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ALISTAIR F L O W E R
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FLOWER HOTELS
Alistair Flower, Managing Director of Flower Hotels chats to wonderful humans within our community. This month he caught up with Representative Rugby Union Player & Community Leader, Naomi George.
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aomi, you’re sitting here wearing two hats, not only are you a venue manager at the Fernhill Tavern, you’re also a key player in our local Women’s Rugby Union Competition. Playing for the Wauchope Thunder, when did your rugby career start? I started playing rugby in school, but once I finished there wasn’t a women’s development pathway in our area. It was not until Wauchope Thunder was founded that we started to see Women’s Rugby develop. We didn’t have a competition, but we trained for two years. Two nights a week with the boys, we were committed. We got our first run at Crescent Head 7’s back in 2015. With the introduction to Women’s Rugby in the MNC Draw in 2017. Tell us the highlight of your career so far? 2019 – Grand Final. We went into the match favourites, only dropping one game the whole season. But what came after that was just magic. A 55-0 thumping of our opposition in what was labelled as an absolute domination. Everything we had worked on that season just fell into place. I was subbed at ¾ time and coach said “sit down mate, you’ve done your job”. 50 GREATER PORT MACQUARIE
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We hear that you’ve recently been named my dreams and do the things I love. He gets in the NSW Country Rugby Union squad, called “Single Dad” in footy season and I what an achievement! Is this a first for secretly think he loves that nickname – haha. you? He sponsors the Wauchope Thunder as well It’s my third year in NSW Country. It’s an and now he has his own jersey, he wears it to amazing experience. In past years we have every game. I wouldn’t be able to do all this only played versus Sydney City in Sydney, but without him and his support. now we are off to Adelaide for a week-long What does the Wauchope community camp which is something I mean to the Thunder as haven’t experienced before a club? The Wauchope so I am really looking The Wauchope community forward to it. The squad community keeps us keeps us going. We they have picked is full of going. We appreciate the appreciate the experience and talent so support of every spectator I’m very excited to be a part that comes to watch us support of every of it. play, or that pulls us up at spectator that comes You’ve got your hands the pub to congratulate to watch us play, or full with a family at us on a good game. The that pulls us up at the home, a busy job and support we receive from pub to congratulate us a love of Union, and the Hastings Hotel gives on a good game. you’ve found time to join us a home, somewhere to the Thunder Committee come after the game and as well? What is your role and how do you celebrate or commiserate, it really is the heart find time to do it all? of the community. I wanted to take a step back this year as I Last of all, what is the best thing about started my new role as Venue Manager at the the Port Macquarie Hastings Region? Fernhill Tavern, but due to lack of numbers The people. Holding a volunteer role (on the available to help on committee, I now help the Thunder committee) you really do get to see Treasurer and the Secretary. I have an amazing the best in people. We have such great people supportive husband who pushes me to chase in our community, it’s second to none.
