I, Andrew McKay, have been nominated by 6 (six) fellow SCG Members to stand for the current SCG Trust Elections. Of the 14 SCG Trustees, two are elected by members and 12 are appointed by the NSW Governor.
I have been a member since 2005, and in that time have not missed a day of Test cricket at the SCG. I also attend Swans, Heritage Rugby League, Sixers and NSW Shield matches.
The sense of pride we all feel when we see the SCG Logo is heart warming. If we saw a person wearing a polo shirt with the SCG emblem anywhere in the world, we would be drawn to engage with them.
I would not be asking people to vote for me in the current elections unless I felt I can deliver real change. The SCG Trust is extremely well run, but needs a voice of someone who can ensure the member experience is enhanced for all members.
My election platform is based on five deliverables.
Elimination of the “Paddington Gift” I line up at 4:45am on days 1, 2 and 3 of the Test. The 2 hour wait is a waste of time. There is little interaction between members, no toilets, one coffee vendor and no chairs. At 7:00am the gates open and away we go! The solution is simple.
As people line up they are given a number (much like Wimbledon). We are free to wander around and utilise the tables and chairs provided (we’ll have to get these). They can read the paper, meet new people and generally talk about cricket. The only gate open would be the NRL Central gate, as it has an excellent forecourt, unlike the Olympic Hotel gate which is essentially a car park.
We would set up 12 tables, each with 2 members at each table. These 24 members would each have a section of the Members allocated to them (Ladies Top Left, Ladies Top Right, Noble Top Lower Right etc). Each section would have 500 seats (there are about 12,000 available to members). At 6:00am those members with numbers 1—250 would be invited to approach the table of their choice. They would choose where they want to sit and be given a ticket. As we don’t expect everyone to be able to make it to the ground at such an early time (some have elderly parents, a wife at home who can’t get away until 8am when the babysitter arrives), everyone would be able to reserve 2 seats.
Once numbers 1-250 have chosen their seats, numbers 251—500 would approach the tables. The process would continue until everyone with numbers are allocated tickets. At 7:00am the gates would open and everyone would have until 7:30am to place their tickets on their seats. At 7:30am all other gates would open and all unreserved seats would be available for use.
It seems simple in theory and I think would be simple to implement. It would require engagement of about 60 members each morning, who would be there in any case.
Engagement of Members Every member of the SCG has a deep love of sport. They may not have played at the highest level, but respect the ability of those that have. The SCG and SFS are excellent venues which are close to the city and nearby accommodation, cafes and bars.
The interaction between the 18,000 members can be enhanced. On 5 August 2008, three fellow members and I organised a dinner to celebrate what would have been Don Bradman's 99.94th birthday. Arthur and Judith Morris were the guests of honour and Jim Maxwell was the Master of ceremonies. The dinner was held in the Members Dining Room and attended by 120 people. The SCG was lit up and we were able to visit the Australian Dressing room. The staff at the SCG could not have been more helpful, not only on the night but in the lead up to the evening.
These types of events can be done more often. Imagine if we had a SCG Members Blazer with Heritage Green and Brass as the colours. We could get them made by the same supplier that makes the Australian Cricket Team Blazer. Instead of being able to be bought by individuals, five members would nominate a fellow member to be awarded one of these blazers (the 5 members would bear the cost of the Blazer). They could be awarded at a dinner in the SCG Members Dining Room after day 1 of a NSW shield game. On days 1 and 2 of the Test members would be encouraged to wear these blazers—day 3 is Jane McGrath day and pink is the dress code to support this great cause.
Members Bar—open until 10pm Why does the SCG members bar close so early? An hour or so after the close of play, we are asked to leave. Why not open until 10pm and avail friends the ability to catch up. Definitely adhere to the Responsible Service of Alcohol laws, but do not confuse a person laughing loudly at a classic cricket story with someone intoxicated. The excuse that we have to set up for tomorrow is not valid, as all hospitality venues have to turn things around quickly, often from 2am after a wedding to 7am for breakfast.
Country Members One thing to remember is that when a Country Member is at the SCG, they are on holidays. It is a big effort for Country Members to get down to Sydney, but it is definitely worth it. For many people it is their only opportunity to visit Sydney on a yearly basis. The Country Members Reception at Lunch on day 2 is excellent, but there are other opportunities to enhance their membership. Maybe a dinner on the eve of the test match, more country visits by ex players etc.
Management and Other Skills I am not just about implementing the items mentioned above. My qualifications and skills would be most beneficial to the Trust. I have a Chemical Engineering degree, specialising in Process Engineering, which enables me to determine ways to make things more efficient. In addition to this I am a Chartered Accountant, so analysing an Annual Report, cost reports and project costing is a forte. My other qualification is a Masters of Business Administration, specialising in Strategic Management.
How to Vote Quite a few votes are not counted due to the voting form being filled out incorrectly. You must: 1) Number at least 2 boxes 2) Fill in your membership number 3) Sign the form
Many thanks for taking the time to read my proposal,