Hakoah Club closes its doors on an era
AFTER more than 35 years serving as the social headquarters of Sydney's Jewish community, the Hakoah Club has closed the doors on its Bondi premises.
CHANTAL ABITBOL
AFTER more than 35 years serving as the social headquarters of Sydney’s Jewish community, the Hakoah Club has closed the doors on its Bondi premises.
The building was sold to the Toga Group in 2007, and demolition crews arrived last week to clear the spot for an apartment complex which is to be built there.
For the time being, club members will remain homeless until new premises are found. But those pressing matters took a backseat when some of the club’s most loyal members met at a VIP farewell gathering on October 29 to reminisce about the old days.
Among those present were former club presidents Andrew Kemeny, Bernie Jacoby and Westfield giant Frank Lowy, who developed the building in 1975, along with its current president Phil Filler.
“It seems like only yesterday that I performed The Full Monty at a school fundraiser upstairs in what was then known as the Kind David room,” Filler recounted to the 300-strong crowd gathered.
But he also looked ahead. While remaining tight-lipped on possible venues currently being mulled over, he said the board was working on a vision that included a clubhouse with a “grandiose entrance” and “lush gardens, tennis courts, a swimming pool, lawn bowls greens and an outdoor amphitheatre”.
“This is the dream — a true community centre in the shape of a country club,” he said. “I can confirm that we are currently involved in negotiations for a clubhouse that will contain a number, but not all, of these features. Should our negotiations be successful, I will reveal the location as soon as possible.”
Speculation is also rife that the club in its incarnation will be closely linked to Jewish sporting club Maccabi, and Filler didn’t say much to dissuade the rumours.
“Hakoah must and will continue to play its ongoing role in football,” he said. “In due course, with improved coaching as well as enhanced facilities, these boys’ futures will flourish and we will beam with pride as the name and traditions of Hakoah continue,” he promised.
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