THA Hospitality Review - August Edition

THA Hospitality Review - August Edition

HOSPITALITY—REVIEW 2021 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE EDITION

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE TASMANIAN HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION: AUGUST 2021

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CO N T E N T S

THA PRESIDENT UPDATE PAGE 5

MEET THE BOARD JOHN DABNER PAGE 20

THA CEO UPDATE PAGE 7

SPECIAL PROJECTS UPDATE EAST COAST RECOVERY TOUR PAGE 22 - 23

PREMIER OF TASMANIA PAGE 9

CLUBS TASMANIA UPDATE PAGE 24 - 25

LABOR LEADER PAGE 11

MINISTER FOR SPORT AND RECREATION PAGE 26 - 27

THA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE PERPETUAL AWARDS PAGE 13 - 21

TOURISM TASMANIA PAGE 29

THA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE FULL LIST OF WINNERS PAGE 15 THA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE NORTH WEST SHINES PAGE 16 - 17 THA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE DARREN MARTELLO FEATURE PAGE 18

HOSTPLUS PAGE 30 - 31 HOSPITALITYDOCTOR.COM PAGES 33

CORPORATE PARTNERS PAGES 35

HOSPITALITY—REVIEW PUBLISHED BY THE THA 25/93 Salamanca Place, Hobart TAS 7000 PO BOX 191, Battery Point TAS 7004 03 6220 7300 [email protected] www.tha.asn.au

THA HOSPITALITY—REVIEW: 2021

PRESIDENT UPDATE

Paul Jubb - THA President

The 2021 THA Awards for Excellence was a wonderful, fitting celebration of excellence in our industry after such a difficult and uncertain time in our history. As the THA President and a long time industry operator, I have experienced the full spectrum of emotions as we all navigated the challenges over the past 18 months. It was like nothing I have ever endured in all my years in hospitality. But we have emerged, we are here, we are recovering and will push forward together. I want to thank each one of you for your support of each other and your spirit in getting through the biggest challenge our industry has ever faced. It’s safe to say the Tasmanian Hospitality Association has never been more important, or indeed busier, than in the last year or so. The board and team opened up our doors, our phone lines and our hearts to the entire industry. Members or not, the THA was there to help. Because we’re one industry, and our reputation and survival is so integral to our own livelihoods and to the state of Tasmania. Hospitality is the lifeblood of our great state, our venues provide a place to meet and reunite at a time when human connection is so important. And our staff provide that human connection and service as well, they’re the heartbeat of our industry and help it thrive. Many were very protective of their staff and wanted them to emerge out of the challenges with us. The gala event was a celebration of excellence and resilience in our industry. After having to cancel the 2020 event, this is the night of nights to come together and really reflect and recognise our own achievements and the achievements of others. This year we received over 350 nominations across the 42 categories. The calibre of entries was as high as ever.

This is a testament to the resilience, talent and professionalism of our operatros and staff, to provide such quality experiences during and after such a challenging and difficult time. I congratulate each winner of the THA Awards for Excellence. You should be incredibly proud of your venue and what it brings to the state of Tasmania, It's people and its visitors. I want to acknowledge THA CEO Steve Old and his tireless work in supporting the industry and negotiating the best support for all venues through such a difficult time and congratulate him on his much deserved recognition with a special award presented by the Premier of Tasmania, Peter Gutwein.

As we look at the future, I am very, very confident in our industry and in our state. We still have our challenges and continue to operate in an uncertain environment with restrictions and the threat of the virus still present. But our industry is more resilient, more united and more sought-after than ever. I urge you to continue to strive for excellence and uphold the strong reputation of our sector.

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CEO UPDATE

Steve Old - THA CEO

The 2021 Awards for Excellence was one of the most important and indeed emotional events in my 14 years at the THA. At a time when our main tourism markets in Victoria and New South Wales were dealing with chaotic outbreaks and repeated industry shutdowns, simply holding the awards was a testament to the hard work and resilience of our decision makers and our industry. I think everyone who was able to attend the evening would agree that being able to come together with 480 industry representatives was really special after the challenges of the last 18 months. I said it on the Awards night, but I really do want to thank some people who have supported myself personally and the industry over the last 18 months. To the Premier, I thank you for your tenacity, your fierce protection of the state and its people, and your understanding of the issues that face our hospitality operators. At times, we had some pretty robust conversations but I know that we were both fighting for the best interests and the protection of our stakeholders and I wholeheartedly appreciate your efforts and importantly your care over this time. There were occasions when the Premier’s number popped up on my phone late at night, and I’d fear the worst as I answered. But on the other end was a “How you going Steve? You coping ok?” And it’s the mark of a man that is able to do that, and Tasmania is so lucky to have a Premier who has put everyone else first during such an unprecedented time. Similarly, I want to thank the Minister for Hospitality, Sarah Courtney who has also had the Health portfolio on her plate during this time. From industry I want to thank Sarah for her efforts to support industry and operators.

I also want to thank opposition leader and shadow Hospitality and Events minister Rebecca White, who has been steadfast in her support of the industry and holding the government to account, and we’re pleased that Bec will maintain this portfolio and we look forward to working with her and her cabinet. I would like to thank the THA Staff and Board for their hardwork and suport. The board roles are volunteer positions and the board gives up their time to support myself and the industry. To my wife, Lisa and my children Kalia, Xavier and Victoria I can’t thank you enough for your unwavering support that enabled me to work through this time. To be presented (and surprised) by a Special Award from the Premier at the Awards for Excellence was truly special and appreciated. Seeing the sustainability and prosperity of our members and our industry is my priority but it is of course lovely to have the hard work recognised. So thank you to the THA team and to the Premier for the kind words and acknowledgement. Of course the work does not stop, times are still uncertain and our industry is still facing massive challenges as interstate lockdowns significantly impact the sector. I look forward to continuing to support our industry to thrive into the future and strive for excellence.

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PREMIER OF TASMANIA

The Hon. Peter Gutwein MP

It’s only fitting that my contribution to this edition of the THA Hospitality Review congratulates wholeheartedly all category winners announced at the recent THA Awards for Excellence event on the 28th June at Wrest Point. It was great night, not just for the winners, but also for industry in general and seeing an enthusiastic crowd enjoying themselves after what it has been through made it a special night and reflected the resilience and determination of the THA membership. From a personal perspective I was pleased to present the Premier’s Community Contribution Award to Darren Martello from the Bridport Hotel. As a number of you may know Bridport holds some special memories for me and was the location of my first foray into the hospitality sector.

It was pleasing that Steve was completely unaware of the award, and it was very well deserved.

Since then though we have seen the re-emergence of COVID-19 on the mainland and the introduction of a number of measures that have had to be implemented. As I’ve acknowledged before, these measures have a significant impact on our hospitality and tourism sector, however it is critical that we do not threaten the good position that Tasmania enjoys currently. We all have to be vigilant and disciplined and the fundamental measures such as the Check in TAS App is extremely important in managing the challenge. I ask you all to continue to work with my Government in meeting and beating the COVID-19 challenge, while continuing to provide great service and experiences to our community and our visitors.

I was also very pleased to make a special award to Steve Old with the THA membership recognising the incredible amount of work that Steve undertook on their behalf dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

THA HOSPITALITY—REVIEW: AUGUST 2021 | 9

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TASMANIAN LABOR

Rebecca White - Labor Leader

It has been a rollercoaster of a ride for Tasmania’s tourism, hospitality and events industry over the past couple of months. Borders have been opened, closed and then opened again and all businesses have been forced to work extremely hard to continue operating in a COVID-safe way. As Shadow Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events I am in awe of how all Tasmania’s incredible businesses have dealt with the ongoing challenges of COVID-19. The industry continues to face uncertainty and the threat of an outbreak or border closure has placed increased pressure on management and staff. With speculation from the government that the state needs to be prepared for a snap lockdown if the Delta variant enters Tasmania, the threat to businesses viability remains high. It’s critical the government is prepared to offer support quickly to workers and businesses if we see a lockdown here. It is never easy to run a business, and in a pandemic is it even harder, but so far, our state has managed to push through and continue to deliver great service and the best of Tasmanian produce to locals and tourists from interstate and New Zealand. The 2021 THA Awards for Excellence are a great example of businesses receiving well deserved acknowledgement for their hard work. Businesses from right across the state received awards in a range of categories and should all be immensely proud of their efforts. It is no easy feat to win one of these awards and it shows that despite some difficult times, Tasmania’s hospitality industry continues to deliver high quality produce and service.

Tasmania’s hospitality industry is full of hard-working people, many who work in the industry to build skills, earn money or fulfil a dream. This is why I once again put my hand up to represent them as Shadow Minister. I see the tourism, hospitality and events sectors as vital to our state and its future and I am proud that through my shadow ministry I am able to fight for members of the industry right across the state.

As the industry continues to battle with uncertain borders and restrictions it is crucial both the government and community support them. Through my role as Labor Leader and Shadow Minister I will ensure hospitality workers have a voice that will hold the government to account. I look forward to meeting with members of the industry over the next four years and welcome businesses or individuals with concerns to reach out to my office. The tourism, hospitality and events sectors are crucial to the future of the state and I will help ensure they have the tools they need to thrive.

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2021 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

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2021 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

PERPETUAL AWARDS Premier’s Award for Contribution to the Community | DARREN MARTELLO

Bertie Tucceri Award | RITSA NICHOLAS Ritsa Nicholas took inspiration from her parents when she started her career more than 25 years ago, without any hospitality experience but with a love for people and for good food. RItsa and husband Perry welcome customers each and every day to Elaia Cafe in Launceston with a familiar warmth throughout breakfast, lunch and dinner service. Throughout his 25 years and career moves in the industry, Darren Martello has left his mark on the locals with his amazing service, friendly smile, and his undeniable sense of humor. Darren united the community in an annual effort to ‘Clean our Coast’, recognising the significant impact humans are having on the local environment. In 2020, participants in the Clean our Coast event filled 10 wheelie bins with the rubbish collected from the beach and surrounds, protecting local plant and wildlife. Hear more from Darren Martello on page 18

Ritsa Nicholas embodies the Bertie Tucceri spirit with her enduring resilience and commitment to the restaurant sector and its customers. Minister’s Award for Contribution to the Industry | RALPH & SUZANNE NORTON

From humble beginnings, Ralph and Suzanne Norton have created a hospitality empire over 40 years. The family brought the warm intimacy of the Irish pub to Tasmania and the Irish Murphy’s brand is now a household name across the nation. Throughout their hospitality careers spanning four decades, the couple have owned and operated some of the State’s most iconic restaurants and hotels and employed hundreds, if not thousands, of Tasmanians. Norton Hospitality Group strives for hospitality at its best.

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2021 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

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2021 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

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2021 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

North West Coast shines

Endless views and a relaxed atmosphere is what Bayviews Restaurant and Lounge Bar promises, and Ann and Kirk Wyss and the team deliver, in spades. The enviable location and uninterrupted views across Burnie’s West Beach are just the start for the locals and many visitors that form the venue’s loyal customer base. But Ann says it’s the staff that make the experience award-worthy. “We’ve done it for 12 years and we’ve obviously got some very talented people. Patrick Sherriff who is our head chef that has been with us from day one, when he was just 21, we’ve got Isaac Troughton as our sous-chef, we’ve got our front of house manager Gregory, and Danielle Kennedy, who are really key people. “We can’t do what we do without our people – this is for them really”. “We actually really care about our customers and we don’t take it for granted the people who come into us” Ann said. Best Specialty or Themed Bar Best Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year - Metro BAYVIEWS RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE BAR

Best Pub-Style Accommodation. Hotel/Pub Tavern of the Year - Regional STANLEY HOTEL

The Stanley Hotel took home two THA Awards for Excellence, recognised for both the pub itself and the accommodation rooms as well. Former THA board member Julian Jacobs has been involved in tourism ventures in Stanley for more than four decades. The Jacobs family are the unofficial custodians of Stanley, with Julian’s ancestors first settling in the area in the early 1800s. The couple took ownership of the pub over 20 years ago, and have transformed it into the heart of the seaside township. After a challenging 18 months through the COVID pandemic, Tracey says the awards are fantastic for the tight-knit staff. “We’ve got a really dedicated team and they’ve been with us a long time so it’s wonderful for them to get the recognition”. “Stanley’s just a great place to have a business in. The recognition for Stanley and Circular Head is good too”.

The seasonal menu paints a portrait of the region using the highest quality ingredients that we can find, focusing on six key areas: land, ocean, vineyards, livestock, dairy and orchard. Kirk said “We try to treat every customer the same, it doesn’t matter if it’s the Premier or a filmstar, or joe from around the corner – everybody is the same”. You don’t expect the awards, but it’s very special.

Photo credit: The Advocate

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2021 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

on industry’s night of nights

A very successful landscaping business and a high- paying corporate job – Alastair and Kerry Houston and their two daughters had it all, living in Hobart. But the charm and beauty of Stanley kept pulling them back to the North West town ship. “There’s so much history and beauty, that people get there and say they can just breathe and it feels like you’re stepping back in time” Kerry explains. The couple made the town their full time home three years ago when they purchase a run-down property at the base of the famous Nut, with a vision to make it luxury accommodation that brought modern indulgence to the rich history of the area. “Our property, we’ve just really enjoyed doing it up over the last two to three years and embracing the stories of the region but adding that luxury touch so people make it a destination”. Each of the 7 suits embraces a historic figure or story, combining historical artifacts and original artworks with custom furnitutre and fittings while maximising the views of the unrivalled coastline. Best Superior Hotel Accommodation Accommodation Venue of the Year - Regional SHIP INN STANLEY

The couple have used their expertise in landscaping and interior design to transform the large venue into a must-stay place on the North West Coast, and their efforts were duly rewarded with two THA Awards for Excellence. “It means we’re going to buy lots of chocolates for our staff! They’re one of the key reasons we won the awards, it is because of the wonderful job they do for us”. Ship Inn was part of THA’s Showcasing the Hospitality Industry series - https://youtu.be/-zOU2xBfBtY Best TAB Licenced Venue Hotel/Pub Tavern of the Year - Metro BEACH HOTEL BURNIE Adding to their “Best Quality Draught Beer’ Award in 2019, Beach Hotel Burnie took out two highly coveted awards at the 2021 gala event. Operator and THA Board Member Ben Carpenter said “the last 18 months have been different to say the least, the community support has been unbelievable. It’s a privilege to be apart of the winners, the whole north west coast has done exceptionally well this year.

Relying heavily on an interstate tourism market has had its challenges in the last 18 months. “We had some guests that had to cancel three times, and they were devastated so you really feel for them but you just have to push through and it’s the resilience that you have to have. People always rebook though, and the Tasmanian community have been amazing in exploring the area and staying with us we’ve been very lucky

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2021 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

Premier’s Award for Contribution to the Community | DARREN MARTELLO

What does the award mean to you? Oh I just had no idea. I didn’t even think that THA or people or Peter Gutwein knew the things that I do! We sponsor every single local sporting team, we do our Clean the Coast event which is huge. We fill a whole skip bin every year with rubbish off the beach and come back and have a barbeque and beers and we’re educating people on things like minimising plastic use and people are starting to reliase their impact. And community events we like being involved in. But yes the award is very humbling. How did the clean the Coast Event come about? I actually stole the event off a big corporate company who did a one off thing interstate so my daughter and I got it going locally. It's a bloody awesome event. We've been going 4 years, and every body feel really proud about making a difference. It's a geat clean, green event... with beers involved!

THE BRIDPORT HOTEL has been Darren Martello’s ‘hospitality home’ for the best part of 30 years. Martello and his wife have breathed life into the local institution and empowered meaningful change in the community through the ‘Clean our Coast’ annual event, recognising and reducing the significant impact humans are having on the local foreshore. Darren is just about to embark on a new hospitality adventure, managing the Furneaux Tavern on Flinders Island after selling the Bridport hotel last month. Throughout his 26 years in the industry, Darren has always maintained his sense of humour, his love for the industry and it’s people, and a willingness to help anyone he can. Darren is as humble as they come, and a deserving winner of the Premier’s Award for Contribution to the Community at the 2021 THA Awards for Excellence. THA Membership Manager Nick Roney caught up with Darren following the event. How’d you get started in Tasmanian hospitality? “I came over here to play football originally, went back and forth to Melbourne a bit and around a few venues in Launceston but I’ve been in and out of the Bridport Hotel for the best part of 30 years. When I was managing the Cock’n’Bull we thought we should get a venue of our own and we looked at a lot of pubs around Tassie, Bridport Hotel was on the market and we just thought that it felt like home”. What has changed over your time at the Bridport Hotel? Oh Bridport itself has changed, its become a lot busier . The main thing that has made it busier is the traffic from Barnbougle, the amount of people that brings to Bridport, its just crazy and wonderful for the pub. What has changed is people now more and more want Tasmanian produce and now Tassie is quite trendy. People want to come here, they want paddock to plate, they want local wine and local seafood, and we’ve evolved with that.

What does the future hold for Clean our Coast? I'll still be running it! I've had JB from Lion reach out and want to get on board, so it's just going to get bigger and better. We'd love to hear from any other corporates that would like to be involved. We use the pub hotel for the beers and barbeque after, we want to make it so big that we use the village green for celebrations! To express your support contact [email protected]

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2021 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

Best Meeting and Events Venue | ROYAL YACHT CLUB OF TASMANIA

Venues that rely heavily on events have been among the hardest hit from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cancellations, lockdowns and restrictions on capacity and stand up drinking and dancing have presented constant issues for venues, operators and staff. The challenges of the last 18 months made winning a THA Award for Excellence even sweeter for many venues, a reward for many sleepless nights and operational changes. None more so for the team at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania who took home the Best Meeting and Event Venue at the gala event. RYCT Manager, Customer Relations - Events, Almer Elzink says it’s due reward for the staff’s effort. “The award represents a massive recognition for the hard work we have put in over the years to deliver a great customer experience”. RYCT lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in cancellations over the forced closure of the business and the restricted reopening of venues, but Almers says the venue did everything they could to make the events they could hold special. “More importantly it shows that even in an unprecedented year of operations, impacted by coronavirus, we can count on the trust and loyalty of our clients for which we are extremely grateful. We also really appreciate the support of the THA and Clubs Tasmania over the year when we were faced with continuously changing regulations in our efforts to provide a covid safe environment” Almer said.

Upcoming Events The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania manages a busy social calendar of events. The monthly Club events where both members and non-members are welcome to attend have been very popular occasions for the community to get together. Over summer, the club has live music on our waterfront deck. Foodies also get their share with tapas and wine tastings, high teas, and recently the Christmas in July feast.

Currently RYCT are getting ready for the sailing season with the traditional festivities of Opening Day, and into the preparations for the biggest event of the year, the 76th Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, after it was cancelled in 2020. Due to the wide variety of catering packages and modern PA facilities, the RYCT has become known as the Club’s Club hosting many other sporting Club’s end of season presentation dinners. Considering most Clubs are non-for-profit, just like us, we extend free room hire to organisations that want to organise an event without relying on their own volunteers or facilities.

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2021 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

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2021 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

Meet the Board | John Dabner

What is the value of the THA to the hospitality industry? The THA enables industry to be informed of the issues within the tourism and hospitality sector that are shaping the future for our industry. Training and Industrial Relations are two of the key focal areas that assist members on a day to day basis that assist all properties in the changing landscape we all encounter.

John Dabner is the General Manager of Tall Timbers Tasmania. His passion for the tourism and hospitality industry is fuelled by a desire to ensure that all regions of the state are promoted equally and given the opportunity to grow and access current and emerging markets and trends. John is the THA Accommodation President, National Accommodation Division (NAD) President, and Executive Member of the AHA National Board. What do you love about the hospitality industry? Hospitality is an industry that you meet a vast array of people, different personalities, and ages. I love the interaction, the busy environment, the stories people share and fulfillment of teach new young staff to strive for excellence and grow their careers. How long have you been in the industry and in what type of roles? I have been in hospitality for some 35+ years and have had the opportunity to grow my knowledge from the bottom to General Manager. I started in maintenance / yard person, to food & beverage, retail (Bottleshops), gaming, accommodation, tour operations, sales& marketing, project development, strategic planning, and finance. A career that has enabled me to be engaged, interactive with my fellow colleagues and involved with industry groups is shaping the tourism / hospitality sector in the direction it is moving today.

John and the Tall Timbers team continued the North West Coast’s dominance at the 2021 Awards for Excellence, collecting three Awards - Outstanding Community Service and Achievement, Best Mid-Range Accommodation Best Sports bar for the venue’s Millers Sports Bar.

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EAST COAST RECOVERY TOUR

Stephen Long - THA Special Projects Manager

The closure of the Tasman High way at Paradise Gorge, near Orford at short notice had a massive impact on local businesses from Buckland to Swansea who operate in one of Australis most tourism dependant markets. The THA endeavoured to support all its members though contact and lobbying of the Tasmanian and Federal Government with some success. Hardship Grants were made available though feedback was that due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic it was difficult to provide some of the evidence required and that the process was somewhat difficult. Businesses were doing it hard and that grants were appreciated but didn’t fill the void, and once again venues were having to lay off staff and had little revenue. One particular impact that would not be evident was at the Ye Olde Buckland Inn where they were ejected from the local 8-ball competition as their opponents were all north of the divide – a significant impact on a small country pub and on the community. The THA team rallied to support members, quickly sourcing some financial and other support and to deliver it. So the East Coast Recovery tour came in to being. The premise for the tour was that we would hire a bus, seek the contribution of THA coporate partners to buy a seat – at $1,100 (incl GST) and provide their own accommodation costs, and to seek donations of goods and chattels that would enable us to provide support through buying consumables at the venue, donating supplies and giving a cash injection. Off we went, via Campbell Town to pick up the Northern crew and down the East Coast via Lake Leake to visit 10 member venues to spread the donations and lift morale in the community. On the way we dispersed over $30,000 to THA members to assist them with survival and brought many smiles, and some tears, to operators in the affected areas.

A special thanks to Phillip Morris who underwrote all additional costs above and beyond what we could raise for the ancillary parts of the journey. Feedback from Venues and from participants has been exclusively positive. A big outcome from a THA perspective of this journey was the ability to interact closely with our members and the impacts it had for Corporates face to face with venue operators. Upcoming event | Tour of Tasmania We have learnt some lessons and have combined these with reflection on previous our regional forums, and now planning a statewide tour This year will see the THA, Corporate Partners and Politicians travel the state to industry, visiting them in their businesses – on our Tour of Tasmania - offering support and connecting with communities. We’ll be doing this on a charted bus and would like to see you or your business represented on these trips. Thanks to our supporting corporate partners Tassal | Angela Williamson, David Forrest & Victoria O’Sullivan Lion | John Burchill NRMA | Andrew Paynter and Todd Roberts Collins SBA | Bruno Palermo | Kerry Johnson Rapid Supply | Daniel Freshney & Andrew Boon Coca Cola Euro Pacific partners | Paul Champion Federal Group | Daniel Hanna & David Foster PFD Food Services | TomMcGinn, Kellie Beacham & Kerry Crowden Simplot | Jon Gangell Treasury Wines | Neil Grant, Kyle Astbury, Angela Oswin Australian Liquor Marketers - David Sheppard Federal Group – Vantage | Martin Kelly Gallaghers Insurances | Dan Quintin Complete Information Services

North Melbourne Football Club | Josh Linton TabCorp | Marcus Welch & Brendan Cashman CUB | Matthew McGowan

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CLUBS TASMANIA UPDATE

Andrew Moore - Clubs Tasmania Project Manager

LJFC find new home for old kit

Latrobe and Port Sorell community clubs forum Community clubs from across the Latrobe and Port Sorell area came together for a Clubs Tasmania forum in July, hosted by the Wesley Vale Football Club. It was great to have representatives from local lawn bowls, surf lifesaving, cricket, football, rugby, equestrian, cycling, woodchopping, roller derby and in line skating clubs to hear from guest speakers across several areas to help clubs operate more sustainably and efficiently including; • Transitioning to cashless banking • Upskilling volunteers and staff with the THA Great Customer Experience Program • Coaching and coach training • Government assistance grants and support available

Growth, partipcularly in female participation, in Tasmania ignited a plan to align the junior Lindisfarne teams with the SFL, SFLW and Masters Teams to play in the same jumper across the club’s 16 teams. Volunteer fundraising efforts, grants accessed through Clubs Tasmania and generous sponsorship from Nu Jet, Banjos and Signrite raised the $25,000 needed to purchase new jumpers for the ‘Two Blues’ teams. The move has united the club, but left 400 kids playing jumpers, still in reasonable condition, lying dormant in the change rooms. The LJFC committee hatched a plan to rehome the old jumpers, reaching out to AFL Cairns to identify remote Aboriginal communities in far north Queensland that could benefit from the donation. Tasmanian expats Ricky Hanlon, Chris Ransom and Kain Richter from AFL Cairns were delighted to facilitate the donation to kids in Hammond Island and Aurukun, in far North Queensland with local Cambridge business Total Freight Solutions arranging freight to get them to the kids! Lindisfarne Junior Football Club’s former ‘Lightening’ strip is now striking across fields in junior Northern Queensland leagues.

Well done to all involved in this fantastic initiative! Contact LJFC if you’d like to find out more.

OR contact Clubs Tasmania to discuss how we may be able to support your club’s charitable ideas and projects.

The representatives also enjoyed a panel with Tasmanian sporting legends and passionate north west coasters, David Foster and Michael Wilson who discussed the challenges and barriers around clubs viability and success.

To find out more about how Clubs Tasmania can assist your community or sports clubs, or RSL contact Project Manager AndrewMoore - [email protected] | 1300 125 827

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MINISTER FOR RACING & SPORT

The Hon. Jane Howlett - MLC

Inspiring the next generation of Tasmanian children to get involved in sport I think I speak for most Tasmanians in congratulating our very own Ariarne Titmus for recently etching her name into the record books by claiming two Olympic Gold Medals and a Bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. This amazing feat saw the 20 year old become the first Tasmanian to win an individual Olympic Gold Medal, the first Tasmanian to win multiple medals at one Olympic Games, and just the third Australian in history after Shane Gould and Ian Thorpe to win the 200 and 400 metres double. This is testament to the years of hard work and dedication it has taken for the Launceston born swimming sensation to get to that moment.

Her efforts at the Tokyo Games has cemented Titmus as one of the greatest athletes that our State has ever produced. Qualifying for an Olympic or Paralympic Games is such an incredible achievement in itself and I congratulate all of the Tasmanians competing in Tokyo - Stewart McSweyn (athletics), Daniel Watkins (canoe slalom), Georgia Baker and Richie Porte (cycling), Jacob Birtwhistle (triathlon) Eddie Ockenden and Josh Beltz (hockey), Sarah Hawe and Ciona Wilson (rowing), Nathaniel Atkinson (Football) and Chris Goulding (Basketball). These amazing athletes are no doubt inspiring many young Tasmanians to strive to follow in their footsteps.

Our sport loving State is so delighted for Ariarne and her family that she has been able to not only live her Olympic dream but stand on the podium in Tokyo three times with the world watching on.

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MINISTER FOR RACING & SPORT

And it has been a great success with more than 14,000 vouchers issued under the 2020-21 program. The $10 million Improving the Playing Field Program also delivers on our election commitment by supporting sporting clubs with funding to support a new range of capital investments by sporting clubs and associations, benefiting local communities for years to come. The Program provides financial assistance to upgrade amenities at sporting facilities around Tasmania so that they can cater for all participants. Importantly this Program also supports job creation, and small businesses with a pipeline of local work. Projects should aim to develop or improve functional and inclusive amenities such as change rooms, toilets and shower facilities, accessibility, lighting, security, fencing and scoreboards. Applicants must contribute at least 15 per cent of the total project cost. Up to $50,000 will be provided through the small grants stream, and grants of $50,000 up to $500,000 will be provided through the large grants stream. Applications for the small grants stream close on 6 September 2021, and applications for the large grants stream close on 25 October 2021. Applications for Ticket to Play are open until 31 May 2022. Playing sport and being physically active when young is key to establishing lifelong healthy habits. It also improves mental health, fosters social skills, promotes teamwork and helps to develop leadership skills. The Tasmanian Liberal Government is working to get more Tasmanians active, no matter where they live, their age, or their circumstance.

OUR GOVERNMENT recognises that there has never been a better time for kids to engage in sports. Not only are we making it easier for them to play, we’re also investing in sporting clubs and associations to help build better amenities and facilities. I was very pleased to recently relaunch our Ticket to Play Program and announce that applications for the 2021-22 Improving the Playing Field are now open. We have delivered on our 2021 election commitment to double the value of Ticket to Play and we are providing $200 in vouchers to help eligible children become involved in sports and activities by investing an additional $3 million over three years. Cost is one of the major barriers to children playing organised sport and Ticket to Play is breaking down that barrier which is fantastic. The program reduces the cost of eligible children’s participation in sport through the provision of vouchers to reduce registration costs. Two vouchers worth up to $100 each towards sporting club membership, as well as Scouts, Guides and Cadets, are available to Tasmanian children aged five to 18 years who are listed on a valid Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card or who are in out of home care. Participants can use one voucher for a summer sport and the other for a winter sport or use one voucher for a favourite sport and the other to try something new.

For more information about Ticket to Play or Improving the Play Field visit www.communities. tas.gov.au.

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Winter is a food lover’s paradise in Tasmania. From paddock to plate, nose to tail, root to tip, or ocean to table, there’s a mouth-watering treat to suit everyone. Whether carnivore or vegan, cheese lover or wannabe-chef, a culinary experience awaits you and your taste buds. Find out all the ways it’s our Off Season at discovertasmania.com.au/off-season

FARM FRESH MARKETS Local markets have the best selection of seasonal, fresh produce straight from the farmers. Harvest Launceston starts bright and early on Saturdays and Farm Gate Market in Hobart’s city centre is on every Sunday. Head to Bream Creek Farmers Market on the first Sunday of every month, and Willie Smith’s Artisan and Produce Market in Grove on Saturdays. Stock the pantry and warm up in the kitchen with some slow cooking.

FORAGE AND GRAZE Stop at a roadside farm-gate stall for seasonal produce, bread, jams and pickles. Venture on a Northern Forage road trip and discover the bountiful range of produce across Northern Tasmania. On the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail, meet the makers of treats ranging from chocolate and truffles to whisky and craft beer. And taste honey from hives deep in the forests of takayna/Tarkine at Blue Hills Honey in Mawbanna.

OCEAN TO TABLE Winter is when oysters are at their plumpest. Add Get Shucked on Bruny Island, Barilla Bay Oyster Farm in Cambridge and Freycinet Marine Farm in Coles Bay to your oyster trail. Stanley is reputed to have the best fish and chips in Australia - a claim to test. Enjoy fresh seafood at the Fish Van in Triabunna and The Gulch in Bicheno. And find out why people line up for the lobster roll at the Lobster Shack Tasmania in Bicheno.

PADDOCK TO PLATE King Island is regarded as one of the best places in the world to raise pasture-fed cattle. Take a tour of an 800-hectare sustainably managed cattle property with Meat Your Beef, before sitting down to a hearty lunch. If you’re craving a succulent steak, it’s hard to beat Cape Grim Grill at Tall Timbers in Smithton. Want to know the trick to making mouth-watering salami? Book an artisan workshop at Fork n Farm Homestead in Glengarry.

CHEERS TO CHEESE You can never have enough handcrafted cheese. There’s a craft beer to match your cheese at Bruny Island Cheese Company. At Ashgrove Dairy Door and Visitor Centre, indulge in an Off Season special offer of a melt-in-your-mouth truffle fondue for two. Or while away the afternoon in the paddock with award-winning farmhouse cheese at Pyengana Dairy.

WANNABE CHEF Take your culinary skills to the next level with an atmospheric cooking school. Book a Winter Warmers masterclass at The Farmhouse Kitchen in Wattle Grove, or settle in for a cooking session at the beautifully restored Red Feather Inn in Hadspen. Gain confidence in the basics of cooking or master the flavours used in multicultural cuisines at Sylvia’s Kitchen in Launceston.

discovertasmania.com.au/off-season

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TOURISM TASMANIA

John Fitzgerald - CEO

Congratulations to the finalists and winners of the THA 2021 Awards for Excellence and thank you for continuing to provide visitors and Tasmanians alike with high quality experiences. As the hospitality and tourism sector continues to navigate the impacts of COVID-19, it is especially important during these challenging times to keep celebrating achievements such as these. I commend you and your staff on your enduring resilience and efforts to maintain the high level of service and hospitality that Tasmania is known for. While there is continued uncertainty around the prospect of domestic travel for much of our nation, Tourism Tasmania is continuing to stimulate demand with the Off Season campaign. Tourism and hospitality operators around Tasmania are offering unique experiences exclusive to the winter months. There are a total of 304 offers on the Off Season website and since the campaign launched, there have been 335,319 landings on the website and 41,325 visits to operator listings (directed from the website). Anecdotally, many businesses are reporting that their special offers have resulted in increased enquiries and bookings which is fantastic. The Make Yourself at Home campaign is also continuing to encourage locals to get out and support our tourism industry. We’ve partnered with radio hosts Jimmy and Nath to showcase the state via radio, television and social media and we have partnered with radio stations in the northwest, north and northeast for a ‘Roving Winter Roadshow’ to talk to listeners about where to go and what to see and do.

We have also produced a series of themed mini- guides published in the local newspapers (Advocate, Examiner, Mercury), to showcase what people can do and see over the Off Season. Themes include winter events, walks, family fun, wildlife, paddock to plate and cellar doors. To help support the tourism industry in response to ongoing border restrictions as well as to leverage the latest round of the Government’s travel vouchers initiative, we will be airing the Make Yourself at Home television ads until the end of August. This campaign will help boost awareness of the range of amazing holiday options and experiences around Tasmania and encourage Tasmanians to get out and take advantage of what’s on offer.

Remember to keep leveraging the Off Season campaign by encouraging your staff, guests, friends and family to share their experiences of your business in winter using #TassieOffSeason. This will enable your business to be part of the conversation and gain exposure. It will also help build awareness of the Off Season as a brand as we continue to position Tasmania as a must-do winter destination.

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HOSTPLUS

David Elia - CEO

Growth and development in the super industry After a year of uncertainty and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its knock-on effects for our economy, markets and community, Hostplus delivered some impressive performance in 2020-21. Investment markets broadly recovered from the downturn of early 2020. Thanks to Hostplus’ long- term investment strategy, the Fund was able to weather this downturn and was well-placed to take advantage of the ensuing recovery. As a result, we delivered our best ever single-year performance across a range of investment options for the year ended 30 June 2021. The Balanced (MySuper) option delivered a market- leading net return of 21.32%. This is the best annual result for this option in the Fund’s 32-year history1. Both Indexed Balanced (18.88%) and SRI Balanced (21.82%) also achieved best-ever results2. Super is about investing for the long term, and Hostplus has built an investment strategy with the long-term horizon in mind. Over rolling 5, 7, 10, 15 and 20 year periods, our Balanced option ranked one of the top three options1. A merger with Intrust Super It’s been an exciting time of growth and development for Hostplus. Earlier this year we announced that we and another hospitality focussed industry fund, Intrust, will merge later this year. Intrust Super shares Hostplus’ heritage in the hospitality, tourism, recreation and sports sectors, and its for-member profit ethos. Thanks to this common heritage, the Fund’s strong focus on these sectors will continue. Our merger with Intrust will expand Hostplus’ size and scale, which will help ensure the continued growth, competitiveness and success of the merged

fund. Both funds are working together to bring enhanced services and benefits to members and employers as a result of the merger. We anticipate further merges within the super industry to occur over the next few years, so for Hostplus and Intrust Super, it’s a great opportunity to combine our competitive advantages to benefit our members now. It’s great news for the hospitality industry across Australia as this merger will mean as an employer, you’ll no longer need to choose between two great hospitality-focussed super funds as your preferred default fund. The merger is scheduled to take place on 26 November 2021. Intrust Super members will be receiving information about their investment options, super products and insurance arrangements post-merger. Intrust Super employers will also be receiving comprehensive information packs. These will include more details about how super administration processes will work going forward. Work is underway to ensure that employer service programs and key contacts will remain the same. This will assist Intrust Super employers with the transition. Changing super obligations for employers Hostplus is also helping prepare employers for some changes to their staff onboarding processes that are coming into effect from 1 November. Currently, most of your staff will join your default fund when they start work. From 1 November 2021, under new super reforms, new employees that already have a super fund will instead be ‘stapled’ to their existing super fund, unless they choose another fund to be stapled to. For first-time entrants to the workforce they will be ‘stapled’ to the first super fund they join. This could be a fund they

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