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Archive for year: 2022

Our Community – Dress for Success

Dress for Success

This year for ClubGrants, Revesby Workers’ Club funded 15 different projects, supporting various local community organisations, sporting groups and charities. One of the organisations we are proudly funding this year is Dress for Success Sydney. The organisation offers a complimentary styling service for women looking to enter or re-enter the workforce, expertly styled in pre-loved donated clothing. Every year, Dress for Success supports more than 2,500 women in New South Wales and helps to diverts 40,000 items from landfill.

In case you haven’t heard of them, Dress for Success is a global not for profit that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help them thrive in work and in life. The global brand is made up of 145 affiliates in 23 countries, with each Affiliate largely powered by volunteers.

The brand is growing in Australia and since 2009, Dress for Success Sydney has supported more than 17,000 women in New South Wales get back on their feet and into the workforce.

Dress for Success Sydney clients come from all walks of life and experience various degrees of poverty, hardship, disadvantage, or abuse. Clients include young women from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds at risk of disengaging from education, single mums struggling to provide for their families, mature women who lack adequate levels of superannuation and savings and are at risk of living in poverty, women exiting corrective facilities, domestic violence survivors, women with disabilities, and newly arrived migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.

Women are referred to Dress for Success by a range of organisations, such as a diverse variety of charities, schools, and other social agencies and community groups.

Dress for Success Sydney’s programs provide women with work-appropriate clothing, mentoring, job-search skills, career coaching, and networking at no cost to the women using the services. They offer styling and presentation skills (in-person and virtually) and a holistic suite of workshops and one-on-one services (resume review, mock interviews, mentoring).

The Dress for Success Career Hub is open to any woman across Australia, at no cost at all.

Bubbles & Bargains designer pre-loved sale

One of their most popular events – Bubbles & Bargains Sydney is a great way for people to get some great designer bargains AND support a charity. Expect designer brands like Aje, Alice McCall, Bec + Bridge, Camilla & Marc, Coach, Kate Spade, Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Marc Jacobs – pre-loved and NEW. Clothing, shoes, accessories, beauty products and more!!

The season of new beginnings! Whatever your wardrobe needs – a refresh, an upgrade, a treat – explore 1000’s of curated designer items starting at only $10.

From Saturday 17 September 2022, 2pm – Sunday 18 September 2022, 12pm. Get your tickets at https://events.humanitix.com/bubbles-and-bargains-sydney-spring

Check out their website for updated news and more! https://sydney.dressforsuccess.org

Club Grants 2022

After numerous lockdowns and restrictions, Revesby Workers’ Club were honoured to host the 2022 ClubGrants Presentation Ceremony on Friday 5 August. The ceremony was attended by Local Members of Parliament, the Council Mayor, Khal Asfour, Club Directors, Council’s senior management and all the community representatives.

This year, the Local ClubGrants Committee, administered by Council, received applications for 108 projects, with request for funding amounting to over $2.2 million. After devoting significant time to carefully assess and evaluate each application, the Committee made recommendations to the participating clubs, and thus, this year, 54 projects will receive $1,165,010 in funding.

This year, Revesby Workers’ Club funded $269,990 which will support 15 different projects. As with all of the other participating Clubs, Revesby Workers’ Club is proud of its involvement in the ClubGrants scheme putting back into the local community.

Our supported Community projects this year included;

  • Bankstown City Aged Care
  • Bankstown Koori Elders Group
  • Biyani House Revesby Women’s Shelter
  • Broderick Gillawarna School
  • Caroline Chisholm Public School
  • Dress for Success Sydney Inc
  • George Bass School
  • Life Education NSW
  • Lifeline Macarthur
  • Metro Assist Limited
  • Nanghami Ngallia Aboriginal Corporation
  • OzHarvest
  • Revesby Uniting Church
  • STARTTS
  • Whitlam Institute

 

Year in Review 2021-2022

THE YEAR IN REVIEW 

With the closing of the 2021/2022 Financial Year this provides opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months, on the key achievements, special events, community contributions, new member services, future developments and fond farewells. 

JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2021 

COVID 19; on 26 June 2021, NSW was hit with another lockdown as the delta strain of COVID-19 cases rose rapidly. The state lockdown was extended to 11 October 2021 meaning the Club remained closed for more than 3 months. All scheduled events, shows and activities were either cancelled or postponed. 

Once we were able to open our doors again, mandatory restrictions were in place, respectfully, to protect our staff and members. It was in late February 2022 that the club started to feel normal again with QR Code Check ins, mask and capacity limit restrictions easing. 

ClubGRANTS Scheme; has seen more than $1 billion given by clubs to community groups, charities and sporting teams across NSW. This year Revesby Workers’ provided funding to 10 community groups for various projects totalling over $300,000. Below are the recipients. 

Bankstown Koori Elders Group Inc 

Broderick Gillawarna School 

Bankstown City Aged Care 

Caroline Chisholm Special School 

Padstow Community Care 

Coolaburoo Neighbourhood Centre Inc 

Whitlam Institute 

Women’s Community Shelter 

Revesby Uniting Church 

George Bass School P&C 

OCTOBER 2021 

Member Anniversary Celebrations; very special presentation events held on Thursday 28 October to acknowledge over 750 loyal members of the Club who were celebrating their 25th, 40th and 50th year Membership Anniversaries. 

While COVID restrictions were still in place and did create some challenges, these member anniversary events were a huge success and it was important to the Board and  Management that these events go ahead albeit adhering to NSW health restrictions. 

Alan (Dick) Moroney; Revesby Workers’ Club Life Member and former Club Director Alan (Dick) Moroney passed away on Saturday 9 October 2021 at the age of 93. He joined Revesby Workers’ Club in 1967 and was a director from 21 September 1997 until 24 September 2006, whereby he was the Liaison Director for Mixed Indoor Bowls, Darts and Garden Club. He was then appointed the Clubs alternate delegate in 1997 to the Federation of Community, Sports and Workers Clubs, shortly after commencing his directorship. Alan (Dick) Moroney was a dedicated member of Club’s Charity Fundraising Committee. He was awarded Life Membership for his considerable and ongoing contributions to the Club and named a Life Member of the Labor Party. 

NOVEMBER 2021 

Local Schools Funding; a scheme introduced by past President Bill Bullard and since its inception has seen Revesby Workers’ donate in excess of $1.9 million dollars to local schools. Now in its 22nd year, the Club generously donated $84,000 to twenty-eight schools in the local community. 

Unfortunately, this year’s event was unable to proceed in its regular presentation format. This did not however distract from the exciting programs each school had put together as a way of using this funding to enhance the learning of our young scholars. Each School made a submission as to the proposed allocation of the funds of which included playground upgrades, extra support staff and learning devices to name a few. 

Our Community Gives at Christmas; for many years the Clubs’ foyer played home to a very special Christmas tree, the ‘Workers’ Giving Tree’ and our Health Mates Fitness Centre hosted its annual Food Drive. Supporting the local Community Care Christmas Appeal, members, guests, staff and wider local community were invited to generously donate a gift or food item and help make someone’s Christmas just a little bit more special. 

The Community Care Christmas Appeal distributed over 400 Gifts and Food Hampers to households in the community who will be doing it tough over the festive season. They also host a Christmas Day Lunch, catering for over 200 people who normally would spend this important day alone. Community Care supports families and individuals across the Bankstown LGA but more specifically in Padstow, Panania, Revesby, Picnic Point, Milperra and East Hills. 

Biyani House; another anticipated event leading into the New Year was the opening of Biyani House – Revesby Women’s Shelter. Director Kylie Wilkinson and Executive Manager, People and Culture Sharyn Buhagiar, alongside the Biyani Board worked tirelessly in getting the shelter prepared for opening. 

Work had been ongoing at Biyani House for the better part of six months which included considerable renovations, furnishing the house, external works such as the gardening, recruitment, and a call out for donations. 

The Club is extremely proud to partner with Women’s Community Shelters to offer our community a shelter within the Canterbury Bankstown council. Having the shelter within the community offers women and children in need a place of solace and hopefully a new beginning. 

DECEMBER 2021 

Photos with Santa; the always popular annual event that sees the Brett Street Foyer transformed into the North Pole didn’t disappoint. The Club saw families visiting from all over Sydney to capture those special festive memories in a set that featured a full-size sleigh with reindeer. 

The Clubs priority is to always provide a safe and accessible environment, delivering a relaxed and friendly experience, and with more 2,500 families booking in last year this was confidently achieved. 

Christmas Supporting Parish of St Luke’s;

On Christmas day, Revesby workers joined forces with St Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church to support students, families, staff and Parish Priests with a Christmas Lunch and donations of decorations, food, toys, gifts, club vouchers and more. 

Rogues Sports Bar;

Was officially opened on Tuesday 14 December at a private function that included a number of VIP’s, Directors, staff and members of the Darts and Snooker Clubs, for whom both the snooker tables and dart boards were retained in the upgraded facilities. 

The history of the original Sports Bar was shared with the attendees, some of whom are relatives of our very own “Rogues” featured in the illustrated gallery. 

Featuring state-of-the-art audio visual with two LED 158-inch wall screens on either side of the entrance and over twenty-five 55-inch screens throughout, there isn’t a second of live action to be missed. 

The American flair menu is loaded with sports viewing favourites and the drink selection is a showcase of local and international beers, across the bars 16 taps, range of wines, cocktails and zero alcohol products all available to be ordered either at the bar or via QR code at your table. 

Health Mates Fitness turned 25;

On December 2021. Opening in 1996, Health Mates has been committed to enhancing the quality of life of our community by improving self-esteem, confidence and wellbeing in a friendly, inviting and inclusive environment. 

The centre has evolved throughout the years, with  more and updated equipment and machines as well as new members wanting to kick start their fitness journey. 

JANUARY 2022 

Kids Minifit Clinic; a club supported program, held for the fourth year on 20 January, in the Clubs Whitlam Theatre. The program is designed to encourage health, fitness and wellbeing amongst kids in the local community. Developed and hosted by Rugby League Legend, Anthony Minichiello, whose passion is to educate children on how being active can offer so many benefits and set them up for healthy habits for the rest of their lives. 

FEBRUARY 2022 

Tertiary Scholarships Program; accepts applications during the months of December and January annually. Since its inception in 1997, the Club has assisted over 500 local Year 12 Graduate and University Students, as part of its ongoing commitment to the community and education. 

In 2021, the program was reviewed to now include 8 x $3,000 scholarships as well as the $500 scholarships offered in previous years. The Scholarship Committee reviewed applications in February and was thrilled to see so many new and returning students applying. This year, 25 previous applicants received their ongoing $500 scholarship amount, totalling $12,500. Many of these recipients received distinctions and high distinctions for their respective studies. There were also 17 new applications of which an astounding 13 achieved an ATAR over 90. The Club generously provided a total of $21,500 to new successful applicants which took the grand total of scholarships paid in 2022 to $34k. 

MARCH 2022 

International Women’s Day;

Celebrated on Tuesday 8 March for the second year. This networking luncheon, partnered with Leagues Club Australia, supported Biyani House – Revesby Women’s Shelter, who provide short term emergency accommodation and support in a safe environment. 

Hosted once again by LayDee KinMee, Australia’s most in demand drag queens and well known for her incredible vocals and unique yodelling talents, the event welcomed several key speakers including Singer-Songwriter, Casey Donovan and Champion Skier, Pilot and Author, Janine Shepherd and Athlete, NRL Ambassador and Firefighter, Ruan Sims OAM. 

The theme was #BreakTheBias and the event had several Fundraising Activities, a Raffle, Silent Auction, Balloon Pop and Guessing Competition. Through the support of our event partner Leagues Club Australia, Revesby Workers’ Club Board, Sponsors and Attendees of this year’s event, we collectively raised almost $13,000 for Biyani House – Revesby Women’s Shelter. 

APRIL 2022 

Element Restaurant opens; a newly created dining experience, opened over the Easter weekend. Located next to Aunty Eight’s Vietnamese, the restaurant concept is designed to connect people through shared menus. The menus are designed by using elements from a variety of cuisines around the world while embracing our own Australian environment. Element offers the right mix of superb food, acoustic sounds and exquisite cocktails. 

Anzac Day; one of the most important events in the Australian calendar. It is a solemn day of remembrance of those Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who fought and died at Gallipoli in 1915. 

This year’s Anzac Day Service saw some 300 members, sub clubs and local community march from Bankstown YMCA down Macarthur Avenue to Revesby Workers’ Club, followed by a Service at the Cenotaph. Attendees were invited to Rogues Sports Bar for a post service refreshment, before joining in on a traditional game of Two Up. 

MAY 2022 

Asbestos Diseases Research Institute; the Clubs CEO Scott Bennetts, attended a Reception at Government House for the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute. 

The event, hosted by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, was attended by individuals and businesses who donate funding and contribute to the incredible work that the Institute undertakes, working towards finding a cure for the asbestos disease. 

Revesby Workers’ Club Ltd generously donated $45k and plan to continue this support to the institute in the future. The Club’s support of the Institute was widely recognised throughout the event, and are honoured to be able to provide this much needed funding. 

JUNE 2022 

Membership Numbers; this financial year continued similar to last year whereby member numbers had flattened, predominantly due to the COVID-19 closure and restriction disruptions. 

The financial year commenced with the Club still closed until 11 October 2021, and although membership numbers have seen growth month on month, the total number of financial members as at 30 June 2022 was 66,847, which is down year on year. 

Executive Report August 2022

Dear Members, 

At the time of drafting this Report, we are again enduring heavy rainfalls and devastating weather conditions which see parts of New South Wales once again evacuated due to flooding, some of whom have now endured a third major flooding event in just one year. 

Looking back at previous journals and Executive Reports and reading about COVID, lockdowns, border closures and ongoing floods we should be extremely proud, not only as a State, but also a Nation to have  endured such trying times and continued to push forward and not let pandemics or natural disasters take away our “Aussie Spirit”. 

At the Revesby Workers’ Club, our values are Adaptable, Teamwork, Supportive and Strength and we are proud to say that we have lived these values to our fullest by adapting to the impact of these events, being supportive of our staff and community, using teamwork to bounce back after every set back and showing strength to get through some of the most difficult times many of us have faced to date. 

Our staff members and their loyalty to the Club is one of our greatest assets. With 73% of our staff living within the 15km radius of the Club, they are part of our local community. We have recognised the staff loyalty and to help in maintaining our staff base, we have implemented a hardship fund available to those staff members who are experiencing financial difficulties or fall on hard times. 

Our staff members were also the driving force as to why the Board of Directors formulated an assistance package during last year’s COVID lockdown to assist them financially through the troubling times. This assistance package was worth $2m, however, by assisting our staff, this assisted the local community with wages being reinvested. 

In addition to the assistance package, the Club also brought forward the recently announced wage increase for all staff from 1 October 2022 to the beginning of July. In considering the rising costs of living, the Club was aiming to help with these pressures. 

We hope our members remain safe and well and our thoughts are with those once again affected by these recent events. 

2022 CLUBGRANTS 

Canterbury Bankstown’s 2022 ClubGRANTS applications were open from Tuesday, 15 March 2022 and closed on Sunday, 24 April 2022. 149 applications were received and reviewed by the ClubGRANTS Committee with 46 being successful in receiving all or part of their requested funding. Close to an astounding $1.1m was funded by the Local Government Area. 

This year, Revesby Workers’ Club elected to fund the businesses and projects outlined below and they will be presented with their cheques at a presentation at the Club on Friday 5 August 2022. 

Oz Harvest – Canterbury-Bankstown Food Rescue 

Whitlam Institute – Civics and Citizenship for Young Australian 

Lifeline Macarthur – Free financial counselling, Canterbury Bankstown LGA 

Life Education NSW – Children’s post pandemic mental wellbeing recovery initiative 

Nanghami Ngallia Aboriginal Corporate – Nanghami Ngallia Outreach 

Broderick Gillawarna School – All weather structure for self-regulation and learning area 

Revesby Uniting Church – Kidsplay@Revesby 

STARTTS Growing Playing Learning – Growing Playment Learning 

Bankstown City Aged Care – Palliative care equipment 

Biyani House – Biyani House Revesby Women’s Shelter operations support 

Dress for Success Thrive for Success – Career Support Program 

Bankstown Koori Elders Group – Aboriginal Elders ceramic arts project 

Metro Assist – Multicultural Men’s Support Group 

Caroline Chisholm School – Augmentative communication boards and adapted signage 

George Bass School – Outdoor musical instruments 

MAYORAL BALL 

Back in June 2022 we were approached by Mayor Khal Asfour to host the Mayor’s Community Charity Gala for 2022 and we were thrilled when the Mayor confirmed that all proceeds raised at the Charity Gala will be donated to Biyani House Revesby Women’s Shelter. 

The event is scheduled for Friday 4 November 2022 in the Whitlam Theatre. We were very excited to work alongside Canterbury-Bankstown Council to host such an esteemed event attended by businesses and members all over the local government area all in the name of charity. 

At the time of writing this report, final details of the event are being finalised, however, looking back at previous Charity Gala’s, we are sure it is going to be an extremely successful event and will provide much needed funding for Biyani House. 

SCHOOL SUBSIDY PROGRAM 

We are extremely excited to confirm that Revesby Workers’ Club will once again, as with previous years, provide much needed funding to the local schools of both Revesby and Mooney Mooney. 

As part of the school subsidy program, Revesby Workers’ Club provides a total of $84,000 to 28 local schools, giving them $3,000 to undertake a project within their school. 

Each local school completes a submission by 31 October 2022 outlining how they intend to spend the $3,000 donated by the Club. In previous years, the Club has assisted with the purchase of new iPads, playground improvements, student scholarships, purchase of indigenous artwork and much more. 

The 28 schools are invited to attend a cheque ceremony on Monday 7 November 2022 at the Club to receive their funding. 

We look forward to providing this funding once again. 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) 

You will have all been mailed a copy of our 2022 Notice of Annual General Meeting. Our AGM is scheduled for Sunday 30 October 2022 at 10am and will be held on the Club’s premises. 

If you have any questions for the AGM, please ensure they are received in writing 7 business days prior to the meeting. 

We look forward to our members’ attendance in support of the Club. 

Daryl Melham AM 

President 

Scott Bennetts 

CEO

Christine Butters Awarded Athletics NSW Merit Award

Congratulations to Club Director and Life member Christine Butters who was awarded a Little Athletics NSW Merit Award on Saturday 16 July 2022 for her long and meritorious service to little athletics in NSW.

Christine became active in the Little Athletics club in the 90s, and for the last 20 years has been its driving force. She has held many offices, including:

  • Recorder 2000-2004
  • Records and Ranking Officer 2004-2008
  • Acting Secretary 2005-2008
  • Secretary 2008-12
  • President from 2012 until today.
  • Made a Life Member 2008.

Christine was awarded Life Membership at the 2020 Annual General Meeting held on Sunday 25th October 2020.

Over the 10 years as Club Director, she has made a major contribution to the progress of the Club, but her involvement and contribution began well before then. With her husband Barry and children she was involved with the Club’s cricket and soccer clubs, but it was with junior athletics she became most involved.

Massive Congratulations to Christine!

 

Anzac Day 2022

Anzac Day 2022

Our first unrestricted Anzac Day since 2019!

A huge crowd was in attendance to commemorate Anzac Day 2022. Please see images of the day below.

International Women’s Day 2022 a HUGE success

What an achievement!

We are incredibly thankful that we are able to support Biyani House – Revesby Women’s Shelter whilst hosting our annual International Women’s Day event.

Biyani House is part of the Women’s Community Shelter’s Network. They provide short term emergency accommodation and support in a safe environment that enables homeless women to rebuild self esteem and achieve control and fulfilment of their lives.

Thanks goes out to everyone who helped make our IWD2022 event so successful!

Check out the photos of the day below.