MAKING the hard decision last week to stop paying the 600 ‘stood down’ staff, Bankstown Sports CEO Mark Condi said the club was losing $1.3 million a week in the lockdown with no end in sight.
“Our staff, including myself, will now qualify for the Covid Disaster Relief payment of $600 a week but we still have our commercial tenants open in the Flinders Centre,” he said.
A true leader, Mr Condi has been the only one going to work everyday and singlehandedly manning the phones, checking on the tenants, staying in regular contact with members and staff to keep everyone engaged, connected and informed as well as keeping the club secure.
“The club is not designed to shut so I am constantly monitoring our security cameras and providing directions for those seeking out the Flinders Centre medical centre and pharmacy,” he said.
“Members can actually order medication online or via the phone at the pharmacy and then collect from our carpark without having to leave their car.
“The medical centre offers vaccinations too so I am encouraging all members and staff to book for their jabs.”
With bills such as power, water, gas, repayments and insurance still rolling in, Mr Condi said what hurt was that their new Lady Banks Rooftop Bar was completed on the day that lockdown was announced.
“Bankstown was really suffering after the last lockdown and so we reinvested here to create this amazing rooftop bar for our deserving locals as it’s one-of-a-kind in Sydney and the largest in Australia; it will employ about 40 staff too.”
As well as keeping in touch every second day on WhatsApp, staff can tune into live youtube sessions which is a closed group just for them and their families.
“We have a moderator who provides updates and tries to make it fun; in the last session the executive team discussed their backgrounds and it was very inspiring,” Mr Condi said.
“Staff are our number one asset and we want them to feel supported and in a great space mentally and ready to return to work when we can open again.”
