2 NSW Masonic Club October 2017 OFFICIALS & COMMITTEES Patron MW Bro AR (Tony) Lauer, APM, JP President Stephen G. Bates Vice President John J. Moore Honorary Treasurer Peter Read Directors Graham W Byrne Robert Eaglesham Allan G Ezzy Kate Foot Steve C Wearne Peter Zeilic General Manager Paul Brasch House, Supply & Staff Allan Ezzy (Convenor) Kate Foot John Moore Peter Zeilic Finance Graham Byrne (Convenor) Robert Eaglesham Peter Read Steve Wearne Magazine Design Sara Linden CONTACT US Street Address 169 Castlereagh Street Sydney NSW 2000 Phone: (02) 9284 1000 Fax: (02) 9284 1999 Hotel Reservations: 1800 801 576 Postal Address PO Box A1160 Sydney South NSW 1235 Websites & Email Addresses New South Wales Masonic Club Website: www.nswmasonicclub.com.au Email: admin@nswmasonicclub.com.au Castlereagh Boutique Hotel Website: www.thecastlereagh.com.au Email: reservations@thecastlereagh.com.au DRESS REGULATIONS Club members and their guests are asked to observe the following dress regulations which have been approved by the Board to preserve the dignity of the Club. Members and their guests attending “Cello’s” after 6pm should be suitably attired. For gentlemen, a collared shirt with trousers or slacks is acceptable. A tie is not compulsory. For ladies, smart casual attire is acceptable, including tailored slacks. Slacks or tailored shorts with long socks and shoes, tailored shirt with short or long sleeves, are acceptable in all other food and beverage areas. The Castlereagh Boutique Hotel guests, as Temporary Members, are expected to observe the above dress regulations when availing themselves of the Club facilities. The Club Management reserves the right to refuse any person not suitably attired admission to the Club. Cover: Painting of the NSW Masonic Club building in the 1920s 2 NSWMC Magazine October 2017 PRESIDENT’S REPORT Dear Fellow Members, I have been privileged to serve your Club as President since November 2015. I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to serve and to be involved in the many challenges and opportunities the Club has faced in that time. I have recently written about our forthcoming election of Directors for the term November 2017 to November 2019. You will receive in the mail instructions on how to cast your postal vote for the election of the Board. I encourage you to participate in the voting process and to carefully consider the merits of each nomination for Director. I would again like to thank all members of the current Board of Directors for their continued support and positive and invaluable contributions at both committee and Board meetings throughout the past two years. They managed a substantial workload. Special thanks also to the Club’s Vice-President, John Moore, for his outstanding contribution to a variety of Board activities throughout the last two years. John has also been MC for many a Club event, something he does very well and for which I am very grateful. This edition of our Club Magazine includes the audited financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2017, Notice of Annual General Meeting and ordinary resolutions. The financial results for the 2016/17 financial year were again extremely pleasing and built on the financial success of the 2016 financial year. The Club generated net cash from operating activities for the 2017 financial year of $1,440,371 as compared to $638,615 the previous financial year. The surplus cash was invested primarily in term deposits and plant and equipment. Importantly, your Club’s hotel accommodation continues to perform strongly after financial year end, due to the ongoing high demand for hotel rooms in Sydney CBD, the shortage of hotel rooms and your General Manager’s ability to manage room rate and occupancy. As I have previously stated the current financial success of the Club is all important to minimise or eliminate the necessity for borrowing money by your Club over the next 12 to 36 months as the Board prepares to finalise and implement its Building Master Plan incorporating building facility upgrades commencing with a hotel rooms refurbishment program. As previously reported, the Board has approved a Members Rewards program which will commence on 1 January 2018. Details of the rewards program and its benefits for members is set out elsewhere in this magazine. Don’t forget to show your membership card when you purchase food and/or beverages at your Club to secure your 10% discount. From 1 January 2018 you will also accumulate rewards points for redemption on future purchases. Your Board will continue to assess the merits of other benefits for members should we be re-elected. The Club’s Constitution was recently amended at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Members. The changes improve corporate governance and accountability, allows for lower Country Membership fees and permits an electronic means of voting. With respect to the 2017 election of Directors the voting process will not change. The NSW Government initiative to design and construct an underground Metro Train Station just south of the Club’s building is now well underway. The Board has been meeting with representatives of Sydney Metro on a weekly basis until recently (now fortnightly) to protect the Club’s building from any damage arising from the current demolition of the building adjoining the Club’s southern wall. The demolition process has been fast and at the time of writing almost half of the adjoining building has been demolished. For the first time in decades we are starting to see daylight from our southern side hotel rooms and soon Cello’s will likewise benefit. These regular meetings have been both positive and challenging. We continue to seek input into the planning of the redevelopment area above the planned new Metro Station for the betterment of the Club’s building. On behalf of the Board I would like to thank the General Manager, Paul Brasch, and his entire staff for their efforts in 2017 in achieving so much. In addition to the Club’s financial successes, the Reagh Bar is now making great cocktails, there are some great entertainment options at the Club including Gin Mill Social and Opera Bites, we have had some great Club functions, we have improved the Lounge Bar offerings and there is more to come. Also, staff now have uniforms for the first time that I am aware. Lastly, I wish to thank members for their continued support of Club functions and events. As always, please feel free to contact myself or the General Manager, on matters you feel are important or need addressing. There will soon be a generic email address set up so that members have the option of writing to me by email rather than having to put pen to paper. I hope to see many of you at our November 2017 Annual General Meeting. Best Wishes, Stephen Bates President, NSW Masonic Club