November Column: ClubsNSW Chair Sallianne Faulkner

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Post ClubsNSW Conference & AGM, I reflect on the gems that we have brought home to our clubs. Motivating and inspiring as well as informative, thank you to all attendees who have given great feedback. If you would like to submit your feedback, you can still do so here.

We now turn our minds to the business of clubs over the coming 12 months and how we can deliver even more valuable content at the Conference next year! Worthy of a calendar note, a reminder that the 2025 ClubsNSW Conference & AGM will take place from 8 to 10 October, again on the Gold Coast. Our minds are swirling with some great ideas on keynote speakers, topics and activities.

At the end of October, I was honoured to attend Mounties to participate in the “Building a Safer Community” initiative, led most capably by Mounties Group’s Community Executive Manager Arely Carrion, and supported by Jodie Harrison, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, who framed the way forward very clearly. There were many of the sectors’ most knowledgeable practitioners in attendance and in support.

Now is the moment to work together for the good of our members, our staff and our communities — to speak up and loudly about domestic, family and sexualised violence. Gendered violence is abhorrent, and we know it affects so many in our communities.

I commend Arely for her genuine energy and will to make a real difference. She has brought together those in our industry who can make an impact and is giving them the skills to deliver.

Moving the dial on respect for women and delivering a safer community needs an all-of-community approach. No single group, government or person can make this change, we need to do it together.

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I’ve been out and about in NSW, attending the last round of ClubsNSW regional meetings for 2024. Pleasingly, they have been well attended — they are a great opportunity for clubs to ask questions and make connections with their fellow directors and managers, where we can support each other. For those who have not yet attended a regional meeting and particularly new directors, I strongly encourage you to do so, so that you can meet those who are working through similar challenges and ask and listen. You can find when your next regional meeting is here.

I was delighted to attend the last Central West regional meeting at Orange Ex-Services, which was also the remarkable Gus Lico’s last regional meeting before he retires from Dubbo RSL in 2025. Best wishes and thank you Gus!