Broadwater Community Social
Broadwater Community Social aims to provide community dinners and social events, cementing goodwill, friendship and unity.
Chairperson's report
Broadwater Community Social was created out of a desire to continue the work of funding and organising community dinners and social events that have cemented community goodwill, friendship and unity since the 2022 floods. Our inaugural meeting was held on 24 March 2025 and a committee was formed, operating under the auspices of Wardell Core. I am incredibly proud and appreciative of the wonderful team of committee members and volunteers that have worked tirelessly and enthusiastically since day one. We really are “community working for community”.
2025 was a busy year. Our first major fundraising event was the Election Day sausage sizzle and stall held on 3 May 2025 which was very successful. We provided a varied menu for the bike rally food stall at Broadwater Hotel on 15 June 2025 but despite the crowds, it was not profitable for us. The Winter Warmers dinner/Broadwater CRT on 16 August 2025 (sponsored by Australian Red Cross) was a very successful community event. Our Halloween function on 31 October 2025, jointly sponsored by Evans Head CWA and Evans Head Rotary, was a fun family event patronised by approximately 100 people. The year ended with our Christmas party on 6 December 2025. This was another free event with a visit from Santa, tree lighting by RVC, face painting with Sally, Al’s music, dinner, raffles and lucky door prizes. We catered for 150 but welcomed 180. All in all a very enjoyable evening.
2026 is off to a good start. We operated our dessert bar at the Wardell Pizza night on 27 March which was very popular and financially successful. We will continue to attend these evenings whenever possible.
We supported the Anzac Day ceremony and breakfast. Thank you to Annette for co ordinating the event; Dan Hamer for leading the beautiful service; Jan, Wally and Veronica for the great breakfast; David Parker and Evans Head Rotary for the sausages and Judy E for the delicious Anzac biscuits. Our future looks promising with the following events planned for the remainder of 2026: Small Halls Dessert Bar on 20 May, Winter Warmers dinner on 1 August, Halloween fun on 31 October, Christmas party on 5 December, a Bunnings BBQ fundraiser (date TBA) and a CRT radio scavenger hunt. We now have a BWCS Facebook page with a growing number of followers.
Thank you to Joel and Wardell Core who have so generously welcomed us as a sub committee and supported us with advice and assistance. No request was ever too much.
BWCS would not have been possible without our committee and volunteers. A dedicated group who cheerfully donate their time, offer valuable suggestions, demonstrate clever craft skills and create delicious bakery items. And of course set up and clean up!
Thank you to all our volunteers for always being there to help us: the husbands who help - Trevor, Brett and Stephen; the Karate team and members of our community who are happy to do whatever is needed. Personally I'm extremely grateful for the encouragement and support given to me this year.
Thank you to my amazing committee - Neridah, Sonya, Vicky, Annette and Maxine and our unofficial committee members - Judy E and Cynthia. Broadwater Community Social wouldn’t be here today without you.
Thank you. Dominique Opdam Chairperson
Dates for your calendar
25 April 2026 - Anzac Day (service & breakfast) at Broadwater Hall.
1 August 2026 - Winter Warmers Dinner.
31 October 2026 - Halloween Fun.
5 December 2026 - Christmas Party.