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JUNE 2024<br />

getaway<br />

ENDLESS<br />

HORIZONS<br />

IN CUNNAMULLA, EVERY NIGHT THE<br />

SKY IS CLEAR ENOUGH TO SEE THE<br />

STARS.<br />

INSIGHTS<br />

FOOD FOR<br />

THOUGHT<br />

FOCUS<br />

THE ART OF<br />

ENTERTAINMENT<br />

A SPIRITED BUNCH<br />

CULT CLASSICS


We specialise in<br />

GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE (GMP)<br />

DESIGN & CONSTRUCT (D&C)<br />

TENDERED (TRADITIONAL)<br />

07 3142 5915 | enquiries@ashleycooper.com<br />

Unit 2/3-5 Deakin St, Brendale QLD 4500<br />

F l<br />

ashleycooper.com


EDITOR’S LETTER<br />

DOING<br />

IT ON<br />

OUR<br />

OWN<br />

OUR FIRST<br />

EVER TRIP<br />

TO THE<br />

TORRES<br />

STRAIT<br />

WAS A<br />

PROFOUND<br />

EXPERIENCE<br />

Torquay Hotel’s Darren Carter, <strong>QHA</strong>’s Bernie Hogan, Story Bridge Hotel owner and <strong>QHA</strong> President Richard<br />

Deery, Caxton Hotel’s Ross Farquhar, and Stephen Stoios of the Central Queensland Hotels Group.<br />

I am writing this column the day after<br />

the Federal Budget was handed down in<br />

Canberra and after an extended period of<br />

travel for the <strong>QHA</strong>.<br />

We have been everywhere across the state<br />

in the last month, participating in the People<br />

Pots & Profits session in Roma, supporting<br />

the Queensland Music Trails in Quilpie,<br />

attending Beef Week in Rockhampton, and<br />

emphasising the importance of Queensland’s<br />

hotels and the accommodation sector to<br />

our suppliers and politicians. These were all<br />

terrific experiences, however visiting our most<br />

northern members on our first ever trip to the<br />

Torres Strait was a profound experience.<br />

These members have never been able to<br />

adequately communicate the differences<br />

they experience on a daily basis in one of the<br />

most remote parts of the state. Don’t get me<br />

wrong, these professionally run, engaging,<br />

and reportedly quite prosperous businesses<br />

are the lifeblood of their communities. Each<br />

venue reflects their version of island life<br />

and supports the locals with hospitality,<br />

employment, and indeed, great pride.<br />

The <strong>QHA</strong> felt the deepest respect after understanding just<br />

how magnified the challenges all of us face are at the very<br />

top of the state, where venues are reliant on the weather,<br />

inconsistent supply lines, and government services. This<br />

especially hit home to me after seeing the budget last night,<br />

which included little direct assistance to an industry that is<br />

vital to the lives of so many Queenslanders.<br />

However, I balance this with my overriding desire to have an<br />

industry that is unhindered by overregulation. We are all too<br />

aware that, with every piece of assistance from governments<br />

at all levels, our industry invites further regulation that drags<br />

us away from being what we always strive to be – the centre<br />

of our community providing world-class experiences to<br />

guests and locals alike.<br />

So, I take a lesson from our northernmost members (and<br />

inspiring members everywhere) and seek to determine our<br />

own success while keeping the intervention of our businesses<br />

to a minimum.<br />

BERNIE HOGAN<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> CHIEF EXECUTIVE/EDITOR<br />

REVIEW / 3


INSIGHTS<br />

FOCUS<br />

A SPIRITED BUNCH<br />

CONTRIBUTORS<br />

<br />

GETAWAY<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

2024<br />

OUR<br />

COVER:<br />

Club Boutique<br />

Hotel, Cunnamulla<br />

Photography by<br />

Alex Spurway<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

SERVING HOSPITALITY SINCE 1885.<br />

JUNE 2024<br />

EDITION<br />

<strong>QHA</strong><br />

Level 14, 270 Adelaide Street<br />

Brisbane, Queensland 4000<br />

GPO Box 343<br />

Brisbane, Queensland 4001<br />

Phone: 07 3221 6999<br />

1800 177 594<br />

Fax: 07 3221 6649<br />

Web: www.qha.org.au<br />

Email: info@qha.org.au<br />

Office Hours<br />

8.30am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday<br />

President<br />

Mr Richard Deery<br />

Senior Vice President<br />

Mr Matthew Coorey<br />

Vice Presidents<br />

Mr Brad Fitzgibbons<br />

Ms Mel Tait<br />

Mr Sam Ingham-Myers<br />

Secretary/Treasurer<br />

Ms Rachel Johnson<br />

Chief Executive and Editor<br />

Mr Bernie Hogan<br />

www.qha.org.au<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> REVIEW is published by the Queensland Hotels<br />

Association ABN 54 878 166 941.<br />

All information is correct at time of going to press. The<br />

publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors in<br />

articles or advertisements, or unsolicited manuscripts,<br />

photographs, or illustrations. The opinions and words<br />

of the authors do not necessarily represent those of<br />

the publisher. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part<br />

or whole is strictly prohibited without prior permission.<br />

3. EDITOR’S LETTER<br />

5. CONTRIBUTORS<br />

6. NEWS<br />

18. GETAWAY<br />

CLUB BOUTIQUE HOTEL<br />

26. INSIGHTS<br />

FOOD FOR THOUGHT<br />

34. FOCUS<br />

THE ART OF ENTERTAINMENT<br />

46. A CRAFTY BUNCH<br />

EDEN BREWHOUSE<br />

52. TOP DROP<br />

56. A SPIRITED BUNCH<br />

NOSFERATU DISTILLERY<br />

63. TRADE DIRECTORY<br />

64. PARTNERS & CORPORATE MEMBERS<br />

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING<br />

For all editorial and advertising queries:<br />

Dave Swan 0401 345 201<br />

qhareview@qha.org.au


CONTRIBUTORS<br />

DAMIAN STEELE<br />

THERESE KELLY<br />

PAUL ST JOHN-WOOD<br />

CURT SCHATZ<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> Deputy Chief Executive<br />

A hospitality industry professional<br />

with over 30 years of experience<br />

in liquor, gaming, and operations.<br />

Damian has a strong focus on<br />

compliance and legislation.<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> Training Manager<br />

An experienced VET sector<br />

professional, Therese manages the<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> Training department and is<br />

responsible for the development<br />

and delivery of quality training for<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> members and other hospitality<br />

venues.<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> Membership Officer<br />

Paul is the face of the Association to<br />

many <strong>QHA</strong> members as he travels<br />

the length and breadth of the state<br />

visiting, advising, and assisting<br />

publicans.<br />

Managing Partner, Mullins<br />

With over 30 years of experience<br />

in property, liquor, and gaming<br />

law, Curt is recognised as a leader<br />

in this field. He advises pub, club,<br />

nightclub, restaurant, resort, and<br />

accommodation venue owners and<br />

operators.<br />

THE HON YVETTE D’ATH<br />

VICTORIA THOMSON<br />

TANA THORPE<br />

TOM FITZGERALD<br />

Attorney-General and Minister<br />

for Justice and Minister for the<br />

Prevention of Domestic and<br />

Family Violence<br />

Yvette D’Ath is a Labor member<br />

of the Legislative Assembly of<br />

Queensland representing the seat of<br />

Redcliffe.<br />

Commissioner for Office of<br />

Liquor and Gaming Regulation<br />

Queensland<br />

Victoria is responsible for the<br />

regulatory policy and strategic<br />

direction of product safety, licensing,<br />

compliance, and enforcement<br />

activities to protect market integrity<br />

and keep Queenslanders safe.<br />

Employment Relations Advisor<br />

Tana utilises her experience at the<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> and previous advisory roles to<br />

assist businesses with all aspects of<br />

employment relations.<br />

Accommodation Membership<br />

Services Officer<br />

Tom will act as your conduit to<br />

accommodation information and<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> services, and is an experienced<br />

professional who grew up living and<br />

working in the hospitality industry as<br />

part of a hotel-owning family.<br />

ADAM FLOYD<br />

NICK BAINBRIGGE<br />

Head of MAX & TAB, Queensland<br />

With ten years of experience in<br />

Tabcorp gaming services, Adam has<br />

recently taken on both MAX & TAB<br />

for Queensland. Adam’s previous<br />

career in the hospitality industry<br />

positions him well to understand the<br />

role that wagering and gaming play<br />

in pubs.<br />

State Manager of Aristocrat,<br />

Queensland<br />

Nick has a proven history in<br />

wholesale liquor, electronic gaming,<br />

and hotel and restaurant operation.<br />

He now heads up the state team<br />

for one of Australia’s leading<br />

manufacturers of gaming machines.<br />

REVIEW / 5


IN WITH THE OLD<br />

RECENTLY, THE COMISKEY GROUP WERE EXCITED TO GIVE A FIRST LOOK INTO THE EXTENSIVE<br />

INTERNAL RENOVATION OF THE IMPERIAL HOTEL ON THE SUNSHINE COAST.<br />

In October 2023, The Imperial Hotel and<br />

its on-site accommodation, previously<br />

named HOLA, were purchased by<br />

award-winning Queensland-based<br />

entertainment, hospitality, and<br />

construction business, the Comiskey<br />

Group. The hotel and accommodation<br />

acquisition came just months after the<br />

opening of The Doonan — a popular new<br />

venue near Noosa.<br />

With plans to renovate The Imperial Hotel<br />

from the get-go, the Comiskey Group<br />

sought the creative assistance of expert<br />

third parties including KP Architects and<br />

CTRL Space to finalise its design plans,<br />

with stage one of the renovation already<br />

underway. During this initial stage, the<br />

front bar and gaming room will undergo<br />

a transformation, which will take an<br />

estimated four months from start to finish.<br />

Director of the Comiskey Group, David<br />

Comiskey, said he has enjoyed the<br />

process of working with architects to<br />

determine the direction for the design and<br />

styling of The Imperial Hotel’s new interior.<br />

“We believe it’s going to breathe vitality<br />

and vibrance into the space while<br />

honouring the hotel’s storied past,” he said.<br />

Once complete, stage two will commence<br />

with a major refurbishment of the beer<br />

garden, bar, toilets, restaurant, kitchen<br />

area, and kid’s games room.<br />

The new children’s space is planned to be<br />

one of the largest on the Sunshine Coast<br />

and have some unexpected features that<br />

are guaranteed to excite guests.<br />

The Imperial Hotel will be designed as a<br />

place that locals and visitors of all ages<br />

can enjoy.<br />

True to the group’s usual approach,<br />

providing a family-oriented environment<br />

remains a key priority in both their<br />

strategic planning and daily operations.<br />

The Imperial Hotel is a well-known fixture<br />

of the Sunshine Coast, especially being<br />

across from the iconic Eumundi Markets.<br />

The venue was established in 1911 and has<br />

become a long-standing and cherished<br />

community landmark ever since.<br />

Director of the Comiskey Group, Rob<br />

Comiskey, said their brief has remained<br />

the same from the very start.<br />

“We wanted to celebrate the history of the<br />

pub. The Imperial Hotel is over 100 years<br />

old — it has changed owners throughout<br />

the years, it burnt down in 1926, and it has<br />

been reimagined numerous times.<br />

“But one thing has remained the same —<br />

it’s been a local favourite watering hole.<br />

“As the new custodians of this incredible<br />

property, we want to keep it that way,” he<br />

said.<br />

The Comiskey Group will pay homage to<br />

the hotel’s rich history through nostalgic<br />

design elements reminiscent of an ‘old<br />

school’ pub, with plans to memorialise<br />

the venue’s colourful history with framed<br />

pictures of the past.<br />

Rob said they have historical photos of<br />

bullocks grazing outside the hotel and<br />

horses parked outside on dirt streets.<br />

“The photos are really cool, and we can’t<br />

wait to put them up for our visitors to see!<br />

/ 6<br />

REVIEW


NEWS/ THE IMPERIAL HOTEL<br />

THE COMISKEY GROUP<br />

WILL PAY HOMAGE<br />

TO THE HOTEL’S RICH<br />

HISTORY THROUGH<br />

NOSTALGIC DESIGN<br />

ELEMENTS REMINISCENT<br />

OF AN ‘OLD SCHOOL’ PUB.<br />

“It’s an iconic hotel, and there was no way we wouldn’t have<br />

recognised its unique heritage. From tartan carpets to pressed<br />

metal ceilings, we are bringing back the ‘old school’ with a twist,”<br />

he said.<br />

The hotel’s traditional Queenslander façade is well-recognised<br />

and has only varied slightly over the years. Given the venue’s<br />

timeless exterior, the Comiskey Group’s renovation only extends<br />

to the venue’s internal space, with the hotel’s entryway seeing a<br />

slight upgrade while maintaining its recognisable façade.<br />

Rob said they have hand-selected materials and textiles that<br />

really hone in on the venue’s old-school style.<br />

“Think antique mirrors and timber skirting. Even our newly<br />

painted walls will be distressed to ensure the hotel doesn’t look<br />

brand new and sparkly — we want it to have character in spades.<br />

“We have been playing around with eclectic fabrics for our booths<br />

and curtains. We are even looking at a retro custom tile designs<br />

which will decorate the floor along the perimeter of the bar.<br />

“Combining eclectic fabrics with elements such as brass finishes<br />

will give it the classy, old-school pub appearance that we are<br />

aiming for,” he said.<br />

At the back of the new property in Eumundi sits The Imperial<br />

Hotel Boutique Accommodation, formerly known as HOLA.<br />

The accommodation was recently renovated just a couple<br />

of years prior to the acquisition and will not be refurbished.<br />

Instead, the venue has already received a new heated pool and<br />

magnesium spa as part of the group’s upgrades to the site.<br />

The Comiskey Group have significantly increased their project<br />

profile on the Sunshine Coast in recent years. In partnership with<br />

Josh Jones and Neville Allen, the group built and opened The<br />

Doonan near Noosa in 2023.<br />

In 2022, the group also announced their plan to build the<br />

largest hotel and entertainment venue on the Sunshine Coast in<br />

Australia’s largest master planned community — Stockland Aura.<br />

The $45 million development is expected to be completed by<br />

early 2026.<br />

In 2021, the Comiskey Group purchased 150 hectares of land in<br />

Coochin Creek, just 35 minutes south of Maroochydore.<br />

With a history of running major events at their entertainment<br />

venues (such as Eatons Hill Hotel and Sandstone Point Hotel) the<br />

group aims to expand their entertainment offering and use the<br />

land for an outdoor event and music festival site named Coochin<br />

Fields.<br />

Needless to say, the Comiskey Group is keen to introduce<br />

additional top-tier hospitality and entertainment options to the<br />

Sunshine Coast, and it’s certainly exciting that they have a lot<br />

more in store for the future.<br />

REVIEW / 7


Specialising in<br />

refurbishments,<br />

fitouts, extensions<br />

and new builds<br />

including:<br />

NEWS<br />

GAMING ROOMS<br />

KITCHENS<br />

BARS<br />

BREWERY FITOUTS<br />

DINING ROOMS<br />

BEER GARDENS<br />

Project scopes from $200k to $4 million<br />

THE CARNIVAL IS<br />

COMING TO QUEENSLAND<br />

ARISTOCRAT’S QUEENSLAND MANAGER, NICK BAINBRIGGE,<br />

TALKS ALL THINGS NEW IN GAMING.<br />

caughleyco.com.au<br />

michael@caughleyco.com.au<br />

0434 549 242<br />

QBCC Builder Open: 15316583<br />

Get ready for hammer time as Aristocrat’s new Jackpot<br />

Carnival Deluxe game family is launching soon. It’s the classic<br />

theme that players already know and love. In fact, there’s<br />

several hundred of the originals still in Queensland.<br />

This game has been brought right up to date with an awardwinning<br />

new hammer feature, raising the roof on player<br />

entertainment. However, it’s not all about getting the feature,<br />

as players can win with instant cash on reels in the base<br />

game, adding something extra to the excitement.<br />

Jackpot Carnival Deluxe is one of our key games for<br />

Queensland pubs and hotels, but it’s just one of a wide<br />

portfolio of games that will continue to grow as we head into<br />

the second half of the year and beyond.<br />

We take pride in having the largest variety of games in the<br />

industry with a performance profile designed to be ‘stronger<br />

for longer’, delivering games that have a faster return with<br />

longer-lasting and consistent performance above the industry<br />

average.<br />

We started the year with a bang with Mighty Genie, which<br />

was a mighty performer across the state.<br />

Next, we had the Treasures family, and then came Diamond<br />

Age with its classic hold and spin feature adding a sparkle to<br />

gaming floors across Queensland.<br />

Now, roll up, roll up, as we have Jackpot Carnival Deluxe.<br />

At the upcoming Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE) in Sydney,<br />

you’ll also see at least six new game families coming to<br />

Queensland by the end of the year. So, as you can see, we’ve<br />

had a busy time at Aristocrat recently.<br />

We continue to focus on our customer partnerships<br />

and leading the industry, and we have already run and<br />

participated in many events this year so far.<br />

The team and I thank you for your continued partnership<br />

and support, and we look forward to seeing you all at an<br />

upcoming event, as well as AGE 2024.<br />

/ 8<br />

REVIEW


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POTS<br />

POTS<br />

PEOPLE, CHEERS TO ROMA!<br />

THE SECOND PEOPLE, POTS &<br />

PROFITS EVENT FOR 2024 WAS<br />

HOSTED AT THE CLUB HOTEL, ROMA.<br />

<strong>QHA</strong><br />

& PR OF I IT S<br />

Attendees received insights from CUB representatives<br />

Michael O’Donoghue and Paul Saverin.<br />

Makayla Rudd from the White Bull Tavern<br />

attempting the ‘perfect pour’.<br />

Held in conjunction with Carlton & United<br />

Breweries, guest speakers included Andrew Briese<br />

from Cooking the Books, Chris O’Sullivan from<br />

Slumbercorp, as well as presentations from the<br />

CUB and <strong>QHA</strong> teams. Topics included strategies<br />

to lower food costs in the kitchen, industry updates<br />

and trends, maintaining draught beer systems, and<br />

reducing beer waste.<br />

Attendees also participated in the CUB Perfect Pour<br />

competition with the winner receiving a keg of CUB’s<br />

finest amber fluid. In the most competitive session<br />

yet, the honour went to Kent Skene from the Hotel<br />

Victory, Cecil Plains. Congratulations Kent and a<br />

very special thank you for the hospitality provided<br />

by our hosting licensees, Barry and Brenda Waldron<br />

from the magnificent Club Hotel Roma.<br />

The next PPP will be held in Cairns in November<br />

and is a free event for <strong>QHA</strong> members to attend.<br />

Christy Coomber from The Mucka Pub pouring<br />

under the watchful eyes of the judges.<br />

/ 10<br />

REVIEW


NEWS<br />

WELCOME JAYDE!<br />

THE <strong>QHA</strong> IS DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCE JAYDE<br />

LINCOLN, OUR NEW EVENTS MANAGER.<br />

SERVING<br />

HOSPITALITY<br />

SINCE 1885.<br />

With thirteen years of experience in the events<br />

industry, Jayde brings a wealth of knowledge<br />

and passion to our organisation.<br />

Originally from Australia, Jayde returned home<br />

two years ago after spending a decade in<br />

the United States, where she supported her<br />

husband, a U.S. Marine.<br />

Jayde worked in events and hospitality roles<br />

within General Motors, managing events across<br />

North and South America as well as Canada.<br />

Most recently, Jayde worked for the Gold Coast<br />

Titans, where she played a pivotal role in event<br />

operations. Outside of work, Jayde cherishes her<br />

role as a wife and mother to her five-year-old<br />

daughter, Genevieve.<br />

We are thrilled to have Jayde join our team, and<br />

she looks forward to meeting and working with<br />

all of our members and partners.<br />

<br />

REVIEW / 11


THE <strong>QHA</strong>’S NORTHERN COMPASS TOUR<br />

IN APRIL, WE HEADED WAY, WAY NORTH TO VISIT THOSE CLOSEST TO THE EQUATOR.<br />

WORDS BY DAMIAN STEELE<br />

After a two-hour flight heading north from Cairns, a delegation of<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> members and partners landed on Horn Island in the Torres<br />

Strait Islands archipelago between the Australian mainland and<br />

Papua New Guinea.<br />

Horn Island is the site of Horn Island Airport, which also serves<br />

Thursday Island and is the gateway for travellers to the mainland<br />

and outer archipelago. A major Allied airbase was constructed on<br />

the island during World War II, which was attacked several times<br />

by Japanese planes.<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> member venues Dugongs Rest and the Wongai Beach Hotel<br />

provided tremendous hospitality with accommodation, food, and<br />

refreshments. We thank Tracy at the Dugongs Rest Motel, Kylie at<br />

the Wongai Beach Hotel, and both of their teams for having us.<br />

An absolute highlight of the trip was visiting our northernmost<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> hotel member, the Badu Island Hotel. Badu Island is in<br />

the Torres Strait, 60 kilometres north of Thursday Island and<br />

100 kilometres south of Papua New Guinea. The Mura Badulgal<br />

(Torres Strait Islanders) Corporation administers land on behalf of<br />

the Badulgal people, so the <strong>QHA</strong> was very grateful to be invited.<br />

The group flew into Badu from Horn Island on a nine-seater<br />

plane, which was an incredible experience with breathtaking<br />

views. The <strong>QHA</strong> was warmly welcomed on arrival and toured the<br />

crayfish factory before visiting the Badu Island Hotel. The group<br />

was treated to crayfish skewers and an amazing curry stew by<br />

super-guide Paeo Ahmat from Badu Catering and Tours.<br />

The staff really looked after us, so a special thank you to Marie<br />

Ah-Wang, chairperson of the Badu Island Foundation, and Cr<br />

Ranetta Wosomo, Badu councillor, for having us.<br />

The trip over to Thursday Island is a short ferry ride across from<br />

Horn Island and is one of those picturesque places where you can<br />

watch both the sunrise and the sunset over the water. Thursday<br />

Island acts as the commercial, transport, and administrative hub<br />

for 20 communities spread across a geographical area spanning<br />

approximately 48,000 square kilometres.<br />

Steeped in history, the island was a pearling industry centre and<br />

was evacuated to be a military base during World War II. A mustsee<br />

in the area is Green Hill Fort, which was built in the 1890s to<br />

guard against the threat of a Russian invasion before becoming<br />

/ 12<br />

REVIEW


NEWS/ <strong>QHA</strong>’S NORTHERN COMPASS TOUR<br />

THE TRIP OVER TO THURSDAY<br />

ISLAND IS A SHORT FERRY<br />

RIDE ACROSS FROM HORN<br />

ISLAND AND IS ONE OF<br />

THOSE PICTURESQUE PLACES<br />

WHERE YOU CAN WATCH<br />

BOTH THE SUNRISE AND THE<br />

SUNSET OVER THE WATER.<br />

a military headquarters during World War II. Today, the fort and<br />

its cannons remain a relic of the past on one of the island’s best<br />

vantage points.<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> member venues include the Federal Hotel, Jardine Motel,<br />

Grand Hotel, Royal Hotel, and Torres Straits Hotel. The touring<br />

party really appreciated learning about the challenges of supply<br />

and the cost of freight, services, and staff, which are all part of<br />

operating in this location.<br />

However, when you are in paradise, you sometimes just need to<br />

operate on ‘island time’, which is a very flexible time zone that is<br />

best embraced!<br />

REVIEW / 13


14<br />

REVIEW


NEWS/ <strong>QHA</strong>’S NORTHERN COMPASS TOUR<br />

Following the tourwe were lucky enough to speak<br />

with the general manager of the Jardine Motel and<br />

Federal Hotel, Steve Mills.<br />

He said that the Federal Hotel on Thursday Island<br />

is one of Australia’s closest pubs to the ocean,<br />

being only 14 metres from the high tide mark.<br />

“The two-storey federation-style wooden<br />

Queenslander is more than 120 years old and was<br />

built after the previous building, the Tattersalls<br />

Hotel, burnt to the ground in 1899.<br />

“For most of the hotel’s history, the island’s<br />

workforce was engaged in the physically<br />

demanding activity of pearl diving or other labour.<br />

“With no air conditioning or electronic<br />

entertainment, hotel public bars were wellpatronised,<br />

as the Torres Strait is located in<br />

the Torrid Zone and has an incredibly humid<br />

equatorial climate,” he said.<br />

“THE TWO-STOREY FEDERATION-STYLE WOODEN<br />

QUEENSLANDER IS MORE THAN 120 YEARS OLD AND<br />

WAS BUILT AFTER THE PREVIOUS BUILDING, THE<br />

TATTERSALLS HOTEL, BURNT TO THE GROUND IN 1899.”<br />

Margaret Mills, alongside her husband, Michael,<br />

and son, Steve, bought the Federal Hotel 15 years<br />

ago as a result of already having a business on<br />

the same block and believing the two hotels<br />

would complement each other.<br />

Raised on a lamb and wheat farm on the<br />

Macquarie River in central New South Wales,<br />

Margaret went to a boarding school in Sydney,<br />

worked in a stock and station agency in Dubbo,<br />

and then, after clearing 20,000 acres of timber,<br />

spent 20 years as a grain farmer and cattle<br />

producer in central Queensland with her husband.<br />

Steve said a desire for change led Margaret into<br />

the hospitality industry, where she has now been<br />

working as a front-of-house member of the <strong>QHA</strong><br />

for more than 31 years.<br />

“All of her children and grandchildren have<br />

worked in a hotel with her for some time, which is<br />

something that may not have been possible had<br />

she stayed on the land. Margaret spent her 80th<br />

birthday working behind the bar. Well-articulated<br />

by renowned <strong>QHA</strong> personality Steve Aylward,<br />

‘What are you doing on your birthday? Oh, you<br />

thought you’d spend it working in a pub!’” he said.<br />

REVIEW / 15


Thursday Island is such a diverse town, with dozens upon<br />

dozens of government departments and agencies having<br />

a presence, in addition to 18 denominations of Christianity<br />

and a vibrant multicultural community that has stood<br />

strong for more than 100 years.<br />

Steve said there is simply nowhere in Australia quite like it.<br />

“One of Thursday Island’s greatest strengths, and certainly<br />

one of the pleasures of being in the hotel industry, is the<br />

friendly nature of the people.<br />

“Extended drinking sessions are more likely to break out<br />

into song than anything else. All-nighters can occasionally<br />

be heard still harmonising on the waterfront as the sun<br />

rises.<br />

“Due to our extremely remote location and the difficulty<br />

and expense of getting here, inbound tourism to Thursday<br />

Island is likely to always be a niche. There is no road, and<br />

transport up to Cape York is arduous and will always be for<br />

the adventurous.<br />

“The greatest difficulty running a venue on Thursday Island<br />

is logistics. The cost of freight and the semi-reliable nature<br />

of the service hamper both the standard of living on the<br />

island and the standard of business services that can be<br />

provided,” he said.<br />

Considering Thursday Island’s limited transport, short<br />

travel season, and increased construction costs, the<br />

friendly service and hard work of family-run hospitality<br />

businesses like the Federal Hotel deserve to be celebrated,<br />

supported, and encouraged.<br />

“Our business decisions are made on the spot by the<br />

family, whose entire future and capital reserve is resting on<br />

the future of the town and our relationship with the locals.<br />

“Patrons are also our neighbours and the people we live<br />

alongside and share highs and lows with, sometimes for<br />

generations.<br />

“There is nothing that’s able to replicate the fair dinkum<br />

atmosphere and special feel of a family-operated<br />

hospitality business where, to change the faces you see,<br />

you’ll have to wait a generation,” Steve said.<br />

A special thanks to not only Steve and his mum, Margaret,<br />

for our accommodation at Jardine Motel and Federal Hotel,<br />

but also to Tom Mitchell and his staff from the Grand Hotel<br />

for a fantastic dinner.<br />

For their assistance in organising this tour, we appreciate<br />

Fraser Nai and Wendy from Strait Experience, Vanessa and<br />

Liberty from Horn and Thursday Island Heritage Tours, and<br />

Frances from Malu Ventures.<br />

Needless to say, the <strong>QHA</strong> Northern Compass Tour was a<br />

once in a lifetime experience. It was an absolute pleasure<br />

to engage with our members in this beautiful part of<br />

Queensland.<br />

/ 16<br />

REVIEW


NEWS<br />

REVIEW / 17


18<br />

REVIEW


FEATURE/ CLUB BOUTIQUE HOTEL<br />

ENDLESS<br />

HORIZONS<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX SPURWAY<br />

IN CUNNAMULLA, EVERY NIGHT THE SKY IS<br />

CLEAR ENOUGH TO SEE THE STARS.<br />

Escaping into the outback is one of the most<br />

unique and enchanting things you can do in<br />

Queensland. In this edition, we were grateful<br />

to hear from Peieta Mills – a fifth-generation<br />

local who has done more for the little town<br />

of Cunnamulla than you can imagine,<br />

from championing the region’s tourism<br />

to establishing the oasis that is the Club<br />

Boutique Hotel.<br />

Peieta said from the start, the venue was<br />

made to feel like a home away from home,<br />

especially since the majority of guests<br />

entering reception have been on the road for<br />

a very long time.<br />

“I think the way we operate the hotel is quite<br />

unique. Our staff are very down-to-earth<br />

and personable, we’re in the hospitality<br />

business because we want to be, and we<br />

love Cunnamulla, so we know how to look<br />

after people and make them feel welcome.<br />

We may do things a little differently from<br />

everybody else, but we’ve always made sure<br />

that our guests’ outback experience is as<br />

comfortable and positive as it can be.<br />

“We want to create nice little spaces where<br />

visitors can sit back and unwind after<br />

exploring all day. Events, functions and<br />

accommodation drive our business, so we’re<br />

really involved with tourism in Cunnamulla.<br />

We get the majority of travelling workers,<br />

coach groups, and fly-in groups, and they’re<br />

growing all of the time,” she said.<br />

Run by local people, local knowledge, and<br />

local passion, The Club Boutique Hotel<br />

puts guests in the best position possible<br />

to experience the region’s breathtaking<br />

environment. After all, Cunnamulla is situated<br />

on the the Eromanga Basin – the biggest<br />

underground river system in the world.<br />

Peieta said, while the native flora and fauna<br />

are a huge draw to the Paroo shire, much<br />

of the tourism in outback Queensland<br />

is evolving to include natural health and<br />

wellness experiences such as luxury bathing.<br />

“There’s a state and federal funded $11 million<br />

hot spring location that just opened up<br />

here. Outback Queensland Tourism has also<br />

recently developed a bathing trail with 28<br />

locations on it, with five of those being in our<br />

area. For the last three years we have been<br />

working to understand these opportunities<br />

and build upon this health and wellness trend<br />

with experiences such as our luxury glamping<br />

tents and our beauty and massage space.<br />

“That goes for the entire region too, with<br />

unique attractions like our nature and<br />

character based tourism, the well-established<br />

artesian mud baths at Eulo farmstays, and<br />

Harmony Health and Wellness who offer<br />

a range of holistic therapies and intuitive<br />

healing techniques like reiki.<br />

“It’s a good thing that these attractions cater<br />

to a different and emerging type of customer.<br />

The region also has lots of walking trails<br />

and magnificent estuaries that are great for<br />

swimming, kayaking, camping, fishing, and<br />

yabbying, so there’s really something for<br />

everybody out here,” she said.<br />

Being 206 kilometres south of Charleville and<br />

750 kilometres west of Brisbane, the peace<br />

and camaraderie of Cunnamulla make the<br />

location a wellness experience all on its own.<br />

REVIEW / 19


As the vitality of the entire community benefits<br />

from each and every visitor, the town is a very<br />

friendly place that is welcoming and appreciative<br />

of tourism. Peieta said research after the<br />

pandemic suggests that many people have reevaluated<br />

their lifestyles, with most realising<br />

that it’s not all about the toys they have – it’s<br />

about the experiences that offer a connection to<br />

others, themselves, their families, and nature.<br />

“Whether that’s true or false, I don’t know.<br />

What I do know is that sometimes the city is<br />

an expensive and stressful place, but out here<br />

it’s the opposite. As you walk down the street,<br />

people say g’day all of the time, whether you’re a<br />

local or a tourist.<br />

“For us, it’s personal, so we make sure it’s<br />

personal for the guests and tourists too. We<br />

need them and we are happy to let them know<br />

“WE MAY DO THINGS A LITTLE<br />

DIFFERENTLY FROM EVERYBODY<br />

ELSE, BUT WE’VE ALWAYS MADE<br />

SURE THAT OUR GUESTS’ OUTBACK<br />

EXPERIENCE IS AS COMFORTABLE<br />

AND POSITIVE AS IT CAN BE.”<br />

that we appreciate their investment in our<br />

community and business. The town would<br />

not exist without tourism.<br />

“I think when people visit, they realise just<br />

how stressed out and disconnected they feel.<br />

You can’t live a happy life when you’re like<br />

that, let alone a healthy life. They also realise<br />

that not every fulfilling experience has to cost<br />

you a whole lot of money.<br />

/ 20<br />

REVIEW


FEATURE/ CLUB BOUTIQUE HOTEL<br />

“There’s no parking fees or any other charges<br />

for existing out here, and there’s just so<br />

many natural spectacles that are appealing<br />

to anyone looking for an escape. There’s 215<br />

documented species of Australian native<br />

birds here – that’s more than a third of all<br />

birds in Australia,” she said.<br />

As someone who was born and raised in<br />

Cunnamulla, Peieta knew that the region was<br />

a hidden tourism gem worth sharing with the<br />

world. Encouraged by the myriad of colourful<br />

experiences and local people in town, she<br />

founded Out the Back Australia in 2007,<br />

where she worked with up to 20 attractions<br />

and businesses in the area to create and<br />

market a range of tours.<br />

Peieta said they never strayed outside of the<br />

Paroo shire, purely because they were trying<br />

to turn around the economic decline, create<br />

jobs, and prevent people from moving away.<br />

“When we marketed it around the world<br />

through Queensland Rail, we started to get a<br />

lot of people coming through.<br />

“Eventually, Queensland Rail pulled their<br />

service to Cunnamulla, so the $500,000<br />

business that we had built over 10 years was<br />

turned into a $7,000 business overnight. We<br />

were encouraged to give accommodation a<br />

go after this because we got rave reviews on<br />

everything else we did.<br />

“We bought the Club Boutique Hotel before<br />

all of this other stuff happened with the tour<br />

company. I ended up with no business or<br />

income, a massive debt, and a venue that<br />

was a dump. That’s how we started, and we<br />

are only just turning the corner in the last 12<br />

months,” she said.<br />

Despite its dilapidated nature, the hotel<br />

was in a perfect location with a reasonable<br />

block of land, so Peieta felt confident that<br />

she could do something with it – hence the<br />

elegant, beautifully appointed venue that<br />

stands there today.<br />

Peieta said the Club Boutique Hotel is the<br />

third venue to be built on the site, with the<br />

first being wiped out by a tornado in 1887<br />

and the second unfortunately being reduced<br />

to ashes on Saint Patrick’s Day in 1933.<br />

REVIEW / 21


“Hotels always burnt down back in the day, so it was<br />

ridiculously difficult and expensive to get insurance. Unlike<br />

today, it was all candles and kerosene lamps, and you<br />

didn’t just turn on a tap and have access to water. So, mix<br />

that with alcohol and really dry weather, and everything<br />

was highly flammable.<br />

“We found out that there’s actually a whole lot of<br />

hotel history in the family. My grandmother and great<br />

grandmother were drovers and had a hotel in Hungerford<br />

on the Drovers and Pioneers Trail.<br />

“That family and my dad’s great uncle had the Club<br />

Boutique Hotel when it burnt down. People who still live<br />

in town used to work there as young children,” she said.<br />

“WE TRY TO LINK HISTORY AND HERITAGE<br />

WITH EVERYTHING WE DO, SO WE’RE ALSO<br />

PLANNING TO RELEASE A MAGAZINE SOON<br />

CALLED OUTBACK OPULENCE. IT’LL CONTAIN<br />

LOTS OF LOCAL STORIES IN ADDITION TO<br />

WORTHWHILE EXPERIENCES AND PLACES<br />

THAT ARE A LITTLE OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.”<br />

Throughout the hotel’s history, many shearers, drovers,<br />

ringers, swagmans, cameleers, and coach drivers have<br />

come and gone.<br />

From the hotel’s various run-ins with these local legends,<br />

Cunnamulla Characters Brewed was born – a collection of<br />

craft beer adorned with portraits by Aussie artist Michael<br />

Nicholas inspired by centuries of laughter and good<br />

will. Peieta said, come beer and wine o’clock, they are<br />

passionate about sharing the stories of these incredible<br />

women and men with their guests.<br />

“We try to link history and heritage with everything we<br />

do, so we’re also planning to release a magazine soon<br />

called Vitality Outback. It’ll contain lots of local stories<br />

about people doing amazing things every day in addition<br />

to worthwhile experiences that are a little off the beaten track.<br />

We may have a focus on wellness, but our love for people and<br />

nature is key.<br />

“For us, it’s really about connecting the need with the person.<br />

I guess our theory is that, if you do the right thing, understand<br />

your market, share the love, and deliver, your business will<br />

grow and so will the region. If we’re not what someone<br />

wants, they can find something they prefer somewhere<br />

else in the region, and we are more than happy to give<br />

recommendations.<br />

“It’s about working together with other businesses for the<br />

betterment of the town. Those people are bound to come<br />

back anyway, whether it’s for a beer, a meal, or a ‘G’day! How<br />

are you going?’” she said.<br />

/ 22<br />

REVIEW


FEATURE/ CLUB BOUTIQUE HOTEL<br />

Needless to say, there’s not a country<br />

town in Australia that wouldn’t benefit<br />

from increased tourism.<br />

Thankfully, the outback hospitality scene<br />

is a lot livelier than it used to be, with<br />

constant improvements being made to<br />

the roads and reception of remote areas.<br />

Peieta confirmed that the industry has<br />

changed dramatically for them in the last<br />

20 years, especially since more people<br />

can afford to travel after they retire.<br />

“Technology has also had a massive<br />

impact. Before, we were totally reliant<br />

on marketing through magazines and<br />

papers, and even that was so expensive<br />

for little places like ours.<br />

“Now, with websites and social media,<br />

you can bypass all of those things by<br />

developing content and writing blogs to<br />

attract and reach new audiences.<br />

“A lot of things have made a huge<br />

difference and have been very positive<br />

for us, but I believe the biggest<br />

encouragement to tourism in outback<br />

Australia was the Big Red Bash run by<br />

Greg Donovan and his family.<br />

“They’ve attracted a different market,<br />

bringing all kinds of people and their<br />

families from across Australia to our<br />

towns. They’ve done a sensational job,”<br />

she said.<br />

Clearly, the people behind the Club<br />

Boutique Hotel are very happy with<br />

where they are, and with so many<br />

offerings and experiences, it’s no wonder<br />

why guests leave the ethereal outback<br />

feeling calmed, looked after, and fulfilled.<br />

“We just had a family up from Sydney –<br />

a mum and three kids. They left our hotel<br />

at 7:00am every morning and came back<br />

at 8:30pm every night. They just had so<br />

much fun, and that’s without getting to<br />

do half of the experiences here.<br />

“Cunnamulla is an amazing place to<br />

visit. Laying back and seeing the stars<br />

from our venue is just amazing, and then<br />

there’s the magical sand dunes and the<br />

open sky, which is a different colour blue<br />

every day.<br />

“Whether you want to camp alongside<br />

the river bank on your own, stay in a<br />

luxury hotel, or go glamping in nature,<br />

everything is here, and everyone is<br />

welcome,” Peieta said.<br />

REVIEW / 23


ATTORNEY-GENERAL/ THE HONORABLE YVETTE D’ATH MP<br />

SAFER WORK ENVIRONMENTS<br />

STAFF ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF ANY HOSPITALITY VENUE. THEY CREATE SAFE, ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCES FOR PATRONS<br />

AND ARE OFTEN THE FIRST TO RECOGNISE IF PATRONS BECOME DISTRESSED OR NEED SUPPORT.<br />

Venues simply cannot operate without<br />

their skilled staff, which is why it is<br />

so important to ensure that we’re<br />

also creating and maintaining safe<br />

environments for them to work in.<br />

The month of May was dedicated to<br />

raising awareness of domestic and family<br />

violence (DFV) and sending a clear<br />

message that such violence will not be<br />

tolerated.<br />

DFV impacts many people in all sectors<br />

of the community – disproportionately<br />

women. This is why I am encouraging you<br />

to think about how DFV may impact your<br />

staff or patrons.<br />

Industry, government, and community all<br />

have a role to play in working together<br />

to eliminate DFV in Queensland.<br />

The Queensland Government has<br />

recently released the Domestic and<br />

Family Violence Training and Change<br />

Management Framework to address DFV.<br />

I encourage you to refer to this framework<br />

to help you structure your own training<br />

with your staff around what constitutes<br />

DFV. This will also help them recognise<br />

the signs and appropriately respond<br />

if they suspect that DFV is affecting<br />

colleagues or patrons.<br />

On the topic of creating safe work<br />

environments, I want to bring to your<br />

attention recently passed health and<br />

safety laws. These new laws give effect<br />

to recommendations from the <strong>Review</strong> of<br />

Queensland’s Work Health and Safety Act<br />

2011 and the national 2018 <strong>Review</strong> of the<br />

Model Work Health and Safety Laws.<br />

Under the new laws, there is clarity<br />

around effective representation for staff<br />

in safety matters and the role employers<br />

have to ensure staff have access to<br />

support in the workplace. These laws are<br />

critical to ensuring staff are protected, and<br />

employers are accountable if the law is<br />

not followed.<br />

More information about the new laws and<br />

the WHS Act <strong>Review</strong> can be found at:<br />

www.oir.qld.gov.au/public-consultation/<br />

work-health-and-safety-act-2011-review.<br />

Lastly, I wanted to take a moment to<br />

discuss the importance of supporting staff<br />

who are frequently working in gaming<br />

rooms and are exposed to patrons who<br />

are gambling.<br />

Research has shown that gaming staff<br />

are significantly more likely to experience<br />

gambling harm. They are also often at<br />

the forefront of engaging with patrons<br />

experiencing harm. That’s why it’s vital<br />

to have structures and intervention<br />

processes in place so your staff have<br />

ready access to support, from the right<br />

people, when needed.<br />

Venue managers, customer liaison officers,<br />

and local gambling help service providers<br />

all play a valuable role in protecting staff<br />

and patrons from gambling harm.<br />

If you or someone you know is<br />

experiencing problems with gambling, you<br />

can visit www.gamblinghelpqld.org.au for<br />

helpful information and to connect with<br />

support services online, face-to-face, and<br />

over the phone.<br />

/ 24<br />

REVIEW


OLGR/ VICTORIA THOMSON<br />

NEW DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT<br />

IN MY LAST COLUMN, I MENTIONED THAT WE ARE UPGRADING THE OFFICE OF LIQUOR AND GAMING REGULATION’S IT SYSTEMS AS<br />

PART OF A BROADER BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM THAT WILL MODERNISE OUR OPERATIONS AND ALLOW US TO ADAPT<br />

MORE EFFECTIVELY TO THE NEEDS OF OUR LICENSEES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.<br />

Our Compliance and Licensing<br />

Management System (CALMS) is a large<br />

part of this project and is combining<br />

several older technology systems into<br />

one central IT solution. We’re investing in<br />

this new system to ensure we continue to<br />

meet industry and client expectations.<br />

Beyond streamlining processes, CALMS<br />

also aims to increase automation, improve<br />

customer transparency and experience,<br />

and reduce manual workload and<br />

duplication.<br />

For licensees, this will bring an array of<br />

benefits, including the ability to track and<br />

self-manage more of your applications.<br />

Automating components of the application<br />

process in an online system will reduce<br />

the burden on applicants to complete<br />

tasks such as identity verification or the<br />

need to provide company information.<br />

To ensure the implementation meets the<br />

current and future needs of a modern<br />

regulator, we have embedded subject<br />

matter experts in the CALMS project team<br />

to work alongside the business analysts<br />

and developers.<br />

These experts have focused on defining<br />

what the current system requirements are<br />

and anticipating those of the future. We’ll<br />

also be engaging with industry to see<br />

what you need from an online portal.<br />

CALMS is being rolled out in a staged<br />

process and is expected to be fully<br />

implemented in 2025-26. However, we<br />

have already implemented some digital<br />

transformation changes, including<br />

transitioning to a paperless licensing<br />

application process.<br />

This supports quicker processing<br />

timeframes, and will ensure we are ready<br />

to move into the new digital environment<br />

when CALMS goes live. To support this<br />

approach, clients are encouraged to make<br />

their applications and communicate with<br />

OLGR easily via digital channels.<br />

We also continue to review and improve<br />

our client-facing services, building on<br />

the measures implemented in 2023<br />

to improve licence transfer times. The<br />

benefits of these changes were noticeable<br />

when a recent transfer application for a<br />

commercial hotel licence was finalised in<br />

eight days, allowing the licensee to settle<br />

the hotel purchase much quicker than<br />

expected.<br />

I look forward to updating you on the<br />

improvements that CALMS will bring<br />

to your business in addition to further<br />

progress as it continues to develop.<br />

REVIEW / 25


26<br />

REVIEW


INSIGHTS/ SIMON GEORGE & SONS<br />

FOOD FOR<br />

THOUGHT<br />

HOMEGROWN RIGHT HERE IN QUEENSLAND, SIMON GEORGE & SONS HAS<br />

BEEN CULTIVATING POSITIVE CHANGE IN SOME OF THE MOST INTEGRAL<br />

AREAS OF HOSPITALITY FOR CLOSE TO A CENTURY.<br />

And it’s a good thing too, because behind the fresh produce<br />

that stars on the plates of our venues are the local farmers,<br />

retailers, and growers who not only sustain and nourish<br />

the entire state, but also work hard to make foodservice a<br />

healthier industry for everyone.<br />

As a family business currently led by fourth-generation<br />

fruit and vegetable purveyors, Ben and Jack George,<br />

Simon George & Sons has a focus on supporting the<br />

wellbeing, philanthropy, and sustainability of Australia’s<br />

foodservice market.<br />

Most recently, the business has partnered with one of the<br />

country’s largest not-for-profit kitchen operators, FareShare,<br />

who cook free meals from rescued and donated ingredients<br />

to feed people going through hardship.<br />

Since being introduced to the charity via End Waste Australia<br />

in December last year, the Aussie fruit and vegetable<br />

wholesaler has already donated over six tonnes of produce,<br />

equating to 15,000 meals for community members in need.<br />

Simon George & Sons chief of staff, Emily Eastman, said<br />

donations can vary daily, but are generally imperfect<br />

produce in bulk quantities that their clients don’t have the<br />

capacity to take.<br />

“A couple of months ago, when all roads to the Northern<br />

Territory were flooding, we had a truck of produce that had<br />

to return to Brisbane after two days on the road. This was<br />

directed to FareShare, who made it into amazing meals for<br />

people in need.<br />

“FareShare receive and make meals to freeze that same day.<br />

Some examples include a recent donation of 200 kilograms<br />

of lemons, which were made into lemon chicken meals.<br />

REVIEW / 27


“We are working closely with FareShare<br />

to upcycle our process team surplus.<br />

This includes broccoli and cauliflower<br />

stems, potato skins, and many more<br />

sliced and diced produce lines,” she said.<br />

Simon George & Sons has been<br />

intrinsically connected to the grassroots<br />

hospitality community since 1927, when<br />

Ben and Jack’s great-grandfather<br />

started trading fresh, high-quality fruit<br />

and veggies.<br />

Emily said the family business has<br />

grown a lot from its humble beginnings,<br />

and they’re proud to now operate across<br />

five Aussie locations under the capable<br />

hands of fourth-generation leaders.<br />

“Over time, we’ve built loyal partnerships<br />

with some of Australia’s leading hotels,<br />

restaurants, retailers, and institutions,<br />

not to mention countless amazing local<br />

farmers in the foodservice industry.<br />

“We have grown through the nurturing<br />

of relationships that reciprocate<br />

communal respect. After all, you only get<br />

out what you put in,” she said.<br />

Access to fresh produce can be a<br />

challenge for venues in more remote<br />

parts of Australia, which is why Simon<br />

George & Sons are major suppliers<br />

to 50 remote communities across the<br />

Northern Territory, North Queensland,<br />

and the Torres Strait.<br />

Beyond the mere supply of fresh<br />

produce, the brand also conducts<br />

training programs outlining nutrition,<br />

safe food handling, storage, safe cutting<br />

techniques, rotation, and the display of<br />

fresh produce to help close the gap on<br />

education, employment, and nutrition.<br />

Emily said 97% of their fruit and<br />

vegetables are also grown on<br />

Australian soil, with 25% being farmerdirect<br />

produce.<br />

“This means our customers get the<br />

freshest produce while supporting<br />

local farmers. We conduct regular farm<br />

visits to offer our customers a glimpse<br />

into the origins of our amazing fruits<br />

and veggies, encompassing the entire<br />

process from cultivation to consumption.<br />

“As a family of growers, it’s also<br />

natural that we look after our<br />

people and communities, whether<br />

that’s through our free employee<br />

counselling service, volunteering, or<br />

delivering quality nutrition to those<br />

who need it most.<br />

“We provide education to the<br />

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander<br />

communities in which we operate<br />

and make sure to spotlight diverse<br />

indigenous growers through our<br />

platforms,” she said.<br />

As sustainable innovation and ecoconscious<br />

education become more<br />

prevalent in our day-to-day lives, it’s<br />

no doubt that hotels, pubs, bars, cafés,<br />

and restaurants are looking to reduce<br />

their impact on the environment.<br />

Often, this comes down to waste<br />

management, the use of renewable<br />

energy, and where venues source<br />

their produce.<br />

In addition to doing their part to make<br />

sure as many Australians as possible<br />

have access to fresh, healthy, and<br />

nutritious food, Simon George &<br />

Sons have also thrown themselves<br />

into plenty of green initiatives over<br />

the years.<br />

Emily said this includes everything<br />

from energy-efficient technology and<br />

solar power integration to emission<br />

reduction machinery, grey water<br />

recycling, rainwater collection, onsite<br />

waste recycling, and green packaging.<br />

“As a family business, looking after<br />

one another comes first, so it’s only<br />

natural for us to take care of the planet<br />

and the people on which we depend.<br />

“We live in a warmer and wilder<br />

Australia, so we acknowledge the<br />

need to adapt, innovate, and act<br />

responsibly for our communities and<br />

the land on which we call home.<br />

“It’s always been in our nature as a<br />

fruit and vegetable wholesaler to run a<br />

fresh produce business that operates<br />

with industry-leading environmental<br />

awareness top-of-mind.<br />

/ 28<br />

REVIEW


INSIGHTS/ SIMON GEORGE & SONS<br />

THE PACT AIMS TO HALVE<br />

FOOD WASTE IN AUSTRALIA<br />

BY 2030 WHILE MAKING THE<br />

NATIONAL FOOD SYSTEM MORE<br />

COMPETITIVE, SUSTAINABLE,<br />

RESILIENT, AND CIRCULAR.<br />

“Especially considering the very thing we do<br />

relies on a healthy planet!” she said.<br />

Simon George & Sons are also proud<br />

participants in the Australian Food Pact – a<br />

voluntary agreement that brings together<br />

businesses to help tackle Australia’s annual<br />

$36.6 billion worth of food waste.<br />

The pact aims to halve food waste in<br />

Australia by 2030 while making the national<br />

food system more competitive, sustainable,<br />

resilient, and circular. As the first in their<br />

industry to sign the agreement, Emily said<br />

that Simon George & Sons hope to peel back<br />

the layers of food waste in the coming years.<br />

“We’ve been exploring biodegradable and<br />

home-compostable alternatives to plastic<br />

packaging as well, but quality and food<br />

safety remain barriers. Food waste is more<br />

straightforward, and we’re making sure it<br />

gets put to good use.<br />

“Embracing practical innovations and<br />

applying industry-best practices lies at the<br />

essence of our country’s signature paddock<br />

to plate experience. Rain, hail, or shine, we’re<br />

always here for our much-loved Aussie<br />

hospitality family,” she said.<br />

REVIEW / 29


LEGAL MATTERS/ CURT SCHATZ<br />

IMPORTANCE OF A WILL<br />

GIVEN THAT MANY PUBLICANS HAVE CONSIDERABLE ASSETS AS PART OF THEIR PUB PORTFOLIO, IT IS IMPORTANT TO<br />

CONSIDER WHAT YOUR SUCCESSION PLAN IS SHOULD YOU LOSE CAPACITY OR PASS AWAY.<br />

Establishing a succession strategy for key<br />

positions within a company is essential<br />

for upholding organisational standards<br />

and guaranteeing optimal performance<br />

when publicans take a step back from<br />

operating a pub. A robust succession<br />

plan can facilitate smooth transitions,<br />

minimising disruptions, especially<br />

during an unexpected departure. In this<br />

article, we will consider the importance<br />

of documenting a succession plan by<br />

creating an enduring power of attorney<br />

and will.<br />

ENDURING POWER OF ATTORNEY<br />

In Queensland, the enduring power of<br />

attorney (EPA) holds significant legal<br />

authority. It enables individuals to prepare<br />

for unforeseen circumstances and ensure<br />

that their personal and financial matters<br />

are handled in alignment with their<br />

preferences should they lose the capacity<br />

to make these decisions while they are<br />

alive. The key benefits of an EPA for<br />

publicans are as follows:<br />

Financial management<br />

Granting an attorney the legal mandate<br />

through an EPA empowers them to<br />

oversee and make decisions about<br />

an individual’s financial affairs and<br />

assets should they lose capacity. This<br />

is particularly important for publicans<br />

who hold businesses and substantial<br />

investments. The attorney can step into<br />

the shoes of the individual and handle<br />

the financial affairs and direction of a pub<br />

should an individual lose capacity.<br />

Ensuring personal wishes for medical<br />

decisions are met<br />

Another key advantage of an EPA is the<br />

ability to designate a reliable individual (or<br />

multiple individuals) to make vital medical<br />

decisions in the event the individual loses<br />

capacity. This encompasses decisions<br />

regarding medical treatments, surgeries,<br />

and ongoing healthcare needs, ensuring<br />

that the individual’s health requirements<br />

are addressed in accordance with<br />

their wishes.<br />

WILL<br />

It is generally recommended that<br />

publicans create, regularly review, and<br />

update their will to ensure an adequate<br />

succession plan in place for when they<br />

pass. The key benefits of creating a will<br />

are as follows:<br />

Control over asset distribution<br />

A will grants you the authority to<br />

designate who will inherit your assets<br />

upon your passing, ensuring that your<br />

belongings are distributed to your chosen<br />

beneficiaries.<br />

Choice of executor<br />

By creating a will, you have the freedom<br />

to select an executor who will execute<br />

your wishes outlined in the will. This is<br />

particularly important where you have<br />

a complex pub portfolio and require<br />

particular steps to be taken upon passing.<br />

Avoidance of disputes<br />

By clearly articulating your intentions in<br />

a will, you can mitigate potential conflicts<br />

among beneficiaries, reducing the<br />

likelihood of family disputes over<br />

your estate.<br />

Timely distribution of assets<br />

A well-defined and legally valid will can<br />

expedite the probate process, which is the<br />

court procedure for distributing the assets<br />

of the estate.<br />

Gifts and donations<br />

By creating a will, you have the<br />

opportunity to make specific gifts and<br />

donations to individuals or organisations.<br />

Should you have any queries or require<br />

any further information in relation to<br />

creating an EPA or will, please contact me<br />

on (07) 3224 0230.<br />

/ 30<br />

REVIEW


SUPERANNUATION<br />

YOU CAN HAVE A SAY IN HOW YOUR SUPER IS INVESTED<br />

SUPER FUNDS INVEST YOUR MONEY FOR YOU WITH THE AIM OF GROWING IT OVER TIME INTO A NICE, TIDY NEST EGG FOR<br />

RETIREMENT. THERE ARE A LOT OF RULES ABOUT WHEN YOU CAN ACCESS THIS MONEY, SO THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS ON THE<br />

LEVEL OF CONTROL YOU CAN HAVE OVER YOUR SUPER.<br />

But one of the things you can control is<br />

how your money is invested. This is known<br />

as investment choice in super. Most super<br />

funds have a range of investment options<br />

to choose from.<br />

It’s important to think about how your<br />

super is invested because it’s one of the<br />

largest investments you may have.<br />

The investment option you choose can<br />

help make a big difference to how your<br />

super grows. 1<br />

Hostplus aims to cover its members’<br />

investment needs over their working life<br />

and beyond.<br />

While still working and building up their<br />

super balance, Hostplus members can<br />

pick and choose from a wide range of<br />

investments.<br />

These include options for conservative<br />

investors through to high-growth options<br />

for members that are comfortable taking<br />

on more risk. The choices are just as<br />

varied in retirement when members are<br />

drawing an income from their super. Being<br />

retired doesn’t mean their super balance<br />

has to stop growing. Depending on the<br />

way the funds are invested, growth can<br />

be the goal. Similarly, if a retired member<br />

wants to take less risk in favour of having<br />

more certainty over their balance and<br />

income in retirement, they can.<br />

To explore Hostplus’ investment options<br />

visit hostplus.com.au/investments.<br />

This information is general advice only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider if this information<br />

is appropriate for you in light of your circumstances before acting on it. Please read the relevant Hostplus Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), available at hostplus.<br />

com.au before making a decision about Hostplus. For a description of the target market, please read the Target Market Determination (TMD), available at hostplus.<br />

com.au.<br />

Issued by Host-Plus Pty Limited ABN 79 008 634 704, AFSL 244392 as trustee for the Hostplus Superannuation Fund (the Fund) ABN 68 657 495 890, MySuper No<br />

68 657 495 890 198.<br />

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance and should never be the sole factor considered when selecting a superannuation fund. Awards<br />

and ratings are only one factor to consider when selecting a superannuation fund. Host-Plus Pty Limited pays licence fees to use these awards. Ratings are general<br />

advice only and have been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider your personal circumstances, read the product<br />

disclosure statement and seek independent financial advice before investing. The ratings are not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any product.<br />

1<br />

https://moneysmart.gov.au/grow-your-super/super-investment-options accessed 09/04/2024.<br />

/ 32<br />

REVIEW


TOP PERFORMER<br />

TOP PERFORMER<br />

TOP PERFORMER<br />

TOP PERFORMER<br />

TOP PERFORMER<br />

TOP PERFORMER<br />

TOP PERFORMER<br />

With super, long-term performance matters. Hostplus’ Balanced (MySuper)<br />

option delivers top performance over 20 years.<br />

Compare Hostplus<br />

SuperRatings Accumulation Fund Crediting Rate Survey – SR50 Balanced (60-76) Index, March 2024. General advice only. Before deciding, consider the relevant Hostplus<br />

PDS and TMD at hostplus.com.au and your objectives, financial situation and needs, which have not been accounted for. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of<br />

future performance. Issued by Host-Plus Pty Limited ABN 79 008 634 704, AFSL 244392 as trustee for the Hostplus Superannuation Fund ABN 68 657 495 890. HP2812


THE ART OF<br />

ENTERTAINMENT<br />

/ 34<br />

REVIEW


FOCUS/ COMISKEY GROUP<br />

TO OBSERVE THE RAPID EVOLUTION OF QUEENSLAND’S LIVE MUSIC SCENE,<br />

YOU NEED ONLY LOOK TOWARDS THE COMISKEY GROUP’S GLISTENING<br />

PORTFOLIO OF ENTERTAINMENT VENUES.<br />

There aren’t many event organisers that run<br />

their own construction company. This point<br />

of difference has given Comiskey Group<br />

the freedom to create some of the most<br />

electrifying venues imaginable, from Eatons<br />

Hill Hotel and Sandstone Point Hotel to the<br />

highly anticipated Coochin Fields festival site.<br />

The more we discover about these spaces,<br />

the more we realise just how complex the<br />

integration of live entertainment really is for<br />

Queensland venues. And so, our curiosity led<br />

us to seek out how it’s done from the man<br />

himself.<br />

Co-founder and director of the Comiskey<br />

Group, Rob Comiskey, said well before<br />

breaking ground on a new development, they<br />

consider the overall live music experience,<br />

whether that be a custom stage or a<br />

dedicated VIP area for prime viewing.<br />

“By integrating our construction expertise<br />

with our entertainment vision, we can create<br />

spaces that enhance performances and<br />

elevate patron experiences. Our venues are<br />

structurally designed for hosting live music,<br />

and we follow this through with strategic<br />

planning to ensure concerts at our venues<br />

are both convenient and enjoyable.<br />

“We are also just willing to give things a go. It<br />

was a very uncertain time when the majority<br />

of the industry shut down during Covid-19,<br />

but we persevered. If we were allowed to host<br />

events, we did. We sold the greatest number<br />

of tickets across Australia during that time,<br />

and this is purely because we were willing to<br />

take on the challenge,” he said.<br />

Music has always played a pivotal role in<br />

the success of pubs and hotels. Beyond<br />

enhancing the overall hospitality experience,<br />

uniting people, and fostering a sense<br />

of community, it also holds a special<br />

significance for local artists. In fact, many<br />

well-known musicians, even those who have<br />

achieved mainstream success, once honed<br />

their skills by performing at local venues.<br />

Rob said these grassroots performances<br />

have always served as crucial stepping<br />

stones for artists, allowing them to refine their<br />

craft, receive community support, and gain<br />

valuable feedback from live audiences.<br />

“By supporting local artists, we contribute to<br />

their livelihoods, enabling talented musicians<br />

to thrive through their artistry. Then there’s<br />

the bigger names in music. For me, having<br />

Ice Cube play a sold-out gig at Eatons Hill<br />

Hotel followed by a sold-out Cyprus Hill show<br />

the next night was pretty epic!<br />

“We have had so many iconic artists across<br />

our venues. Names like Prince, Post Malone,<br />

and Marilyn Manson have graced our stages.<br />

We also came out with a bang for the first<br />

ever concert at Sandstone Point Hotel,<br />

hosting music royalty The Beach Boys. We’ve<br />

had every genre imaginable, from country<br />

legends like Billy Ray Cyrus to pop sensations<br />

like Kesha and rap superstar ASAP Rocky,”<br />

he said.<br />

REVIEW / 35


It sounds like a lavish and promising addition to any venue,<br />

but designing a space that can accommodate performers and<br />

audiences while ensuring safety, functionality, and legislative<br />

compliance also involves an insane amount of planning.<br />

When it comes to hosting large-scale events, Rob said venues<br />

must consider any noise restrictions specified within their<br />

concert approval, abide by liquor licencing permits, ensure a<br />

safe means of access and egress, maintain adequate event<br />

security numbers, and follow venue capacity limitations.<br />

“Venues must also have clear and accessible emergency exits,<br />

properly marked exit signs, and well-designed escape routes.<br />

“When it comes to sound, we optimise acoustics for the<br />

environment, considering sound-absorbing materials,<br />

diffusers, and proper speaker placement. Soundproofing is a<br />

big consideration, especially when preventing sound leakage<br />

into neighbouring spaces. We use thick walls, double-glazed<br />

windows, and acoustic insulation.<br />

“Designing the appropriate stage size to fit all types of events<br />

and band setups also means you are less limited as to<br />

what you can and can’t do on stage – an appropriate size is<br />

important to be able to have a wider entertainment offering.<br />

“Along with the stage design, we must consider dressing<br />

rooms, green rooms, and storage for equipment. The careful<br />

consideration of where to place bars, food service areas,<br />

and VIP sections is all part of a thoughtfully designed<br />

entertainment venue destined for success,” he said.<br />

I think we all know that live music isn’t an easy-going industry<br />

by any means, particularly within the last few years, with the<br />

pandemic bringing about major restrictions impacting artists,<br />

/ 36<br />

REVIEW


FOCUS/ COMISKEY GROUP<br />

venues, and promoters. The cost-of-living crisis has also<br />

been significantly affecting ticket sales, with the expenses<br />

associated with organising events more than doubling.<br />

Rob said those in the entertainment business are no stranger<br />

to challenges, and have grappled with plenty of show<br />

cancellations due to weather events, artist flight delays, and<br />

unexpected artist visa denials.<br />

“It’s been a rollercoaster, but we love what we do and<br />

wouldn’t change a thing. We surround ourselves with a team<br />

that is flexible and remains calm under pressure. Together, we<br />

can roll with the punches and face any challenge with a cando<br />

attitude,” he said.<br />

“BY INTEGRATING OUR<br />

CONSTRUCTION EXPERTISE WITH<br />

OUR ENTERTAINMENT VISION, WE<br />

CAN CREATE SPACES THAT ENHANCE<br />

PERFORMANCES AND ELEVATE<br />

PATRON EXPERIENCES.”<br />

REVIEW / 37


“WHEN IT COMES TO SOUND, WE<br />

OPTIMISE ACOUSTICS FOR THE<br />

ENVIRONMENT, CONSIDERING<br />

SOUND-ABSORBING MATERIALS,<br />

DIFFUSERS, AND PROPER<br />

SPEAKER PLACEMENT.”<br />

/ 38<br />

REVIEW


FOCUS/ COMISKEY GROUP<br />

Several interesting new technologies have also emerged<br />

in the world of music and events, with one notable trend<br />

being the use of advanced audio systems that incorporate<br />

immersive sound technologies, such as spatial audio and<br />

object-based audio processing.<br />

Rob said these technologies enhance the overall listening<br />

experience for audiences, making live performances more<br />

engaging and memorable.<br />

“Additionally, there have been advancements in noisecancelling<br />

techniques that benefit both performers and<br />

audiences. For example, some venues are implementing<br />

acoustic treatments and soundproofing materials to<br />

minimise external noise interference and create a more<br />

controlled acoustic environment.<br />

“There are even innovative noise-cancelling systems<br />

designed specifically for live events that can selectively<br />

reduce unwanted sounds while preserving the clarity and<br />

impact of the music. These advancements in technology<br />

contribute to creating a better audio experience for patrons<br />

and performers alike, enhancing the overall appeal and<br />

success of live music venues in Queensland and beyond,”<br />

he said.<br />

Bringing in local musicians on a weekend really is a nobrainer<br />

for many Queensland venues, especially when<br />

you consider how live music enhances the atmosphere<br />

of any room, supports the local community, and keeps<br />

patrons wanting to stay longer. Large-scale music events,<br />

however, take significant consideration.<br />

Rob said that, while pulling off a large event is rewarding,<br />

it can be extremely challenging and risky, with many<br />

venues going broke in the process.<br />

“My advice would be to take calculated risks, assess all<br />

factors, listen to your audience, and maintain a level of<br />

comfort. Hosting large-scale events can be costly, so it’s<br />

important to consider even the worst-case scenario to<br />

mitigate your risks.<br />

“In saying that, when an event goes right, there’s almost<br />

nothing more rewarding. Watching patrons enjoy the<br />

experiences we create or sing along to the artists we<br />

worked hard to secure is truly special,” he said.<br />

REVIEW / 39


TRAINING & SAFETY RTO 30826/ THERESE KELLY<br />

BEHAVIOURAL AWARENESS<br />

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE EARLY INDICATORS<br />

OF SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOUR IN YOUR VENUE?<br />

The <strong>QHA</strong> has partnered with BTAQ<br />

Consulting to provide the training needed<br />

to give your staff the skills and knowledge<br />

to be able to understand these indicators.<br />

Behaviour detection awareness training<br />

equips staff with the knowledge and<br />

understanding necessary to identify<br />

early indicators of suspicious behaviour,<br />

thereby serving as a potent tool in threat<br />

prevention.<br />

It aims to educate in public settings on<br />

how to identify and report suspicious<br />

behaviour associated with potential<br />

security threats. This proactive approach<br />

emphasises preparedness and prevention<br />

as the primary focus, with the ability to<br />

escalate to appropriate responses when<br />

needed.<br />

On 23 November 2023, BTAQ Consulting<br />

ran a five-hour behavioural detection<br />

course in Brisbane for <strong>QHA</strong> members,<br />

which delivered enhanced security<br />

and situational awareness to attendees<br />

through a unique blend of interactive<br />

videos and testing. This course was a first<br />

for the <strong>QHA</strong>, and looking at the feedback<br />

and comments after the course, there are<br />

certainly more planned:<br />

“Very engaging and easy to understand.”<br />

“Thank you. I’ve learnt a lot.”<br />

“I found the course very relevant.”<br />

“The course was well structured, and I<br />

gained great knowledge from it.”<br />

BTAQ Consulting was founded by John<br />

Matus – a highly experienced former<br />

federal agent who trained and operated<br />

internationally in the field of behavioural<br />

detection. John’s drive for the continuous<br />

improvement of these skills led him to<br />

form BTAQ Consulting, which develops<br />

specialised behavioural detection<br />

and questioning courses that have<br />

successfully been used by a wide range of<br />

clients internationally.<br />

BTAQ Consulting specialises in providing<br />

an improved understanding of how to<br />

influence the people you deal with and<br />

how to identify hostile intent through<br />

early behavioural indicators. Through this<br />

training, BTAQ Consulting has delivered<br />

a significantly safer and more secure<br />

environment to clients.<br />

BTAQ Consulting has provided courses<br />

to over 50 clients across a wide range<br />

of industries, including the Sydney<br />

Opera House, ASM Global venues in<br />

Australia and New Zealand, P&O Cruises<br />

in Australia, Okada Casino in Manila,<br />

Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, ACT<br />

Corrective Services, Queensland Rail,<br />

Metro Trains in Victoria, Yarra Trams, AFL,<br />

Crown Casino, Star Casino, and TAFE<br />

South Bank.<br />

BTAQ offers a diverse range of behavioural<br />

programs and assessments, including:<br />

• security and situational awareness<br />

• behavioural detection<br />

• behavioural questioning<br />

• conflict resolution<br />

• influential communication (leadership)<br />

• active armed offender workshops<br />

• CCTV assessments<br />

The <strong>QHA</strong> has John delivering two of his<br />

awareness courses on 3 July. The twohour<br />

safety and situational awareness<br />

course is specifically developed as a<br />

means for organisations to provide staff<br />

with techniques to enhance safety and<br />

situational awareness using behavioural<br />

techniques.<br />

John’s five-hour course on behavioural<br />

detection techniques also provides staff<br />

with the knowledge to understand why<br />

suspicious behaviour occurs and to<br />

confidently identify and report suspicious<br />

activity.<br />

All courses are highly interactive and have<br />

received 100% positive feedback. For<br />

more information on these, please contact<br />

the <strong>QHA</strong> at 3221 6999 or via email at<br />

training@qha.org.au.<br />

More information on all of BTAQ<br />

Consulting’s courses can be found at<br />

www.btaq.com.au.<br />

/ 40<br />

REVIEW


When you play<br />

together it always<br />

feels like a win!<br />

Gamble Responsibly. Think! About your choices. Help is close at hand.<br />

Call Gambler’s Help, ACT Gambling Counselling and Support Service or<br />

GambleAware 1800 858 858 gambleaware.nsw.gov.au or<br />

www.gamblinghelponline.org.au


SALARY OPTIONS UNDER THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY<br />

(GENERAL) AWARD 2020<br />

THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY (GENERAL) AWARD 2020 (‘HIGA’) PROVIDES THE LEGAL ENTITLEMENTS FOR THE MAJORITY OF<br />

EMPLOYEES EMPLOYED AT PUBS AND ACCOMMODATION HOTELS. THE PROVISIONS OF THE HIGA ARE LEGALLY BINDING ON<br />

EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES WHO FALL UNDER ITS COVERAGE.<br />

Under the HIGA, there are a number of<br />

options on how employees can be paid,<br />

including an hourly rate, salary, or loaded<br />

rate. A salary can be a popular option for<br />

employees – however, did you know that<br />

the HIGA has set rules about how a salary<br />

needs to be paid to an employee?<br />

There are two salary options available<br />

under the HIGA, as detailed below. The<br />

option that is applicable depends on the<br />

classification level of the employee:<br />

• an annualised wage is provided by<br />

clause 24 of the HIGA<br />

• a loaded managerial salary is provided<br />

by clause 25 of the HIGA<br />

The annualised wage arrangement<br />

provided in clause 24 can be complex,<br />

with an additional administrative burden<br />

employers must be aware of to ensure<br />

they are compliant with reconciliation<br />

obligations. This article will summarise<br />

the key provisions applicable to the<br />

annualised wage arrangement to assist<br />

members who make use of these<br />

arrangements.<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> members seeking advice about the<br />

loaded managerial salary provided in<br />

clause 25 of the HIGA should contact the<br />

<strong>QHA</strong>’s Employment Relations Department<br />

for further advice.<br />

ANNUALISED WAGE – CLAUSE 24<br />

To be paid an annualised wage, the<br />

employee must:<br />

• be employed on a full-time basis<br />

• be paid an amount that includes at least<br />

a 25% loading on top of the minimum<br />

salary amount for the classification level<br />

• not be classified at the level of<br />

managerial staff (hotels) under the<br />

HIGA<br />

Note: If you are unsure of whether your<br />

employee is classified at the managerial<br />

staff (hotels) level, please contact the<br />

<strong>QHA</strong>’s Employment Relations Department<br />

for advice.<br />

The key requirements employers must<br />

comply with when paying an annualised<br />

wage, per clause 24 of the HIGA, are<br />

as follows:<br />

1. Agreement on which entitlements<br />

the annualised wage compensates<br />

for.<br />

The employer and a full-time employee<br />

must agree on which HIGA entitlements<br />

the annualised wage will compensate for.<br />

By agreement, the annualised wage may<br />

cover the entitlements provided by the<br />

HIGA clauses:<br />

• Clause 18 - minimum rates<br />

• Clause 26 - allowances<br />

• Clause 28 - overtime<br />

• Clause 29 - penalty rates<br />

• Clause 30.3 - payment for annual<br />

leave loading<br />

• clause 35.3(a) - additional public<br />

holiday arrangements for full-time<br />

employees<br />

For example, the employer and employee<br />

could agree that the employee’s<br />

annualised wage only compensates<br />

them for their ordinary hours, overtime,<br />

and penalty rates. If this were the case,<br />

the employer would still need to pay the<br />

employee their other HIGA entitlements,<br />

such as allowances and annual leave<br />

loading, when they arise, as these<br />

entitlements are not compensated by the<br />

salary.<br />

The employment contract must<br />

clearly set out which entitlements the<br />

salary compensates for. The <strong>QHA</strong> has<br />

employment contract templates available<br />

for purchase specifically tailored for this<br />

salary arrangement.<br />

/ 42<br />

REVIEW


EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS/ TANA THORPE<br />

2. Reconciliation requirements<br />

Under this salary arrangement, the<br />

employer must complete a reconciliation<br />

each 12 months, or earlier if employment<br />

terminates, to check that the employee<br />

has not been paid less on their annualised<br />

wage than if they were receiving an hourly<br />

rate (and received overtime, penalties,<br />

allowances, and other HIGA entitlements<br />

when they occurred).<br />

The employer must calculate the amount<br />

of remuneration that would have been<br />

payable to the employee under the<br />

provisions of the HIGA over the relevant<br />

period and compare it to the amount of<br />

the annualised wage actually paid to the<br />

employee. If the reconciliation shows that<br />

the employee has been paid less on their<br />

annualised wage, the employer needs<br />

to pay the difference within 14 days of<br />

completing the reconciliation.<br />

3. Outer limit requirements<br />

From 1 September 2022, the Fair Work<br />

Commission introduced outer limit<br />

requirements into the annualised wage<br />

provisions. In essence, the outer limits<br />

place parameters on the number of<br />

overtime hours and penalty rate hours<br />

an employee’s annualised wage can<br />

compensate them for in a given roster<br />

cycle. If the employee works over either<br />

the overtime or the penalty rate outer limit,<br />

they must receive additional payments on<br />

top of their annualised wage in the pay<br />

cycle for those hours worked.<br />

Outer limits can be a complex topic to<br />

understand. The <strong>QHA</strong>’s Employment<br />

Relations team has resources available to<br />

assist.<br />

4. Timekeeping requirements<br />

Under this salary arrangement, the<br />

employer must keep records of the<br />

starting and finishing times of work and<br />

any unpaid breaks taken. This record<br />

must be signed by the employee or<br />

acknowledged as correct in writing<br />

for each pay period or roster cycle.<br />

This information is required for the<br />

reconciliation requirements mentioned<br />

above, and it is an important obligation<br />

that the Fair Work Ombudsman monitors<br />

compliance with when they are contacted<br />

by an employee.<br />

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES<br />

It is important that employers who are<br />

paying award-covered employees a salary<br />

are compliant with the salary rules that<br />

apply. The annualised wage provisions are<br />

complex, and this article only provides a<br />

high-level summary of some of the rules<br />

that apply. If you are paying an employee<br />

an annualised wage, we recommend:<br />

• ensuring you are compliant and<br />

understand the full requirements<br />

of clause 24 (the <strong>QHA</strong> has a guide<br />

available that provides an in-depth<br />

overview of the arrangement)<br />

• providing employees a compliant<br />

employment contract for the salary<br />

arrangement<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> members seeking further<br />

assistance or wishing to discuss a<br />

specific employment relations matter are<br />

encouraged to contact the Employment<br />

Relations team for a confidential<br />

discussion by calling 07 3221 6999 or<br />

emailing er@qha.org.au.<br />

HIGA TRAINING<br />

The <strong>QHA</strong>’s Employment Relations Team<br />

has comprehensive training on the HIGA<br />

available for purchase. This training<br />

covers the salary arrangement rules<br />

and other key topics such as hours of<br />

work, rostering, classifications, and junior<br />

employment. If you are interested in<br />

purchasing the training, please contact<br />

er@qha.org.au.<br />

REVIEW / 43


SMART HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION AUTOMATION<br />

AUTOMATION AND ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY ARE REVOLUTIONISING THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, ALLOWING HOTELS TO<br />

SAVE TIME AND RESOURCES WHILE DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL GUEST EXPERIENCES.<br />

Smart hotels<br />

Hoteliers are increasingly implementing<br />

‘smart hotel’ concepts such as contactless<br />

check-in, automated control of lighting<br />

and temperature, and innovative sensors<br />

in rooms that help staff respond promptly<br />

to breakdowns and manage the cleaning<br />

process. This also includes electronic<br />

access to hotel services and modern<br />

security systems.<br />

The idea of ‘smart hotels’ is growing<br />

fast. The use of automation in hotels<br />

encompasses a range of technologies<br />

designed to reduce manual tasks and<br />

improve service delivery. They are<br />

convenient, well-designed, and help<br />

hotels optimise resources.<br />

In the face of ongoing labour shortages in<br />

the hotel industry, teams are being pushed<br />

to accomplish more with fewer resources.<br />

To tackle this challenge head-on, many<br />

hotel teams are turning to automation as<br />

a solution.<br />

A significant advancement has been<br />

the introduction of self-service checkins.<br />

These innovative solutions – which<br />

include kiosks, keyless check-in systems,<br />

pre-arrival online check-ins, and key<br />

safes – have revolutionised the traditional<br />

check-in process.<br />

Highlighting the benefits of self-service,<br />

CEO of Assa Abloy Global Solutions<br />

Australia, Michael Benikos, said the main<br />

advantages of self-service technologies<br />

for hotels are increased guest satisfaction,<br />

the increased speed of check-ins and<br />

check-outs, and significant labour savings.<br />

“Many hotels are using such technologies<br />

to supplement their labour force, but they<br />

also allow for enhanced service by moving<br />

staff into the lobby as ambassadors,<br />

helping guests with their bags, suggesting<br />

options for their stay, and reducing<br />

queuing at check-in and check-out times<br />

when the hotel is busy,” he said.<br />

Technology trends shaping the industry at<br />

the moment include:<br />

Hotel robots<br />

They can perform tasks such as delivering<br />

room service, assisting guests with checkin<br />

and check-out, providing information<br />

and recommendations, performing<br />

housekeeping duties, and even mixing<br />

and serving drinks.<br />

Chatbots<br />

Chatbots have become standard on<br />

many hotel websites and use artificial<br />

intelligence and natural language<br />

processing to communicate with guests<br />

and provide information and assistance.<br />

Many are available 24/7 and are an<br />

accessible way for guests to interact<br />

with hotels.<br />

Hotel virtual reality tours<br />

Virtual reality tours allow potential guests<br />

to explore a hotel and its facilities in a<br />

virtual environment before making a<br />

reservation.<br />

Other examples include contactless<br />

payments, mobile check-in, smart hotels,<br />

service automation, facial recognition<br />

technology, and artificial intelligence.<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> member spotlight<br />

A Queensland example with a<br />

strong focus on technology is <strong>QHA</strong><br />

accommodation member Rambla. They’ve<br />

developed an offering with a contactless<br />

digital check-in system for swift entry and<br />

departure at all hours.<br />

Rambla’s group manager for<br />

accommodation, Andrew Hewitt, outlined<br />

that today’s guests value a hassle-free<br />

check-in experience. Once the payment<br />

has gone through, guests are given<br />

access to a key card on their phone.<br />

When their room is ready, the key card<br />

is activated and guests are able to drive<br />

straight into the carpark, enter the lift, and<br />

access their room without having to go<br />

through the traditional check-in process.<br />

Rambla opened the doors to its first<br />

property in March 2023 in Brisbane’s<br />

Bowen Hills as a reception-less property<br />

with an automated digital guest journey<br />

and digital key technology. Currently, they<br />

have 93 rooms across three properties –<br />

two in Brisbane and one in Melbourne. All<br />

of these venues are reception-less and run<br />

by a ‘digital front desk’ staffed by a modest<br />

work-from-home team.<br />

Rambla uses a combination of a digital<br />

front office, a work-from-home team,<br />

and outsourced services, which enables<br />

them to have minimal staff requirements<br />

without minimising their guest satisfaction<br />

levels. This model is proving to work great<br />

for their growing multiple properties and<br />

operations, as it allows them to essentially<br />

operate as one.<br />

/ 44<br />

REVIEW


ACCOMMODATION/ TOM FITZGERALD<br />

<br />

One interesting key statistic is that 80% of<br />

the venue’s guests have a fully automated<br />

accommodation experience, either communicating<br />

with staff via text or without speaking to a staff<br />

member at all.<br />

Moving forward, the group plans to continue<br />

pushing forward with their digital journey, using<br />

tech to eliminate time-consuming tasks one task<br />

at a time while enhancing the guest experience,<br />

driving revenue, and not being afraid to jump ship.<br />

Today, the hotel industry is at an interesting point<br />

where technological automation and the human<br />

touch intersect. Facing the fears of automation<br />

requires understanding its true purpose and its<br />

potential in the hotel industry.<br />

By focusing on the complementary relationship<br />

between technology and human services, hoteliers<br />

can harness automation to enhance operational<br />

efficiency, improve guest experiences, and drive<br />

revenue growth. As the industry continues to<br />

evolve, embracing automation is strategically<br />

crucial for staying competitive and meeting the<br />

changing needs of guests.<br />

References<br />

www.accomnews.com.au/2023/07/happy-guests-theconvenience-of-seamless-check-ins/<br />

www.hotelmanagement.com.au/2023/02/10/exclusivepellicano-taps-into-short-stay-market-with-launch-of-rambla/<br />

lesroches.edu/blog/what-is-automation-in-hospitalityindustry/<br />

www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4120531.html<br />

CALENDAR<br />

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REVIEW / 45


HANDCRAFTSMANSHIP<br />

EDEN BREWHOUSE IS A LOVE STORY BETWEEN BEER, RUSTIC<br />

SMOKEHOUSE CUISINE, AND HEARTY FARE.<br />

But most importantly, it is also one of the<br />

venues proudly championing Australia’s<br />

craft beer industry at a time when it needs<br />

it the most.<br />

With so many independent breweries<br />

falling on hard times due to surging freight<br />

and ingredient costs, skill shortages, and<br />

an alcohol excise tax that does not seem<br />

to be letting up anytime soon, pubs like<br />

Eden Brewhouse are vital when it comes to<br />

introducing more Queenslanders to the world<br />

of craft beer and keeping the industry alive<br />

and well.<br />

Manager at the venue, Alex Protani, said<br />

their incredibly extensive collection of craft<br />

beer is also accompanied by a great wine<br />

selection and a full range of spirits, many<br />

of which are sourced from independent<br />

wineries and distillers.<br />

“We have a seasonal menu that features pub<br />

classics and a large outdoor smoker that<br />

adds to the Eden Brewhouse experience.<br />

“Our signature smoked meat specials are<br />

best enjoyed with a brew or two. Everything<br />

we do, we do to support and complement the<br />

craft beer industry,” he said.<br />

Conveniently located in the heart of the<br />

Redbank Plains, the venue boasts more than<br />

56 taps with a great selection of craft brews,<br />

including those from their partners at Esker<br />

Beer Co.<br />

Previously known as the Australian<br />

Brewery, the brand is one of Sydney’s most<br />

longstanding craft breweries and was the first<br />

to use cans instead of bottles back in the day.<br />

Alex said offering versatile spaces for group<br />

bookings, events, and special occasions<br />

is one of the best ways to introduce<br />

independent beer brands to a lot of people<br />

who may have never been exposed to<br />

Australia’s colourful craft beer varieties.<br />

“Our function rooms are equipped with stateof-the-art<br />

technology and ideal for corporate<br />

gatherings, while our terrace boasts lush<br />

greenery and charming fairy lights, creating a<br />

delightful atmosphere for drinks, celebrations,<br />

and parties.<br />

“As a traditional pub, we also pride ourselves<br />

on serving our community with a variety of<br />

entertainment options. From trivia nights and<br />

live music to other engaging activities, there<br />

is always something happening here.<br />

“Our weekly menu specials are a highlight,<br />

and for sports enthusiasts, there is no better<br />

spot to catch live games,” he said.<br />

/ 46<br />

REVIEW


A CRAFTY BUNCH<br />

REVIEW /47


Eden Brewhouse opened in <strong>June</strong> 2020 as<br />

a cheerful tribute to the characters who<br />

moulded the Aussie spirit and our country’s<br />

passion for pubs. The venue shares its name<br />

with the first farm in the region, Eden<br />

Station, which was pioneered by British<br />

convict and the father of Redbank Plains,<br />

James Josey.<br />

In 1840, James was convicted for robbing a<br />

wagon and sentenced to 15 years of penal<br />

servitude. He travelled on a convict ship<br />

named Eden and was sent to Moreton Bay in<br />

April 1841.<br />

After serving out his sentence in Limestone<br />

(now known as Ipswich), James was<br />

involved in building houses before he<br />

purchased the land which would become<br />

known as Eden Station.<br />

Alex said the story of this pioneer is reflected<br />

in the scratchboard illustrations ingrained in<br />

their brand identity and scattered throughout<br />

their venue.<br />

“The traditional design of the venue is a nod<br />

to the public houses of British origin, while our<br />

selection of craft beers and rustic smokehouse<br />

dishes are inspired by the pioneering days of<br />

rural living and handcraftsmanship.<br />

“We are a beloved community pub,<br />

welcoming locals, regulars, and visitors alike<br />

who enjoy our friendly atmosphere and great<br />

hospitality,” he said.<br />

As part of their commitment to supporting<br />

businesses within their community, Eden<br />

Brewhouse also takes pride in featuring brews<br />

from their local craft partner Green Beacon –<br />

one of the frontrunners of Brisbane’s craft beer<br />

scene founded in Teneriffe and inspired by the<br />

tranquillity of Moreton Island.<br />

Alex said they understand the importance of<br />

promoting quality, artisan products like craft<br />

beer in their venue, as not only do they meet<br />

the diverse needs of their community, but they<br />

also make Australian hospitality the flavourful,<br />

good-humoured, and unique industry that it is.<br />

“Bringing people together to share good times<br />

is at the heart of what we do. With so many<br />

taps available, our pub acts as a hub for craft<br />

beer enthusiasts in the community, and we<br />

are very proud of that.<br />

“We strive to cater for a varied range of tastes<br />

while supporting an industry that supports us,”<br />

he said.<br />

/ 48<br />

REVIEW


IF A SERIOUS<br />

ISSUE WORRIED<br />

91%<br />

*<br />

OF YOUR<br />

WORKFORCE,<br />

WOULD YOU DO<br />

SOMETHING ABOUT IT?<br />

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Roadmap For Secure Jobs In Hospitality” report.<br />

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Get active and donate before<br />

the BIG DATE - <strong>June</strong> 30.<br />

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benefit to you and your business*<br />

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Institution (PBI) with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status.


GROOVY<br />

A FEW WEEKS AGO, FELONS BREWING CO.<br />

AND RENOWNED LOCAL ARTIST, SPECTATOR<br />

JONZE, CAME TOGETHER FOR A COLOURFUL<br />

COLLABORATION IN THE NAME OF THE BRISBANE<br />

STREET ART FESTIVAL (BSAF).<br />

Celebrating the return of the BSAF this year, which ran from 4<br />

to 19 May, Felons teamed up with the artist behind Spectator<br />

Jonze, Deena Lynch, to craft a can of limited-edition street art<br />

you can sip on — Jonze Juice.<br />

Connecting visual art to the art of brewing, the annual Felons<br />

x BSAF cans have emerged as an anticipated festival fixture,<br />

doubling as a mini art mural you can keep and revere long<br />

past the last sip.<br />

This year’s collaboration saw the radical art style of a Brisbane<br />

artist rendered into beer form as a full-blown juice box of<br />

tropical fruit flavour, with hop-powered pops of berry and<br />

candy throughout.<br />

Born in Japan and raised here in Australia, Deena seamlessly<br />

blends comedy and vivid colours to illustrate the unique<br />

stories of her life. Reflecting on the artwork for Jonze Juice,<br />

Deena said for her, the best part of creating art is always the<br />

collaborations.<br />

“Working with the brewers on Jonze Juice has been a delight,<br />

and I found inspiration in the vibrant and summery essence<br />

we’ve crafted together.<br />

“Because my art is portraiture, I’ve envisioned Jonze Juice as<br />

a playful world bobbing with quirky beer characters and a<br />

psychedelic ‘70s sunset-inspired colour palette,” she said.<br />

Released on May 2, Jonze Juice set the scene for Brisbane’s<br />

two-week celebration of boundless creativity, community<br />

spirit, and unexpected art encounters.<br />

This year’s BSAF program featured some of the biggest<br />

names in street art, from homegrown heroes Sofles and<br />

David Lee Pereira to New York City’s Damien Mitchell. With<br />

a can in hand, each artist left their sky-high mark on some of<br />

Brisbane’s most iconic locations.<br />

/ 50<br />

REVIEW


A CRAFTY BUNCH<br />

Among the 2024 festival highlights were five large-scale murals<br />

that took shape at Felons and Howard Smith Wharves, with<br />

local luminaries Treazy, Brightsiders, Em Niwa, Luminous Black,<br />

and Cait Dorombozo each creating something special down<br />

under the iconic Story Bridge.<br />

Brand director at Felons, Dean Romeo, said the creativity of<br />

Brisbane continues to inspire them.<br />

“We’re thrilled to welcome these artists down to Felons to<br />

practise their craft and add to the vibrancy of the Howard<br />

Smith Wharves precinct.<br />

“As we enter our fourth year of supporting the BSAF, we<br />

couldn’t be prouder of its growth and the community that<br />

defines it,” he said.<br />

The final touch of the brewery’s radiant collaboration was an<br />

epic art bash held at Felons Barrel Hall on May 18. The free<br />

event blew the roof off with live music, art installations, live<br />

mural slams, and of course, Jonze Juice Hazy Pale Ale.<br />

This fruity concoction is still available online at<br />

www.felonsbrewingco.com.au, or at Felons Brewery, Felons<br />

Barrel Hall, and a select few good beer shops Australia-wide.<br />

REVIEW /51


POT KETTLE<br />

BLACK SOUTH<br />

PACIFIC<br />

PORTER<br />

YEASTIE BOYS<br />

JONZE JUICE<br />

HAZY PALE<br />

ALE<br />

FELONS BREWING CO X<br />

SPECTATOR JONZE<br />

‘FUSION’<br />

CELEBRATION<br />

DIPA<br />

AETHER BREWING X SEVEN<br />

MILE<br />

SURFS UP<br />

WCIPA<br />

MOUNTAIN CULTURE<br />

BEER CO.<br />

I look forward to each<br />

vintage from the Dark<br />

Harvest series. As always,<br />

each is super fresh, with this<br />

one featuring the addition<br />

of Galaxy Hop cones picked<br />

and added to the beer within<br />

six hours. The result is a<br />

deliciously dark brew with<br />

notes of burnt toast and<br />

some apricot jam.<br />

Juicy but dry, fruity but<br />

subtle. This is quite frankly<br />

a ripper brew. Aromas of<br />

melon and citrus make way<br />

for flavours of pineapple,<br />

melon, and spice. The pear<br />

yeast ester, however, was the<br />

standout for me. As for the<br />

artwork by Spectator Jonze,<br />

the can looks as good as the<br />

beer tastes – exceptional.<br />

So pillowy soft on the palate<br />

it’s incredible, then the taste<br />

hits you and it’s just… wow.<br />

There are notes of caramel<br />

to the fore intertwined with<br />

pine, peanut, and a hint of<br />

pineapple. It’s unique, warm,<br />

and oh so relaxing. Love,<br />

love, love it.<br />

Sometimes the description<br />

on the can is so spot on, it<br />

can’t be bettered. “Inspired<br />

by some famous West Coast<br />

IPAs from back in the day<br />

(the 2010’s), we’ve paired<br />

up two big hitting West<br />

Coast hops in Amarillo and<br />

Centennial to provide full<br />

spectrum citrus notes with<br />

hints of freshly fallen pine<br />

needles in a crisp, malty<br />

body. In a first for MCBC, we<br />

added fresh pink grapefruit<br />

juice post fermentation to<br />

complement the hop profile<br />

and add an undercurrent<br />

of subtle juicy sweetness<br />

before the fresh, slightly<br />

bitter wave hits.”<br />

/ 52<br />

REVIEW


TOP DROP<br />

DARK<br />

HARVEST<br />

FRESH HOP<br />

BLACK IPA<br />

DEEDS X BRIDGE ROAD<br />

BREWERS<br />

BOTANIC ALE<br />

COOPERS BREWERY<br />

PULP ART<br />

HAZY IPA<br />

BROOKLYN BREWERY<br />

2024 EL<br />

DESPERADO<br />

PINOT GRIGO<br />

THE PAWN WINE CO.<br />

I look forward to each<br />

vintage from the Dark<br />

Harvest series. As always,<br />

each is super fresh, with this<br />

one featuring the addition<br />

of Galaxy Hop cones picked<br />

and added to the beer within<br />

six hours. The result is a<br />

deliciously dark brew with<br />

notes of burnt toast and<br />

some apricot jam.<br />

Coopers never disappoint,<br />

and so I have never missed<br />

the opportunity to try one<br />

of their new limited-edition<br />

brews. This one offers<br />

a unique twist on their<br />

sparkling ale, which I happen<br />

to love. It features notes of<br />

pine and orange peel and is<br />

beautifully dry and crisp.<br />

Light body, easy drinking.<br />

Notes of apricot, pineapple,<br />

mango, and citrus. Taste<br />

is sweet with a delicate<br />

bitterness. It is rated highly<br />

and while I enjoyed it, it<br />

didn’t blow me away.<br />

Cosy is probably the best<br />

way to describe it. With<br />

delicious fruit flavours,<br />

this wine has a wonderful<br />

balance of acidity and<br />

sweetness. You taste all of<br />

the sweet notes at first, and<br />

then you are left with the<br />

perfect amount of acidity.<br />

Perfect to drink with a nice,<br />

warm pasta or even a good<br />

roast.<br />

REVIEW /53


A CRAFTY<br />

BUNCH<br />

WHY NOT STOCK & SUPPORT<br />

Aether Brewing<br />

Aether is a family-owned, independent<br />

brewery with a passion for creativity that<br />

flows through our liquids and onto our labels<br />

which showcase the talents of local visual<br />

artists. We welcome artists to submit their<br />

existing artwork to aetherbrewing.com.au,<br />

and if selected, they stand to receive $1000,<br />

exposure through our products, online<br />

platforms and more. Aether’s core range is all<br />

natural, vegan, low sugar, preservative and<br />

additive free. Our ginger beer is gluten-free,<br />

so too are our seltzers.<br />

1800 325 013<br />

aetherbrewing.com.au<br />

Ballistic Beer Co.<br />

At Ballistic we have a simple theory. Fresh<br />

beer is the best beer. That’s why we brew<br />

in small batches, more frequently, and store<br />

it cold so you get the same blast of flavour<br />

our brewers do. Our pale ales, lagers, IPAs,<br />

sours and special releases will blow away the<br />

traditional ideas and expectations of what<br />

beer should be.<br />

Set in an old World War II ammunitions<br />

factory in the historic, industrial suburb of<br />

Salisbury, Ballistic HQ is home to a team of<br />

innovative brewers who believe everyone<br />

should have the chance to enjoy a well<br />

crafted, quality beer.<br />

(07) 3277 6656<br />

ballisticbeer.com<br />

Brisbane Brewing Co.<br />

Brisbane’s longest-running independent<br />

brewery, family-owned and serving awardwinning<br />

beer since 2005. Our beers are<br />

brewed to suit the climate, bringing people<br />

who love to explore the world and locally<br />

made craft beer together. Welcoming and<br />

friendly, unpretentious, and easy going, enjoy<br />

on hot summer or cool sunny winter day,<br />

“The Brisbanest Beer”.<br />

(07) 3891 1011<br />

brisbanebrewing.com.au/wholesale<br />

Burleigh Brewing Co<br />

Founded in 2006 by Peta and Brennan<br />

Fielding, Burleigh Brewing was one of the<br />

first independent craft breweries in QLD.<br />

Now celebrating 15 years of the brand,<br />

Burleigh Brewing has upgraded their<br />

Taphouse in Burleigh Heads, won countless<br />

awards for both business and beer (a<br />

testament to their shared and individual<br />

strengths), grown to a team of 70, and in<br />

their own humble, hard-working way, helped<br />

transform the Gold Coast’s craft brewing<br />

scene into one of the most vibrant and<br />

thriving in the country.<br />

(07) 5593 6000<br />

burleighbrewing.com.au<br />

The Catchment Brewing Co<br />

Catchment Brewing Co, located in a<br />

beautiful art deco building in West End, is a<br />

fully functioning brewery, bar and restaurant<br />

and your one stop shop for all things craft<br />

beer, awesome food and functions.<br />

Whether sampling the medal winning core<br />

range beers named after iconic streets in the<br />

local catchment or the seasonal smash hits<br />

that will amaze you, it’s well worth a visit for<br />

a taste of West End.<br />

Catchment Brewing Co - For locals, by<br />

locals, everywhere.<br />

(07) 3846 1701<br />

bookings@catchmentbrewingco.com.au<br />

catchmentbrewingco.com.au<br />

Felons Brewing Co<br />

Founded by Brisbane locals, Felons<br />

Brewing Co. is a modern-day brewery<br />

proudly positioned on the banks of the<br />

Brisbane River. Our brewery is nestled<br />

down under the Story Bridge, within<br />

Howard Smith Wharves. We truly<br />

believe that beer is what binds us all to<br />

this great part of the world and as proud<br />

brewers, we believe in brewing with<br />

passion and freedom.<br />

07 3188 9090<br />

felonsbrewingco.com.au<br />

/ 54<br />

REVIEW


A CRAFTY BUNCH<br />

QUEENSLAND LOCALS<br />

A CRAFTY<br />

BUNCH<br />

Mountain Culture<br />

We’re Mountain Culture, the team behind<br />

a brewery whose sole focus is to make<br />

really good beer. Just ask the 60,000 GABS<br />

Hottest 100 voters who sent our beer,<br />

Status Quo Pale Ale, skyrocketing into the<br />

top spot.<br />

From our original brewpub in the Blue<br />

Mountains, we’re the independent cult<br />

brewery challenging itself to create a new<br />

standard of Australian brewing.<br />

mountainculture.com.au<br />

Scarborough Harbour Brewing Co.<br />

Nestled in the Scarborough Marina on the<br />

Redcliffe Peninsula, our brewery is home<br />

to award-winning craft beers and delicious<br />

meals, that can be enjoyed in our double<br />

story venue, that boasts views across the<br />

bay to the beautiful Glass House Mountains;<br />

a view best enjoyed with a beer in hand.<br />

1800 727 104<br />

scarboroughharbourbc.com.au<br />

Slipstream Brewing<br />

Slipstream Brewing is an independently<br />

owned brewery based in Brisbane. We are a<br />

small but passionate team producing some<br />

of the most accessible and sessionable craft<br />

beers in Australia. We’re the missing gap<br />

between bland beer and wanky beer, our<br />

beers hit the bullseye, brewed with nothing<br />

but pure flavour in mind. Hops are the heroes<br />

and we milk them for all their worth. We love<br />

the freshness, juiciness, the zing and the<br />

zest. One sip, it tastes so good – capture that<br />

feeling and fill the fridge with it. Beer is the<br />

last thing you should settle on, so come and<br />

get caught in Slipstream.<br />

(07) 3892 4582<br />

slipstreambrewing.com.au<br />

4 Hearts Brewing<br />

The first brewery to open its doors in<br />

Ipswich in over 100 years, 4 Hearts’<br />

brew masters are committed to premium<br />

local ingredients and profound taste.<br />

Preservative free and all natural they<br />

use the highest quality ingredients to<br />

consistently deliver a tasty beer every<br />

brew. Our core range features modern<br />

spins on traditional brews while our ever<br />

growing range of seasonal beers takes<br />

things to more adventurous levels, utilising<br />

local seasonal produce as inspiration<br />

(honey, rosella or carrots anyone…?).<br />

0439 439 710<br />

4heartsbrewing.com<br />

Fortitude Brewing Co<br />

Fortitude Brewing Co delivers<br />

you 15 taps of fresh beer locally<br />

produced in our Tamborine<br />

Mountain Brewery. Enjoy a<br />

day trip up the mountain and<br />

visit our team for the best fresh<br />

pizza and tasting paddles.<br />

07 5545 4273<br />

fortitudebrewing.com.au<br />

REVIEW /55


56<br />

REVIEW


A SPIRITED BUNCH<br />

CULT<br />

CLASSICS<br />

LACED WITH INSPIRATION FROM FILM, ART,<br />

LITERATURE, AND FOLKLORE – YOU’VE NEVER<br />

HEARD OF A DISTILLERY QUITE LIKE THIS ONE.<br />

It all started when Rory Smith, a boy with<br />

a gift for all things creative, grew up to<br />

study film and have a career in commercial<br />

production. However, after it occurred to him<br />

that he wasn’t going to hit the big time in<br />

Hollywood, Rory came to the realisation that<br />

he was meant for other things.<br />

And so, born out of a love of gin and<br />

stemming from a keen interest in the arts,<br />

Nosferatu Distillery opened in 2018 with<br />

a delightfully noir range of spirits – each<br />

accompanied by ingredients, distillation<br />

techniques, and stories that are as fascinating<br />

as they are mysterious.<br />

Head distiller, Ashley Mellor, said Rory has<br />

always loved the movie Nosferatu – also<br />

known as the best vampire movie ever made.<br />

“It’s a silent, black-and-white movie released<br />

in 1922 and an unauthorised and unofficial<br />

adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel,<br />

Dracula. The film stars Maximilian Schreck as<br />

Count Orlok.<br />

“Bram Stoker’s heirs sued over the<br />

adaptation, and a court ruling ordered all<br />

copies of the film to be destroyed. However,<br />

several prints of Nosferatu survived, and the<br />

film came to be regarded as an influential<br />

masterpiece of cinema and the horror genre.<br />

“As our first and signature gin is the Blood<br />

Orange Gin, our name just made sense! The<br />

spirit has gone on to win many awards and<br />

hearts while amassing quite a cult following,”<br />

she said.<br />

Fortunately for us, after opening in<br />

Melbourne, the Nosferatu Distillery was<br />

moved to Brisbane’s Bowen Hills in 2022. In<br />

Queensland, Rory set out to demonstrate that<br />

food pairings (which are a celebrated and<br />

normal concept in the wine industry) can be<br />

applicable with gins as well.<br />

As such, the brand’s core range is designed<br />

with food pairings in mind and encourages<br />

customers to have their own ‘Ginner Party’ by<br />

coupling spirits with complementary dishes.<br />

Despite the distillery’s many points of<br />

difference, Ashley said they take a mostly<br />

traditional approach to the creation of<br />

their gins.<br />

“We use carefully selected gin botanicals<br />

with the end flavour profile in mind and<br />

thoughtfully pick which stage in the<br />

distillation process to use the botanical to<br />

influence the end flavour.<br />

“Mouthfeel is also really important to us, so<br />

we use a three-stage citrus infusion process<br />

to give our gins a great texture. Gin is a great<br />

product to experiment with, as the only rule<br />

is that it needs to contain juniper as the<br />

dominant botanical.<br />

“We reverse-engineer our spirits and select<br />

flavours that not only pair well with food, but<br />

also stand up well by themselves. We make<br />

sure to painstakingly test our ideas until we<br />

have nailed them,” she said.<br />

Indeed, every single one of Nosferatu<br />

Distillery’s core range made it into the<br />

Ginuary Festival’s Hottest 100 Aussie Gins<br />

of 2023, which only continues the pattern of<br />

Queensland craft distillers finding immense<br />

success in today’s industry.<br />

The brand gained notoriety pretty early in its<br />

existence as well, with the vibrant, spicy, rich,<br />

smooth, and viscous Nosferatu Blood Orange<br />

Gin winning Best Gin Bottle in Australia at the<br />

Australian Gin Awards in 2018.<br />

Ashley said Rory has always loved Pimm’s<br />

and Campari, so he wanted their first gin to<br />

have elements of this.<br />

REVIEW / 57


“Our signature spirit uses toasted fenugreek as a botanical. As<br />

far as we know, it’s the only gin that does this! The botanical<br />

is used in Pimm’s and provides a hint of bitterness at the end<br />

in addition to a nutty flavour.<br />

“We toast the fenugreek just like James Pimm did in 1823. This<br />

caramelises it and converts the starches into sugars, giving it<br />

a lovely toffee and roasted caramel taste.<br />

“Nosferatu Blood Orange Gin has more backbone and<br />

savoury qualities, so it pairs well with stronger flavoured foods<br />

such duck, other game birds, and even roast lamb and black<br />

peppercorns,” she said.<br />

It’s no doubt that Rory’s love of film, gothic literature, and the<br />

arts has also been an incredibly important part of the brand’s<br />

success. Each gin is represented by a mythological character<br />

and comes with a glimpse into their cultural history, making<br />

each sip an experience rather than just another drink.<br />

Ashley said their Mandrake Cucumber and Mint Gin, for<br />

example, continues their obsession with old books and<br />

spooky folklore.<br />

“Mandrakes were mentioned in legend, the Bible, and<br />

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. More recently, mandrakes<br />

appeared in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books and films,<br />

where fully grown mandrake roots scream when pulled<br />

from the ground, killing anyone unfortunate enough to hear<br />

their cries.<br />

“This gin has flavours of cucumber, mint, lemon, citrus, and<br />

liquorice root and is best served with seafood and lighter<br />

dishes. It works well alongside saline and fresh flavour profiles<br />

– think granita on raw oysters with finger lime or tuna crudo,”<br />

she said.<br />

On the other hand, Nosferatu’s Giselle Pavlova Gin is<br />

designed to taste like a pavlova base without the fruit on top.<br />

Achieved by macerating the ingredients post-distillation, the<br />

spirit tastes like cream, vanilla, toffee, and burnt meringue.<br />

Night Feast,<br />

Brisbane<br />

PowerHouse<br />

/ 58<br />

REVIEW


A SPIRITED BUNCH<br />

Ashley said Anna Pavlova was a Russian ballerina who<br />

danced the famous Giselle Ballet almost to her death.<br />

“Giselle is one of the most renowned ballets and is often<br />

performed around the world. It’s the story of a peasant girl<br />

who dies of a broken heart after being tricked by her<br />

wealthy and powerful lover. But just like our gin, revenge is<br />

best served cold and sweet, and Giselle returns as a<br />

beautiful ghost.<br />

“Of course, most people would think to pair this with a<br />

traditional pavlova. However, as these flavours are already<br />

present, it’s far more fun to put them next to fresh fruit tarts<br />

and bright, tropical flavours. The sweetness of the gin cries<br />

out for some fresh acidity,” she said.<br />

The last bottle in the distillery’s core range is the fruity and<br />

slightly sweet Bunyip Sticky Gin, which is especially unique<br />

due to being blended with unfermented grape juice,<br />

making it a modern interpretation of the French classic<br />

called Mistelle.<br />

Ashley said they loved experimenting with Muscat and<br />

Pino Grigio grapes for their gin version of a sticky wine.<br />

“Deep in the Aussie bush lives the elusive man-eating<br />

bunyip. Despite many attempts, no one has ever captured<br />

one. Rumour has it that it was sighted where we got our<br />

first batch of grapes from on the Mornington Peninsula.<br />

“A bunyip is a creature from Indigenous mythology that<br />

lives in rivers and creeks. For this one, we hoped to create<br />

something new and unusual, so that’s exactly what we did.<br />

Night Feast, Brisbane PowerHouse<br />

REVIEW / 59


“WE USE CAREFULLY<br />

SELECTED GIN BOTANICALS<br />

WITH THE END FLAVOUR<br />

PROFILE IN MIND AND<br />

THOUGHTFULLY PICK WHICH<br />

STAGE IN THE DISTILLATION<br />

PROCESS TO USE THE<br />

BOTANICAL TO INFLUENCE<br />

THE END FLAVOUR.”<br />

“This ‘cheese course’ gin can be enjoyed at the start of a meal<br />

or at the end, depending on where you would usually eat<br />

cheese. Generally, the funkier the cheese, the fruitier the gin<br />

becomes, whereas saltier cheese makes the gin sweeter,”<br />

she said.<br />

Rounding out Nosferatu Distillery’s range is their Dead Dry<br />

Gin, Dead Dry Vodka, Rye + Corn Whiskey, and Death +<br />

Taxes Dry Gin – a limited edition collaboration with the Death<br />

& Taxes bar group.<br />

In addition to a coffin-shaped pot still named Schreck,<br />

Nosferatu Distillery boasts a picturesque café and bar set<br />

inside a romantic, industrial shed surrounded by beautiful<br />

hanging garden beds, reclaimed wine barrels, and fairy lights.<br />

Ashley said their venue is a fantastic function space akin to<br />

a gin garden party, with their drinks being served out of a<br />

vintage caravan.<br />

“Here, customers can sample all of our products on a tasting<br />

paddle, try some bespoke cocktails featuring our spirits, or<br />

buy our bottles and gift packs. The best part is that all of our<br />

gin distilling equipment is on display, so patrons can watch<br />

the distiller work while they have a coffee or a cheeky drink.<br />

“We’d love to increase our focus on food pairings, as we think<br />

this is what sets our range apart from other distilleries. We<br />

have just opened up a kitchen, so we can now offer more<br />

substantial meals to pair with our gins.<br />

“We will also be releasing a coffee liqueur very soon, and in a<br />

few months, be sure to look out for a fig gin! In the meantime,<br />

hotels, pubs, and bars can buy our range from wholesalers<br />

such as Bouchon Wines and Spirits, Paramount Liquor, and<br />

Australian Liquor Marketers (ALM).<br />

It’s pretty easy to get excited about Nosferatu Distillery<br />

when you can hear from the passionate people behind the<br />

brand while immersing yourself in the curious myths and<br />

gothic tales that have never ceased to captivate, terrify, and<br />

inspire us.<br />

Ashley said if they have learnt anything, it’s that customers<br />

love to uncover the stories that drive their distillery.<br />

“Most imported brands lack a backstory and are mass<br />

produced, so making our gins in small batches allows us<br />

to produce more interesting, greater quality gins locally.<br />

Consumers love local products, whether they’re Australianmade<br />

or, even better, Queensland-made.<br />

“We made a strong choice not to be a ‘location name’<br />

distillery. We want to be loved everywhere, not just in our local<br />

area. It’s also better for the environment to buy locally, rather<br />

than have products shipped all the way from overseas.<br />

“We have a strong desire to lower our carbon footprint and<br />

make products that can be created and served with this in<br />

mind while using traditional gin botanicals to create solid,<br />

delicious, and unique gins,” she said.<br />

/ 60<br />

REVIEW


2024<br />

SAVE THE<br />

DATE<br />

Wednesday 10 July 2024<br />

Emporium Hotel Southbank


PUB TALK/ PAUL ST JOHN-WOOD<br />

EXCITING TIMES AHEAD<br />

COMBINED HOTELIERS AND GENERAL<br />

MANAGERS MEETING - BRISBANE<br />

On Monday, 3 <strong>June</strong> the <strong>QHA</strong> will host<br />

a combined Hoteliers and General<br />

Managers meeting in Brisbane at the Port<br />

Office Hotel to coincide with the Awards<br />

for Excellence Gala Dinner that evening.<br />

This meeting is an opportunity for venue<br />

operators who are travelling to Brisbane to<br />

attend the awards to hear firsthand from<br />

the <strong>QHA</strong> team on industry and regulatory<br />

updates. Further information on this event<br />

has been sent to South East Queensland<br />

members and finalists for the awards.<br />

TOOWOOMBA REGION HOTELIERS<br />

MEETING<br />

On Tuesday, 9 July the <strong>QHA</strong> will host a<br />

publican’s lunch for hoteliers and their<br />

key staff from around the Toowoomba<br />

Region. This lunch will feature discussions<br />

and business development presentations<br />

from a range of <strong>QHA</strong> staff and corporate<br />

partners.<br />

PFD Food Services will again generously<br />

showcase their products and provide<br />

a delicious lunch for all attendees, and<br />

of course our beverage partners will<br />

ensure everyone remains well hydrated<br />

throughout. Details of the lunch have<br />

been sent to all venues in the Toowoomba<br />

Region, and you still have time to register<br />

your attendance.<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> & TABCORP SUNSHINE COAST<br />

RACE DAY<br />

The date and location has now been<br />

set for the 2024 <strong>QHA</strong> & TABCORP<br />

Race Day. The event will be held at the<br />

Sunshine Coast Turf Club, Corbould Park<br />

Racecourse Caloundra on Wednesday, 21<br />

August. Details for the event will be sent<br />

to all licensees and industry partners.<br />

The <strong>QHA</strong> & TABCORP Race Day is always<br />

a fantastic networking event for industry<br />

participants, and the Sunshine Coast Turf<br />

Club provides a unique experience for<br />

the event as we are so close to the racing<br />

action. We anticipate over 300 attendees,<br />

so ensure you confirm your tickets early.<br />

REMOTE SELF-EXCLUSIONS FOR<br />

GAMBLING<br />

Licensees are reporting an increase<br />

in third-party remote self-exclusion<br />

requests from gambling help providers.<br />

Licensees are reminded that remote selfexclusions<br />

can only be requested through<br />

government-funded gambling help<br />

services, and when the request is made<br />

with the completed remote self-exclusion<br />

authority and identification form, exclusion<br />

form 3A, and a clear digital photo of the<br />

person along with a copy of their photo<br />

identification. After this, they must be<br />

accepted and implemented at your venue.<br />

Following a receipt of the aforementioned<br />

documentation from a gambling help<br />

service, the venue is then required to<br />

complete and return exclusion form 3B to<br />

the individual and to the gambling help<br />

service via email and then complete form<br />

3G – register of excluded persons. If a<br />

venue receives a request for exclusion<br />

that does not contain all of the necessary<br />

documentation, or if the request is made<br />

by a third party that is not a gambling help<br />

service, then the venue is not required to<br />

accept the exclusion at that point.<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> REGIONAL BOARD MEETING –<br />

ROCKHAMPTON<br />

The tradition of the <strong>QHA</strong> Regional<br />

Board Meeting continues this year,<br />

with Rockhampton being the chosen<br />

destination. This meeting will be held on<br />

Tuesday 30 July. Detailed invitations will<br />

be sent via post and email to hoteliers in<br />

the region.<br />

/ 62<br />

REVIEW


TRADE DIRECTORY<br />

INSURANCE | RISK MANAGEMENT | CONSULTING<br />

Your trusted advisor, helping you identify your business<br />

risks and find the right insurance solutions so you can<br />

face your future with confidence.<br />

Call: 1800 240 432<br />

AJG.com/au/qha<br />

LIVE SPORT IN VENUES<br />

Foxtel Business delivers the magic of sport to venues<br />

– bringing people together, entertaining them and<br />

contributing to a boost in trade. And with over 50 live sports,<br />

there’s something for everyone. Serve your customers the<br />

best sporting action with Foxtel.<br />

P: 1300 761 056 www.foxtel.com.au/venues<br />

START YOUR<br />

ELECTRIC JOURNEY<br />

WITH WALDORF!<br />

MARKET LEADING BRANDS IN EQUIPMENT<br />

No matter the size, shape or demands placed on your<br />

business, we have the ability to deliver equipment that<br />

is functional, adaptable and reliable, Turbofan, Waldorf,<br />

Waldorf Bold, Cobra, Convotherm, FastFri, Merrychef.<br />

P: 1300 268 798 E: info@moffat.com.au<br />

Service department: 1300 264 217<br />

STODDART<br />

Stoddart are one of Australia’s leading manufacturers and<br />

importers of a large range of world leading equipment for<br />

food service and bar applications.<br />

Darrin Miller<br />

P: 0417 867 979 E: dmiller@stoddart.com.au<br />

stoddart.com.au<br />

LEADING PUB AND HOTEL LAWYERS IN QUEENSLAND<br />

Mullins’ hospitality team has unrivalled experience in the<br />

liquor and gaming sector, developed over 40 years. From<br />

greenfield applications and integrated developments to<br />

liquor and gaming compliance and employment advice -<br />

we are your one-stop-shop to ensure the best outcomes<br />

for your hotel.<br />

Curt Schatz, Managing Partner | Direct: 07 3224 0230<br />

Email: cschatz@mullinslawyers.com.au<br />

mullinslawyers.com.au<br />

<strong>QHA</strong><br />

MEMBER<br />

OFFER<br />

CITY PROPERTY SERVICES<br />

Over 25 years of commercial<br />

cleaning services | Triple certified<br />

Quality assured | EcoClean<br />

Certified using environmentally<br />

friendly products.<br />

Get 2 weeks free with any<br />

12 month contract when<br />

mentioning this advert.<br />

P: 1300 630 636<br />

citypropertyservices.com.au<br />

ADVERTISING & PROMOTION<br />

For more information on advertising and promoting<br />

your business in the <strong>QHA</strong> REVIEW contact Dave Swan.<br />

qhareview@qha.org.au or 0401 345 201<br />

REVIEW / 63


<strong>QHA</strong> PARTNERS & CORPORATE MEMBERS<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> Partners and Corporate Members are valued preferred suppliers to the Queensland hotel industry. The businesses listed<br />

in this directory are keen supporters of hotels in Queensland and the <strong>QHA</strong> encourages member hotels to utilise their products<br />

and services. If a business wishes to find out how to become a <strong>QHA</strong> Partner or Corporate Member, please call Damian Steele,<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> Deputy Cheif Executive, on (07) 3221 6999.<br />

ACCOUNTING/ TAX<br />

HLB Mann Judd - Chartered<br />

Accountants<br />

Ph: 07 3001 8800<br />

hlb.com.au<br />

Prosperity Advisers QLD<br />

Ph: 07 3007 1971<br />

prosperity.com.au<br />

SW Accountants<br />

& Advisors<br />

Ph: 07 3085 0888<br />

sw-au.com<br />

Quantaco<br />

Ph: 02 8346 6000<br />

quantaco.co<br />

Clarity Management<br />

Ph: 3058 9732<br />

claritymg.com.au<br />

McGrathNicol<br />

Ph: 07 3333 9800<br />

mcgrathnicol.com<br />

Trinitas Australia Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 1300 836 025<br />

trinitas3.com.au<br />

ARCHITECTS / REPAIRS<br />

REFURBISHMENT/<br />

RECONSTRUCTION /<br />

CONSTRUCTION<br />

Ashley Cooper Construction<br />

Ph: 07 3142 5915<br />

ashleycooper.com<br />

BSPN Architecture<br />

Ph: 07 3851 9100<br />

bpsn.com.au<br />

Caughley & Co<br />

Ph: 0434 549 242<br />

caughleyco.com.au<br />

Eurofurn<br />

Ph: 07 3216 5887<br />

eurofurn.com.au<br />

Rohrig Constructions<br />

Ph: 07 3257 4411<br />

rohrlg.com.au<br />

Imagination Play<br />

Ph: 07 3088 6077<br />

imaginationplay.com.au<br />

IQ Construct<br />

Ph: 3667 8202<br />

iqcontruct.com.au<br />

Liife Architecture<br />

Ph: 0401 384 547<br />

archliife.com<br />

Urban Play<br />

Ph: 07 3256 0554<br />

urbanplay.com.au<br />

BEVERAGES<br />

Accolade Wines<br />

Ph: 07 3252 7933<br />

accolade-wines.com<br />

Brown-Forman<br />

Australia P/L<br />

Ph: 07 3010 2000<br />

brown-forman.com<br />

Campari Australia Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 07 3253 1801<br />

camparigroup.com.au<br />

Carlton & United<br />

Breweries<br />

Ph: 07 3666 4104<br />

cub.com.au<br />

Coca-Cola Europacific<br />

Partners<br />

Ph: 13 26 53<br />

ccamatil.com<br />

Coopers Brewery<br />

Ph: 07 3275 3732<br />

coopers.com.au<br />

CUB Premium Beverages<br />

Ph: 07 3666 4104<br />

cub.com.au<br />

Diageo<br />

Ph: 07 3257 0800<br />

diageo.com<br />

Diablo Co<br />

Ph: 0400 696 192<br />

diabloco.com.au<br />

Lion<br />

Ph: 07 3361 7400<br />

lionco.com<br />

Paramount Liquor<br />

Ph: 0429 448 523<br />

www.paramountliquor.<br />

com.au<br />

Pernod-Ricard Australia<br />

Ph: 07 3340 5471<br />

pernod-ricard.com<br />

Red Bull Australia<br />

Ph: 02 9023 2892<br />

redbull.com.au<br />

Samuel Smith & Son<br />

Ph: 07 3373 5777<br />

samsmith.com<br />

Southtrade International<br />

Ph: 07 3085 7418<br />

southtradeint.com.au<br />

Treasury Wine Estates<br />

Ph: 03 9685 8000<br />

treasurywineestates.com<br />

Flying Foam Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 0413 447 711<br />

flyingfoam.com.au<br />

Your Mates Brewing Co.<br />

Ph: 07 5329 4733<br />

yourmatesbrewing.com<br />

4 Hearts Brewing<br />

Ph: 07 3281 1004<br />

admin@4heartsbrewing.com<br />

4heartsbrewing.com<br />

Heads of Noosa Brewing Co.<br />

Ph: 0401 399 625<br />

headsofnoosa.com.au<br />

BUILDING SUPPLIES<br />

& SERVICES<br />

Bunnings<br />

Ph: 07 3452 5725<br />

bunnings.com.au<br />

Urban Play<br />

Ph: 07 3256 0554<br />

urbanplay.com.au<br />

EDUCATION, TRAINING<br />

& EMPLOYMENT<br />

Best Security -<br />

Security & Training<br />

Ph: 07 3212 8460<br />

bestsecurlty.net.au<br />

Alliance Abroad<br />

International Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 0450 232 460<br />

allianceabroad.com<br />

BTAQ Consulting<br />

Ph: 0408 437 643<br />

btaq.com.au<br />

Find HQ<br />

Ph: 0431 376 689<br />

findachef.net.au<br />

Frontier Leadership<br />

Ph: 0423 097 246<br />

frontierleadership.edu.au<br />

Federation Academy<br />

Ph: 0423 097 246<br />

federationacademy.edu.au<br />

Prime Effect<br />

Ph: 0406 500 171<br />

primeeffect.com.au<br />

MEGT<br />

Ph: 0409 896 503<br />

megt.com.au<br />

Owner Manager Program<br />

Ph: 0437 834 195<br />

ownermanager.com.au<br />

Sero Institute<br />

Ph: 1800 206 010<br />

seroinstitute.edu.au<br />

TAFE Queensland<br />

Ph: 1300 308 233<br />

tafeqld.edu.au<br />

Tribe Workforce Solutions<br />

Ph: 07 3238 0808<br />

tribeworkforce.com.au<br />

The Kingsmen<br />

Ph: 0410 416 655<br />

thekingsmen.net.au<br />

Zenith Hospitality Staffing<br />

Solutions<br />

Ph: 07 3002 4000<br />

zenithhospitality.com<br />

ENERGY GAS/POWER<br />

BOC Limited<br />

Ph: 07 3212 4135<br />

boc.com.au<br />

TransTasman<br />

Energy Group<br />

Ph: 1300 118 834<br />

tteg.com.au<br />

Solar Connected<br />

Ph: 0432 600 788<br />

solarconnected.com.au<br />

Spinifex Energy<br />

Ph: 0419 108 638<br />

spinifexenergy.com.au<br />

Sun Flux Solar Australia Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 0421 082 828<br />

sunfluxsolar.com.au<br />

FINANCES, BANKING,<br />

INSURANCE &<br />

INVESTMENTS<br />

BDO Australia<br />

Ph: 07 3237 5999<br />

bdo.com.au<br />

Commonwealth Bank of<br />

Australia<br />

Ph: 0476 824 307<br />

CommBank.com.au<br />

Gallagher Insurance Brokers<br />

Brisbane: 07 3367 5000<br />

Nth QLD: 07 4753 5311<br />

Toowoomba: 07 4639 7102<br />

ajg.com.au<br />

Green Finance Group<br />

Ph: 0457 883 700<br />

greenfinancegroup.com.au<br />

Waratah Debt Capital<br />

Ph: 0448 681 783<br />

waratahmanagement.<br />

com.au<br />

Westpac Banking<br />

Corporation<br />

Ph: 0438 701 195<br />

westpac.com.au<br />

Banktech<br />

Ph: 1800 080 910<br />

banktech.com.au<br />

BUPA - health insurance<br />

Ph: 134 135<br />

(quote ID 2139463)<br />

bupa.com.au<br />

CTB & Co<br />

(Cooking the Books)<br />

Ph: 1300 911 282<br />

cookingthebooks.com<br />

Trinitas Australia Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 1300 836 025<br />

trinitas3.com.au<br />

Matrix Insurance Group<br />

Ph: 08 6555 7742<br />

matrixinsurance.com.au<br />

FOOD & ASSOCIATED<br />

BUSINESSES<br />

Bidfood Australia Limited<br />

Ph: 0434 939 134<br />

bidfood.com.au<br />

PFD Food Services<br />

Ph: 131 733<br />

pfdfoods.com.au<br />

Simon George and Sons<br />

Ph: 07 3717 1400<br />

simongeorge.com.au<br />

CTB & Co<br />

(Cooking the Books)<br />

Ph: 1300 911 282<br />

cookingthebooks.com<br />

Food and Agribusiness<br />

Network<br />

Ph: 0419 651 157<br />

foodagribusiness.org.au<br />

Goodman Fielder<br />

Ph: 0403 937 801<br />

gffoodservice.com.au<br />

CFM Australia -<br />

Swap & Go Oils<br />

Ph: 0430 504 486<br />

cfmaustralia.com.au<br />

FURNITURE SUPPLY<br />

SlumberCorp<br />

Ph: 07 3892 7477<br />

slumbercorp.com.au<br />

GAMING AND RACING<br />

Ainsworth Game<br />

Technology P/L<br />

Ph: 07 3209 6210<br />

ainsworth.com.au<br />

Aristocrat Leisure<br />

Industries<br />

Ph: 07 3727 1600<br />

aristocrat.com.au<br />

IGT<br />

Ph: 07 3890 5622<br />

igt.com.au<br />

/ 64<br />

REVIEW


Konami Australia<br />

Ph: 02 9666 3111<br />

konamiaustralia.com.au<br />

Light & Wonder<br />

Ph: 02 9773 0299<br />

explore.lnw.com<br />

MAX<br />

Ph: 0418 728 927<br />

max.com.au<br />

Odyssey Gaming Services<br />

Ph: 07 3087 3300<br />

odysseygaming.com<br />

PVS Australia Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 03 8671 1900<br />

pvsoz.com.au<br />

Simtech<br />

Ph: 07 5596 6993<br />

simtechcreations.com<br />

Keno<br />

(The Lottery Corporation)<br />

Ph: 07 3001 9300<br />

thelotterycorporation.com<br />

TAB<br />

Ph: 0436 816 254<br />

tab.com.au<br />

UTOPIA Gaming Systems<br />

Ph: 1800 200 201<br />

utopiagaming.com.au<br />

HOSPITALITY<br />

CONSULTANTS<br />

AHS Hospitality<br />

Ph: 07 5512 6143<br />

ahshospitality.com.au<br />

DNS Specialist Services<br />

Ph: 0433 906 809<br />

dnsspecialistservices.com.au<br />

DWS Hospitality Specialists<br />

Ph: 07 3878 9355<br />

dws.net<br />

Lighthouse Safety &<br />

Compliance<br />

Ph: 0422 669 631<br />

lighthousesafety.com.au<br />

Logic Hospitality<br />

Ph: 07 5520 3957<br />

logichospitality.com.au<br />

HOTEL ENTERTAINMENT<br />

Foxtel Business<br />

Ph: 1300 790 182<br />

foxtel.com.au/venues<br />

Sky Channel<br />

Ph: 07 3228 6344<br />

Freecall: 1800 251 710<br />

skychannel.com.au<br />

Stan Sport<br />

Ph: 0416 208 417<br />

stan.com.au/sport/venues<br />

Nightlife - Music & Video<br />

Freecall: 1800 679 748<br />

nightlife.com.au<br />

Pro Score - Sporting<br />

Promotions<br />

Ph: 0431 366 800<br />

proscore.com.au<br />

Rooks Entertainment<br />

Ph: 07 4068 8633<br />

rooks-entertainment.com.au<br />

HOTEL & BAR SUPPLIES<br />

BOC Limited - Gas/<br />

Reticulation Supply<br />

Ph: 07 3212 4322<br />

boc.com.au<br />

Reward Hospitality<br />

Ph: 07 3341 5929<br />

rewardhospitality.com.au<br />

Stoddart<br />

Ph: 0437 576 447<br />

stoddart.com.au<br />

HOTEL BROKERS /<br />

REAL ESTATE /<br />

PROPERTY VALUERS<br />

Off Market Hotels<br />

Chris Cameron<br />

Ph: 0408 192 490<br />

offmarkethotels.com.au<br />

Power Jeffrey & Co -<br />

Hotel Brokers<br />

Ph: 07 3832 6000<br />

powerjeffrey.com.au<br />

CRE Brokers<br />

Ph: 07 5371 0165<br />

crebrokers.com<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> PLATINUM PARTNERS<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> DIAMOND PARTNERS<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> GOLD PARTNERS<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> SILVER PARTNERS<br />

Mondandia Consulting<br />

Ph: 0448 710 629<br />

monandiaconsulting.com.au<br />

Morph Consulting Services<br />

Ph: 0438 758 847<br />

morph-consulting.com<br />

HTL Property<br />

Ph: 02 9136 6373<br />

htlproperty.com.au<br />

JLL<br />

Ph: 07 3231 1311<br />

jll.com.au<br />

BSV<br />

Daily Press<br />

H&L Australia<br />

Next Payments<br />

Odyssey Gaming<br />

Services<br />

Prosperity<br />

Advisers QLD<br />

PVS Australia<br />

Simon George & Sons<br />

Trans Tasman<br />

Energy Group<br />

UTOPIA Gaming<br />

Systems<br />

Nuvho<br />

Ph: 07 3357 9951<br />

nuvho.com<br />

SGW Hotel Broker<br />

Ph: 0417 508 452<br />

sgwhotelbroker.com.au<br />

<strong>QHA</strong> BRONZE PARTNERS<br />

Professional Hospitality<br />

Ph: 07 3160 8132<br />

professionalhospitality.com.au<br />

Prostaff Events Pty Ltd<br />

prostaffevents.com.au<br />

Relief Hotel Management<br />

Ph: 0419 733 681<br />

reliefhotelmanagement.com<br />

LEGAL<br />

Mullins<br />

Ph: (07) 3224 0222<br />

mullinslawyers.com.au<br />

Holding Redlich<br />

Ph: 07 3135 0500<br />

holdingredlich.com<br />

Best Security<br />

Beyond Payments<br />

BOC Limited<br />

BSPN Architecture<br />

Caughley and Co<br />

Chewzie Table<br />

Ordering<br />

Coopers Brewery<br />

Command 51<br />

Eurofurn<br />

Diablo Co<br />

Green Finance Group<br />

HLB Mann Judd<br />

SwiftPOS<br />

Operandio Pty Ltd<br />

Ozone Hospitality<br />

Services<br />

Paramount Liquor<br />

Platypus Print<br />

Packaging<br />

Power Jeffrey and<br />

Company<br />

Quantaco<br />

Rohrig Constructions<br />

Red Bull Australia<br />

Secure Access I.T.<br />

Simtech<br />

Southtrade<br />

International<br />

Stan Sport<br />

SW Accountants<br />

& Advisors<br />

Waratah Debt Capital<br />

REVIEW / 65


<strong>QHA</strong> PARTNERS & CORPORATE MEMBERS<br />

HopgoodGanim Lawyers<br />

Ph: 0419 762 469<br />

hopgoodganim.com.au<br />

Idealpos Solutions<br />

Ph: 07 3630 2455<br />

Idealpos.co<br />

Operandio Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 0422 398 294<br />

operandio.com<br />

K&L Gates<br />

Ph: 0416 131 543<br />

klgates.com<br />

MyVenue Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 0447 129 873<br />

myvenue.com/pubs-cafes-bars<br />

Secure Access I.T.<br />

Ph: 1300 880 565<br />

secureaccess.com.au<br />

APPROVED<br />

MANAGER’S<br />

LICENCE<br />

RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF<br />

LICENSED VENUES TRAINING<br />

LIQUOR<br />

BUYING GROUPS<br />

Bottlemart<br />

Ph: 1300 733 504<br />

bottlemart.com.au<br />

Independent Liquor Group<br />

Ph: 07 3713 2751<br />

ilg.com.au<br />

Liquor Legends<br />

Ph: 07 3107 7422<br />

liquorlegends.com.au<br />

LIQUOR<br />

WHOLESALE GROUPS<br />

ALM (Australian Liquor<br />

Marketers)<br />

Brisbane: 07 3489 3600<br />

Townsville: 07 4799 4022<br />

Cairns: 07 4041 6070<br />

almliquor.com.au<br />

UrPay<br />

Ph: 0411 457 377<br />

urpay.com.au<br />

PRINTING / PACKAGING<br />

Platypus Print Packaging<br />

Ph 07 3352 0300<br />

platys.com.au<br />

SECURITY / CLEANING<br />

Best Security<br />

Ph: 07 3212 8460<br />

bestsecurity.net.au<br />

Command 51<br />

Ph: 0437 368 352<br />

command51.com.au<br />

CMBM Facility Services<br />

Ph: 07 3391 1040 /<br />

Ph: 0419 708 715<br />

cmbm.com.au<br />

Tanda<br />

Ph: 1300 859 117<br />

tanda.co<br />

BK Electronics<br />

Ph: 0431 509 409<br />

bkelectronics.com.au<br />

Cherry Hub Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 0409 548 276<br />

cherryhub.com.au<br />

CTB & Co<br />

(Cooking the Books)<br />

Ph: 1300 911 282<br />

cookingthebooks.com<br />

Harris Data Systems<br />

Ph: 07 5535 7677<br />

harrisdata.com.au<br />

Hikvision <strong>Digital</strong> Technology<br />

Ph: 1300 976 305<br />

hikvision.com<br />

“HONESTLY THE<br />

BEST TRAINING<br />

SESSION! FUN AND<br />

LIGHT-HEARTED<br />

WHILE BEING VERY<br />

INFORMATIVE AND<br />

KNOWLEDGEABLE.<br />

THANKS, <strong>QHA</strong>.”<br />

OTHER COURSES OFFERED:<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

P. <br />

E. <br />

W. <br />

Paramount Liquor<br />

Ph: 0429 448 523<br />

paramountliquor.com.au<br />

Your Mates Brewing Co.<br />

Ph: 07 5329 4733<br />

yourmatesbrewing.com<br />

4 Hearts Brewing Co.<br />

Ph: 0428 236 436<br />

4heartsbrewing.com<br />

MEDIA / MARKETING<br />

Daily Press<br />

Ph: 0412 224 969<br />

dailypress.com.au<br />

Horse & Water Creative<br />

Ph: 0401 345 201<br />

horseandwater.com.au<br />

POINT OF SALE /<br />

PAYMENTS<br />

CashZone<br />

Ph: 0466 148 752<br />

cashzoneatm.com.au<br />

H&L Australia Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 0407 975 411<br />

hlaustralia.com.au<br />

SwiftPOS<br />

Ph: 1800 679 701<br />

swiftpos.com.au<br />

Next Payments<br />

Ph: 0447 427 868<br />

nextpayments.com.au<br />

Banktech<br />

Ph: 1800 080 910<br />

banktech.com.au<br />

Bepoz Retail Solutions<br />

Ph: 1300 023 769<br />

bepoz.com.au<br />

Harris Data Systems<br />

Ph: 07 5535 7677<br />

harrisdata.com.au<br />

Future Business Technology<br />

Group<br />

Ph: 1300 706 155<br />

fgtgroup.com.au<br />

Hikvision <strong>Digital</strong> Technology<br />

Ph: 1300 976 305<br />

hikvision.com<br />

Lotus Commercial Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 1300 653 536<br />

lotusfilters.com.au<br />

Luxxe Outsourced Hotel<br />

Services<br />

Ph: 03 8761 9156<br />

luxxe.com.au<br />

Ozone Hospitality Services<br />

Ph: 1300 793 547<br />

ozonehospitalityservices.<br />

com.au<br />

Security Registers<br />

Ph: 0452 363 166<br />

securityregisters.com.au<br />

Tru Security Services<br />

Ph: 0452 377 662<br />

trusecurity.com.au<br />

SUPERANNUATION<br />

HOSTPLUS<br />

Ph: 1300 467 875<br />

hostplus.com.au<br />

TECHNOLOGICAL<br />

PRODUCTS & SERVICES<br />

Beyond Payments<br />

Ph: 1300 192 600<br />

beyondpayments.com.au<br />

BSV<br />

Ph: 1300 244 727<br />

bigscreenvideo.com.au<br />

Chewzie Table Ordering<br />

Ph: 1300 243 994<br />

chewzie.me<br />

Employment Hero Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 0415 769 186<br />

employmenthero.com<br />

IDU Technologies Pty Ltd<br />

mitch@idu-identification.com<br />

idu-identification.com<br />

Jands<br />

Ph: 0408 506 620<br />

jands.com.au<br />

JB Hi-Fi Commercial<br />

Division<br />

Ph: 07 3360 9925<br />

jbhifi.com.au<br />

Mr Yum<br />

Ph: 0448 504 121<br />

mryum.com.au<br />

OpenTable<br />

(03) 4240 3297<br />

restaurant.opentable.com<br />

onPlatinum ICT<br />

Ph: 0402 281 561<br />

onplatinum.com.au<br />

Security Registers<br />

Ph: 0452 363 166<br />

securityregisters.com.au<br />

Smart Parking Limited<br />

Ph: 0421 155 972<br />

smartparking.com<br />

UrPay Technologies<br />

Ph: 0411 457 377<br />

urpay.com.au<br />

Vix Vizion Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 0413 026 918<br />

vixvizion.com<br />

Whats Doing App<br />

Ph: 0404 561 895<br />

whatsdoingapp.com<br />

TRANSPORT<br />

A.P. Eagers Limited<br />

Ph: 07 3109 6731<br />

apeagers.com.au<br />

Trinitas Australia Pty Ltd<br />

Ph: 1300 836 025<br />

trinitas3.com.au<br />

/ 66<br />

REVIEW


WE WISH ALL OF<br />

OUR FINALISTS<br />

THE BEST OF LUCK<br />

ON OUR NIGHT OF NIGHTS.<br />

Our sincere thanks as well to all of our corporate<br />

partners for their continued support.<br />

Monday 3rd <strong>June</strong> 2024<br />

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre,<br />

South Brisbane<br />

TOP SECRET


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*Available at participating venues only. No requirement to hold a TAB account to enter. T&Cs apply.<br />

CHANCES ARE YOU’RE ABOUT TO LOSE.<br />

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au

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