Hope For Club Musos is ‘finally turning the corner’ By Darrin Manuel, Extracted from The Barrier Daily Truth. ` The Musicians’ Club has seen its fair share of turmoil over the last few years, but according new manager, Chris Turner, the club is finally starting to turn the corner. Mr Turner took over the role in July and after forging a 26-year career in the hospitality industry, managing businesses in Junee, Cunnamulla, and Port Macquarie. He said he regularly entered under performing businesses and worked to make them profitable again. He described the Musicians’ Club as a “tough” prospect, but added that it was both interesting and a challenge. The club had made headlines in recent months due to a bitter feud between two factions - one loyal to former president Marie Gelmi and her board, and another comprised of a band of disillusioned members. The latter had a victory at the club’s AGM last Sunday, in which Ms Gelmi and the majority of her board were ousted, and Roger Boland (president), Pat Hoare (vice-president) and Julie Gallagher (deputy vice-president) were elevated. The appointments are effectively moot in the short term, as the club is still under the control of administrator Robert Brennan and also under a Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA). Mr Turner said he had no insight into the political rift that existed when he took over as manager, but added that it gave him the advantage of impartiality as he takes the club forward. “I had no idea coming in, no understanding of the people and the politics,” he said. “But I think that was a good thing, Im not taking sides one way or the other, Im just here to get the place profitable... so when that DOCA ends in April we can go to a lending facility and ask for some money... to repay creditors.” Mr Turner said he understood and appreciated the passion the two factions have for their club, but urged both parties to keep their differences low-key as the club looks to get back on its feet. “People come in here for a quiet beer, to relax, or to have a feed or a flutter - they don’t need to hear about the politics,” he said “It’s good to want to have a chat about the way things are going, but as far as the politics, I think it should be kept behind closed doors.” The focus on the club’s politics should not overshadow recent improvements that have been occurring, such as an increase in membership numbers for the first time in some months and a positive cash flow. “We’re turning it around, we started to make a profit, but there’s a lot of work to do,” said Mr Turner. “But the increased membership is a positive sign that people believe the club will survive.” One of the success stories at the club has been its new lunch menu, which features a choice of eight dishes for just eight dollars. Mr Turner has personally taken over the running of the kitchen, and said the club has gone from serving 20 meals at lunch up to 150 on a good day. Other upcoming improvements include better prizes and promotions for pokie players, and a richer $1000 membership draw to be held on Thursday nights. In the meantime, Mr Turner asked for the city’s support to ensure one of its iconic clubs can remain open for a long time to come. “It would be an absolute tragedy for this club to close, and a nail in the coffin for the city,” he said. “It needs to survive, and the only way it will is with the continued support of the community.”
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 04:03:49 +0000