CEO’s Report

The result? Doors were closed and entire business operations were stood down to manage infection rates and protect their staff and surrounding communities. No business sector went unscathed, particularly so in Southwest Sydney, where the City of Canterbury- Bankstown was being heralded as a Local Government Area in dire straits.

With a staff roster of 600 people, the intensity of the situation was severe. With the physical and, more critically, the mental welfare of staff firmly set in front of mind, the Executive Team, albeit stuck at home, set to work to develop a support programme that flowed through every layer of the business. This included mental health check-ins by dedicated calls from Managers to their staff, 13 weekly, hour-long, YouTube live-stream sessions open to all staff and contracted partners, empathetic consideration of staff on working Visas who had been stood down and were not applicable for Government support, and most notable, the opening of a vaccination clinic in collaboration with Advanced Health Medical Centre.

After successfully vaccinating over 10, 000 members of our community, our vaccination hub was converted to an examination hall for Bankstown Girls High School for the 4-week HSC examination period, during which 440 seated exams took place. However, it did not stop here.

The team’s focus had to pivot once again, this time to a date given the moniker ‘Freedom Day’ and on 11 October 2021, having achieved a national vaccination milestone of 80%, we returned to regular operation and reopened to vaccinated members and guests. The enormity of re-opening venues as large and complex as ours was not lost on anyone in the

Michael Clancy

Interim CEO

In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic was stronger than ever and the outlook in Australia was dire as the nation was again thrown into an intense lockdown. Still reeling from the inaugural lockdown, the hospitality and business sectors had to again pivot their ‘normal’ life and adhere to the severe parameters put in place by the Federal and State Governments who were working tirelessly to protect the nation. Transmission numbers went through the roof and Leaders were having to make tough decisions that no-one anticipated.

“I could not be prouder to be part of a team who worked so tirelessly, with such focus, to welcome our community safely back through our doors.”

“We cannot express fully how much we appreciate what you have done for our girls… we’d like to recognise the important impact that you have on our local community…”

- Suada Bilali, Principal Bankstown Girls High School

business, however the excitement of getting back to ‘normal’ along with the sheer dedication of every employee made this an almost seamless re-opening; I could not be prouder to be a part of a team who worked so tirelessly, with such focus, to welcome our community safely back through our doors.

It was as we welcomed back our members that our jewel in the Flinders Centre crown, Lady Banks Rooftop, was finally able to open her doors. The opening has been blessed with success and to be able to delight our customers with a modern, unique, and exciting rooftop destination in South-West Sydney has been a highlight for myself and my team.

Since our reopening we have gone from strength to strength, not only operationally but also in the learning and development space. To survive severe staff shortages due to illness and isolation requirements, we have worked to cross train, upskill, promote, and re-educate many of our floor staff to fill gaps in our rosters and the results have been outstanding with a re-energised and re-engaged workforce! More recently we experienced another significant shift in our business, with the departure of our CEO Mark Condi, after 10 years of service as a CEO and over 30 years of service in the business.

I worked with Mark for most of this time and the contribution he has made to the Club and our Community, especially during the difficult pandemic years will not be forgotten.

As we move to a new outlook under fresh leadership, our positivity for the future gather’s strength. The past three years have been the most difficult in the history of our 60+ year old club, and we were privileged to be able to help our community during such difficult times. I cannot wait to see the incredible initiatives this team can bring to life in the coming year.