Archive for category: Directors Report

John Rodwell – Final Vice President Report | November 2022

John Rodwell – Final Vice President Report | November 2022

John Rodwell

John Rodwell

Vice President

New Board

By the time you read this the Club will have held its biennial election and will have a new Board of Directors for the next two years. A couple of us familiar faces will not be there. By the annual general meeting in late October, I will have served 15 years as a Director and twelve as Vice-President. I am happy to hand over to two new Directors whom I am sure will join with the re-elected Directors to do a sterling job as custodians of the Club’s traditions and progressive program. It has been an honour and a pleasure to represent the members of the Club and to contribute to the development of the facilities and services which I believe are second to none. No institution can do everything, so the Board must make regular decisions on what is in the members’ best interests overall and allocate the Club’s substantial financial and human resources into those areas which have most need and will have most impact.

60th Anniversary

On Saturday 10th September the Club celebrated its 60th anniversary with a wonderful night of dinner and entertainment in the iconic Whitlam Theatre. President Daryl Melham had energetically contacted the families of our foundation office bearers and members to ensure representatives were present, including the daughter of our first president, Jack Dickens, and family of Brien Higgs, our first Secretary Manager.

Current and past staff joined with representatives of our sporting clubs and interest groups as well as a cross-section of members of the Club. All who attended were given a 60th anniversary souvenir keyring and a USB/thumb drive, containing the full club history, True to our Traditions, by Gary Lester, produced for our 50th anniversary, and a supplement covering the past 10 years. If anyone wishes to purchase any extra USBs containing the history book or any further keyrings, they can be purchased at Reception at the Tarro Ave entrance. The drives cost $2, with the proceeds being donated to the Asbestos Diseases Research Foundation. Keyrings cost $5, with proceeds being donated to the Bill Bullard Charity Committee.

Liaison with Sub-Clubs

Directors of the Club have a number of roles. As officers of a registered company, preparation for and attendance at Board meetings is the most formal and important. I estimate that in my 15 years I have attended well over 200 such meetings, ranging from the regular monthly meetings to extraordinary meetings, such as on planning, required from time to time. Membership of sub-committees is also important, both standing ones like the Scholarships Committee, or short-term and ad hoc. However, the most enjoyable role is looser and that is liaising with the many sporting and special interest sub-clubs. I have been fortunate to be associated with a number over my 15 years, and again it has been a privilege to be able to assist the committee members and general members of these groups.

Sporting clubs we all know as one of the backbones of our communities but less known are the special interest groups which provide recreational activities and support for so many. These are sometimes quite small and autonomous, while others have wider affiliations. I do not wish to leave others out, but I mention as examples of diversity the Revesby Writers’ Group, the Stroke Support Group, and the Australian Native Orchid Club. The unsung heroes of our community are the office bearers of these such groups, who along with the committees of sporting clubs, put in so much voluntary work. I have made many contacts among the members of our subclubs and, if I miss anything about no longer being a Board member, it will be the regular communication with them.

The Future

Revesby Workers’ Club is in the capable hands of a united and progressive Board, and a strong, committed management team. I hope to maintain informal contact with them and the many members of the Club I have got to know. I am extremely proud to be a Life Member and thank the members for their support over a significant and enjoyable period of my life. Lastly, I must thank my wife Rose-Marie who has put up with
my many absences, at meetings and functions, daytime, evenings, and weekends. If I ever dared to complain, she told me bluntly that I enjoyed it all. She was right. She may yet regret my having more free time.

Directors Report Club Journal NDJ 2021/22

Kylie Wilkinson Director

What an interesting and challenging year this has been so far. However, despite the COVID lockdown the Club has not been standing still and has certainly put this time to good use.

ROGUES SPORTS BARWork on the refurbishment of the Sports Bar has been moving full steam ahead. The newly named Rogues Sports Bar will see improvements that members can enjoy like a modern bar facility, two new large TV screens and a reworked TAB area. The Sports Bar will be serving assorted burgers and fries and have a seated area that opens up to the outdoors to create an open and light area to relax in and socialise.

In keeping with the tradition and history of the Sports Bar, the 6 full size billiard tables and 12 dart boards will remain and be relocated within this new space. The renovations are expected to be completed in early December 2021 so we will soon be welcoming back our snooker and darts players and sport enthusiasts to enjoy their new surrounds. I also would like to invite other patrons of all ages to explore and enjoy the new modern Rogues Sports Bar for a drink or a light meal.

BIYANI HOUSE REVESBY

Revesby Workers’ Club has continued to support the development of Biyani House Revesby Women’s Shelter which will open in November 2021. Biyani House is the only facility of its type in the whole of the Canterbury-Bankstown Council area and will offer great support for women and their children fleeing domestic violence. Revesby Workers’ staff have helped tremendously to get the shelter up and running by assisting with electrical work, gardening, replacing lights and administrative support. The Club has also contributed over $130,000 to the renovation and refurbishment of the home and will contribute each year to the ongoing administration costs of the shelter. 

SPORTING AND SOCIAL CLUBS

After a long winter without sport, it’s great to see sporting and social clubs back up and running and members enjoying some long-awaited activities on the fields. Our Summer sports like cricket, touch footy and little athletics should all be back this month with our kids hopefully running around with their friends and teammates. And it is also the time for many of our other social and sporting groups to re-commence their regular activities and shared interests with their friends.

POST LOCKDOWN

I would like to say a big thank you to all the staff who worked during the lockdown to ensure the club was in a good position to open again. Special mention to our Executive and the People and Culture teams that worked hard ensuring our staff were kept engaged and cared for during the period of the lockdown. It was wonderful to be part of the ‘Mental Fitness’ initiative the Club introduced in September 2021 for all our staff.

This program, hosted by media personality Gus Worland from the Gotcha for Life initiative, focused on keeping staff connected with each other, let them know they were valued and that their colleagues and managers really did care about their wellbeing.The Board and staff are delighted to see all the members back in the Club again.

We hope you have the opportunity to take part in some of the many activities the Club will be offering over the coming months, or to visit us and enjoy a drink or meal with friends.I wish you all the best for the festive season and hope you can catch up with family and friends at this time, or maybe even commence travelling again for your holidays.

 

Ian Stromborg OAM Director

As the Liaison Director for Revesby Workers’ Sports Club, which underwent a complete renovation in July 2017, to reaffirm its strong focus on the values of family and local sporting and social groups, I am pleased to update you on some recent changes.Whilst Revesby Workers’ Sports Club has two and a half well maintained greens supporting the Revesby Workers’ Club men’s and women’s bowls clubs, it’s important that the club be established as a true home for all our sporting clubs, which is why we have continued to work tirelessly on achieving this.

With this goal in mind, we have made considerable investments into the Club to make ensure it is a true destination. Earlier this year we appointed a new caterer, Alpha Global Catering. With a proven track record for success, Alpha Global Catering already operates several other bistros located at Seven Hills RSL, Fox Hills Golf Club, Pennant Hills Bowling Club and West Pennant Hills Sports Club to name a few.

The team got off to a flying start, pre lockdown, with many members raving about the menu variety, quality and value.Additionally, and just in time for summer, there have been twelve picnic style table settings added to the outdoor area next to the bowling greens. This will not only provide additional seating space but allow our members and guests the option to enjoy a cold beer and a delicious meal in the outdoors.If you haven’t visited Revesby Workers’ Sports Club before, now is the time.