new memberships in one night.”

The initiative continues until the end of October at this stage, depending on whether we receive drought-breaking rain. Donations are also gratefully accepted over the bar.

The donation in its entirely goes towards hay for local farmers, who can register their interest  by completing a slip with their contact details and their PIC (Property Identification Code). At the end of the membership drive these slips will be drawn from a barrel to determine how the bales are distributed.

The number of bales donated will depend on the total raised and hay availability (and price) at the time.

“Who wouldn’t have $5.50, even if they didn’t intend to become a member,” Annette said.