1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,507 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:13,587 Speaker 1: from newstalk ZEDB CA you this discussion. 3 00:00:13,587 --> 00:00:16,627 Speaker 2: I read a blog this week from Gary Moller, who 4 00:00:16,747 --> 00:00:19,467 Speaker 2: has been an active member of community clubs for more 5 00:00:19,507 --> 00:00:22,787 Speaker 2: than half a century. Gary, you're right. One of the 6 00:00:22,907 --> 00:00:27,147 Speaker 2: least talked about risks facing community clubs is the hostile 7 00:00:27,347 --> 00:00:32,587 Speaker 2: takeover not by a rival team, but by outsiders with 8 00:00:32,667 --> 00:00:36,667 Speaker 2: an eye on land, buildings, and sometimes the quiet prize 9 00:00:36,787 --> 00:00:40,267 Speaker 2: sitting in plain sight the club's bank account. This all 10 00:00:40,307 --> 00:00:45,347 Speaker 2: sounds rather sinister. How do hostile takeovers of clubs happen? 11 00:00:46,387 --> 00:00:50,827 Speaker 3: Let's take a hypothetical example. You've got like a bowling 12 00:00:50,907 --> 00:00:54,747 Speaker 3: green here in Wellington, a bowling club, i should say, 13 00:00:55,467 --> 00:01:00,227 Speaker 3: and it's on some prime land which could be worth 14 00:01:00,387 --> 00:01:04,907 Speaker 3: millions of dollars and millions more if it, say, was 15 00:01:04,947 --> 00:01:10,627 Speaker 3: developed into a block of apartments, and so how do 16 00:01:10,707 --> 00:01:14,347 Speaker 3: you acquire that land? Well it's very simple, Well it 17 00:01:14,547 --> 00:01:18,947 Speaker 3: was very simple. What to do is you join that club, 18 00:01:19,947 --> 00:01:24,627 Speaker 3: you get your friends to join, and then when you 19 00:01:24,627 --> 00:01:28,827 Speaker 3: come around to the annual general meeting, you basically all 20 00:01:28,867 --> 00:01:32,307 Speaker 3: turn up, or you turn up with your proxy votes, 21 00:01:32,587 --> 00:01:38,907 Speaker 3: and you become the chair, the president the treasurer and 22 00:01:38,947 --> 00:01:42,067 Speaker 3: so on and so on, and you basically take the 23 00:01:42,107 --> 00:01:47,307 Speaker 3: club over. It's very easy to do. And then of 24 00:01:47,347 --> 00:01:51,747 Speaker 3: course you go through the process of basically winding it 25 00:01:51,867 --> 00:01:56,427 Speaker 3: up and sell it off to your mates. That's a 26 00:01:56,507 --> 00:02:01,627 Speaker 3: pretty crude scenario, but it is a realistic one. 27 00:02:02,627 --> 00:02:05,867 Speaker 2: How common would that sort of thing have been? 28 00:02:06,827 --> 00:02:11,347 Speaker 3: Well, I have absolutely no idea. I'm sorry to say, 29 00:02:11,467 --> 00:02:17,427 Speaker 3: I have no idea. It's hypothetical. I have heard rumors. 30 00:02:17,787 --> 00:02:21,947 Speaker 3: I suspect that this has been going on. It has 31 00:02:22,067 --> 00:02:27,867 Speaker 3: definitely been a risk factor with the demise of clubs, 32 00:02:27,907 --> 00:02:34,307 Speaker 3: as club memberships have declined, as various clubs around the 33 00:02:34,307 --> 00:02:38,787 Speaker 3: country have fallen into states of disrepair. It's very sad 34 00:02:38,827 --> 00:02:45,347 Speaker 3: to be watching the demise of clubs. And this is 35 00:02:45,387 --> 00:02:51,347 Speaker 3: where the new legislation comes in. It offers far more 36 00:02:51,587 --> 00:02:56,707 Speaker 3: robust protections. If anybody reads my blog Garymuller dot com, 37 00:02:57,187 --> 00:03:01,947 Speaker 3: they will be well aware that I am kind of 38 00:03:02,827 --> 00:03:08,267 Speaker 3: anti establishment or I have a disdain of bureaucracy, of 39 00:03:09,147 --> 00:03:14,587 Speaker 3: people in positions of authority telling me how to run 40 00:03:14,627 --> 00:03:17,667 Speaker 3: my business, how to live my life, and so on. 41 00:03:18,267 --> 00:03:24,667 Speaker 3: I am very much a free range creature. But however, 42 00:03:25,187 --> 00:03:27,867 Speaker 3: this is one bit of legislation, which on the face 43 00:03:27,907 --> 00:03:31,987 Speaker 3: of it, I actually support. I think we need it 44 00:03:33,067 --> 00:03:37,707 Speaker 3: because we're in a we're in a crisis. Can I 45 00:03:37,787 --> 00:03:41,907 Speaker 3: just say I grew up in Peteru and I belong 46 00:03:42,027 --> 00:03:46,507 Speaker 3: to the athletics club, the table tennis club, the tennis clubs. 47 00:03:47,187 --> 00:03:52,947 Speaker 3: There was evan an amateur theater school, had debating, chess, rugby, hockey. 48 00:03:54,147 --> 00:03:58,427 Speaker 3: They were kind of clubs. That was normal. Clubs gave 49 00:03:58,507 --> 00:04:03,747 Speaker 3: us real physical connection. Today we call Facebook groups communities, 50 00:04:04,267 --> 00:04:09,267 Speaker 3: but they don't replace people meeting, arguing, moving and belonging. 51 00:04:09,707 --> 00:04:14,667 Speaker 3: When clubs disappear, something human goes with them. Now I'll 52 00:04:14,707 --> 00:04:21,187 Speaker 3: just say I provide a health and rehabilitation service for 53 00:04:21,307 --> 00:04:25,027 Speaker 3: people with chronic health issues. Now, I'll tell you what. 54 00:04:26,467 --> 00:04:31,467 Speaker 3: People when they are unwell, they want to be touched. 55 00:04:32,827 --> 00:04:36,307 Speaker 3: It's the proverbial, you know, mother giving them a hug 56 00:04:36,387 --> 00:04:41,147 Speaker 3: and a cuddle. Right, you can't do that online? Okay? 57 00:04:41,587 --> 00:04:48,107 Speaker 3: People need physical connection. We're tribal those sorts of ideas, 58 00:04:48,707 --> 00:04:52,787 Speaker 3: and as we lose the clubs and societies. And I 59 00:04:52,787 --> 00:04:57,547 Speaker 3: should add it is argued that New Zealand was the 60 00:04:57,587 --> 00:05:06,107 Speaker 3: most clubbified and society affied nation on the planet. Every 61 00:05:06,387 --> 00:05:10,987 Speaker 3: community no matter how small, had a club of some sort, 62 00:05:11,147 --> 00:05:13,987 Speaker 3: the tennis club, the bowling club, the bridge club, and 63 00:05:14,067 --> 00:05:17,147 Speaker 3: so on. Now when you drive through rural New Zealand, 64 00:05:17,627 --> 00:05:21,787 Speaker 3: you see those netball courts, in those tennis courts, the club, 65 00:05:21,907 --> 00:05:25,627 Speaker 3: a community hall where the local theater had or where 66 00:05:25,667 --> 00:05:28,507 Speaker 3: the farmers would meet. They're all now in a state 67 00:05:28,547 --> 00:05:32,347 Speaker 3: of disrepair. The weeds are growing and people are arguing 68 00:05:32,427 --> 00:05:35,827 Speaker 3: over what do they do with that asset. It's sad. 69 00:05:37,227 --> 00:05:39,067 Speaker 2: I was sad reading one of the lines you wrote, 70 00:05:39,067 --> 00:05:42,267 Speaker 2: and it relates to what you just said, Gary. One 71 00:05:42,387 --> 00:05:46,707 Speaker 2: derelict tennis court after another, old bowling green slowly reverting 72 00:05:46,747 --> 00:05:50,227 Speaker 2: to weeds. Netball courts are cracked, fenced off, or used 73 00:05:50,267 --> 00:05:53,707 Speaker 2: only a handful of times a year. Clubs locked or 74 00:05:53,747 --> 00:05:59,067 Speaker 2: falling apart. Why and how has the role of sports 75 00:05:59,067 --> 00:06:01,067 Speaker 2: clubs in our community changed so much? 76 00:06:02,187 --> 00:06:07,107 Speaker 3: Well, I think it's social media, Facebook, the Internet, the 77 00:06:07,227 --> 00:06:12,947 Speaker 3: cell phone, and then with COVID the lockdowns. Fear thy neighbor, 78 00:06:13,307 --> 00:06:17,787 Speaker 3: hide in your basement, don't go outdoors because there's some 79 00:06:18,387 --> 00:06:21,907 Speaker 3: virus that's been blown in from me, taken from an 80 00:06:21,987 --> 00:06:26,947 Speaker 3: infected penguin. So whatever you do, stay inside, in your 81 00:06:26,947 --> 00:06:32,467 Speaker 3: hermetically sealed environment. This is where my idea of free 82 00:06:32,547 --> 00:06:37,747 Speaker 3: range comes in the free ranger movement, which you will 83 00:06:37,787 --> 00:06:43,067 Speaker 3: see I promote on my website. The idea of being 84 00:06:43,067 --> 00:06:48,347 Speaker 3: a free range creature as opposed to the visual idea 85 00:06:48,667 --> 00:06:57,747 Speaker 3: of the cage chicken. Okay, there, helpless, fearfull, weak creature 86 00:06:57,787 --> 00:07:03,067 Speaker 3: that is unable to fend for itself. New Zealanders we are, 87 00:07:03,347 --> 00:07:07,387 Speaker 3: and we should be truly free range creature. New Zealand 88 00:07:07,427 --> 00:07:09,507 Speaker 3: should be the best place in the world to live 89 00:07:09,627 --> 00:07:16,867 Speaker 3: and to raise a family. We should be outdoors, strong, resilient, 90 00:07:17,507 --> 00:07:21,787 Speaker 3: the number eight fencing wire and Pessa chewing gum. We 91 00:07:21,867 --> 00:07:27,747 Speaker 3: should be truly outdoors people. And our clubs and societies 92 00:07:28,307 --> 00:07:32,267 Speaker 3: were a reflection of that. So what's happened, and it 93 00:07:32,307 --> 00:07:35,907 Speaker 3: has absolutely accelerated over the last four or five years, 94 00:07:36,507 --> 00:07:38,787 Speaker 3: is that you just need to go out. Look. I'm 95 00:07:38,827 --> 00:07:42,067 Speaker 3: going to go out and do some training outdoors, by 96 00:07:42,107 --> 00:07:47,147 Speaker 3: the way, communing with mother nature, by the way, and 97 00:07:48,067 --> 00:07:51,307 Speaker 3: I will bet you that I'll be there just about 98 00:07:51,307 --> 00:07:54,587 Speaker 3: the only one. Okay, you were. And in particular, what 99 00:07:54,747 --> 00:07:58,947 Speaker 3: is most disturbing is that, Hey, I'm an old guy. 100 00:07:59,147 --> 00:08:04,507 Speaker 3: I'm in my seventies and as I run or ride around. 101 00:08:04,627 --> 00:08:06,987 Speaker 3: When I go down onto the field to practice my 102 00:08:07,267 --> 00:08:11,987 Speaker 3: cycler cross cycling skills on the fields, I asked the question, 103 00:08:12,387 --> 00:08:16,747 Speaker 3: where's all the children? Where are they? Okay, you just 104 00:08:16,827 --> 00:08:18,867 Speaker 3: do not see them. I'll tell you what. The field 105 00:08:18,907 --> 00:08:22,147 Speaker 3: down here, I've been in this I've been in this 106 00:08:22,307 --> 00:08:25,907 Speaker 3: suburb now for forty five years. It's coming on close 107 00:08:25,947 --> 00:08:30,867 Speaker 3: to fifty actually, but forty five years. And the field 108 00:08:31,227 --> 00:08:33,747 Speaker 3: used to be busy all the time, so I couldn't 109 00:08:33,787 --> 00:08:35,827 Speaker 3: go down on there on my bicycle to practice my 110 00:08:36,787 --> 00:08:41,107 Speaker 3: skills on the safety of grass. Okay, and in winter 111 00:08:41,187 --> 00:08:44,907 Speaker 3: time it was also impossible because it was a mud bath. 112 00:08:45,947 --> 00:08:49,827 Speaker 3: Today I can go down there and there'll be probably 113 00:08:49,907 --> 00:08:52,907 Speaker 3: one guy who will often see. He'll be practicing his 114 00:08:53,067 --> 00:08:56,507 Speaker 3: golf swing. Okay. I wear a helmet so I feel safe, okay. 115 00:08:56,907 --> 00:09:00,587 Speaker 3: And I'll ride my bike around and I'll say, how 116 00:09:00,707 --> 00:09:04,107 Speaker 3: you gowing, mate, And there might be the occasional older 117 00:09:04,187 --> 00:09:08,827 Speaker 3: person walking their dog, But gone are all the children 118 00:09:09,027 --> 00:09:14,107 Speaker 3: playing soccer, the teenagers down there, you know, throwing a 119 00:09:14,187 --> 00:09:17,067 Speaker 3: frisbee or what have you. The good thing for me 120 00:09:17,867 --> 00:09:20,787 Speaker 3: is the fields are in such good condition. They are 121 00:09:20,867 --> 00:09:25,107 Speaker 3: an amazing condition because they're not cut up anymore. But 122 00:09:25,467 --> 00:09:30,347 Speaker 3: that is tinged with a great sense of sadness because 123 00:09:31,027 --> 00:09:35,547 Speaker 3: it then begs the question of where are all the 124 00:09:35,907 --> 00:09:39,227 Speaker 3: young people, what are they doing, what is happening to 125 00:09:39,307 --> 00:09:43,947 Speaker 3: their health, what is happening to their resilience? And also, hey, 126 00:09:44,827 --> 00:09:45,387 Speaker 3: he's got to. 127 00:09:45,387 --> 00:09:49,547 Speaker 2: Look after me, don't people, Gary, don't people? And look, 128 00:09:50,867 --> 00:09:53,787 Speaker 2: I'm just everything you say is resonating with me. You know, 129 00:09:54,587 --> 00:09:59,147 Speaker 2: there are fewer and fewer people, particularly young people, engaging 130 00:09:59,187 --> 00:10:01,307 Speaker 2: in physical activity. The stats would tell you that, But 131 00:10:01,387 --> 00:10:06,187 Speaker 2: don't people, particularly adults and kids. Don't We still crave 132 00:10:06,627 --> 00:10:10,747 Speaker 2: need personal connection, not connection through a screen. And aren't 133 00:10:10,787 --> 00:10:12,787 Speaker 2: clubs a great way of doing that? Still? 134 00:10:15,787 --> 00:10:21,347 Speaker 3: Yes, However, I think that the fact is what is 135 00:10:21,387 --> 00:10:25,347 Speaker 3: going on the demise of the physical club, the bricks 136 00:10:25,387 --> 00:10:31,507 Speaker 3: and mortar club. Unfortunately, sadly, it's a trend that is, 137 00:10:31,747 --> 00:10:37,587 Speaker 3: if anything, accelerating. I don't see any easy solutions. This 138 00:10:40,787 --> 00:10:45,707 Speaker 3: change to the legislation is almost a rescue mission to 139 00:10:45,827 --> 00:10:51,147 Speaker 3: at least prevent those assets from falling into the wrong hands, 140 00:10:51,267 --> 00:10:54,947 Speaker 3: but remaining in some way somehow I don't know how, 141 00:10:55,387 --> 00:11:02,787 Speaker 3: of remaining some kind of community asset. But it is 142 00:11:02,827 --> 00:11:06,707 Speaker 3: a real headache. Look, I really want to promote the 143 00:11:06,747 --> 00:11:11,947 Speaker 3: whole idea. We need to absolutely champion that we need 144 00:11:11,987 --> 00:11:17,587 Speaker 3: to be a true free range society. As I said, 145 00:11:17,747 --> 00:11:21,227 Speaker 3: New Zealand, of any place on the planet, should be 146 00:11:21,267 --> 00:11:24,387 Speaker 3: the best place to live and raise a family. And 147 00:11:24,427 --> 00:11:30,427 Speaker 3: that's because of our wonderful, great outdoors, our ability to 148 00:11:30,507 --> 00:11:35,307 Speaker 3: grow healthy food and so on, to nourish, to exercise. 149 00:11:36,507 --> 00:11:41,867 Speaker 3: You know, we're not crammed into some high rise, congested 150 00:11:42,347 --> 00:11:47,067 Speaker 3: supercity of some sort. All of us should be able 151 00:11:47,107 --> 00:11:49,027 Speaker 3: to put on a pair of shoes and go out 152 00:11:49,347 --> 00:11:55,747 Speaker 3: and do many for exercise and having physical contact with 153 00:11:55,867 --> 00:12:01,147 Speaker 3: other human beings in a way that is energizing and 154 00:12:02,587 --> 00:12:07,627 Speaker 3: it gives a sense of belonging and so on. Sadly, 155 00:12:08,147 --> 00:12:11,867 Speaker 3: it's all TikTok is, Facebook, it's x you know, all 156 00:12:11,867 --> 00:12:15,787 Speaker 3: of those kind of online groups. That's where we're going. 157 00:12:15,907 --> 00:12:21,867 Speaker 3: But to be honest, it is such a poor second best. 158 00:12:22,747 --> 00:12:27,307 Speaker 3: Can I finish on a positive note? Okay, be strong, 159 00:12:27,867 --> 00:12:35,227 Speaker 3: be independent, question everything, eat good food, exercise daily, commune 160 00:12:35,267 --> 00:12:38,627 Speaker 3: with mother nature, which means get outdoors and just get 161 00:12:38,667 --> 00:12:42,547 Speaker 3: some fresh air and sunshine, listen to the birds. Okay, 162 00:12:42,907 --> 00:12:48,507 Speaker 3: just do that. Be free range. That's it. Okay, that's 163 00:12:48,507 --> 00:12:49,387 Speaker 3: how we counter. 164 00:12:49,187 --> 00:12:51,547 Speaker 2: It, all right, Gary, got to leave it there. Thanks 165 00:12:51,547 --> 00:12:54,827 Speaker 2: for your insight. You've taken us into places I didn't expect, 166 00:12:54,867 --> 00:12:59,307 Speaker 2: but appreciate your insight and your input very much, Gary Moler. 167 00:13:00,027 --> 00:13:03,227 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 168 00:13:03,347 --> 00:13:06,747 Speaker 1: to News Talk said B weekends from midday. Follow the 169 00:13:06,787 --> 00:13:08,267 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio