General News
21 January, 2026
Without a pub, footy lads and loyal ladies step up
WHAT! The local pub’s shut on New Year’s Eve, leaving a country town without a spot for revellers to toast the old year in its final hours and welcome in the new.
The hotel that has been part of seeing in the New Year since the 1960s would be in darkness.
Steve Weavel, owner of Inglewood’s Empire State Hotel since 2017, had told patrons his doors would not be open on December 31 - a first for the town’s only pub waiting for a new owner to emerge as he puts health and retirement ahead of business.
In stepped Bill Concol, one of the town’s quiet but important contributors as secretary of the Inglewood-Bridgewater RSL sub-branch and now also in the same role for the football club set to celebrate 150 years in 2026.
Bill had a literal lightbulb moment. The footy club can open its social room doors, turn on the oval lights and be the hub to reflect on the moments of 2025.
“Country footy and netball clubs have a bigger responsibility than just footy and netball,” Bill said on New Year’s Eve in between taking his turn behind the bar serving drinks or quickly ducking into the kitchen and bringing our more plates of food.
On some of the platters were sandwiches made by club volunteers. And there were plenty of party pies ready to be topped with sauce flowing from bottles that work overtime during the winter sports season.
The sandwiches had been dropped at the Inglewood Recreation Centre rooms by a group of ladies that Bill says are the quiet contributors to the club and community.
Are they around for a photo? “No, they dropped off the sandwiches and then went straight home,” came Bill’s reply as more people started to arrive and the sun started setting on 2025.
“Footy clubs usually have the most volunteers and need to fill the void for catering and community events.
“Our volunteers have stood up in recent months to cater for the funeral wakes of Shirley Nevins, Colin Martin and Howard Rochester. Backbone of recent funeral wakes have included Brenda Woodfield, Robyn Noonan, Raelene Birthisel and Lynette Rose.”
Ever the diplomat, Bill added: “These ladies and many others contribute to other community groups. Inglewood has some amazing volunteers. I don’t want to try to mention them all out of fear of missing some out,”
The club’s community connection and service was on show at each of more than half a dozen tables in the social rooms. Shirley’s Nevins’ son James and wife Michelle sat back enjoying the evening, Colin Martin’s son Jeff flitting between the tables and the outside area with stories of how his tomatoes at Bridgewater has just about fully recovered from devastating October 2022 floods.
And giving hope for a great 2026 was Inglewood Football Netball Club vice-president Paul Williams, as the night wore on, increasing his sales pitch for great things this year with milestone celebrations planned for the 150th year, on the field and in the social rooms.
Bill Concol, the brain behind filling the void of a town without a pub on New Year’s Eve, had his customary contented smile, nodding at the success of the venture and hoping Paul’s dreams are realised.
They both say that’d be good for the town, keeping the lights on as they were on the oval on December 31.
One thing is probably certain: The loyal background ladies will probably be asked for more sandwiches in 2026!
Read More: Inglewood