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Northern Suburbs Leagues Club - MackayThe Redcliffe District Rugby League Football Club purchased the Northern Suburbs Leagues Club Mackay in March 2005 with the Redcliffe Leagues Club assuming the management rights of the licensed Club as part of the acquisition.
This acquisition, along with the previous acquisition of the Kangaroo Leagues Club in Cairns has brought many benefits to all parties. One of the greatest benefits for the Northern Suburbs Leagues Club in Mackay is the direct access to the experienced management team of the Redcliffe Leagues Club.
Wayne has taken on the post of secretary-manager for the Redcliffe Leagues Club-affiliated club.
No newcomer to the licensed club industry, Wayne worked at the Carina Leagues Club for 20 years before taking on a sales position in the poker machine industry in North Queensland.
"I played junior footy at the club and Arthur Hingst, who was one of my junior coaches, has been club manager for years and rang me when I turned 18 and asked me if I wanted to learn behind the bar," he said.
"This was before the pokies and I learned a lot about the club industry. Then I went selling poker machines for Ainsworth from the end of 2003 until I joined Norths this year."
Wayne joined the club as renovations were completed at the club.
"This club certainly has potential," he said. "There is an enormous amount of housing going up on new estates around here and they are big estates.
"We have just installed Fast Lane hyperlink poker machines at the club and a player loyalty system is to be introduced at the club within the next few months."
Wayne said club membership stood at a couple of thousand however a push would start for increased numbers.
"Our membership is concentrated around the Andergrove, Bucasia and northern beaches suburbs," he said.
"We hardly have any membership over the bridge. Mackay is a divided city as regards to clubs.
"But it's funny because when people have a look at our club they realise the amenities it offers.
"We are keen to boost our membership and believe the introduction of the player loyalty scheme, which rewards members with points, will play its part in that."
Wayne, 41, said the club boasted a staff of 24, all of whom were locals.
"I'm loving the job, especially after two and a half years in sales,'' he said.
"I'm very grateful that Tony Murphy and the board of directors at Redcliffe have given me an opportunity to get back into the hospitality industry."
Wayne said he hoped that in the next 18 months to two years the club could increase its pokie numbers from the current 49 to 100.
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