As households tighten spending following another Federal Budget dominated by cost-of-living pressures, Ballina RSL Club is rolling out cheaper meals, discounted drinks and family deals in a bid to keep locals socialising and spending locally.

The Club’s “Connecting Our Community” campaign began at the start of May and includes discounted dining offers, extended happy hours and family-friendly specials throughout the venue.

Chief executive officer Guy Diven said the strategy was designed around a simple reality — people still wanted to get out and connect, but were increasingly looking for value.

“What we are seeing two weeks in is that people still want to connect,” he said.

“The Club has been busy, and that tells us people are still looking for ways to get out, meet friends, bring the family together and enjoy time with others, but they also need genuine value.”

Among the offers are five $22 members meals, $16 seniors specials, $10 coffee and cake deals, $50 family meal nights, $6 kids meals and extended happy hours featuring $6 schooners and $9 pints.

Diven said clubs occupied an important role during difficult economic times because they provided affordable and accessible social spaces close to home.

“Clubs are seen as a safe place,” he told Ballina News Daily.

“We’re safe, we’re clean, we’re inviting. The second layer of that is definitely that we provide really good value with good service.”

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show inflation rose 4.6 per cent in the year to March, while transport costs increased 8.9 per cent, driven largely by fuel prices.

Diven said regional communities like Ballina felt those pressures particularly hard because residents relied heavily on driving.

“In a regional area, people need to drive to work, school, appointments, sport, volunteering and family commitments,” he said.

“When the cost of fuel rises, it affects almost every part of daily life.”

He said the Club was also conscious of the risk of social isolation during periods of financial stress.

“Social isolation is real,” Diven said.

“You only have to come here to the club at nine o’clock in the morning to see we have so many wonderful senior members of our community. Invariably, most of them live on their own.”

“At its heart, Connecting Our Community is about making sure people can still come together.”

The Ballina RSL initiative follows a similar recent move by Cherry Street Sports Club, which also reduced drink prices as local venues respond to increasingly cautious consumer spending.

Main Image: Ballina RSL Chef Francis Dindoy and CEO Guy Diven