| STATE OF THE NATION | ||
| Victoria | ||
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Paul Barrett It’s definitely the season to be eventful. Coming out of the end of the 2000 season with another win to Sunline in the BMW Cox Plate and an outstanding win by Brew in the Foster’s Melbourne Cup is an exciting way to kick off the run of events for us here in Victoria. This Spring Carnival was the opening of the new grandstand at Flemington Racecourse. While the action was hot on the track with many trifectas that I know of going off in the Cleanevent marquee, the action was just as hot around the camp for the people on the ground. With the ever-growing stature of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, additional marquees, international status and bigger crowds makes our job more intense. We employed well over 300 personnel for the Melbourne Cup day and night, and introduced a twenty-four hour, round the clock team, to prepare each day of the Cup Carnival. In years past we have started on the Saturday of Derby Day and finished sometime the following Sunday with about 4 hrs sleep in between.We are not getting any younger and when your supervisors are getting older (won’t mention any names, but if you said Merv our Venue Manager and Brian S, the Night |
Shift Manager then you would be right….), then you need to make sure that these guys can go the distance. So there was a changing of the guard - lead by Andy Leonard the Event Manager, we ran 2 x 12 hour shifts. It was not without its teething problems, as pointed out by our Chairman Mr. Craig Lovett, but we did endeavour to rectify them very successfully. Craig did describe the best possible way to rectify the problems and what should be done to action these plans, with a various range of ideas and strategies and was a great motivator in ensuring the job was done correctly. This took us into the New Year with a run at the Australian Open. Once again with record crowds, our staff were challenged daily. With the introduction of the new Vodafone Arena, it meant that there were 2 x 10k plus arenas operating at any one time and with the always-unpredictable Melbourne weather, it made the logistical movement of staff eventful. Our role during the Open had changed a little compared with other years, which in turn made us adjust our game plan to be prepared for the unknown that could come from MOPT staff. A new and evolving staffing roster was trialed for the AO with good success. This is part of the new system that Cleanevent will use, which in the future will make the job easier for staffing and budgeting labour costs. It seems like we have just recovered from the last Grand Prix. It has come |
around once again very quickly. You will see something a little familiar but
different at the track this year, so keep your eyes peeled when the Nations cars are on the track. Our team at the MECC is in readiness for the up and coming Motor Show and what is turning out to be a busy season at the MECC. I would like to pass on best wishes to Kathy McLinden as she leaves the MECC to pursue a new career. MSAC has a new baby brother in the State Netball and Hockey Centre, which Cleanevent has proudly added to its stable here in Victoria. While the Centre is still in its infant stage, it will turn out to be a very busy venue. Jim McCrum will front the day-to-day operation there for us. After 3 years of solid night shift, Jim is more than deserving of being in normal daylight hours. I trust we will get to see a bit more of you Jim. Well done. A special mention to Mark Silveri, who in Jim Collins’ absence managed one the busiest venues in Victoria, Moonee Valley Racecourse. Mark did a great job holding the fort together and I believe it was a great opportunity for Mark to show his ability. Well here comes 2001 so see you on the other side! |
Queensland | South |
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| Stephanie Wade on behalf of Ken Mayes The Sunshine State has not been sunny at all over these last few days. We've had up to 7 inches of rain in different areas of Brisbane. We will need our snorkels and flippers soon if this rain does not ease up! Nevertheless, rain, hail or shine, Cleanevent still put in the time to all events. January had been a rather slow month for events, although Doomben Racecourse had been utilising extra day-to-day staff. We seem to be getting our “foot in the door” a little more each time we complete a meet. This is very promising for our future. |
We have just completed a detailed clean of the
QRU Clubhouse ready for another season. We were successful in regaining the cleaning of the
QRU Clubhouse after every home game, which just might extend to bigger and better events. February looks to be a much busier month with the Brisbane Broncos first home game of the season taking place on the 24th. This will require a rather large pre-clean. Several other smaller events will be happening as well, including the Caxton Street Festival. In the months to come, we will be doing festivals such as the Seafood Festival at South Bank, the Greek Festival at the Greek Club and also Federation celebrations. Until next time – Goodbye! |
Australia Mike Dennis MBE I can hear you all saying,“I didn’t know we had an office in South Australia.” Well we don’t quite but we are getting close. Following the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the change in emphasis with Cleanevent Consulting, I have restructured my role within Cleanevent to be Senior Consultant to Cleanevent International and the Cleanevent representative in South Australia. So what does all that mean? Well in the Consultant role I will work on projects like the Cleanevent Cleaning Management Academy, 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. I am also available to undertake any specific tasks that Craig requires. In the South Australian representative role, I will be looking after Cleanevent’s business development aspirations with Paul Rowlands and Nicola Pero. We currently have one major event the Clipsal 500 Touring Car Race and have conducted some other small jobs. We are meeting with potential clients in SA with the longer-term goal of opening a State Office in the short-term future. We have a good core of casual staff here that has worked at the Olympics or other major events Australia wide. So South Australia here we come! |
New South Wales |
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| by Ray Buckland Well hello to the rest of World Cleanevent! This note comes to you from the oil-slicked bottom of a 4.5 metre bin, fresh from the Big Day Out with my phone somewhere in the bottom. Anyway it’s been a hoot of a couple of months in Sydney with functions and events galore before Christmas and over the New Year, including New Year’s Day in Kippax Lakes, New Year’s Eve with Christine Anu and Friends concert at Parramatta Stadium and the annual Dance Party at the Showgrounds. Since then, the Tennis, Golf and Big Day Out events and activities at the Velodrome and Regatta Centres have been varied and numerous. The venues are all back in swing now after the Christmas downtime, with Shawn just loving his new confetti king role. Doesn’t matter what age or what act, good old confetti is the theme dream. The Aquatic Centre was bursting at the seams over the holidays with scouts galore on group excursions – no “bob a job” help from them however! |
We’re anxiously awaiting several tender
outcomes including Parramatta Stadium, which is
good for the real footy, Wharf 8, Eastern Creek
and the Museum of Contemporary Arts. These
will provide some nice opportunities for a number
of staff that need a change of scenery. We’ve had upgrades in hours at the Velodrome and at the Regatta Centre but lost the Showgrounds, which is disappointing. Hugh Carey’s taken off for his States experience with Steve Hunter to follow soon – good luck guys, they’ve got caterers too! And finally was Nick up to the “Time Line Challenge”. He performed superbly in esteemed company with his first staff planning inputs (Big Phew!) but now faces an array of keen observers with E-mail digits poised for action at the first indiscretion or deadline failure – Good luck Nick, you’ll show them. Talk to you all again soon! |
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