Staff Profiles

Kim Armit

Apart from three years in the early 1990’s when she took time off to look after her children, Kim Armit has worked at Baulkham Hills Sports club since 1988, but she’s still learning new things every day.

She works at Front Door Reception, so she’s one of the first people you seen when you step inside Baulkham Hills Sports. Kim has worked in just about every area of the club, including stints on TAB, keno and even as a relief Bingo caller! Kim loves mixing with members and patrons and finds her job challenging in a positive way.

For someone who was driving past the club with a friend, went in for a drink and decided to ask for a job, she has stayed for a long time. By the way, Kim’s sons Chris and Nathan both play for the Canterbury Bulldogs, so she’s a big supporter.

InTouch Magazine Feb/Mar 2009

Jan Tuiach

Jan loves coming to work and has been doing so for the past 20 years, not only does she work in the bottle shop at Bankstown Sports, she is the delegate for our staff who are members of the union, sits on the OH&S Committee, and is known as the ‘debt collector’ because she’s always collecting money for farewell presents, baby gifts and donations to charities and St Vincent’s Hospital.

Over the years, she has gotten to know most of the locals including politicians, sports stars and Bankstown Sports members too. At 68, Jan says she loves being active and helping people, so she enjoys coming to work each day – living around the corner from the club doesn’t hurt either! A known ‘talker’, Jan loves chatting with the customers.

InTouch Magazine Feb/Mar 2009

Sankho Barko

Sankho is the man behind those delicious cocktails you’ve been enjoying at Bankstown Sports. Even if he hasn’t prepared your drink personally, he probably trained the bartender who did.

Sankho, of Cecil Park, has honed his cocktail making skills over the past five years at Bankstown Sports, completing six certificates offered by Bacardi and well-known five-star hotels in the process. Now he’s passing on that knowledge to newer bar, cocktail and gaming staff.

In his spare time, Sankho is putting together a book of his 300 favourite wine, cocktail, straight and liqueur cocktails, which he hopes to publish. He also studies music at Blacktown College and will soon sit for his AMEB examination to become a piano teacher.

Sankho says, “I work hard to get the best staff behind the bar at Bankstown Sports. I love the mixology aspect of the work – that’s what makes it interesting.”

InTouch Magazine - April/May 2009

Irene Moffatt

Irene has always been one to seek out challenges. She’s worked at Bankstown Sports for 14 years, starting in the catering department, working across everything from fine dining and smorgasbords, to the coffee shop and functions. After six years there she became the team leader for gaming and bars.  

“I enjoy working at Bankstown Sports,” Irene says, “but I need to keep being challenged and learning new things, which is why I’ve moved around quite a bit at the club. In gaming, I have 100 new things to do each shift, so it keeps me on my toes! I love the variety of work and the fact that I’m still learning.”

Irene says the best thing about coming to work at Bankstown Sports is that everyone can have a laugh. “The people have become like a second family to me, in fact I met my husband there,” she says. Since having children, Irene doesn’t have as much time for after-work drinks as she used to, but her friends at work are the same friends she sees outside of work – which makes work seem more like a social occasion.

InTouch Magazine - April/May 2009

Lyneham Forrest

Bankstown Sports’ marketing assistant Lyneham Forrest hasn’t promoted the fact that he and his sister Rae-Li are champion ballroom dancers. The 21-year-old from Sefton is a former state champion and has been involved in the sport for 12 years. He and Rae-Li recently competed in the Conrad Jupiters Queensland Open at the famous Gold Coast casino.

Lyneham and Rae-Li’s focus is on the International Standard and Australian New Vogue styles. The latter originated in the 1930s and dances are based on one of several sub-categories, including the Viennese waltz, slow foxtrot, march and tango rhythms.

The rising dance star is philosophical about his workmates and club members discovering he is a master of fancy footwork. “I have no hesitations about people finding out,” he says. “Dancing has grown in popularity and we’re actually looking for a sponsor so it’s good to put the word out there.”

Lyneham joined the Bankstown Sports’ marketing team just over 12 months ago after working in functions while he completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Sydney. He did a two-month internship with the marketing department as part of his degree and was offered a job at the end of his tenure. You might see him from time to time wielding a camera during car giveaways or at other club events.

“There are so many opportunities here,” he says. “I enjoy my job because I learn something new every day … the recent rebranding of the club and the launch of the new ‘wichcraft Café were terrific learning experiences. It’s constantly evolving. The club has also been super-flexible and supportive when I need to take time off to attend competitions.”

After work, Lyneham trains five days a week at the C. K. Dance Centre at Condell Park, five minutes’ drive from the club. Aside from competing nearly every weekend, he and Rae-Li are training for the National Capital Dancesport Championships in Canberra at the end of this month. - InTouch Magazine June/July 2009

Con Panagis

Modesty comes naturally to Bankstown Sports gaming attendant Con Panagis. “Yeah, I’m one of the most popular guys at the club – not that I’ve got a big head or anything,” says Con. “I’ve been at Bankstown Sports for about eight years and when I got here, I basically knew half the people at the club already.”

A full-time gaming attendant, Con, of Beverly Park, says he makes it his business to show new staff members the ropes. “I don’t wait to be introduced to new people … I’ll go up and say hello and help them out with anything they need,” says Con.

The 41-year-old’s go-getter attitude also helped to snag him a wife – Con was on a lunch break when he spied a lovely lady out with her sister in the Sports Bar. “As if it’s not enough to have a great job at the club, it’s also given me a family – thank you very much,” says Con. He and wife Beverly have two little girls, Bianca, four-and-a-half, and Stephanie, four months.

Workmates and club members may have noticed Con is a staunch supporter of the St George Illawarra Dragons NRL team. In fact, he grew up with Dragons legend and Clive Churchill Medallist Brad Mackay (retired), who also played in several State of Origin matches and, as a Kangaroo, scored three tries against France on debut in 1990.

Through his work as a gaming attendant, Con has seen some club members win in excess of $100,000. “It’s amazing – the different variety of emotions when someone hits the jackpot. Some people are hysterical; others are really quiet,” he says. 

When he’s not rubbing shoulders with rugby league stars, Con enjoys fishing, spending family time with his girls and seeing rock bands. - InTouch Magazine June/July 2009

Marilyn Wigley

Marilyn was already a familiar face at Bankstown Sports because of her 30-year local banking career. Marilyn started her career as a teller and then worked in a variety of customer service assignments at the Commonwealth Bank, where many local residents got to know her personally.

When she got itchy feet, at the bank, Marilyn approached Bankstown Sports. She was encouraged to retrain and she joined the club as a hospitality doorperson about 18 months ago.

“A lot of my ex-customers still think I’m moonlighting,” says Marilyn. “It’s a happy place to work and I enjoy dealing with people.”

Marilyn brings to the job maturity and experience and a true understanding of our patrons and members. Many of them feel comfortable with her and are pleased to be greeted by someone who lives and works in the local area.

Married for 40 years to her husband, Roger, the Bass Hill resident and mum of two grown-up kids recently returned from a six-week jaunt to Europe. Highlights included Greece and Paris, where Marilyn walked the Champs-Elysees, stopped for a coffee and took in the world-famous galleries and fashion boutiques. She always wanted to do this and was able to fulfill her heart’s desire. - InTouch Magazine Aug/Sept 2009