Harry Potter waves his wand over Mossman Bowls Club
Mossman Bowls New Manager
Mossman Bowls Club is a long way from Hogwarts school of excellence, but 46-year-old Greg ‘Harry’ Potter is determined to make the award-winning club even better than it is today.
Mr Potter has worked his way up from Supervisor to Bar Manager to Assistant Manager and now to the top job of Secretary/Manager.
He replaces the hard working and popular Kevin Rynne, who steps down from the role after 19 years.
“The business is in good hands with Greg” said Mr Rynne “I know he’s going to move the club forward in a positive way, but for me it’s simply been a labour of love.”
Mr Potter has a similar outlook and is ready for the challenge “I’d like to see more activities at the club, so I’ve created a management team to look at that and how we implement those things,” he said.
“Frankly I’m overwhelmed with the opportunity afforded to me” said the Brisbane native.
From backpacker to tradie to hospitality
Mr Potter travelled the world in his 20’s and later became a solid plasterer in the building trade but had a change of career when he accepted some shifts at the Mossman Bowls Club on a trip up north and liked what he saw.
That was 17 years ago and although he did leave the club briefly to work at other hospitality jobs down south, the Mossman Bowls Club was always a perfect fit for this proud family man.
Mr Potter has a partner Danielle and 4 children Archie 15, Lucas 4, and twins Macy and Patrick 22 months so he has his hands full at home and at the club."
Club gives back
The Mossman Bowls Club gives back to the community in the form of donations to local charities and those in need, but it’s also a unique space where people can relax and socialise.
Mr Potter was quick to point out to Newsport that you don’t have to bowl to be a member of the club and they welcome everybody.
“For the die-hard bowler our club has high class facilities with an all-weather playing surface thanks to that amazing roof” Mr Potter said.
Currently the MBC has 160 bowling members who play 4 times a week but they’re starting a drive to get more social bowlers through the doors with their ‘barefoot’ and corporate bowls days and nights. Mr Potter also hopes to make the club bigger over the next couple of years with an expansion plan being drawn up.
Getting staff a huge problem
The outgoing Manager Kevin Rynne says one of the biggest challenges for the club has been finding good staff “Even before Covid we had trouble finding people to work here and now it’s even harder but the staff we do have are amazing” he said.
As he leaves the top job Mr Rynne says he’s most proud of the club being inducted into the Hall of Fame twice for being ‘Best Service Club In A Small Community’ and winning ‘Best Club Far North Queensland’ 3 times.
Big shoes to fill for ‘Harry’ Potter but he feels he can weave his magic and keep the club on a steady course and create new opportunities.
“I look forward to working with our hard-working staff to maintain the Mossman Bowls Club as one of the best clubs in Far North Queensland” he said.