The Weekend Sun
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RSA – the hub of the town Tauranga RSA general manager Graham Howard says the RSA is moving with the times. As a fully-fledged hospitality service, this is what is expected of the hospitality industry in 2012. “Once the staff members have completed this, it opens up a world of training in the hospitality industry and since we have started this programme about 12 months ago, we ‘Choppy’ who is currently studying a NZQA Level 3 Cookery, have had one person complete Level 3 cooks Lena who has successfully completed Level 3 Cookery and course, another two currently doing it, and one manager doing Level 5 diploma in hospiJune who is currently studying Level 3 Cookery. These three tality management. are part of the RSA staff who are up-skilling. “The staff and Tauranga RSA executive committee are supportive of staff training and Tauranga RSA is up-skilling and rebranding are really behind it.” Graham says there has been a lot of interest from as part of a nationwide campaign to refocus younger staff looking to make hospitality a career. on customer satisfaction and “Now we are serving up here at the Oaktree restaurant and with the motor inn, it’s a full hospitality top-notch service. business, so someone can leave school, start working Staff working at the RSA are being put through their here and end up in a managerial role. paces in Hospitality Standards Institute courses to “Plus with links nationwide with RSA, there are understand the basic principles of hospitality. So far, avenues to forge a career elsewhere as well.” 38 members of staff have completed their induction The RSA financially assists staff training in the course course which covers basic standards. once they have successfully completed the assessments.
Patrol efforts recognised Community volunteers patrolling South Tauranga and sponsors had their efforts recognised at a barbecue function at Greerton Police station on Thursday. The event included a presentation of five-year service certificates for 10 members of the ‘Greerton Night Owls’ – many who had been involved from the patrol’s early days seven years ago. Tauranga South Community Patrol chairman Keith Carter says it was great to see the long-term member’s efforts recognised for the important work they are doing. The volunteers drive around the Tauranga South police area in two-man patrols looking out for suspicious activity on Thursday to Saturday nights. Members are rostered for a patrol about once a month, with patrols going from about 8pm until the action dies down after midnight. Keith says the patrol offers an extra set of eyes during these busy periods and alert police of anything to investigate. They do not get involved themselves. Farmer Motor Group were also thanked for sponsoring an upgraded patrol car – a Hyundai Tucson, which Keith welcomed as offering a more comfortable ride and better view from its higher vantage point. Keith says they are looking for more communityminded people to join the patrols ranks. “We have about 42 members at the moment, but they come and go, so we always love to get new mem-
Tauranga South Community Patrol chairman Keith Carter with new Hyundai Tucson patrol car. bers on board.” To get involved, applications can be completed at any police station. Everyone who wants to help will need a police check. For more details visit By Hamish Carter www.communitypatrols.org.nz
This year, RNZRSA has introduced a scholarship scheme and the Tauranga RSA was granted three $500 scholarships to assist with funding those currently doing their training. The Tauranga RSA is not just the club, with the restaurant and motor inn, the RSA is carving a name for themselves up against restaurant and hospitality industries in the area. The future of the Tauranga RSA is not to be a pub or a club, but to be the “Hub of the local community” says Graham.