Clublink 2023 Annual

DECEMBER 2023

THE OFFICIAL ANNUAL PUBLICATION OF THE LICENSED CLUB INDUSTRY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

CLUBlink

magazine

LEADERSHIP Strong leaders in clubs inspire members, cultivate a positive culture, and drive innovation, contributing to the overall success and growth of the community.

LEADERSHIP IN OUR CLUBS

CLUBS SA MEMBERSHIP

CLUBS SA 2023 CLUBS & COMMUNITY AWARDS

We celebrate some of our strong leaders in Clubs and highlight their achievements

We look at the support provided by Clubs SA in 2023 and highlight the direction for Clubs SA in 2024

Celebrating the amazing achievements of South Australian Clubs through the Annual Awards event

CONTENTS REPORTS 04

FROM THE PRESIDENT

04

FROM THE CEO

06

CLUBS SA MEMBERSHIP 2023

48

CLUB SAFE - THE YEAR THAT WAS

53

WORKPLACE RELATIONS 2023 REPORT

LEADERSHIP 12

KAREN GULLY - THE CADELL CLUB

16

JACK FERRETT - THE CLUBHOUSE (TANUNDA CLUB)

22

LYN WILKSCH - RENMARK CLUB

24

PRIYA KAMINENI - SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BRIDGE ASSOCIATION

26

ROWAN DAYMOND - GRANGE GOLF CLUB

FEATURES 11

LEADERSHIP

30

AWARDS CELEBRATING ALL CLUBS

31

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

40

2023 AWARD PHOTOS

44

OPERATION FLINDERS

A FULL LIST OF CLUBS SA SUPPORTING PARTNERS, THEIR OUR PARTNERS PRODUCTS AND THEIR

CELEBRATING ALL CLUBS

SERVICES ON PAGE 55

www.clubssa.com.au

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FINALISTS AND WINNERS OF THE 2023 CLUBS & COMMUNITY AWARDS PAGE 30

FROM THE PRESIDENT CAMERON TAYLOR | CLUBS SA PRESIDENT

With COVID now a distant memory, 2023 provided a different set of challenges for Clubs SA Members.

Licensed not for profit Clubs across South Australia have seen the return of their communities back into their venues and from all reports most Clubs have been extremely busy which has resulted in not only the obvious benefits, but also significant challenges.

These challenges include recruiting and retaining committed and high performing staff, while mitigating as much as possible the ever-spiralling cost of goods and services that are necessary when running a successful Club.

Talking to our Member Clubs, it is clear that a decrease in volunteerism has also hurt the operations of particularly the small and medium Clubs.

With people always looking for the “next new thing”, Clubs are needing to continuously look at their offerings to ensure that they stay relevant and are the first choice for people to gather to share their interests and to celebrate their milestones.

Clubs SA prides itself on understanding its Members’ needs such as the ones highlighted above and in turn provides the best possible, personalised services.

With this in mind we have continued to work with the regulators and the decision makers this year to ensure that you are receiving the best possible trading conditions during these challenging times, and at the most competitive fees and charges.

These efforts are confirmed when compared to the impositions and costs placed on Clubs in other States and Territories.

I would like to thank you, our Members, for your ongoing support and it is clear that once you become a Clubs SA Member very few leave. I’d like to think that this can be put down to the Association continuing to offer exceptional, highly relevant services and resources at a fair price.

Thank you also to our Partners who have stuck with us through thick and thin and have a great understanding of the community aspect of the Club environment. Something which is vital for ongoing meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships.

And lastly I would like to thank the Clubs SA, Complete Hospitality Training Skills and Club Safe staff for their tireless efforts once again this year which ensures that we “punch well above our weight” when it comes to representing the licensed Club industry and our Members.

Wishing you and your families a Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

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FROM THE CEO PETER APOSTOLOPOULOS | CLUBS SA CEO

Very different challenges confronted South Australian licensed sporting and community Clubs this year as compared to the previous two and half years of which COVID dominated all decision making processes and consequent activities.

People have returned to their Clubs in droves, however many paid workers and also volunteers had left the industry to pursue other interests.

Clubs SA Members also became more familiar with the online technologies introduced during COVID. Despite this, we never forgot the need to continue providing personalised, specialist advice either “face to face” or via the phone should a Member prefer this approach.

As testament to the above, Membership continues to remain exceptionally high and the Association continues to be in an extremely sound position, both financially and reputationally.

After almost nine years in the role as Clubs SA and Clubsafe CEO, Mike Penfold moved on from both roles in September and handed the reins over to me to lead the Association and its Member Clubs through its next important phase.

This new phase includes a number of significant initiatives such as: Following a major reform of the Association’s legislation by the State Government in 2024,

Clubs SA will deliver its Club Development Program to its Members which will include everything that relates to good Club governance.

Topics such as how to conduct compliant and efficient committee meetings, how to draft and adopt a great constitution, understanding Club finances and how to best handle Club disputes are just a few of the topics that will be made available to our Members in easily understood and practical detail; This will lead to increasing and improving the array of services, resources and information to our Members; and Embark on an innovative, digital transformation that will keep us moving forwards, ensuring we remain connected to our Clubs, their needs and wants and are better able to react to changing market conditions.

Finally, my sincere gratitude to our loyal Members and supportive Partners, enabling us at Clubs SA to fulfill our roles. Special thanks to the dedicated Clubs SA and Club Safe staff who achieve remarkable results with limited resources. I am genuinely thankful for the board's trust in my appointment and encourage all members and corporate partners to freely reach out to me. Your input, ideas, and concerns are invaluable to our collective success, and I am here to listen and collaborate toward realising our vision for Clubs SA. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous 2024.

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MEMBERSHIP 2023

CHRISTINE CARTER | CLUBS SA MEMBERSHIP MANAGER It has been great to get back on the road to visit our Members face to face this year.

I am always struck by the dedication and community spirit I witness when visiting our Member Clubs, not to mention the sheer hard work of all involved in the running of each Club. I believe the wonderful camaraderie and positive attitudes are what make their efforts bearable, as the majority undertake this in a purely volunteer capacity.

Membership numbers have remained steady this year, which is very heartening given the turmoil of these past years.

ACROSS THE STATE Our spread of Members across SA remains evenly split between Metro at 49% and Regional at 51%, offering a comprehensive assortment of interests, as seen in the below chart:

TYPES OF MEMBERS CLUBS Surf Boating 4% 4% Multisports 17%

Bowling 22%

RSL 5% Racing 2% Community 11%

Golf 10% Ethnic 2%

Football 22% 06 | CLUBLINK • DECEMBER 2023

Demonstrating the importance of community Clubs in our State, our Member Clubs alone total:

291,822 MEMBERS, 17,303 VOLUNTEERS AND 2,227 PAID EMPLOYEES These impressive figures are actually likely to be considerably higher as not all Members have supplied data.

INTERACTIONS WITH MEMBERS As you would imagine, this number and diversity generates an equally varied number of queries from committee members and Club managers alike.

Lodging committee changes on behalf of Members with Consumer and Business Services through its LGO system has continued to grow in popularity, with 245 instances of queries relating to committee members such as providing Members with their list of approved committee persons according to CBS, and a further 226 interactions involving application assistance.

TOPICS Awards

Gaming/Wagering

Governance

Liquor

WHS

3,574 WR 0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

07 | CLUBLINK • DECEMBER 2023

35%

ADMINISTRATION TASKS Article 3.4%

Login Details 40.9%

Club Info 48.9%

Corporate Partnership Enquiry 3.4%

The Team at Clubs SA always strives to make the role of a committee less burdensome, with an ever increasing amount of requirements to adhere to. Consequently, we continually review and produce resources specifically tailored to Clubs so as to reduce the time committee members and managers need to spend on these tasks.

During 2022-23, we undertook a project to review the topic of Work Health and Safety with the aim of creating a tool that Clubs can use to ensure they are compliant in this area.

In Autumn, we were pleased to be able to offer the Clubs SA WHS Self Assessment Audit, comprising three parts: WHS Audit Checklist - a guide to understanding everyone’s health and safety responsibilities WHS Self Assessment Audit - covering all the areas that may apply to a Club WHS Audit References - a list of organisations that can provide further advice In addition, we recently created a specific section on Food Safety in our portal, following the changed requirements notified by SA Health earlier this year, where Members can find useful information and practical resources to ensure compliance.

We encourage Members to make full use of the resources, advice and personal service from the dedicated Clubs SA team. We have received some great feedback and appreciation of the volume and relevance of the resources available in Members Only and we will continue to evolve with the industry, ensuring the Members Only portal remains an invaluable part of a Clubs SA membership.

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THE FUTURE I feel the next couple of years will be a difficult period for our Clubs, as many have shared with me their experiences of struggling to find paid staff and volunteers alike.

Beginning early 2024, we aim to coordinate a big push for better recognition of the goodwill, benefits and services our Clubs provide to the wider community of South Australia.

Hopefully, this will have the knock on effect of growing the participation of more volunteers, as well as an increased appreciation by the various overarching bodies whose requirements impact so greatly on Club operations.

As always, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all our wonderful Members for their support and I look forward to assisting them this coming year.

LEADERSHIP CHRISTINE CARTER | MEMBERSHIP MANAGER

We often talk about how invaluable our volunteers and staff are in the Club industry, particularly in the past few years with all the challenges Clubs have needed to deal with. Sometimes, we forget that often these people need guidance and support along the way so in this year’s Clublink, we are celebrating Leadership in our Clubs.

In hospitality, if it can go wrong, it will go wrong. It is often busy work concentrated into a few hours of madness. A manager has to make sure it doesn’t become bedlam. It can be a stressful environment with emotions running high, in heated conditions in the kitchen, but smiles must remain firmly fixed in place when greeting customers front of house. A Manager needs to be present, calm and confident in demeanour and honest and objective with staff so as to get best from them. You can study accounting, stock control, food and beverages, marketing, hygiene and much more at great length but without the people skills that each manager brings along too, you won’t be a well respected and successful leader. In the Membership Manager role, I am fortunate to see first hand what is involved, how hard everyone at Clubs works and witness some outstanding examples of leadership in the industry.

The following articles cover those individuals nominated for “Manager of the Year” in the Clubs SA Clubs and Community Awards 2023. They are just a handful of the amazing leaders we have here in the South Australian Club industry. Although from a wide variety of Club type, size and location, these people demonstrate a genuine passion for their Club with each one uniquely suited to their own Club’s individual needs.

We commend our nominees and all the leaders in our Clubs; small and large, metro and country.

11 | CLUBLINK • DECEMBER 2023 PHOTO CREDIT: The Advertiser

KAREN GULLY THE CADELL CLUB

I first met Karen in March 2021 but we’d had many a conversation in the years before this, as is often the case with our Clubbies, so it was lovely to finally put a face to a name. Although only taking on the role of Manager formally the month before, Karen’s involvement at Cadell Club goes back a long way….to 2010 actually when she began as a volunteer in the kitchen, before joining the paid staff a couple of years later.

From day one, Karen displayed a love of the community and a professional attitude in all that she did. Treasurer Di has provided an overview of Karen’s efforts over the years.

“In 2012, Karen began working as a bar and gaming attendant. Whilst Karen was in this role she stepped up to take on the role of manager on many occasions when managers resigned and it was difficult to find a replacement. Karen has been the one consistent employee who has made many sacrifices to enable the club to continue operating.

For several years, Karen heavily supported the Club Manager with great reliance being placed on her when various managers were not competently filling their roles. The Board quickly realised that Karen was a very competent manager in her own right, with a strong commitment and a passion for the club. In February 2021, after a certain amount of persuasion, Karen officially took on the role as full time Manager and the Board and other local community members are extremely grateful that we were able encourage her into the role that she has fully embraced.

Karen's dedication has not only impacted positively on the club but also on the local community.”

Karen’s professionalism, focus on compliance and good organisational skills are undoubtedly invaluable but it appears her leadership strength comes in the form of a genuine caring and friendly nature, which will go a long way to bringing the best out of staff members and volunteers. Her insight and intimate local knowledge of her community enables Karen to tailor functions specifically to the individual being celebrated / remembered.

“Karen is always there for her customers. In a small country community club, the manager is not only there to serve the customers, they are there as a listening post and Karen is very empathetic to the local community.”

It will come as no surprise that during Karen’s time in charge and due to her tireless efforts, the Club has grown in popularity.

A few years ago the Club was in quite a poor financial position and the Board decided to introduce additional events to hopefully attract patrons and increase revenue. Vital to the success of this strategy was the additional time and effort that Karen put in outside of her paid hours to organise and manage these events. Karen’s knowledge of what would appeal to her customers and bring in their families was pivotal.

“The Cadell Club is now a venue of choice in

12 | CLUBLINK • DECEMBER 2023

the Riverland West area for special functions including birthdays, meetings, weddings, funerals and memorials.

We believe this is due to Karen's efforts in ensuring that functions are tailored to individual needs. Nothing is left to chance and all functions run smoothly. This has been particularly important for funerals and memorials where families have expressed their extreme gratitude for the effort Karen puts in to make these events so very special.”

Getting the most bang for buck with good financial management has been a strength of Karen’s. She is always thinking of ways to improve the profitability of the Club while still providing her customers with a personal, enjoyable experience.

Leaders in hospitality know only too well, the importance of being willing to roll up their sleeves to get the job done. Karen has taken this commitment to another level, volunteering a huge number of hours outside her paid work.

As well as improving the Club’s standing in the community, Karen has made a huge impact on its financial stability: “Karen has put in a tremendous amount of effort in fundraising for the Club with earnings up 26% over the last 12 months. She has improved the quality of weekly raffle prizes and always has additional raffle prizes ready so that if crowd numbers permit, extra raffles can be sold.

Karen also takes the initiative to create raffles for special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, Christmas and Mothers’ Day.” The additional money raised has enabled the Board to make significant purchases to improve the Club’s

facilities including a new freezer room, a commercial kitchen fridge, repairs to the sound system and new bar tables.

Here are just a few more of Karen’s achievements: Improved advertising and marketing of Club events Regular maintenance of the Club’s social media pages Implementing regular news emails to Members including twice weekly menu updates Formalising volunteer rosters to ensure adequate cover each month Managing the courtesy bus operations to ensure sufficient drivers Increasing income by 10% over the last 12 months, despite the downturn in tourism due to the Floods Organising an Anzac Day vigil Karen truly goes above and beyond in everything she does for the club. Here is a sample of the regard in which Cadell Club’s customers and management hold Karen: “We had only lived in Cadell three weeks when my husband needed an ambulance. I did not know anyone in town so rang Karen at the Club. She arrived within 2 minutes, defibrillator in hand. It was calming and reassuring for us at that time and we will always be grateful to Karen.”

“A friendly person, nothing is ever too much trouble for Karen. She is efficient, professional and community minded.”

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“Karen and the Cadell Club is a big part of the reason I have decided to make my home at Cadell. Karen is a highly valued member of the community who thrives on a challenge”.

“I often hear comments from larger communities nearby, questioning how such a small club can have so many great events. I tell them it is largely due to Karen Gully!”.

MANAGER OF THE YEAR We are very pleased to follow this article with the news that Karen was chosen as Manager of the Year at this year’s Clubs and Community Awards.

The judges admitted they had a really hard time picking a winner between these accomplished and dedicated candidates, but eventually landed on Karen.

This is how she was described on the night in front of a packed William Magarey Room at Adelaide Oval: “This year's Manager of the Year, Karen Gully, has been a long time coming. An individual that doesn’t just manage her Club, she volunteers for it too. Within the first year of taking over as Manager, tonight’s winner brought their Club back from the brink of insolvency.”

Karen Gully and Craig Humphries Award Sponsored by Vintage House Wine & Spirits

14 | CLUBLINK • DECEMBER 2023

JACK FERRETT THE CLUBHOUSE (TANUNDA CLUB)

A widely known and well respected local in Tanunda, Jack Ferrett possesses many skills and characteristics to make him a great leader. This was recognised in 2020 when he was inducted as a ‘Baron of The Barossa’ in recognition of his steadfast leadership and community service for “Hospitality knowledge, business acumen, leadership, innovation, custodial thinking, an excellent communicator with natural “people skills”, community involvement, ability to network, ability to take decisive action and to “get the job done”.

Jack was approached by the Board of the Tanunda Club early in 2005 to take on the position of General Manager and try to turn the Club around. Although the venue had a long trading history dating back to 1891, the Club had met with financial difficulty and was at risk of closure and sale if it could not trade out of near bankruptcy.

Growing up locally and with a strong connection to the town, Jack accepted the challenge and turned the business around within his first three months of operating, achieving record sales figures within six months. His business acumen led the Club out of a desperate trading position to one of solidarity and viability. Since then he has initiated four major

Jack Ferrett, General Manager

renovation projects and grown the profitability and reputation of the venue for the benefit of members and the local community. Jack’s most recent achievement has seen the Club open eight new Deluxe Guest Suites in November 2022. The launch coincided with the 131 years’ anniversary of the venue, adding a new revenue stream. This

16 | CLUBLINK • DECEMBER 2023

THE CLUBHOUSE CLUB OF THE YEAR 2023 - LARGE BEST REFURBISHMENT BEST BAR ENVIRONMENT was many years in the making, including six years of efforts to attract grant funding and is an example of Jack’s foresight and determination to ‘future proof’ the Club. Jack’s collaborative style of leadership was evident in this project.

The Board explained: “Community collaboration was a vital part of seeing this project across the finish line and Jack was also required to liaise with a wide range of government bodies, community consultants, construction professionals and tradespeople to achieve the final outcome. The $1.4 million project was completed on-time and on-budget in November 2022. The official launch was followed with a special preview weekend to members so they could see the Club’s new asset prior to taking bookings from the public. The new Deluxe Guest Suites have been enthusiastically received and are already generating an 85% occupancy rate.”

Here are just a few more examples of the contributions Jack has made to the Clubhouse: negotiating lower fixed rates with a new electricity supplier, anticipated to save the Club around $100,000 annually

increased membership by 600% over the last 15 years to achieve in excess of 1400 members in 2023 reintroduced live entertainment on Friday nights with half price cocktail nights to build pre-weekend trade launch of a new digital marketing campaign attracting new followers and building clientele from new market segments implemented and committed to ongoing staff training and individual development

It is clear Jack has a strong commitment to promoting a ‘family values’ feel to the Clubhouse for not only Members and visitors, but importantly all the staff too.

Jack has achieved a lot in his time, as shown by Jack Ferrett, General Manager the many awards he and the Club have won over The Tanunda Club the years. He has great drive and ideas and truly wants the best for the Clubhouse and Barossa community and we look forward to seeing the next initiatives he comes up with, as we know for sure, Jack is not one for standing still!

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HOSTPLUS INTRODUCES NEW INVESTMENT OPTIONS Hostplus has over 1.7 million members, each with unique goals when it comes to their super. While the majority of members invest in our award-winning Balanced (MySuper) option, we also offer other investment options to suit our members’ preferences.

Some members want to keep costs as low as possible. Others want access to socially responsible investments. Many just want the highest possible net investment returns for their super. That’s why we’ve created these new options, providing members with an even greater range of choice.

WHAT ARE THE NEW INVESTMENT OPTIONS? We’ve added six new pre-mixed options, each designed to focus on one of these areas: net returns, low cost, or socially responsible investing.

The first new option is called High Growth. It invests in all growth assets. While it’s a higher-risk investment, its focus is on delivering the best net return over the long term. We’ve designed this option for members who have a medium to longterm investment time frame, and who are seeking the best net return possible.

For members who would like to take less risk, we’ve developed the Defensive investment option. This option invests mainly in fixed interest and cash and focuses on delivering the best possible net return for its level of risk.

For those who like to minimise investment fees and costs, we have two new options. Indexed High Growth invests only in shares, and is therefore higher risk, while aiming for higher long-term returns. Indexed Defensive is a lowerrisk option which invests predominately in defensive assets like fixed interest and cash.

Finally, we’ve also launched two new options that focus on socially responsible investing, known as ‘SRI’. Both options aim to reduce exposure to fossil fuels and some other sectors like tobacco production and gambling. SRI – High Growth invests in growth assets and is higher risk, while our SRI – Defensive option invests in a portfolio with a strong bias to defensive assets such as fixed interest and cash.

These six new options add more choice to our existing range of pre-mixed investment options.

Now members can choose the level of risk they’re comfortable with, and the investment style they prefer. These investment options have the ability to give members greater control of their super.

They can invest in one option or spread their investment across multiple options. And they can switch into or out of these options at any time at no cost.

Anyone can invest in these options as long as they’re a Hostplus member! They just log in to their Hostplus Member Online account and select to manage their investments.

19 | CLUBLINK • DECEMBER 2023

ADVICE FOR MEMBERS WHO NEED IT Best of all, our members don’t have to make investment decisions on their own. Hostplus members have access to financial advice – online, over the phone and face to face. Members can call our dedicated Hostplus advice number on 1300 303 188 or visit hostplus.com.au/financial-planning and one of our superannuation advisers can help them work out which investment option may be right for them. That’s a plus.

This information is general advice only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs.

You should consider if this information is appropriate for you in light of your circumstances before acting on it. Please read the relevant Hostplus Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), available at hostplus.com.au before making a decision about Hostplus. For a description of the target market, please read the Target Market Determination (TMD), available at hostplus.com.au.​​ Net investment returns represent the rate of return on investments after investment-related fees, costs and taxes have been deducted. Other fees and costs may apply. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance and should never be the sole factor considered when selecting a superannuation fund.

Hostplus has engaged Industry Fund Services Limited (IFS) ABN 54 007 016 195, AFSL 232514 to facilitate the provision of personal financial advice to members of Hostplus. Advice is provided by Hostplus financial planners who are Authorised Representatives of IFS. Fees may apply for personal financial advice; for further information about the cost of personal advice, you can speak with your Hostplus financial planner or visit our website www.hostplus.com.au. Information to help you decide whether you want to use personal financial advice services being offered is set out in the relevant IFS Financial Services Guide, a copy of which is available from your Hostplus financial planner. ​ Hostplus has engaged Link Advice Pty Ltd ABN 36 105 811 836, ASFL 258145 to facilitate the provision of limited personal financial advice to members of Hostplus via the web-based product SuperAdviser.

Issued by Host-Plus Pty Limited ABN 79 008 634 704, AFSL 244392 as trustee for the Hostplus Superannuation Fund (the Fund) ABN 68 657 495 890, MySuper No 68 657 495 890 198.

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LYN WILKSCH THE RENMARK CLUB

The Renmark Club holds an enviable, picturesque position on the waterfront at Renmark, along Murray Avenue. The Club has been a focal point for the local community since 1909 and now welcomes not only the Riverland community but visitors from far and wide.

At the helm since 2019 is General Manager, Lyn Wilksch. Lyn began her career at the Club some 12 years earlier, in a more administrative and financial position but she soon saw an opportunity to expand the Club’s offerings and became the inaugural Function and Wedding Specialist. Lyn has been instrumental in the Renmark Club’s growth in size, amenities and facilities and has a long list of successful initiatives, including: redevelopment of the Club in 2014 to enlarge the dining room to seat 450 guests a kids club was built to entertain the children with TVs, Xbox and PlayStation, books and Lego upgrade of gaming room allowing space for 40 of the latest gaming machines a state of the art kitchen, lounge bar renovation and all new furniture and carpet continued loyal sponsorship of a large number of small regional Clubs and schools

the provision of several 4 star self contained apartments As we all know, the last few years of Lyn’s time as manager have been challenging to say the least, with the pandemic and the floods to contend with. One thing that particularly stood out to me during that time was Lyn’s positive outlook and her ‘let’s give it a go’ attitude. When the Commissioner announced a temporary condition for venues to provide liquor with take away meals, the Renmark Club was an earlier adopter.

Take away food had not been an option previously but with the multiple responsibilities of staff employment, revenue and community welfare in mind, Lyn got things organised. This facility proved a huge success and contributed to the Club being able to retain 95% of its staff.

A staff member told us, “Lyn did an amazing job of instilling confidence in the club and staff, that we would come out of this bigger and better, and that we did!”

Leading by example, she will also help work the floor and clear tables or work behind the bar if short staffed. Lyn also helped out with the

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The Renmark Club

Salvation Army during the State Emergency Flood response, helping cook dinner for the CFS and SES volunteers.

Lyn has also promoted the Club in the tourism sector so as to enhance both local and visitor experiences in the region, with the Club winning multiple Awards, not only in SA but interstate too along the way.

Lyn is very passionate about the Club and her staff, who describe her leadership style as approachable and caring. “She has a door is always open attitude which makes it easy for staff to talk to her about any concerns and/or any feedback on the Club.”

Ensuring her staff are confident and comfortable in their roles, Lyn reached out to a professional consulting group to create team bonding sessions and customer service training.

Lyn feels taking the job at the club 16 years ago was the best decision of her life, despite her original apprehension. She feels very fortunate to have been able to grow in her role.

Lyn has very recently retired from the Renmark Club and she leaves it well placed to continue to be an integral part of the Riverland community.

We wish Lyn all the very best for the future and hope she achieves enjoys some well earned rest!

THE RENMARK CLUB BEST DINING - CAFE BISTRO 2023 CHEF OF THE YEAR - PETER KATSAITIS COOK OF THE YEAR - MICHAEL PEEL

23 | CLUBLINK • DECEMBER 2023

PRIYA KAMINENI SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BRIDGE ASSOCIATION

HOSTPLUS INTRODUCES NEW INVESTMENT OPTIONS

“

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PRIYA HAS EXERCISED STELLAR LEADERSHIP TO PROPEL THE CLUB INTO THE FUTURE

leader. Such is Priya’s passion for her role, the Club has become her second home as she works continuously in seeking new initiatives and revenue streams to future proof the Club.

The high regard that the committee has for Priya’s efforts is evident in their appraisal of the past year: “We are grateful to have Priya on board at an incredibly crucial time as she worked around the clock to address the key challenges faced by the club post COVID and while the future of bridge clubs in general is uncertain given the decline in the numbers of bridge players across the world.

Priya Kamineni, General Manager

Although Priya Kamineni has been the General Manager at the SA Bridge Association (SABA) for only 18 months, she has already made a significant difference to the Club and its Members.

Described as a ‘stand out’ manager, Priya demonstrates adaptability, resilience and extensive business skills while operating as a collaborative

What really set her apart from other managers is that she not only strived to restore the club to its financial health but also that her sincerity and dedication for the club and its members resonated deeply with the members who started returning due to positive referrals from their friends. For someone who has never been in a club environment previously, the speed with which Priya acquainted herself to manage a small business, not just managing its operations but demonstrating the inspiration, time and energy to simultaneously take

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on demanding operational and strategic projects, both short and long-term is highly commendable.

Our members, staff and committee acknowledge Priya’s contributions and the resulting positive impact felt in the smooth operations of the club and culture.”

The list of the changes Priya has made to the Club’s operations is long and includes: Implementing a new accounting system Implementing a new membership management system Reversing the revenue and membership decline within her first six months Introducing new initiatives for members including a new short bridge session, new supervised sessions and guest lecturers Improving marketing strategies such as a plan to offer 50% more courses year on year, resulting in a 70% increase in educational income.

She also successfully applied for a community grant to implement community outreach including free card games for seniors.

A vital part of growing the participation of bridge lies in explaining the game to novices and this has to be in a way for potential new members to feel comfortable and confident, thereby encouraging them to join up. President Caprice explains how Priya has been particularly successful in this area: “Priya’s contributions extend beyond her individual efforts. She played a key role in spearheading a major initiative focused on understanding the journey of bridge beginners and identifying areas where support and tools were needed. Together with a committee member, she formed the Education Pathways Subcommittee, which focuses on improving the

beginners transition into regular players thereby increasing retention and membership. She worked closely with a senior committee member to help set up a pathbreaking program called Mentoring Mondays which is hugely successful and innovative.

She introduced a short bridge session, based on member preferences which has grown strongly since its inception early this year with a plan to introduce a second regular session during the week. She was instrumental in helping the club trial online bridge with an international competition pilot.

These path-breaking initiatives have not only positioned our club as a leader in bridge development but also showcased our commitment to providing a scientific and systematic approach to supporting player transition underpinned by the principles of the customer experience and the customer journey. By offering relevant courses, mentorship and a range of bridge playing opportunities, the club ensures that members have the necessary resources to enhance their skills and enjoy a fulfilling bridge experience.”

Word has spread of Priya’s efforts and their effects on life at the SA Bridge Association, even interstate!

“Word of Priya’s impact on the club is reaching far and wide to the point that someone in Queensland who went to Perth for a national competition rang up to share that he was hearing very good things about Priya and the changes she has brought about at the club”.

This is a fantastic result and is clear evidence of the positive effects of Priya’s leadership skills. No wonder she is so valued by all as SABA.

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ROWAN DAYMOND GRANGE GOLF CLUB

Leadership in the Club industry includes many areas beyond traditional hospitality and Rowan Daymond, Course Superintendent at Grange Golf Club is a perfect example of this. Overseeing the day to day management of 22 course staff, he provides leadership, supervision, training and support for his team. He is responsible for the care and maintenance of the golfing surfaces, developing and implementing course maintenance programs and providing significant input into the Club's strategic and annual business plans.

Rowan has gained invaluable insight into all aspects of his trade, beginning at Grange in 2009 as a leading hand, working his way up to his present position.

The knowledge gained and skills acquired were supplemented with a 12 month stint in country Victoria where he learned the course superintendent’s role. He then used this experience back at Grange where he took on the role permanently in 2017.

Unsurprisingly, the golf Club’s management speak very highly of Rowan: “Rowan has an extremely strong work ethic, engaging personality, well developed interpersonal skills, initiative and a passion for presenting superior golf courses. He is extremely positive, brings a wealth of experience to the role, can

Rowan Daymond, Course Superintendent

solve any problem that arises and has a great relationship with members, staff, colleagues, Committee and suppliers.”

I don’t think there’s a single person in SA who is not aware of the event hosted by Grange Golf Club earlier this year: the inaugural LIV Golf Adelaide tournament. April 21-23 saw the Club welcome capacity crowds. With an official

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attendance of 77,076, LIV Golf Adelaide firmly cemented its newly carved out position in Australia's landscape of major international sporting events. It would be reasonable to expect an event of this size, particularly one not held here before, to take many months of planning. In fact, most golf courses have two years notice to plan an event of this size but Rowan and his team only had 4 months to create a world renowned layout and golf course. Not only was Rowan required to create and develop a course suited to test the world's best golfers, enable the epic construction of corporate facilities and grandstands but allow for the course to remain playable for the 2000 Grange members, and of course not forgetting that the whole thing would be watched by a global audience. No pressure then!

Rowan worked endless hours in creating the composite course with a configuration that provided arguably the strongest combination of holes on the property. Anyone who has been in charge of running events will know that things don’t always progress smoothly and it was no different for Rowan. “In the lead up to and during the event, Rowan stayed cool, calm and collected no matter what changes and challenges were thrown at him and there would not be many people that would have been able to take on this challenge with the professionalism that Rowan showed.” The event was a great success and firmly placed the Club, Adelaide and state of South Australia on the world map.

“Without our Course Superintendent Rowan Daymond at the helm, this event would not have happened.

Rowan helped put Adelaide and The Grange Golf Club on the map bringing a huge amount of people and money to the South Australian economy. The event provided hundreds up jobs and an unforgettable experience for everyone involved including those 77,000 spectators that attended the event. A week everyone will never forget.”

It is no small achievement to have the following said about you by such prominent and highly respected people in the sport: "Now these are the best bunkers in the world. Why can't other countries copy this? Perfection." (Ian Poulter on his Instagram account with 600,000 followers) “I would go as far as to say this is the best event I've ever played. I think I'm probably biased a little bit being from Australia, but this is what LIV Golf is about."

(Cameron Smith).

LIV Golf is back in 2024 at the Grange Golf Club!

Rowan is proud of his 13 year tenure and his relationship with all the staff. He prides himself on creating a family feel with the staff, no matter their level.

He clearly goes above and beyond the call of duty and the Club says, “Rowan is loved by his peers, staff, Committee and members. He is a valuable member of The Grange Golf Club Management team and has a wealth of experience which would be hard to replace.”

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Stoddart is at the forefront of the design and manufacture of practical as well as decorative kitchen equipment. Stoddart’s premium Food Service Equipment brand Culinaire offers quality, reliability, and style – with the guarantee of 60+ years of Australian manufacturing experience to back it up.

Culinaire Commercial Kitchen Equipment has evolved from a rich history of providing custom solutions for the demanding needs of commercial kitchens and catering establishments. Over time, it has grown into a trusted and recognized brand in Australia, a favourite of specification consultants’, that offers an ever-expanding array of products to meet the many diverse requirements of the foodservice industry.

One of Culinaire's enduring product lines is the Bain Marie and Hot Cupboard, which has stood the test of time and remains a staple of the Culinaire range. These items can be supplied in various sizes, catering to the evolving needs of the market.

Culinaire's extensive product offerings now goes well beyond these original products – encompassing a wide range of reliable kitchen equipment including heated & refrigerated wells, refrigerated, ambient & hot food displays, island buffets, meal plating solutions, dishwasher conveyors and utility walls.

As Culinaire Commercial Kitchen Equipment continues to innovate and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the foodservice industry, it remains a trusted partner for businesses seeking high-quality and reliable kitchen equipment. Tied intrinsically to Stoddart’s commitment to providing a comprehensive range of products ensure that they can meet the evolving needs of their customers, making them a go-to source for kitchen solutions in Australia. Whether you run a bustling restaurant, a busy catering service, or any other type of food-related enterprise, Culinaire's extensive product range has you covered, offering the tools you need to succeed in the bustling world of commercial food service.

Stoddart are a proud and longstanding partner of Clubs SA, to discover more about their products visit their website or call 1300 79 1954.

CELEBRATING ALL CLUBS TEHANA AIKMAN | SPONSORSHIP & EVENTS MANAGER

This year not-for-profit sporting and community Clubs continued to demonstrate their vital importance to their communities, as evidenced by record attendance numbers and in turn participation.

With over 39,000 volunteers, 19,800 staff, and $918 million dollars in social contribution by South Australian Clubs to their communities it is important that the outstanding efforts of the licensed Clubs industry, and of course the people within the Clubs, are appropriately acknowledged and celebrated.

Clubs SA Clubs & Community Awards go a long way towards doing this.

With yet another year of large nomination numbers and the highest quality entries, judging has never been more difficult, with all finalists deserving of recognition and accolades.

On Saturday night the 21st of October, nearly 500 people from the Club Industry gathered for the 2023 Clubs SA Clubs & Community Awards Gala Dinner at the Adelaide Oval. It was an incredible night of celebration, comradery and good old-fashioned fun.

We thank all those who attended and of course all the finalist Clubs and Individuals who took part in the nomination and judging process. A big thanks to all our Corporate Partners for their generous support and to the extended Clubs SA team who all play a vital role in creating a successful night of celebrations for all.

Congratulations to all the winners of the Clubs SA Clubs & Community Awards for 2023....

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AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Congratulations to all 2023 Clubs SA Clubs & Community Awards finalists and winners. We recognise the hard work and dedication to your Members and Community and share in celebrating this wonderful achievement.

COMMUNITY AWARDS Grassroots Sport GOODWOOD SAINTS FOOTBALL CLUB The Goodwood Saints Football Club demonstrates a clear focus on developing sport in the community for all ages and grades, with a commitment to social impact education, including drugs & alcohol use and mental health awareness.

'Goodie Saints' is no stranger to winning this category, and for obvious reasons.

Outstanding Community Service THE CROATIAN CLUB The Croatian Club has fostered a strong culture of volunteerism and broad community engagement amongst its Members, which spans all age groups. While there were other standout nominees, this year's winner impressed the judges with their amazing variety of initiatives, programs and events.

The club also actively engaged with different segments of the community, both at their Club rooms and in many other venues across the state.

Inclusiveness NORTH HAVEN SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB The North Haven Surf Life Saving Club has shown to be truly inclusive in all criteria of their nomination. This club continues to provide a safe and inclusive space and environment for their most vulnerable and isolated community members. They also incorporate a mentoring program to ensure that the strength of their club continues to grow and flourish year after year.

This is the 2nd year in a row the North Haven Surf Life Saving Club has won the Inclusiveness Award.

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Environmental Awareness GLENELG GOLF CLUB The Glenelg Golf Club has again demonstrated a wide array of approaches to sustainability. Their positive steps toward environmental awareness include the implementation of a number of plastic and food reduction practices. The Glenelg Golf Club clearly cherishes being associated with high-level sustainability practices, which is why they have won the Environmental Awareness Award for the 2nd year in a row.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS Cook of the Year MICHAEL PEEK (RENMARK CLUB) This year the Cooks stepped up to the plate and produced a dish with the same ingredients as the Chef of the Year finalists. And they didn’t disappoint.

Michael Peel from the Renmark Club stood out, with both his entrée and main being something all the tasting judges would order and enjoy in any bistro.

Chef of the Year PETER KATSAITIS (RENMARK CLUB) TARA POLLARD (SEACLIFF SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB) This year the judges of Chef of the Year were hard pressed to separate the top two competitors resulting in joint winners.

Both Peter Katsaitis (Renmark Club) and Tara Pollard (Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club) plated exceptional dishes during the competition challenge and their site visits unveiled a fantastic work environment, a clean and high functioning kitchen space and great team comradery.

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Employee of the Year KELLIE PAISLEY (SOUTH ADELAIDE FOOTBALL CLUB) Kellie Paisley lives and breathes her Club. Always willing to step in to relieve shifts, offering support and training to fellow employees and generally promoting the greatness of her Club.

Knowing most of the Members by name, no doubt her Club wishes they could clone her!

Volunteer of the Year GEOFF BURDEN (ENCOUNTER BAY FOOTBALL CLUB) It is said every year that judging the Volunteer of the Year category is truly the most difficult. But, this year one winner impressed the Judging Panel on every front. The sheer amount of time given to his club was already impressive, but even more so when seeing how much money he ultimately saved the club. Despite the massive contribution to his club, Geoff Burden is very humble and it was clear he did it all for the love of his Club.

Manager of the Year KAREN GULLY (CADELL CLUB) This year's Manager of the Year, Karen Gully, has been a long time coming. An individual that doesn’t just manage her Club, she volunteers for it too. Within the first year of taking over as Manager, tonight’s winner brought their Club back from the brink of insolvency.

The judges unanimously came to the same conclusion of this incredibly deserving winner.

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OPERATIONAL AWARDS Best Bar Environment CLUBHOUSE TANUNDA (TANUNDA CLUB) The Clubhouse in Tanunda provides an extremely comfortable, inviting and friendly country feel. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff and the spaces available to enjoy a drink are both varied and extensive.

It is clear this Club is there to keep all Members and guest patrons happy.

Best Function / Event Venue CLUB MARION (MARION SPORTS & COMMUNITY CLUB) One judge referred to Club Marion as a 'sleeping giant', offering numerous beautiful spaces in their venue for private and public functions and events.

The information provided on their website is highly informative, the packages available are excellent and their discount offers for Members very popular.

Best Dining - Cafe / Bistro RENMARK CLUB The Renmark Club is a proudly regional venue providing an exceptional dining experience utilizing much of their locally supplied produce. A huge part of the Club’s profile is their food service and it does not disappoint, with attentive staff, timely food and delicious menu items

Best Refurbishment CLUBHOUSE TANUNDA (TANUNDA CLUB) The Clubhouse in Tanunda has produced an incredible refurbishment that the judges say is truly amazing. From the moment you walk in you can feel its modern and comfortable feel. Capitalising on its location and representing their region beautifully, it’s no surprise Members are thrilled with the outcome.

Best Gaming MURRAY BRIDGE CLUB The Murray Bridge Club is a beautifully renovated venue with a focus on customer comfort and safety. It is fresh, clean and welcoming. The breakout space has picturesque views to relax and take a break and their customer service is second to none. Whether a visitor or Member of this Club you are always welcome and provided a memorable gaming experience.

CLUB OF THE YEAR Sporting Club of the Year GOODWOOD SAINTS FOOTBALL CLUB The Renmark Club is a proudly regional venue providing an exceptional dining experience utilizing much of their locally supplied produce.

A huge part of the Club’s profile is their food service and it does not disappoint, with attentive staff, timely food and delicious menu items

Club of the Year - Small NORTH HAVEN SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB The North Haven Surf Life Saving Club ticks every box when it comes to operating a small community licensed club.

From the encouragement of their junior programs, including providing them with work experience across the clubs hospitality operations, to offering incredible Inclusivity programs to the entire community. This club stood out in an outstanding field.

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Club of the Year - Medium HECTORVILLE SPORTS & COMMUNITY CENTRE The Hectorville Sports & Community Club operates both professionally and ethically and has a commendable business model.

With fortnightly Committee Meetings, a focused strategic direction, a high level of engagement and respect for their local community, whilst still providing excellent sporting facilities and support.

Club of the Year - Large CLUBHOUSE TANUNDA (TANUNDA CLUB) With an amazingly diverse spread of winners across this year’s Awards, determining a winner for Club of the Year Large proved both interesting and very challenging. Needless to say, the judging panel present at the final meeting were unanimous in their decision for this year’s winner.

A beautiful Club, proving that looking outside of the box can often bring huge rewards. Congratulations to The Clubhouse!

JUDGES COMMENDATION Inclusiveness SEACLIFF SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB The judges were struck by how diverse the Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club’s inclusive program was and its reach into the local community with partnerships with groups such as the local Lions Club and the Suneden Special School.

The Seacliff has also integrated inclusive approaches in the way they run their Club, with females and young people holding a number of senior positions in the club.

Environmental Awareness GLENELG SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB The Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club engages their younger community through their “Four for the Shore” program.

Designed by a then 12 year old, the program teaches and encourages all nippers, 6-13 years old, on how to and why they should be looking after our coastal environments.

Club Refurbishment TAILEM BEND RSL Fighting well above it’s weight, all with the power of volunteers.

Congratulations to the RSL Tailem Bend for producing an incredible Club Refurbishment, providing amazing facilities and service for their Community with an incredible committed and generous Committee.

Sporting Club of the Year ALDINGA BAY SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB Aldinga Bay Surf Life Saving Club is kicking some incredible goals that need to be acknowledged.

With a 30% increase in their Nipper’s this year and nearly doubling those that were competing, this is just the tip of the iceberg of their achievements in the last 12 months.

SATURDAY 21 OCTOBER, 2023 ADELAIDE OVAL, WILLIAM MAGAREY ROOM

MORE PHOTOS AVAILABLE - WWW.CLUBSAAWARDS.COM

IGNITING POSITIVE CHANGE FOR CHLOE, ONE STEP AT A TIME With help from Keno and The Lott, Variety is changing the lives of South Australian kids, like seven-year old Chloe, whose lifetransforming surgery ranks as just one of the tens of thousands of wonders they work.

A day in the life of a kid should mean rambling about the backyard, racing your best friend in the school yard, climbing the jungle gym at the local park, and teetering through those first wobbly peddles learning to ride a bike.

But for seven-year-old twin Chloe, who was born prematurely with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, everyday life meant constant pain and severely restricted movement, depriving her of the simple pleasures of childhood.

Fortunately, Chloe’s parents reached out to Variety for leading-edge surgery that would permanently reduce her spasticity – the muscular tightness that was constraining her movement.

Variety was able to fund the $40,000 surgery, which saw Chloe successfully undergo the procedure on Australia Day this year, giving her the wonderous gift of walking independently and free of pain for the first time in her young life.

no matter what life throws at them, and no matter their ability.

Each year, thousands of children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs, get support from Variety when they need it most.

The organisation recognises that, despite such a huge number of children impacted, each child has different needs. Through the generous support of many individuals and corporate partners in the community, Variety finds ways to help families through the most challenging times. Whether it’s providing mobility equipment and wheelchairs, communication and education aides, medical and therapy services, and scholarships, or funding community events – they do it all.

For the third year running, The Lott, the operator of Keno in South Australia, has donated $50,000 to Variety SA. This donation is helping them continue their vital mission to support South Australian kids, giving each of them the opportunity to live a better life within their community, just like Chloe.

One step at a time, Chloe is making small improvements thanks to the costly and complicated surgery – an operation that would simply not have been possible without the charity’s support.

Variety SA Chief Executive Officer Mark McGill said he was delighted to continue the partnership with The Lott and for their commitment to supporting the organisaton in its belief that all kids deserve a fair go in life, regardless of their circumstance, illness, and ability.

Variety has positively impacted more than 157,300 Aussie kids during the past year and, amazingly, more than 85,000 of these reside in South Australia alone. Variety SA – the Children’s Charity – believes all children should be able to follow their dreams and be the best they can be,

“Nelson Mandela stated the true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children, and at Variety, we hold that statement dear, as we strive to positively impact more South Australian kids in need,” Mr McGill said.

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“This is a singular goal and cannot be achieved without a generous team behind us.

“The genuine care and authenticity shown by The Lott allows us to expand this support to change children’s lives, and for that we are sincerely grateful.”

Liz McPherson, Partnerships Manager at The Lott, said the team at Keno was particularly proud of Australian lotteries for continuing their contributions to the South Australian community.

“The incredible amount of South Australian kids that Variety SA impacts continues to grow year on year,” McPherson said.

“This organisation allows these children to grow their independence, have an increased selfesteem, and greater community involvement.

“The legacy of Australia’s official lotteries is changing lives for the better and making dreams a reality, so if we can help Variety SA do the same for these kids and their families, then that’s pretty special.”

Find out more about Variety SA and how you can support them, by visiting their web site here or variety.org.au/sa.

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Funding received from Clubs SA supported teams from the Craigmore High School and the Mark Oliphant College to participate on the Operation Flinders program in Exercise 1 in May. The exercise took place on Yankaninna station in the northern Flinders Ranges of South Australia. Eighteen young people participated in the trek, which is an adventure-therapy program that creates opportunities for young people, who are facing challenges in their lives and communities, with a unique experience that provides personal development opportunities and pathways to wellbeing and life success.

During the exercise conducted on Yankaninna station, participants trekked approximately 80 kilometres in wilderness terrain, slept in makeshift shelters, participated in abseiling,

learnt about Indigenous culture, bush survival, and engaged in a range of outdoor activities all designed to build personal skills such as resilience, self-esteem, responsibility, leadership, teamwork, motivation, and ambition. Operation Flinders will also offer ongoing follow-up support to help participants grow as valued members of their communities.

Participants received training in navigation, basic survival skills and bushcraft. They learnt to cook over an open fire, engaged in team-building activities, and performed other duties necessary for the trip’s success. Each participant learned about trust and faced their fears when they undertook the abseil and high ropes course, under the instruction of experienced Operation

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Flinders volunteers. Each participant decided their own personal limit for the activity with the ability to cease the activity at the point where they had reached their own personal stretch limit.

with the team. Over the campfire, there was an explanation of dreamtime stories, star formation and other aspects of Adnyamathanha culture.

Each team was also required to carry a mascot – a bear, handmade by Operation Flinders volunteers.

The mascot is given a name by the team and then accompanies the team on all aspects of the journey.

Further activities undertaken by the teams included engagement with the Indigenous cultural stand. The aim of the cultural experience is to provide participants with a deep appreciation of Adnyamathanha (the traditional owners of the northern Flinders Ranges) culture, allowing them to gain an understanding of the importance of connection to country. The cultural facilitators were able to draw on their own knowledge to provide the young people with an unforgettable experience. At camp, a traditional meal was prepared and shared

Each team also undertook a night of ‘bush camping’, which is an activity added to the program in recent years. The teams are required to locate a re-supply point providing only essentials such as food and water. It is then up to the team to decide where they camped for the night and how they carried their supplies. This added an extra dimension of challenge to the journey and required additional problem-solving and resilience skills.

In most cases, participants have never been asked to take on such a physically demanding challenge before, much less complete it, which they all did - an incredibly significant feat. And in undertaking the exercise, participants developed personal skills such as resilience, self-confidence, leadership, motivation, and communication.

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EXERCISE COMPLETION! Since its inception, more than 9,500 young South Australians have participated in an Operation Flinders exercise in the Flinders Ranges. Thanks to generous support of Clubs SA the young people supported by your generous funding are now part of the Operation Flinders ‘family’, when perhaps more

than ever, the youth of South Australia need our guidance and support – one step at a time.

On behalf of the Foundation and the young people impacted by the commitment of Clubs SA to our cause, we thank you once again for your ongoing support.

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CLUB SAFE WHAT A YEAR GISELLE BERRIMAN & TRACEY COCHRANE, CLUB SAFE OFFICERS The Club Safe Team have had another busy year, as have most of our Clubs with gaming machines, with most reporting that trade has been steady and gaming turnover good.

The most significant change this year (besides getting a new boss, welcome Pete) was the introduction of player activity statements for gaming venues which have a loyalty system. This created some valid concerns with both clubs and the patrons, so much so that many Clubs have reported a decline in loyalty program membership. It appears that many patrons do not wish to know the amount they are spending and deem the statements to be unnecessary.

Being an odd year in number, 2023 for many long-term gaming staff meant two yearly Further Advanced refresher training. Whilst we reported in 2021 that it was hoped by 2023 that refresher training for long term staff ie staff who have undertaken further, further, further Training would be able to complete an online version.

Unfortunately, this was not to be and Club Safe Officers have had the pleasure of seeing staff once again in the classroom. We can however report that the training modules in SA have been reviewed by CBS and as of sometime in 2024 training will take on new names with a choice in some modules of how it is undertaken by staff.

CHTS, who Club Safe are aligned with, will provide information to our Clubs about the new formats, once they have been completed.

may be struggling and would benefit from some assistance by a trained counsellor or support worker.

By the time this article goes to print, all clubs should be in possession of another Club Safe initiative, the Limit Wallets. The intention around the limit wallet is for patrons who may wish to only bring a certain amount of cash with them to the Club to gamble, leaving their purse/wallet with their transaction card/s at home. They may also wish to keep their Loyalty Card, TITO, TAB and/or Lotto tickets in them as well. The hope is the message on the inside cover of the wallet will remind patron’s that a limit whether it be time or spend can be beneficial to an enjoyable and safer gambling experience.

As you would all be aware, the gap between club gaming staff referring patrons to a Gambling Help Service (GHS) and patrons actually attending remains wide. Club Safe held a forum this year with GHS representatives from all of the different services to discuss this gap and ways we may be able to improve the statistics of patrons presenting to a service. Whilst no silver bullet was established, the forum did highlight the willingness of Clubs to work with the services for the best possible outcome for their patrons who

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Recently Adelaide was showcased by hosting the 31st National Association or Gambling Studies conference, which included a trip down the Torrens on the iconic Popeye. The conference attracts both national and international speakers being from research, industry, community, government and lived experience.

With nearly 200 delegates attending it really did once again highlight that gambling is a varied and complex form of entertainment. There were 42 presentations held over three days with the Club Safe Team

attending many of them so as to expand our knowledge of what is trending in the world of gambling so as to best inform you of what may lie ahead across all sectors.

Finally, we would like to sincerely thank you for all your hard work and continued efforts to make your club a safe and enjoyable place to be and we look forward to assisting you, once again in 2024. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Safe, Happy and Prosperous New Year.

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WORKPLACE RELATIONS 2023 REPORT RHYS BRAYBROOK | WORKPLACE RELATIONS & POLICY MANAGER Throughout 2023 there were a number of matters that kept both myself and members busy.

challenges but as seen over the pandemic and recent natural disasters, clubs are resilient and find ways to adapt where needed.

Clubs not only faced rising costs from things like inflation and wage and super increases but they also had to deal with a significant amount of changes in legislation.

ENSURING PROPER AGREEMENTS ARE IN PLACE

NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE REVIEW 2022-23 This year’s minimum wage increase returned to the usual operative date of the first full pay period on or after 1 July. The increase was significant with award minimum wages going up by 5.75% which was done in response to high levels of inflation occurring across the country. There was also an increase in the super guarantee amount, which rose from 10.5% to 11% on 1 July 2023.

As expected in the few weeks prior to and after the date the new wages came into effect there was an influx of calls and emails. These queries were answered and members were reminded of what the new rates were and the need to implement them via bulletins, articles and social media.

In particular there were a number of calls relating to the payment of salaries and allinclusive rates of pay. Whilst a potentially useful means of paying employees clubs must ensure the amount is sufficient throughout employment and that it is properly documented in writing. The increases as well as other issues such as finding staff has presented

Throughout 2023 one of the things I have been contacted about the most is documentation for staff including contracts of employment and agreements relating to their pay.

The number of members looking to get these in place is encouraging, however some clubs still do not have proper agreements for their staff.

Employment contracts / letters of engagement are very important in setting out expectations and relevant terms. If an employee is being paid a salary then an appropriate written contractual term needs to specify this.

A suitable written agreement is also of importance when engaging contractors and not having this in place could make it unclear what was initially agreed to and risk disputes arising.

Lastly where members have an individual flexibility arrangement (IFA) with an employee it must be in a proper written form and make them better off overall or it risks being found invalid.

Template contracts as well as other useful templates are available for Clubs SA members to utilise and clubs that don’t have the right agreements should look to rectify this ASAP.

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WR REFORMS 2023 saw a substantial amount of workplace relations reforms as the Federal Government continued to implement changes that resulted in employers having to adapt to a number of new requirements.

This included multiple changes taking effect throughout 2023 from the “Secure Jobs, Better Pay” Bill such as limitations on the lengths of fixed-term contracts from 6 December and an automatic termination date of 7 December 2023 for “zombie” agreements (generally being pre2010 agreements such as enterprise or collective agreements).

Changes continued in June and July including to parental leave with all paid parental leave being made flexible and restrictions on two parents taking parental leave at the same time being removed.

Then on 4 September 2023 the Federal Government introduced the “Closing Loopholes Bill” to Parliament. This has not yet passed however and will not do so until February 2024 at the earliest.

The proposed changes in this Bill are numerous with some having significant potential impacts on Clubs SA members. These changes include altering the definition of casuals to focus on the totality of the relationship and primarily whether they have a firm advance commitment to continuing and indefinite work or not. There would also be an additional casual conversion process and potential penalties where someone is misclassified as a casual at the beginning of their employment.

Additionally wage theft would be criminalised for deliberate underpayments and the test for determining if someone is a contractor would go back to the “multi-factorial” test, meaning the whole relationship is focused on.

Lastly on 15 September 2023 the Fair Work Commission (FWC) announced another review of the Modern Awards including looking at updates to job security provisions and work and care issues. The FWC will also examine whether there are ways to make them easier to use, although only the 7 most commonly used Modern Awards will be looked at, which does not include the Clubs Award.

The numerous reforms have meant clubs have had to be alert to all the changes and ensure that they comply with new legislation as needed and this look set to continue next year as well.

NEW FOOD SAFETY STANDARD FOOD SAFETY STANDARD 3.2.2A One of the major things to occur in 2023 was the introduction of a new food safety standard, Food Safety Standard 3.2.2A which introduced three new food safety management tools.

These needed to be implemented by 8 December 2023 and included food handler training, the need to appoint a food safety supervisor and a requirement to substantiate key food safety controls.

All management tools apply to food businesses (those who sell food or make food intended for sale) classed as a category one business which are food businesses that process potentially hazardous read-to-eat food that is intended for sale. Clubs that don’t process but handle unpackaged potentially hazardous food intended for sale are deemed as a category two businesses and need to implement the first two management tools only. There is also an exemption for “fundraising events” but these need to irregular and require all proceeds to go back to a fundraising or charitable cause.

In order to assist members with meeting their new obligations Clubs SA met with SA Health to discuss and clarify the requirements and later developed a number of useful documents. This included an FAQ which was made in consultation with SA Health.

Additionally Clubs SA’s partner Complete Hospitality Training Skills (CHTS) developed a food safety supervisor training course which is available at a discounted price for members.

With the implementation phase now over clubs caught by the new standard will need to have the necessary management tools in place as authorised officers will be checking compliance.

I would lastly like to wish all members and partners a very happy holidays and new year.

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CLUBS SA CORPORATE PARTNERS

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CLUBS SA BUSINESS DIRECTORY

CLUBS SA ENCOURAGES ITS MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT OUR INDUSTRY

KITCHEN & BAR EQUIPMENT Andale - 8234 0388 HCH - 8369 2699 Stoddart Manufacturing - 0427 106 103 LOTTERIES SA Lotteries - 131 868 PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS & SIGNAGE The Banner Crew - 8240 0242 POINT OF SALE EQUIPMENT H&L Australia - 1800 778 340 BePoz - 0418 172 169 QUIZ NIGHTS/TRIVIA Entain Venues (Quizzame/InnQUIZitive) - 0410 529 372 SCREENS & SIGNAGE Big Screen Video - 0402 339 004 SNACK FOODS Priority Health - 0449 791 688 SOFT DRINK SUPPLIERS Coca-Cola EuroPacific - 132 652 SPIRIT SUPPLIERS Australian Liquor Marketers - 8405 7738 Coca-Cola EuroPacific - 132 652 Vintage House Wine & Spirits - 1300 769 266 STAFF TRAINING Complete Hospitality Training Skills - 8290 2200 St Johns - 1300 360 455 SPORTS & RACING VISION Sky Racing - 02 9452 8400 SUPERANNUATION Hostplus - 1300 467 875 WAGERING Tabcorp - 1800 177 723 WEBSITES & MARKETING Jigsaw Marketing Solutions - 0402 530 452 WINE SUPPLIERS ALM - 8405 7738 Samuel Smith & Son - 0455 663 370 Vintage House Wine & Spirits - 1300 769 266

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