THE X FACTOR

RYDE EX SERVICES MEMORIAL & COMMUNITY CLUB | AUTUMN 2014

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TROEMENT S I B X G A N RYDE A TAILS E D M R O F W 3 S 2NTE R PAGE E O D N N UR T

INTRODUCING OUR NEW BISTRO 2014 has already brought some exciting new changes to Club RydeX! One of the major changes you have already seen here is the new bistro! We would like to introduce Tony Leung and his team. Tony is originally from Hong Kong and has been working in the industry since the early 70’s and has ample success behind him. Tony is responsible for the success of both Cronulla Leagues and the Tradies Club. He has given the club 2 remarkable chefs, William Cai and Ken Fong who both have an abundance of experience behind them.

724 CLUB RYDEX

BISTRO&GRILL

________________________________________ CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN & ASIAN CUISINE

William is known for his superb presentation and his particular care with his contemporary Western Food both here and in Asia. Similarly, Ken can be credited to the success of some of the largest restaurants in Hong Kong which could seat up to 1,000 people. Both of these accomplished chefs are known to pay particular attention to their presentation in both Western and Asian dishes, creating contemporary and delicious meals for our members. To facilitate with this change, we are

making a few more adjustments around the club. Our previous and regular specials have been discontinued which means we will no longer have ‘Wednesday Steak Night’ and ‘Friday BBQ’. However this means that there will be some brand new specials coming to the bistro over the next few weeks. Some of your favourite meals will also be available at cheaper prices during the week in our lunch specials menu. These specials will rotate regularly so keep an eye out for these great meals! The club will also see a major change in its dining furniture. The main lounge area will be completely revamped with all new modern and larger tables and chairs, which will make your dining experience at Club RydeX much more enjoyable. There will be increased space outside on the terrace for dining as well. The area where the pool tables are currently located will become non-smoking and more dining tables and chairs will be available for guests to dine outside as well. We are looking forward to this major change at the club and hope to see you all here in the near future.

CEO REPORT

Bradley Browne - Chief Executive Officer Hi and welcome to our first newsletter of the 2014 year. As you have already seen in this newsletter there have been some changes to the Club in recent months, and the one we are most excited about is the arrival of our new caterers in the Bistro. This change is a result of both the Management of the Club and the Board of Directors listening to our member’s feedback. Tony Leung, Ken Fong and William Cai are the new team who have started at the club and they bring with them years of experience in Club catering. Tony is a proven operator in the club industry in Sydney, having successfully run catering in clubs since the 1970’s and currently has contracts at Cronulla Sharks, Tradies, and Hurstville RSL. Our new chefs offer a mix of contemporary Western and Asian cuisine, with a chef specializing in each, and the reception from the members has been overwhelmingly positive. Our special Valentine’s Day menu was a great hit with members and similar special occasion

menus will appear in the near future. Come up and try a meal and let us know what you think. William, Ken and Tony believe in the achievement of a high standard, so your feedback is both welcomed and encouraged.

OPERATIONS

I would like to let you know that we have changed our air conditioning contractors and with this we seem to have solved our outdoor air con woes that have followed us for the past few years. Areas that only had air intermittently are now working regularly, and the temperature regulation is under control. Please come up to the club and check out our outdoor area and main lounge, which are now comfortable year-round. In February new cabling was introduced to the Phoenix Room so that once a modem and router is introduced in the next few weeks, the WiFi provided by the Club will also be available downstairs. This is great news for both the Men’s and Ladies’ bowling teams, as it allows them more freedom with communications, and it is also a great addition for functions going forward. For the first time we can provide internet access for functions in

the Phoenix Room that require it such as fundraiser events, corporate events and registration days, which is excellent for attracting further bookings.

CLUB MEMBER COMMITTEE

A Member’s committee has been set up as an initiative by the board which will involve key members of the club in the hopes of a two way feedback process being initiated between Club members, Board and Management. If you would like to be considered to join this committee, please call the Club and we can pass on your details to the organisers.

PATRICIA ALVAREZ

In January this year one of our longest serving staff members at the Club, Patricia Alvarez, left us in favour of retirement. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Patricia for her unfaltering dedication to the Club, and her hard work here for over twenty years. The absence of Patricia’s sense of humour, kind spirit and immense knowledge about the Club has already been keenly felt. Pat was a bit of a mother hen for many of the staff here. Her guidance and sage, pragmatic Irish advice continues to be missed. We wish Patricia all the best in the future and hope she gets the rest that is so well deserved!

REDEVELOPMENT SURVEY RESULTS We would like to thank the more than 300 members who have so far completed our Redevelopment Survey. If you would like to have your opinions heard, the survey will remain open for the next few months, so please feel free to complete it when you can. A full report of the results will be made available in the future, however for the sake of reporting, some of the main points raised will be discussed here. • The majority of respondents wish for the Club to develop towards a focus on entertainment and dining (55%) and updated facilities (45%). Very few (7%) do not want any changes to occur. • 70% nominated the staff and 54% selected other members as the best thing about RydeX • In future, members want a focus on the bistro (77%) with refurbishment and a new menu top priority (our new bistro is the first step), a beer garden (70%), an a la carte restaurant (74%), raffles and TAB (45%) and keno/bingo (38%). • Customer suggestions highlighted concerns about disabled access for the front entrance, insufficient facilities for children, and an aged auditorium. We will continue to keep you updated on any information regarding redevelopment ideas or decisions and remember, nothing major gets done without your input!

BOARD REPORT Our 2013 AGM again raised questions about the Board and its make up, and there was vocal support from the social membership for opening up all Board positions rather than restricting it to 4 Sub Branch and 3 Social members. The Board promised to update the members in March about the way forward with these important changes. The update we do have for you is that the Board of Directors passed the following motion at the January 2014 Board meeting 6-1 : 1. That we remove the current requirement for RSL Sub Branch representation, allowing for all vacant Board positions to be filled by any full member who has been a member for a minimum of three years, regardless of their affiliation with any sub group within the club. 2. That the power to change/approve the constitution be given to the total membership, based on recommendations of the Board. Furthermore, the board recognises the need to construct a legal and binding Deed of Agreement outside of the constitution, that would enshrine such things as : a. The Club will always remain an RSL club. b. The club will continue to practice RSL traditions such as the daily ode and observe and participate in special days such as Anzac day and Remembrance Day. c. The Club will provide the Ryde RSL Sub Branch with ‘rent free’ accommodation for the life of the Club. Ongoing discussions between the Sub Branch and the Board are continuing and we will continue to keep all members informed of the progress in due time. We continue to work towards potential redevelopment of the property, and with last year’s financial result and a general trending down of trade, it is timely to remind ourselves that despite our family friendly feel we are competing with many contemporary venues that can offer much more and trade more profitably than what we can.

Alone I could rattle off about 1 million dollars worth of changes which are needed, including 400 thousand dollars on a gaming machine management system to allow us to compete on a level playing field. In our current position we are unable to afford to change our club significantly with our resources and as such the Board, in line with the business plan, continues to move towards bigger plans. A summary of our position to date; 1. A Planning Appraisal Report has been completed which outlines what the club is able to do with its property. 2. A Governance and Probity Report has been completed outlining the correct process that must be followed in order to ensure transparency and correct management. 3. A Member Survey has been completed with approximately 300 members or 9% of membership participating, a solid result and something we can use moving forward. 4. A Business Plan due April 2014 will outline things such as return on investment, feasibility of redevelopment, business models, and club industry review. 5. A Functional Design Brief due April

2014 will bring all reports together and inform the design of the new Club. 6. A Sub Group engagement process which will finish in April 2014 will allow each group to put forward their case to be included in a new development. A rough timeline moving forward for the next few months will see ongoing meetings with Ryde City Council for project viability, meetings with Sub Groups to feed the business plan and feasibility of the whole project, and a concept plan drawn up by May before final deliberations can be made about a new Club.

STAFF CHARITY ACTIVITY UPDATE

Due to the wonderful generosity of our members and the efforts of our bar staff, the RydeX community managed to raise $406 for the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, which the Club matched making the total for October $812! Our November charity was Movember, dedicated to Men’s Health Research. Our total for Movember came to $100, which the club matched, making our donation $200.

Also in November, a small band of brave young staff members took part in the Electric Run, a fun run that raised money for The Cancer Council. The staff involved paid $210 in registration and donations and the club donated a further $290 for their efforts. Great work Caity Weston, Jackson Privett, Holly Warren, Wayne Jennings, Kellie Matthews and Natasha Marshall. Much to their dismay it poured with rain for the entire event, but all of them finished the full 5km. Well done guys! Over Christmas we supported the Smith family, and we raised $95, matched again for a total of $190. So far since we began this initiative in October, we have raised $1,702 for charity! We would like to thank the RydeX members for getting behind our staff and helping them to find a way to assist the community that they love! Please keep your eye out for notices about our charity of the month in 2014, and if you have a charity close to your heart that you would like us to support, then please let any staff member know!

SUSTAINABILITY Last year we promised that we would be shooting for a promotion to Sustainability Advantage Bronze member and as promised, the club has been awarded a Bronze level membership. Bronze level is awarded to those organisations that can demonstrate a commitment to business sustainability, and in New South Wales we are amongst groups such as Sydney Olympic Park, a number of City Councils and TAFES, Kosciusko Thredbo group, and Wyndham Estate Wines to name a few. This has been awarded for the hard work we have been doing, despite being a small club, to get sustainability on the map and in the minds of firstly the staff of the Club and secondly our members for the benefit of the Ryde Community and the planet. Jeff Cullen is still our Sustainability go-to man and during the next year we will be working with Jeff on a number of initiatives, including potentially engaging our members in a community project.

ANZAC DAY: REMEMBERING THE BRAVE Air Vice-Marshal (Retired) Greg Evans, DSC, AM ANZAC Day has its origins among old soldiers, the ‘returned men’. In the years after the Great War in a diverse range of locations around Australia, men gathered at dawn on the 25th of April to remember those friends who never returned. Young men who lay in places as diverse as Gallipoli, Palestine, France and Flanders, and at sea. Young men who often simply disappeared in the nightmare of churned mud of the Western Front, or having fallen in flames in their flimsy aircraft were never found, or who lay together at the bottom of the sea. Others lie in their thousands in neat rows in war cemeteries far from their homes. They gathered for a practical purpose, to join once again with those who had survived, but were wounded or mentally scarred and needed help. To do what they could for the families left behind to pick up the pieces and struggle on with broken hearts and shattered dreams.

This had been a war of idealism dashed on the obstacles of barbed wire, the machine gun, military aircraft, and poison gas. It was an uncontrollable, unintended monster which killed and maimed the finest youth of an entire generation, and weakened every empire it touched. It was beyond the capacity of the western world’s crowned heads and politicians to stop, a convulsive death spasm for ideas of European superiority and the source of revolution and misery on a tragic scale. The flawed and vengeful peace of 1919 contained all the seeds from which the Second World War grew, and continues to vex us today. War is wicked and uncontrollable and pregnant with unintended consequences. Yet sometimes wars must be fought, and Service personnel give that most serious of undertakings, an undertaking to give their lives if necessary for their country. This undertaking

is often poorly understood, sometimes taken for granted, sometimes treated with contempt by those who never make any such commitment. And sometimes this undertaking is necessary for our country, or even for civilization itself, to survive. In all the years since 1915, Australians have been found who will make that commitment, and mean it, even in times when we as a nation were divided or unsupportive of their sacrifice. In desperate fights to save our nation from invasion, or to fight off great evils which threatened to bring on a new dark age, they have done superbly well. In the wars which were dreadful mistakes, or even with hindsight misguided, they have also served superbly. They have died in all of them, and answered the call their country made on that commitment, even in confusing or ambiguous circumstances.

So this ANZAC Day all of us, as citizens and beneficiaries of thousands of sacrificed lives, should reflect on their mighty deeds and the loss it cost them and their families. We should remember their sacrifice, the circumstances in which they were taken from us, and our responsibility to only ever use their lives when necessary, and wisely. We should remember them and their families.

SUB BRANCH

Bernie Cox - President Ryde District RSL Sub Branch 2014 is an important year for the Veteran Community as we commemorate the Centenary of the commencement of World War 1 on August 4th leading to the Centenary of ANZAC in 2015.

WOMEN’S AUXILIARY

Robin McKinnon - President Ryde District RSL Women’s Auxiliary would like to thank all members of Club RydeX most sincerely for their unfailing support during 2013. We were able to send Three members of our Sub Branch, Mrs. Robin McKinnon, Mr. Owen Bennett and $1,500 to RSL Defence Care, $1,500 to myself, are members of the City of Ryde Centenary of ANZAC Committee which will be Ryde District sub-Branch for Welfare, particularly active during 2014. $1,000 to RSL Life Care and $500 to the RSL Disaster Fund. Many thanks to Club You will be advised of events associated with this Committee during the year. Ryde X for donating the Hampers for our Christmas Raffle in December, 2013. The key dates in early 2014 for the Sub Branch are: We would really like to welcome new Annual General Meeting members. We are a happy little bunch and When: March 10th, 12:30pm our cause is very worthwhile. Upcoming Where: Phoenix Room events will be a stall in the foyer in March and a Mother’s Day Raffle in May. Also Anzac Service many thanks to the Club RydeX Staff who When: April 27th, 2:00pm are always a great help to us. Where: Sub Branch Cenotaph Ryde District RSL Sub Branch will continue to serve the City of Ryde Veterans and their families during 2014 and it is hoped that our activities are supported by all members of Club RydeX.

WOMEN’S BOWLS Wendy Culpan - President Our very successful 2013 year culminated in a Christmas/Presentation luncheon day in the main Club lounge where we were even visited by the white bearded old chap!

MEN’S BOWLS

Richard Howell - Secretary The Bowling Club’s 2013 championships have now been completed and it has been a very successful year, especially for Walter Our 2014 season sees us with a challenge as our Pennants team will battle the very best Cappelletto who not only won the H/cap players in the Grade 1 district competition, however our mighty spirit will ensure we are and Major Singles, he also skippered the competitive. winning Mixed and Major Pairs and the Winning isn’t everything, so we would welcome all players ( whether new or experienced) Mixed Fours. To all other Club Champions and team members not mentioned in this to join our friendly club with great joining benefits. update, well done all. Things that are important to note, are : Both the Men’s and Women’s Bowling • Our women bowlers can play on Tuesdays and Saturdays ( unlike most other Clubs are seeking new members whether surrounding clubs). novice or competent bowlers. In-house • Fantastic bowling greens that are the envy of many clubs club bowls are available for short term loan. • Close working and social relationship with the Mens Club • Obligation free coaching available ( up to 8 lessons to suit your available times). The Men’s Bowling Club hopes that Call Wendy on 9082 5251 or Helen on 9808 4213 if you need further information or want all members of Club RydeX have had to take the first step to having a lesson. a wonderful Christmas and we wish everybody a prosperous 2014. We hope all readers have had an enjoyable and healthy 2014.

of the 120 founding members! The Ladies were serious competitors from the start. Uniforms were to be pristine, skirts to a certain length and no jewellery allowed. Marlene’s favourite thing about bowling is the competition, the company of her lovely friends and even the mixed competition, including the sledging doled out on both sides!

MEMBER PROFILE: MARLENE GUINN Marlene Guinn has had contact with this club since she was twelve years old. Back then, her father was involved in the bowling club when they had to use the facilities of a nearby venue until members banded together and helped build the greens we have today. Marlene’s husband was also a member of the bowling club in the 1960’s and it seems it was almost inevitable that when women’s bowling was introduced in 1976, Marlene would be one

As for RydeX itself, Marlene credits the club community and the friends that she has made here with creating a friendly, close and rewarding atmosphere, where friends come together in good times and make hard times a little easier. When hardship strikes, Marlene and her friends band together, come to a raffle and find a few reasons to have a great therapeutic laugh. It’s a ritual, and one which she believes is helping all of these ladies to stay strong and independent for longer. “I would never go anywhere else”, she says, which is good because we love having her here.

STAFF PROFILE: ADAM TONAZZI Adam has worked at Club RydeX for 1½ years now, and says that his favourite thing about working here is that the staff, as working with mates makes it enjoyable. Always the larrikin of the group, Adam is one of those staff members who makes everyone laugh, and shifts seem to go faster when he is around. In the new bistro, Adam says the Chicken Funghi is his favourite meal and judging by the amount of times

I’ve seen him eat it, I’d think he didn’t know there was anything else on the menu. Aside from the Club, Adam has ambitions to run a successful Personal Training business, and has already started Tenacity Health and Fitness. Adam’s love of Personal Training stems from his love of sport and physical activity in general. Helping people stay healthy and seeing them achieve great results is an added bonus! As for his own personal fitness goals, Adam has two: the first is to ‘look hot’ for his trip to America coming up and the second is to “Make sure I continue to look better than Nathan Drayton.” I’m sure Nathan has something to say about that...

CLUB RYDEX BULLS

LOCAL COMP Ryde Bulls has new Sunday Mixed, Sunday Men, Monday Men and Tuesday Men’s comps starting in March 14. LEARN TO PLAY Ryde Bulls has Learn to play classes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays for ages from 6 years to 16 years. FRIDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY LOCAL COMP The Ryde Bulls will have a Friday Night Under 16 and Sunday Local Comp Under 11, 12 & 14 all playing at Ryde X and our new facility at Marsden High School from March – August.

COMBINED SPORTS If you are looking for a place to get together with friends over a game of darts, golf, pool or indoor bowls, then the Combined Sports Club is for you! We are running a Trivia Night to fundraise for Combined Sports on Saturday June 21st at the Club, and all are welcome. It’s always a great night, full of lots of fun and some cracking trivia so come along and show us your brain power! For more information contact Glen Fish on 0417 490 428 If you are interested in playing darts you can contact Neil Ballantine on 9888 7044 For Indoor bowls enquiries please contact John Trost on 0412 746 938

NEW WEBSITE The Ryde Bulls is pleased to announce For more information or help with our new website www.rydebulls.com for The Under 12, 14 & 16 juniors all have contacting any of these organisers, please all your basketball needs! Follow us on two teams this year and will play in the contact reception on 9807 3344. Sydney Metro Comp representing the Club Facebook and Twitter, and keep an eye out for our new app! RydeX Bulls in 2014. All home games are played at Ryde on Sundays. The Seniors TRIVIA NIGHT AND DISCOS in 2014 will be representing Ryde in The The Ryde Bulls will be running a number of State League Men and Women as well as in Youth League Division One for the first Discos for our Youth Members and a Trivia Night in April. To book go to time! This team will be coached by Steve Carfino, the NBL and Australian basketball www.rydebulls.com identity. Daniel Smith

COURTESY BUS

The Club courtesy bus runs on Wednesday through to Sunday, and leaves from the club premises on the hour every hour during the following times: WEDNESDAY - 4:00pm-10:00pm THURSDAY - 6:00pm – 10:00pm FRIDAY - 5:00pm – 10:00pm SATURDAY - 5:00pm – 10:00pm SUNDAY - 10:30am – 3:30pm

EUS L LED B F F ANTH DO R P MO

Book at reception or call 9807 3344. Cost - gold coin donation

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CLUB RYDEX SUPPORTS THE RESPONSIBLE SERVICE OF ALCOHOL