Penrith RSL Employee Celebrates 50 Years in the Industry
Australia was a very different place in the year Sue Cromack began working at Penrith RSL. It was the year Medicare was introduced, as well as the one-dollar coin and the $100 note, and Bob Hawke was Australia’s Prime Minister.
On 21 September 1984, the then young adult started a payroll position at Penrith RSL where she would go on to watch the Club, its staff and the industry evolve around her over the next four decades.
“The Club was a lot smaller than what it is now,” Sue reminisced.
“It was very different to now, we even got paid in cash back then!"
Sue’s impressive 40-year tenure has been full of joy, with the 70-something-year-old sharing that throughout her time at the Club she was lucky enough to work alongside some amazing people.
“I've always got on well with the staff,” Sue said, joking that she wouldn’t have lasted as long as she has if it wasn’t for her colleagues along the way.
Her club industry career begun at Wenty Leagues where she worked for 10 years prior to moving to Penrith RSL, with Wenty Leagues still holding a special place in the Cromack family.
"My father-in-law Harry Cromack was first one to be director at Wenty Leagues, then my husband Dennis was on the board, and he was chairman at one stage, and now my son Adam is on the board,” Sue said.
A half-century in the industry is a testament to how much Sue respects clubs and what they have to offer both as employers and to the community.
“The club industry is such a good one and there's so many opportunities to improve yourself," Sue said.
“You can start as a bar cleaner and just work your way up. There's plenty of opportunities and usually, anybody will help you if you get stuck with whatever you're doing.”
Sue’s current manager, Chief Financial Officer Joseph Vitalone, says that Sue is an exceptional part of the family at Penrith RSL.
“Sue is an absolutely fabulous employee to which I encourage another 10 years or more service,” Joseph said.
However, given she drives an hour each way to and from work, Sue has visions of a happy retirement but also still loves going to work each day.
“I love to work, and I love coming here… I don't know how I'm going to not work to be honest,” Sue said.
“Even though I'm old, now I just enjoy the atmosphere, the people and what I do.”
As for celebrations for Sue’s amazing milestone, the humble accounts manager would prefer to go under the radar —a but she may not have a choice.
“They tell me I am having a celebration, but I don't like fuss and bother around me,” Sue said, adding that she will be at the next AGM to meet the members and be celebrated for her employment milestone.
Has someone at your club achieved an incredible employment milestone? Let us know at [email protected]!
