Thank you to everyone who attended our members’ forum on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. The event was a resounding success, and it was our pleasure, along with the Club management team, to host 120 of our dedicated Casino RSM Club members. We were able to share exciting updates about our current projects and gather valuable feedback. We also extend our special thanks to Mayor Robert Mustow and RVC General Manager Vaughan McDonald for attending. The ongoing collaboration between the Council and Casino RSM Club is crucial for the future of our town. It was also wonderful to see some of our Life Members in attendance.

The Board strongly believes in recognising our history and honoring those who have contributed to our current achievements. Although some aspects of our history may have been overlooked in recent years, something noted by many members, we are committed to preserving and showcasing it more effectively moving forward. The Casino RSM Club is a key part of our town’s fabric, and our success is built on the contributions of our Life Members and all who have been part of our journey. For instance, many members have expressed interest in our football photos, given many in our community have connections to those in the photos, and we are working to make this part of our history more visible to members and guests.

In the past ten months, we have made significant progress in launching several important club and community projects that have long been on our agenda.

The Board has always recognised the need to diversify our business to be less reliant on gaming income, especially given the tightening legislation around gambling and alcohol. Thanks to our current Management team, we have now been able to commence works on these long-awaited projects, after much time in the planning stages.

The Members’ Forum was initiated from discussions between the Board and Management to improve communication with our members, something we had felt was previously lacking and was not meeting our member’s needs. We aimed to share our current and future plans, provide important updates, and seek your feedback. Transparency with our members is always a priority, and the information presented at the forum is available for review by any member. Please contact our staff if you would like to access it.

One major topic discussed was our acquisition of the Clydesdale Motel and Steakbarn. This process began over two years ago under the leadership of our former Secretary-Manager Neale Genge and then-Board President Peter Comerford. The Clydesdale offered an opportunity to enhance our functions, events, and accommodation facilities and provided significant expansion potential due to its large land area. The Board conducted thorough analyses of the business’s financials, asset values, and potential return on investment, as well as the costs of developing similar facilities on existing Club property, such as the Royal Hotel site. The decision to purchase the Clydesdale, at a negotiated price, was made as a cost-effective investment that met our needs for expansion and improvement.

Despite some misinformation and false claims circulating on social media, we want to assure members that property acquisition decisions are made exclusively by the Board of Directors. The Clydesdale acquisition was under consideration well before the appointment of our current CEO. We will not make further statements about this acquisition, particularly during the local council election period, as the Board remains neutral in the debate.

We are excited about the Clydesdale acquisition, which supports our goal of diversifying our business and reducing our reliance on gaming and alcohol. While the purchase price remains confidential, as is standard for such transactions, we can confirm that this acquisition meets our return of investment criteria and aligns with our strategic outlook. Additionally, the site has a pre-approved DA for eight more motel rooms and a function centre, allowing for potential future expansion.

The Casino RSM Club is a vibrant community organisation, and it is essential that we continue to grow and explore new opportunities within the town. We have been fortunate to build on the vision set by the likes of past Board leaders like Bill McMahon and Neil Crouch, and we are pleased to see the current Board furthering that vision. The funds generated by the Club will always be reinvested to benefit all members and support future generations. Our diverse membership is reflected in our current projects, which aim to provide a wider range of facilities for our members to enjoy. We expect these new facilities will cater to a broader spectrum of members, including younger people and families.

The foresight of our previous Club board in developing the successful RSM Shopping Village, which brought the much-needed Cole’s supermarket to our town and helped lower grocery costs for our community, has been instrumental. By housing various small businesses, this initiative has placed the Club in a strong financial position with steady rental income, establishing Casino RSM as a leader in diversified income for regional clubs. Our current development projects aim to further enhance this diversified income, ensuring the Club remains financially strong and profitable, allowing us to continue our long-standing tradition of community support well into the future.

In addition to the Clydesdale acquisition, the Casino RSM Club is also:

• • Renovating our facilities to enhance the experience for our members, including improved disability access with a brand-new wheelchair friendly lift to be located in our main foyer, and improved disabled bathrooms.

• • Upgrading the Royal site to begin generating a return on investment, providing a different style of facility to suit a broader range of members, and enabling us to reinvest more funds into the community.

• • Developing and funding a much-needed Youth Hub for Casino, a need which has been highlighted by both members and the broader community.

• • Expanding the undercover bowling green to accommodate larger bowling events, and other outdoor functions at the Casino RSM Club.

All this work not only brings economic benefit to the Richmond Valley community, but also delivers positive social outcomes and provides additional local employment opportunities. These are all things our community support.

We would also like to highlight that, under our current Management, the Casino RSM Club has achieved a record of zero serious incidents in the last 12 months. This accomplishment is a testament to the professionalism and competence of our Club staff, in addition to our strong relationship with the Richmond Police District.

Additionally, over the past year, the Casino RSM Club has supported 43 different community organisations within our local area. While many of these are based in Casino, we have also extended our support to other worthwhile causes in neighbouring towns and villages where many of our members reside.

In total, we have committed $474,308 to these organisations in the last year alone, as well as donating our maroon courtesy bus to the Kyogle Golf Club, for its use.

The Casino RSM Club is and will remain in a strong financial position, and we are committed to continuing improvements that will enhance our operations, ultimately enhancing the experience for our members. These are exciting times for the Club and our community.

On behalf of the Board, Management, staff, and everyone involved, thank you for being part of this journey. We look forward to providing more regular updates in the future.

Published 16/08/2024