Carina Leagues Club and Frenchville Sports Club were just two of the venues taking out multiple top gongs at the Queensland club industry’s night of nights held last week.
Carina Leagues Club’s newest casual dining precinct, The Hive, took out Best Cafe and its Promotions and Marketing Manager Tayla Neilen was awarded Best Young Manager at the 2023 Keno & Clubs Queensland Awards for Excellence held in the Great Hall of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Neilen, 26, is the third staff member of Carina Leagues Club to be named Queensland’s Young Manager of the Year, having started at the venue almost a decade ago as a kids’ play centre attendant.
“My favourite part about working at Carina Leagues is the support they give me, not only in my professional career but also my personal development. It has been the most amazing ride,” Neilen said. She is the first graduate of Carina’s unique Degree for Free program and holds a Bachelor of Business (Hospitality and Tourism) degree with honours, which was fully paid for by the club.
Frenchville Sports Club took home Club of the Year (Medium), and was awarded Silver for the Special Achievement Award – Responsible Gambling and Silver for Best Sports Club.
Other Club of the Year winners were Southport Yacht Club Inc (Non-Gaming), BMD Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Supporters Club (Small) and The Waves Sports Club (Large).
Malcolm Wright from Coolum Surf Club, with 11 years under his belt at the venue, won Club Manager of the Year, sponsored by Lion.
“Feeling very honoured to win this award,” Wright posted. “Thanks to (Clubs Queensland CEO) Craig Harley, (Clubs Queensland General Manager) Dan Nipperess and all the team at Clubs Queensland and a special mention to all my amazing team at Coolum Surf Club it wouldn’t have been possible without their support, dedication and commitment.
“It’s been a very humbling experience but I’m very thankful.”
And the winners are…
BEST LICENSED RSL AND/OR SERVICES CLUB Gympie RSL
BEST BOWLS CLUB Club Pine Rivers
BEST FOOTBALL CLUB The Lion Richlands
BEST SURF LIFE SAVING SUPPORTERS CLUB BMD Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Supporters Club
BEST SPORTS CLUB Caboolture Sports Club
BEST CAFÉ The Hive Café, Carina Leagues Club
BEST DINING, SMALL North Burleigh Surf Club Supporters Restaurant
BEST DINING, MEDIUM Grill Restaurant, The Broncos Club
BEST DINING, LARGE The Precinct, Norths Leagues & Services Club
HEALTH & WELLBEING GO PINK with Lions@springwood
EMERGENCY SERVICES A once in a lifetime flood response, Gympie RSL
SUPPORT OF SPORT Brothers Junior Sports Star, Brothers Leagues Club Ipswich
HEART OF THE COMMUNITY Supporting the far reaching effects of education, Bribie Island Bowls Club
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING Cowboys Leagues Club
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – RESPONSIBLE SERVICE OF ALCOHOL Redlands Sporting Club Inc.
BEST GAMING VENUE, SMALL Geebung RSL
BEST GAMING VENUE, MEDIUM Aspley Hornets
BEST GAMING VENUE, LARGE Norths Leagues & Services Club
YOUNG MANAGER OF THE YEAR Tayla Neilen, Carina Leagues Club
CLUB CHEF OF THE YEAR Dom Olofai, Palm Beach Surf Club
CLUB DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Kerry Noyes, Southport Yacht Club Inc.
CLUB SECRETARY/MANAGER OF THE YEAR Malcolm Wright, Coolum Surf Club
CLUB OF THE YEAR: NON-GAMING Southport Yacht Club Inc.
CLUB OF THE YEAR: SMALL BMD Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Supporters Club
CLUB OF THE YEAR: MEDIUM Frenchville Sports Club
CLUB OF THE YEAR: LARGE The Waves Sports Club