Celebrating Lyn Wilksch's leadership at 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

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 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 recently awarded at the 2023 Clubs SA Clubs and Community Award:

Best Dining - Cafe Bistro 2023

Chef of the Year - Peter Katsaitis

Cook of the Year - Michael Peel