A WORD FROM OUR CHAIRMAN

JOHN MURRAY OAM

Chairman

Well, what a rollercoaster year it has been.

The industry-wide shutdown in March 2020 was something nobody could have ever predicted and the uncertainty in the months that followed, was one of the biggest challenges our organisation has ever faced. Not knowing if our clubs would stay open; watching coronavirus case numbers rise and fall; and making important decisions knowing that the outcome could change in an instant.

Our clubs weathered the storm brilliantly though, and our members and guests have been incredibly supportive of the changes we have implemented to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

Understandably, it was a devastating blow when greater Sydney was plunged into lockdown again in the final weeks of June 2021, and our clubs were forced to close. Our employees were stood down again and we entered the new financial year battling that feeling of uncertainty yet again. keeping our venues open, and our patrons safe and happy. We have used the pandemic experience to reassess our organisation and its operations, and have been able to lay some really good foundations for the next 50 years, and that’s all because of the people we have working at our clubs.

I would especially like to acknowledge the hard work, commitment and resilience of CEO Mark Condi, Executive General Manager Michael Clancy, CFO Rod Dearsley and their management teams, who have led our team with unwavering dedication to our club’s mission to ‘Make a Difference’.

Our clubs are not the same venues we knew before coronavirus but we have adapted to this new normal, and will continue to serve and support our community as best we can.

But if we can reflect on the positives of the past year, the shining light has been our staff and management team. Every single team member has been incredibly loyal and passionate about

“Reflecting on the positives over the past year, the shining light has been our staff and management team”

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER!

In March 2021, we welcomed our newest Board member, Clare Pearson.

Clare has extensive experience in the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Director in the not-for-profit sector, and is the current CEO of the Little Wings charity. She is a qualified psychologist and her passion is child protection with a focus on the human trafficking and disability industries. Her work in this area inspired her author a book, Threads of Hope, which shines a light on survivors of human trafficking.

Clare is a strong believer in the power of people and our ability to enact meaningful and significant change on a local and global level. This is one of the qualities we found incredibly appealing when discussing her appointment to our Board.

Clare has been an active and vocal part of Board meetings since her arrival and it’s been fantastic to see the positive impact she is having on our organisation.