Leadership Update
The Board of Illawarra Catholic Club, trading as Alt. Hospitality Group, advises that Paul Richardson has resigned from his position as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Paul has led the organisation for the past seven years, a time that included navigating the COVID-19 lockdowns and period of growth and change. The Board thanks him for his service and wishes Paul well in his future endeavours. Chris White has been appointed Interim CEO. He will oversee the organisation during a transition period, with a focus on the successful reopening of Georges River Sailing Club after a $10 million renovation project. The Board and management team remain firmly committed to the continued success of Alt. Hospitality Group and its venues across Sydney and the Blue Mountains, supporting more than 300 staff and serving over 80,000 members and guests throughout four local government areas. Brian CloneyPresident
Celebrating community: special moments, local impact and giving back
Celebrating community: special moments, local impact and giving back At Alt. Hospitality Group, we love rolling up our sleeves and getting stuck into supporting our local community! From helping kids get ahead in school to honouring our first responders and cooking up a storm for those in need, here’s a look at the some of the wonderful community support initiatives we’ve been involved in lately. ANZAC Day – Honouring Our Heroes ANZAC Day is a time to reflect, remember, and honour the sacrifices of our servicemen and women. At Club Central Menai, we’re proud to help organise the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Parc Menai, a truly community-led event that brings together local veterans, musicians, school students, and community members. This was the 10th ANZAC Day Dawn service held in Parc Menai, barring a one COVID hiatus. We were honoured to help create another moving service with support from a range of local community members and groups including the Fire & Rescue NSW Station 90, 1st Wearne Bay Scouts Illawong, Menai District Girl Guides, Shire Salvos, students from Lucas Heights Community School, Alfords Point Public School and Illawong Public School. Youth Homelessness Matters – Project Youth Podcast Homelessness is a serious issue that affects too many young Australians, and Project Youth is working hard to change that. On 16 April, we supported the launch of Project Youth’s new podcast, Beyond Homelessness: Conversations That Matter. The podcast gives young people a voice to share their experiences and advocate for better support and will be available weekly to share stories of hope and resilience. Through our clubs, we’re incredibly proud to have supported Project Youth for many years – to the tune of more than $500,000 in funding since 2019. Why? Because we see first-hand the real difference they’re making for young people in our local community through initiatives like Café Social in Menai creating pathways into training and employment, Project Educate supporting young people to stay connected to education and unlock their potential and through critical outreach and housing support that’s helping young people facing homelessness find safety, dignity and hope. Tune in now to hear these conversations that matter:🔗 Listen now on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gUciBEVi🔗Listen now on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gyPyuriJ .With thanks to photographer Dermot Carlin for the awesome images. SSMRF Annual Dinner – Raising Funds for Vital Medical Research On 4 April, we were honoured to host the St George & Sutherland Medical Research Foundation Annual Dinner at our event centre at Club Central Hurstville — a meaningful evening in support of life-changing medical research in Southern Sydney.From the elegant room setup to the warm hospitality and carefully crafted menu, our team worked behind the scenes to help deliver a seamless and memorable event. The positive feedback from guests means the world to us and reflects the care and pride our venue brings to every occasion.It was a pleasure welcoming the SSMRF Board, supporters, and members of our own Club Central Board and Management team.A heartfelt thank you to SSMRF for their vital work, and for trusting us to host this memorable celebration. We’re proud to continue supporting this cause that impacts so many lives in our region. Club Central Supports Learning Links Education is one of the best investments we can make in our community, and at Club Central Hurstville, we’re committed to helping kids get the best start. Our funding partnership with Learning Links has delivered literacy and numeracy programs to Peakhurst Public School, providing essential support to students who need a little extra help. Since 2016, our contributions have reached more than $365,000, helping over 500 children improve their skills and build confidence in the classroom. We’re passionate about making sure every child gets a fair go at learning—and we can’t wait to see what these bright young minds achieve! Beyond the Badge – Helping First Responders Find New Careers Our first responders dedicate their lives to protecting us, but what happens when it’s time for them to move on from their frontline roles? That’s where Beyond the Badge comes in, providing career transition support to former police officers, paramedics, and firefighters. We were thrilled to host the first of two career counselling programs at Club Central Hurstville recently , offering guidance and resources to help these incredible individuals find fulfilling new opportunities. Supporting those who’ve given so much to the community is something we deeply believe in, and we’re looking forward to the next session. International Women’s Day – Empowering Women, One Breakfast at a Time What better way to celebrate International Women’s Day than with an inspiring breakfast? On 7 March, Business Chamber South hosted the 5th annual IWD Breakfast at Alt Events Hurstville, and it was a morning to remember. With an incredible keynote from Raygun about resilience, the event also raised vital funds for the Women’s Resilience Centre, one of our valued community partners. Club Central was proud to support this important cause with a $10,000 donation, reinforcing our commitment to empowering women in our community. Also sponsored by Georges River Council and Community Bank Darling Square, the event made a positive impact to not only the business community but the wider community in general. It was wonderful to see so many from the community, along with local high school students attending, celebrating not just achievements but the unstoppable spirit of women who continue to push forward, break boundaries, and inspire the next generation. Lunar New Year – A Spectacular Celebration There’s no celebration quite like Lunar New Year, and this year’s event in Hurstville was bigger and better than ever! Thousands gathered to usher in the Year of the Snake in the centre of Hurstville, with vibrant street performances, delicious food, and a stunning parade. Club Central Hurstville was a proud sponsor, with our Director, Phil Stanton, taking part in the official proceedings. Alongside the main event, we also hosted in-club activities, ensuring our members got to join in on the festivities. We love celebrating the rich cultural diversity of our community
Georges River 16Ft Sailing Club set to shine with stunning $10 million makeover
The highly anticipated transformation of Georges River 16ft Sailing Club is entering an exciting chapter, with a temporary closure of the Club from Monday 12 May to make way for the completion of a $10 million renovation to renew the venue and secure its future. As the project reaches its final milestone, Alt. Hospitality Group (formerly Illawarra Catholic Club) is one step closer to unveiling a vibrant, contemporary waterfront destination designed for the whole community to enjoy, with the expected reopening in late September this year. Located in the heart of Sandringham with uninterrupted views across Dolls Point Beach, Botany Bay and the Georges River, the iconic venue is being reimagined as a relaxed, contemporary destination for dining, events, entertainment and community connection. Following the amalgamation with Illawarra Catholic Club in November 2022, planning has been underway for this renovation project. “This project is not just about a fresh coat of paint,” said Alt. Hospitality Group’s CEO, Paul Richardson. “We’re breathing new life into this much-loved venue to ensure it remains a place to connect, celebrate and enjoy well into the future. As we approach the Club’s centenary in 2027, this investment will help cement Georges River 16ft Sailing Club as a true jewel of the bay”. The final stage of the project will see upgrades to the bar and brasserie, administration and indoor and outdoor gaming areas, as well as the creation of a sports lounge with big screen and a louvred semi-outdoor dining area overlooking the beach and bay. These works follow on from the renovation of the waterfront function rooms in late 2023. With reopening expected in late September in time for the peak summer months, members and guests will be welcomed back to enjoy a new Mediterranean-inspired brasserie, a cocktail bar showcasing signature drinks, and a dedicated sports bar with big-screen appeal as well as accessibility improvements with a new lift and central staircase. “With the sparkle of Botany Bay as a backdrop, we are creating some stunning spaces to relax and unwind with drinks and dinner, as well as a destination for milestone celebrations — from birthdays and anniversaries to weddings, corporate functions and special community events,” said Richardson. During the closure, all Club Central members are encouraged to visit sister venues Club Central Hurstville and Club Central Menai, where full membership benefits remain active. Meanwhile, the GRSC team will be temporarily reassigned across the group’s other venues. “During the closure, we will be retaining our valued permanent and part time team members and offering a dedicated training and upskilling program to prepare for the relaunch. Our people are the lifeblood of the venue, and they are central in our planning for a revitalised operation. “Whilst we are going to miss opening on the shores of the bay every day for the next few months and seeing our local members, the end result is going to be worth the wait,” he said. “The finish line is in sight, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to something truly special,” he said. For updates throughout the renovation, follow Georges River 16ft Sailing Club on Facebook, Instagram or https://georgesriversailingclub.com.au/news-feed/ Bounded by Cook Park, Dolls Point Beach and Sanoni Avenue, Georges River 16Ft Sailing Club will be 100 years old in 2027. Built on sand dunes overlooking the waters of Botany Bay, it has stood the test of time and is now poised to be reborn with a fresh new look and a revitalised future. Over the years various minor extensions and alterations to the existing club building have been completed, however nothing as extensive as the current renovation which will see every aspect of the club’s main operational level receive a facelift. The renovation plans include an expanded kitchen footprint to provide capacity to support large scale events and brasserie operations simultaneously, an enlarged dining area with indoor and outdoor elements, more entertainment options and sports bar facilities as well as accessibility improvements. Brought to life by Loucas Architects, with interiors styled by Hale & Co and managed by Empire Project Management, the venue is being reimagined as a contemporary Mediterranean-inspired oasis — sun-drenched textures, coastal hues, and breezy sophistication that captures the ambience of seaside living with the polish of modern design.
Sailing into the future: renovations are underway at Georges River 16Ft Sailing Club
Sailing into the future: renovations are underway at Georges River 16Ft Sailing Club Exciting times ahead for Georges River 16Ft Sailing Club! After the stunning transformation of our function spaces in 2024, we’re keeping the momentum going. February marks the start of our next major renovation phase, and it’s all about giving the rest of this amazing waterfront venue the looks to match the location. New dining areas? Tick. A revamped gaming lounge? Tick. Bigger and better kitchen for our chefs to deliver the goods? Tick. This is more than a renovation—it’s about creating a space that feels as good as it looks. Somewhere you can eat, drink, relax, and celebrate in style. It’s all part of our vision to make Georges River 16Ft Sailing Club a true standout on the Georges River and Botany Bay waterfront. Our goal is to deliver spaces that not only look amazing but also serve as a community hub where absolutely everyone wants to be. We can’t wait to share more details as the project progresses. Thank you for being part of this exciting journey with us.
Club Central Menai Refresh: Stage 1 underway in January!
Big news for Club Central Menai! Stage 1 of our 3-stage renovation has kicked off in January 2025. The first stop in our refresh is the TAB, sports bar, and mezzanine area. We’re giving these spaces a complete glow-up with fresh paint, a range new furniture including high bar tables and stools as well as low tables with chairs, plus some lush new carpet. Whether you’re settling in to watch a game on our massive screen or catching up with mates, we know you’ll love the refresh designed for maximum good times. And this is just the start. Stage 2 will follow mid-year, which will see the Bistro and Terrace areas given a facelift. Followed later in the year with a refresh of our function rooms. Along with the newly opened Kids Central play area, we’ve been putting in the hard yards to give you even more reasons to visit. Open Thursday to Sunday during lunch and dinner for kids aged, Kids Central has been long awaited, and is the coolest spot for kids to hang out. Thanks for rolling with us through the changes. Trust us—it’ll be worth it. Stay tuned for more updates as we have them.
Alt. Events Hits AIME 2025
Alt. Events debuts at AIME 2025, bringing their ‘beyond the usual’ approach to corporate events. From mountain retreats to modern function spaces, discover how we’re making business gatherings unforgettable. Meet our team at Stand D28 and reimagine what corporate events can be.
Giving Back to Our Community
At Alt. Hospitality Group, giving back is at the heart of what we do. Here’s a quick look back at what we’ve been doing to support the communities we are part of in meaningful ways. And we’re not stopping there, as we step into 2025, we are looking forward to supporting even more good causes.
Back in December, we partnered with local charities to bring festive cheer, with Club staff and members donating food items to support to food drives for needy families. This included collections for St Vincent de Paul’s Christmas Food Drive, which saw members, guests and staff donate non-perishable items to Vinnies to help make Christmas hampers for families in need.
We also had a team of staff supporting some special end of year celebrations, at Georges River Life Care, where we donated food for the last Community Connect lunch, along with our team to serve it. A big thanks to our Yum Cha restaurant, Imperial Dynasty for donating the BBQ pork buns and dumplings for the lunch on 15 December.
On Monday 16 December, we had a crew of staff who helped to pick and pack hampers for the Shire Salvos in Menai, as well as sort through a mountain of gift donations for families in need to be able to sort through and select a Christmas gift for their child free of charge. Over 200 families were supported and with other local volunteers including high school students and businesses, it was great to be part of the pick and pack.
And some of our energetic team also took on the Foam Run in December which is in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They jumped, slid and bounced their way through a foam-covered obstacle course in pursuit of fun and fundraising – amazing effort from the team!
Back in November, we supported the third annual Women in Sport Dinner, celebrating local female athletes and supporting initiatives that promote mental health and development for young women in collaboration with Connells Point Netball Club. Guest speakers included Candace Warner, Australian Ironwoman Champion, Elianna Walton, World Champion Jillaroo & NRLW player as well as champion Sydney Swifts Coach, Briony Akle – with MC, Anthony Maroon from Triple M & entertainment by magician Jackson Aces.
Looking ahead we are gearing up to host Georges River International Women’s Day at Hurstville on Friday 7 March, with guest speaker RayGun. We are thrilled to be a major supporting partner for this important event celebrating this year’s theme of ‘Accelerate Action’.
March will also see us kick off our annual sporting grants to support over 25 local sporting clubs in the Menai and Georges River communities.
None of this would be possible without you—our members, guests, and community. Your support fuels the work we do, and together, we’re making a real impact. Stay tuned for more ways we’re giving back, because we’re just getting started.
A Note from Our CEO: Welcome to Alt. Hospitality Group
From local club to hospitality innovators: Illawarra Catholic Club transforms into Alt. Hospitality Group, bringing an alternative take on Sydney hospitality since 1962. While beloved venues like Club Central and Georges River 16Ft Sailing Club keep their iconic names, this evolution promises to alter the ordinary across southern Sydney and the Blue Mountains.