After 60 years in business, North Lismore’s Italo- Australian Club looks set to close permanently after months of closure due to Covid-19 restrictions. 

In an interview on ABC North Coast this morning, club president Americo Melchior said the club has been struggling financially for a few years, and the Covid closure period for two months was just the “nail in the coffin” for the club.

Mr Melchior said the “sad decision” to close the club was made at the club board meeting on Monday night, but any final decisions to close would be made after a Special General Meeting (SGM) for the club’s 420 members later this month.

The Italo-Australian Club has been an important fixture of Lismore’s social scene, hosting functions, dances and music since it was established in 1960.

“We had weddings and a lot of work coming in that kept us going… but we lost the work and now have no money,” Mr Melchior said.

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Mr Melchior said the club was built by volunteers, and relied on the patronage of Lismore’s Italian community for years, but the numbers of patrons had dropped over the years.

“For years the club was thriving and every Sunday lots of Italians would be down at the club,” he said.

“But in recent years, there’s only been a few – that’s been a downfall too.

“In its hey day, it used to be that on Thursday and Friday nights it was packed out.

“Now, there’s no young people and we can’t afford big bands.

“It’s stressful not having money coming in through the door.”

Mr Melchior said there has also been ongoing problems with vandalism at the Barrow Lane club with windows being broken.

“It’s located in an area away from town,” Mr Melchior said. “There’s been quite a few break ins too.”

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Mr Melchior said it was surprising how many people were upset about the decision to close the club, “but where were they when they when we battled to try to keep open?”.

Mr Melchior said the upcoming SGM would give club members a chance to put forward their ideas about a better way forward for the club, or a way to provide money to keep it open. 

“Until the members meet, we can’t do anything – we can find out the legal stuff,” he said.

“Without public or independent help, we cannot keep trading.

“In a few months, we might be right – that might be wishful thinking – we’ll see what happens.”

In a comment on social media this morning, club members also made reference to the fact that the club couldn’t have its regular smorgasbord anymore due to coronavirus restrictions, and this made it hard to keep trading too.

“The kitchen is downstairs, so it’s also too hard for the older volunteers,” one comment said.