Let’s rewind, to Saturday 3 December 2016 and set the scene. Sunshine, a little overcast at 7am during setup, but come 10am it’s a humid 35 degrees. The gazebo’s are up, hoops and potato sacks laid out, ice is being crushed and the sausages, with yet enough onion to feed all of Toronto, are sizzling. Welcome to the Toronto District Workers Club Annual Kids Christmas Party. Now imagine this. Mum has bought your $6 ticket and you get unlimited rides from 10am until 2pm, a show bag of goodies, snow cone (any colour you dream of), sausage sandwich, a can of drink and fairy floss! What more could you want as a child under 15 years of age? Oh yeah, hold on…a visit by Santa supported by our local firefighters, an opportunity for a free photo with Santa by a professional photographer and some live music to keep you moving and grooving. You’re now one of the thousand children who attend the Toronto District Workers Club Kids Christmas Party every year. For the last 1ast 13 years, Toronto District Workers Club has delivered to the community one of the biggest Christmas events within the Westlakes region. Each year creates a whirlwind of excitement, adrenaline, sugar highs, and in some circumstances tears. Because let’s be honest, it’s not the best day when you dr op your snow cone or your brother beats you in a bungee race. It’s just unfair! Although each child’s whirlwind of fun can last from 10am until 2pm on the day, over 6 months of planning, booking, preparation and volunteer commitment is involved to deliver such hypnotic smiles. From the CEO, through to the local football team, the Macquarie Scorpions, the Kids Christmas Party is an all hands-on-deck affair. Not because they have to, but because the thrill of involvement outweighs the exhaustion of hours and energy required for the day. Rewind a little further, back to 2003, where it all started. A committee of Joanne Merrett, Leanne Roskell, Gabby Brown, John Braye, Brian Hughes and Allan Easter write the original story that eventually lays the backbone for the next 13 years. Starting with the basic BBQ, rides, refreshments, shade, tables, chairs and a visit from Santa. This event provided an outlet for families to gather and host their Christmas gatherings under the Workers Club banner. There was even a special delivery of portaloos, just to make sure every need was met. Toronto Workers Club ABN 16 000 991 266 • 9 James Street Toronto NSW 2283 • T 02 4959 2011 F 02 4950 4359
Flicking back through the minutes of the Kids Party Committee Meetings, it was obvious the interest from the community was growing and so were the ideas. Over the next 13 years, the rides and attractions got bigger, extra giveaways were incorporated into the ticket value, Santa’s arrivals changed between helicopter, fire engine and utes, his beard got longer (so did his naughty and nice list), water fun was introduced, live music kept the parents entertained and the local community became more and more involved. This may sound like a story of humble beginnings to fame, but the Club thrives its reputation and brand on delivering the Core Values to its members, guests their children. These being Customer, Leadership, Integrity, Spirit, Community and Change. The Annual Kids Christmas Party delivers that every single year. Let me break it down… Our Customers plan their family and friend Christmas gatherings, especially for the kids, around our party. While the Club suffers lower trade on the day of the party, the hypnotic smiles, abundance of thankyous, and creation of memories is more than enough for our Staff, Management and Directors to measure the party’s success. Without the continual su pport from the Club’s members, the Lake Macquarie community would miss out on sunshine, sugar, slides and Santa. Leadership takes a different role when it comes to the party. Staff members, Managers and Club Directors all volunteer extended hours to assist in the planning, preparation and delivery of the event. From the small things like buying five hundred poppers at Coles, picking up the large order of coffees for all those on early morning setup, completing the tedious task of tearing and folding vouchers all the way through to walking Santa around the oval, taking photos of all the smiles and being the lucky volunteer to stand in the drinks shed all day amongst the ice and fridges. This is the prime spot on any given Australian summer day. Each volunteer donates anywhere from one hour, and in some cases, in excess of ten hours, of their time to assist in the day’s success. Without the excitement, dedication and continual deliverance from the TWC team, this party would definitely be a pooper. And no one likes a party pooper. Integrity, Spirit, Community and Change all come into fruition within the planning, ideas and preparation process. Again driven by our volunteers, all new ideas and fun concepts are considered and built into the budget. While tickets for our members children and grandchildren are only $6 per head, each ticket holds an unlimited value (especially if you slide, ride and dunk continuously for four hours). The Club commits $15,000 to the event each year which is by no means a money maker. But if you were to include the number of hours donated by all, including the local rugby club, fire station and of course Santa’s (the most valuable time), the monetary value of this event would exceed $20,000. Strangers ask our volunteers why they do i t. Customers ask why the Club wastes it’s time on such a day, especially when the common assumption is “you get nothing for it”. Our answer will always be “for the love of it!” Toronto Workers Club ABN 16 000 991 266 • 9 James Street Toronto NSW 2283 • T 02 4959 2011 F 02 4950 4359
It’s the bright spark we see in the eyes of those who are drained from runni ng continuously all day. It’s the tears we see in the eyes of the young ones who are over tired and want to be with Santa on the fire truck as it leaves the field. It’s the endless thanks the parents provide the volunteers for their child’s happiness. It’s the escape from work reality our volunteers receive during a day of fulfilment. It’s the hundreds of Santa photos we get to share with the community. It’s the smiles and laughter even the biggest footy player gets being involved on the day. It ultimately is the love of our community, Club and Values behind our reasoning. You know what? We wouldn’t have it any other way. So you volunteered at 7am this morning to pick up twelve coffees and meet the guys to assist in building gazebos, laying out hoola-hoops, potato sacks and packing poppers in show bags. You’ve got your best Christmas casual attire on, you’re pumped and you’re first in line to have your face painted. You know, just to keep in the spirit. Four hours later, you’ve had two sausage sandwiches a nd running on water and coca-cola and the pack up begins. Thinking to yourself “I don’t remember having to setup this much, pretty sure everything doubled”, but you carry on with pack - up until you’re done by 3pm. Wait a minute though, don’t forget, it’s ti me to race over to the Club have a quick shower and commence your shift for the evening while running on what adrenaline, energy and sugar high you have left in your system. Welcome to the Toronto District Workers Club Annual Christmas Party volunteer team . We’re all A -Team members here. Come Monday, everyone is back on deck and it’s a time of reflection. Let’s reflect. It’s always important to remember where the Club came from, who supports the Club and why we exist. We’re not just here to pump our engine room, ensure the kegs are cold for the regulars and provide a place for wakes. We’re here to provide a service and commitment to our local community, Toronto and its residents. Everything we do, everything we say, everything we encourage, we ultimately deliver many experiences, memories and lifestyles to those who wish to visit us. That’s why we exist as a Club. That’s why we thrive on the Annual Kids Christmas Party. We thrive on being the good, the happiness, the love and the social in the lives of the community. We thrive on being a support, network and social outlet for our staff, their families and our friends. We thrive on putting ourselves into the community, even if under scrutiny, to show we can always assist those in need. We’re selfless. We’re committed. We are a Registered Club of New South Wales. We are Toronto District Workers Club. Christine Wenta Marketing, Entertainment & Promotions Manager…and A -Team Volunteer Toronto Workers Club ABN 16 000 991 266 • 9 James Street Toronto NSW 2283 • T 02 4959 2011 F 02 4950 4359
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