SOPBiz # 8 September 07

Scouts prepared for continuing growth into 2008

The Annual General Meeting for Scouts Australia NSW was held Saturday 14th July at the Baden-Powell Scout Centre at Pennant Hills. It was the first AGM since 1992 that the Association was able to present an Annual Report that showed a sustained growth in membership!

Both Youth Members and Adult Leaders increased in numbers and they are hopeful of continuing this trend. An increase in advertising, financial assistance for Leader training, and a focus on growth strategies (including retention of current Members) are some of the driving forces behind this good news.

In other news, the Commonwealth Government has announced 2008 as The Year of the Scout, in recognition of the Centenary of Scouting in Australia. Coins and stamps will be issued, amongst other celebrations. Funding for a communications campaign has also been provided - you might already have seen the results of this funding with recent advertising on television, cinemas and bus sides.

2007 is the World Centenary of Scouting, and at 8am on the 1st August (World Scout Day), a ceremony called 'Scouting Sunrise' was held across the world. The NSW ceremony was held at the Sydney Opera House with the Governor of NSW, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, the Chief Scout of NSW,leading Scouts in the renewal of their Scout Promise. One lucky Scout climbed the front sail of the Sydney Opera House to sound the 'Kudu Horn' which Lord Robert Baden-Powell sounded at the very first Scout Camp in England in 1907!

The Commonwealth Government has also given $19m to Scouts Australia to install rainwater tanks at Scout Halls around Australia, in a bid to save water and teach water saving practices to young people.

Scouts Australia NSW are located in Bennelong Rd, Sydney Olympic Park.

The Subway 'Fresh Fit ' Program

SUBWAY restaurants are taking a healthy stand with the 'SUBWAY FRESH FIT' program. The new menu items are developed to help kids and adults meet the Australian Dietary Guidelines. This will be the first time SUBWAY restaurants will offer a full line of better-for-you meals to serve both adults and kids.

Along with the exciting menu design changes, there are several
operational changes as well:

The new 'SUBWAY FRESH FIT' program includes the better-for-you
options of apples, yoghurt, and milk.

But wait there's more...

"We're eliminating Uncle 'Tobys Fruit Roll-Ups'

We're eliminating Deli-Style sandwiches and replacing them with Mini Subs

We're introducing a 'Mini Pump' bottled water.

We're replacing carb-conscious wraps with flour wraps .

Wraps will be featured alongside Subway '6-inch' sandwiches on the menus.

The new menu design eliminates the Chipotle Southwest Cheese Steak listing and the catering items listings.

We'll begin using a new salad build.

Value and Kids Meal offer will change.

We're reducing our prices on almost all of our sandwiches, salads and wraps."

Check out the new options and prices at Subway Novotel, Sydney Olympic Park

OUT 'N ABOUT

Moving Experiences

CBA

The first 100 of the full complement of 3,500 CBA staff commenced work in their new builidng in Dawn Fraser Avenue on 27 August. Welcome to Sydney Olympic Park!

Alinta

Alinta commences its relocation to Sydney Olympic Park in late November consolidating five sites-Wetherill Park, Alexandria, North Parramatta, Gladesville and Frenchs Forest.

Some staff will also be relocating from another Alinta office in O'Connell St which will not be closing. More information about Alinta in the October newsletter.

New Easter Show Boss

Michael Collins moved into the role of General Manager on August 1, heading up the new Sydney Royal Easter Show team.

Michael's appointment is the culmination of 16 years of experience with the RAS, during which time he has managed many of the key commercial and entertainment aspects of the event. More recently, Michael has been responsible for turning the Sydney Showground catering division into an award-winning and profitable enterprise
for the RAS.

According to Acting Chief Executive, Glenn Dudley, "Michael's appointment to lead the Show team was a natural and strategic choice, given his years of broad experience in the business, extensive knowledge of the industry both in Australia and internationally, and his ability to drive profit while always remaining customer-focused."

Congratulations Michael!

Palermo - 245 new luxury apartments

Payce Properties (Payce) recently unveiled Palermo, comprising 245 residential apartments in its luxurious lifestyle resort - The Waterfront at Homebush Bay.

Palermo comprises 77 one-bedroom apartments, 144 two-bedroom dwellings and 24 three-bedroom apartments plus three commercial premises. Forty-eight apartments can also be adapted for disabled or wheelchair users.

The latest building cluster now takes the number to 17 in the resort, which is currently home to over 2,000 residents.

A contemporary resort-lifestyle mixed-use residential building complex has been created, with colour and render reflecting the strong influence of a typical Mediterranean seaside village.

Payce has also hired a leading consultant, Michael Mobbs specialising in the design and project management of sustainable initiatives to implement sustainability measures into Palermo.

'This is the first building in The Waterfront to be connected to the Sydney Water WRAMS (Water Recycling and Management System) which supplies treated recycled water for toilet flushing, clothes washing and balcony use throughout the development,'said Patrick Foret, Marketing Manager for Payce Consolidated.

Prices start from around $420,000.

For further information about The Waterfront call 1800 333 818 or visit www.thewaterfront.com.au

Open Day 2007 - The Countdown Begins!

The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Open Day will this year take place on Saturday, the 15th of September.

Hundreds of brigades from across NSW will be opening their doors to the public in order to provide the community with fire tips, safety information, and a chance to learn more about the RFS - the largest volunteer fire service in the world.

Local volunteer firefighters will welcome the community to brigade stations or displays all the way from Bourke to Llandilo!

The NSW Rural Fire Service is located in Carter Street, with an impressive operations / communications centre . Around 300 employees are located in the building which houses an impressive library open to the public.

We hope that Sydney Olympic Park will play a role in next year's state wide open day program.

Pictured is NSW RFS HR Manager Janelle Roberts with Minister Perry. Janelle attended the recent networking breakfast at Telstra Stadium.

Scouts Centenary Dinner at The WatervieW

More than 350 Scouts, Leaders, Parents and Supporters from all over NSW commemorated the World Centenary of Scouting in August by attending the Centenary and Good Service Awards Dinner at The WatervieW Convention Centre in Bicentennial Park.

Over thirty combined Silver Kangaroo, Silver Emu and Silver Koala Awardees were presented with their Awards to honour their outstanding commitment and contribution to Scouting.

Michael Ibrahim from 1st Bexley Coptic Scout Group provided an historical perspective to the night by sharing his memories of meeting Lord Baden Powell when he was just 9 years old in Port Saeed, Egypt.

Colonel John Hill, whose generosity allowed ten young people to attend the World Jamboree this year, shared his memories of attending the 1929 World Jamboree in England, which he maintains changed his life.

The entertainment was provided by the Hornsby Gang Show, made up of performing arts Scouts and Guides and the Air Force Combo Band.

Pictured left to right is Scout Deputy Chief Commissioner Mr Robert Baker and Michael Ibrahim.

Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre's Extreme Makeover for the Medibank International

Sydney's premier tennis tournament, the Medibank International, will have a new surface in 2008.

Tournament Director Craig Watson, pictured with Wally Masur, expects the new surface will attract an impressive world class field of men's and women's players to Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre for the 2008 Medibank International, played from January 6 -12, 2008.

All 16 courts at the centre are being resurfaced with Plexicushion, a cushioned acrylic surface which has received world-wide support from leading players, including four-time winner of the Medibank International Lleyton Hewitt.

"The players will be keen to hit out on the Plexicushion surface as the ideal preparation for the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open which will also be played on Plexicushion for the first time next year,' he said.

Wally Masur said the advantages of the Plexicushion surface are its consistency in pace and bounce; its suitability to Australian conditions because it retains less heat; and its comfort which lessens the risk of injury.

Tickets for the Medibank International are on sale through Ticketek from September 12.

Information about corporate hospitality packages for the Medibank International 2008 can be found at www.medibankinternational.com

Telstra Stadium in the pink

A field of 13,000 people wearing pink ponchos formed the outline of a pink lady at Telstra Stadium before the Sydney Swans versus St Kilda match on 11 August.

Each participant paid $50 to take part in the event, with the money going to Breast Cancer Network Australia.

Prior to kick-off, there was a minute's silence for women who had died from breast cancer and breast cancer survivors were asked to put up their hands.

A similar event was held at the MCG in Melbourne in 2005, with 11,500 participants.

2007 NRL FINALS SERIES

Bulldogs and Rabbitohs in NRL Finals Series

Despite a late fightback, the Bulldogs played out a nail-biting 32-38 loss at Dairy Farmers Stadium last Friday night.

At 38-10 the Bulldogs looked down and out until Cowboy's coach Graham Murray rested skipper Johnathan Thurston for the final 20 minutes of the game.

The Bulldogs made the most of Thurston's absence scoring four tries in 12 minutes to put them within a whisker of a remarkable away win.

But it was not to be.

Sonny Bill William's(pictured) finals series is now under a cloud after he was booked for a challenge on Cowboy's captain Thurston five minutes into the game. Williams could face a grade two striking charge, which would rule him out of the match against the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday night.

The loss sees them return to Townsville in week one of the Finals Series, finishing in 6th position ahead of the Rabbitohs and Broncos.

Will the Rabbitohs pull off the shock result of the weekend against Manly?

Good luck to the Bulldogs from your fellow SOPBA members and to the Rabbitohs, also a resident at Telstra Stadium. We look forward to seeing Rugby League back at Telstra Stadium for the 2007 Grand Final on 30 September.

The Finals Series Line-up is as follows:

Game 1: Friday, September 7, 6.30pm (8.30pm NZ time)
Warriors (4) v Parramatta Eels (5) at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

Game 2: Saturday, September 8, 6.30pm
North Queensland Cowboys (3) v Bulldogs (6) at Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville

Game 3: Saturday, September 8, 8.30pm
Manly Sea Eagles (2) v South Sydney Rabbitohs (7) at Brookvale Oval, Sydney

Game 4: Sunday, September 9, 4pm
Melbourne Storm (1) v Brisbane Broncos (8) at Olympic Park, Melbourne

SOPA NEWS

First meeting of Local Traffic & Transport Consultative Committee

Following on from the SOPBA Breakfast Forum on Traffic, Transport and Parking, the first meeting of the Local Traffic & Transport Consultative Committee is scheduled for Friday, 28 September. This initiative was announced by David Young at the breakfast.

Attendees will include:
-SOPA David Young, General Manager, Operations & Sustainability, (CHAIR)
-SOPA John Ferguson, Executive Manager, Precinct Operations
-SOPA Craig Bagley, Executive Manager, Urban Planning
-SOPA Stephen Kennett, Manager Traffic & Transport
-SOPBA CEO - Karen Grega
-SOPBA President - David Humphreys and CEO, Acer Arena
-RTA Doug Horne, Traffic Management Section
-Ministry of Transport Brendan Bruce, Director Transport Planning
-Auburn Council representative (to be confirmed).

SOPBiz and the SOPBA website will keep members informed of issues discussed and outcomes.

LIFESTYLE

Have you logged on to register?

Have you logged on to www.lifestyleatthepark.com.au to register your interest in joining Lifestyle?

There are a number of ways SOPBA members can participate in Lifestyle. They include:

1) Supporting Lifestyle by promoting it to all employees within your
organisation.
2) Sponsoring Employee Memberships as part of a 'thank you' to your
staff.
3) Sponsoring your employees to participate in additional activities
and educational programs once they are already members.
4) Sponsoring a particular activity for Lifestyle members and receive
acknowledgement for doing so.
5) Providing benefits and offers for inclusion in the Lifestyle program
on an annual or one-off basis, or both.

Please contact Petina Seymour, Manager-Lifestyle by email on petina@lifestyleatthepark.com.au or by phone on 97147153 or mobile 0437 678 233 to arrange an appointment for her to come and speak with you about Lifestyle and how you can maximise your company's involvement.