Around the Traps
At the home of the Cowboys where there are some new faces including Julian
O’Neal and Tim Brasher! The NRL Season is now well underway, so good luck to the home
team!
It’s lush and green up our way at the moment with the start of the wet season - no
doubt you’ve all noticed VERY wet on the news! All the new gardens and lawn areas at
the Dairy Farmers Stadium have had 12 months to mature and are beginning to look
fantastic.
Whilst it might be a few months ago now, Paul Desmond and Darryl Gray made the trip across
to the USA to help out at both the Talledegga SuperSpeedway and the Rock in North
Carolina. Darryl reckons any Cleanevent employee given this chance should grab it and he
said you will really appreciate just how well we have it here in Australia and just how
well we look after our crews!
In October last year Townsville had the official opening of the Strand redevelopment at a
cost of $28.9 million which resulted in one of the biggest celebrations the city had seen.
Cleanevent provided the pre, during and post cleans with nothing but A1 excellent remarks
coming back. Darryl passes on his gratitude and acknowledgment of the fine job done by the
Team.
Still in the pretty city of Townsville, the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre
is the home of the Townsville Crocs! The Crocs are really showing up some of the teams
from down south - currently sitting around 3rd on the NBL ladder the end of the season
will have been completed by this edition of Team Talk so here’s hoping it was
a great final result. In addition to the Crocs games there has
been a real diversity of events at the TECC with basketball, Silverchair, The Wiggles and
Reba McEntire to name just a few. Well done team and thanks for all the very hard work.
Cairns Convention Centre have almost completed their first basketball season, and recently
held their largest sold out concert to date - Bryan Adams no less - in their new stadium.
The Events Manager at the CCC, Mr Mark Jennings, has moved on to other projects and the
Cleanevent Cairns Convention Centre team would like to say, thanks Mark, we enjoyed your
co-operation and support over the last few years.
And for those who aren’t aware, good luck to Stephanie Wade and her family who have
moved from Townsville down to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre with Cleanevent. Darryl,
Greg and Karen in Townsville, and Michelle and Viv in Cairns all wish you well Stephanie!
Stephanie has taken up a great role as the new Venue Manager at the BEC and we all know
she’s going to do a fabulous job.
Steve Hunter and his team at the Sydney SuperDome deserve a huge applause. Recently the
venue hosted the Olympic Test Event for nd kept their cool against the heat. It
wasn’t an easy one with many spectators splashing themselves down with cold water in
the bathrooms, but the team coped very well keeping the floors clean and dry. Well Done!
Ralph and the crew want to pass on their thanks to all the permanent and casual staff who
put in a huge effort prior to, during and for the clean up of this large event. Overall
the venue looked superb with its manicured lawns and spectator mounds - largely due to the
new gardener Joanne Bovell - welcome Joanne! Other thanks that shouldn’t be forgotten
are the Sunbury and Craigieburn Scout Groups who collected cans and were eager and keen to
brave the elements - they’re saving for their Scout Jamboree holiday in New Zealand.
Between the two groups they collected 60% of the cans, which amounted to about half of the
rubbish. Have a great trip to NZ!
Moving from the track to the turf the update from Merv at Royal Flemington is that
millennium racing has hit in a big way so far this year! One of the team members, Shirl
was lucky enough to be away on holidays for most of January but the rest of the team flew
the Cleanevent flag true and fine. Shirl is one of Cleanevent’s ‘nomads’
having been adopted at many different venues and events over the years, but he’s very
pleased to be back home at Flemington. Flemington uses a high amount of casuals and they
keep the racecourse looking A1 presentable, so thanks to both the permanent and casual
troopers, as always a job superbly done!
And for a quick dip before we sign off here’s the update from Georgia Cody who keeps
the Melbourne Sports and Acquatic Centre team motivated and performing to an excellent
level. With the summer temperatures rising so do the crowd numbers at MSAC. Recently the
venue opened 24 hours per day at the Leisure Pool over three weekends in January. Everyone
breathed a sigh of relief when the school holidays were over (no less Georgia from a
personal family perspective!), however it looks like little respite with the ‘wet n
wild’ programme in place for school groups. Some days they may have a group come in
hourly with anywhere between 50 and 200 kids! School Swim Carnivals (crowds from 600-2000)
add to the hectic pace poolside.
Georgia thought she had seen almost all indoor sports held at the venue, and yet even she
was surprised when along came skateboarding! Careful of that show court guys!
Debbie Long recently moved across to Carlton Football Club where she will be a great
asset, but will also be sadly missed by the MSAC team. New to the MSAC team is Monica
Farrugia and Ian Bowker so good luck for the future Monica and Ian!
That about wraps up Around The Traps for this edition ....... we all look forward to the
next updates.