Latest news with #TomReilly
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
A 13-year-old played the pokies. Melbourne Racing Club's new-look leadership has to conduct a review
On one of those occasions he was with adults and used a machine for five minutes without a staff member intervening. The court took into account that the Peninsula Club had self-reported the breach and taken steps to prevent similar incidents happening again. The MRC was fined a further $60,000 by the VGCCC in March after three of its venues – the Peninsula Club, Steeples in Mornington and Ringwood hotel The Coach and Horses – allowed customers to use poker machines outside permitted trading hours on Good Friday last year. The three gaming venues opened before noon. The MRC came under scrutiny earlier this month after the board removed CEO Tom Reilly from office just three months after he started the role. It also appointed Tanya Fullarton as chief operating officer without advertising the position or conducting an interview process. Loading Fullarton is vice chair of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Association Board, sitting alongside chairman and billionaire racehorse owner Jonathan Munz. MRC board member Barbara Saunders resigned on learning that Reilly would lose his job. 'I resigned because I had concerns about the lack of governance at the club and the removal of Tom Reilly from his position as CEO because, in my opinion, he was performing the role very well,' Saunders said at the time. The MRC board then appointed Kanga as honorary executive chairman. Since the start of the year, the MRC has parted ways with Reilly, and four senior staff members – Menz, chief financial officer Brent Westerbeek, head of commercial Alana Bray and head of racing and operations Jake Norton have resigned. In a statement to this masthead regarding its racing operations, the MRC said: 'Despite this disruption, the club is performing well and the transition has been smooth. The impact on the performance and staff has been positive, with Fullarton being well received and staff morale improving substantially.' This masthead reached out to Menz, who declined to comment. Reilly has also declined to comment when previously contacted about his exit. At board level, former chairman Matt Cain, former vice chairman Nick Hassett, Mark Pratt, Brooke Dawson, Scott Davidson and Jill Monk have all walked away in the past 12 months. Former CEO Josh Blanksby resigned at the end of August after seven years in the role. Kanga seized control of the board after filing a shock motion for a special general meeting in August last year. He was voted in as chairman in October. His Save Our MRC movement swept to power on three key promises: saving Sandown Racecourse, returning the mounting yard to its original position in front of the Caulfield members' stand, and scrapping plans to build a new $250 million grandstand at Caulfield. In its statement, the MRC said it is 'fully committed to upholding the highest standards of regulatory compliance, adherence to all legal requirements and industry best practice to prevent any form of underage gambling. 'Subsequent to a self-reported incident in June 2023 involving an underage individual entering one of our venues, the MRC made application to vary its licence conditions to include a one-off risk assessment with the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC).' Loading The MRC said it immediately introduced a range of measures to reinforce its zero-tolerance approach to under-age gambling, including 'physical barriers and secured entry points; installation of glass doors with controlled access; comprehensive staff training on risk identification and ID verification; [and] enhanced signage and reconfigured floor layouts to improve visibility and patron monitoring.' A Victorian gambling commission spokesperson told this masthead that the MRC was required to 'commission an independent risk assessment at all of 14 of its venues and implement the recommended controls to prevent minors from entering poker machine areas'. 'The VGCCC has zero tolerance for breaches involving children,' the spokesperson said. 'Research tells us that people who begin gambling at a young age are at greater risk of developing gambling problems as an adult. 'Some examples of controls could include displaying clear signage that the poker machine room is only for adults and checking the identification of anyone who appears under 25 years of age before allowing them to enter a gaming area.' Valley's $70m rebuild deal Moonee Valley Racing Club has awarded a $70 million civil works contract to construction company Symal to rebuild its racecourse. Moonee Valley will shut its gates after this year's October 25 Cox Plate to undergo an extreme 21-month makeover, which includes reshaping its unique amphitheatre circuit. The contract includes earthworks, full track reconstruction, new racing infrastructure, upgraded underpasses, retaining walls and the installation of new track lighting.
The Age
3 days ago
- Business
- The Age
A 13-year-old played the pokies. Melbourne Racing Club's new-look leadership has to conduct a review
On one of those occasions he was with adults and used a machine for five minutes without a staff member intervening. The court took into account that the Peninsula Club had self-reported the breach and taken steps to prevent similar incidents happening again. The MRC was fined a further $60,000 by the VGCCC in March after three of its venues – the Peninsula Club, Steeples in Mornington and Ringwood hotel The Coach and Horses – allowed customers to use poker machines outside permitted trading hours on Good Friday last year. The three gaming venues opened before noon. The MRC came under scrutiny earlier this month after the board removed CEO Tom Reilly from office just three months after he started the role. It also appointed Tanya Fullarton as chief operating officer without advertising the position or conducting an interview process. Loading Fullarton is vice chair of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Association Board, sitting alongside chairman and billionaire racehorse owner Jonathan Munz. MRC board member Barbara Saunders resigned on learning that Reilly would lose his job. 'I resigned because I had concerns about the lack of governance at the club and the removal of Tom Reilly from his position as CEO because, in my opinion, he was performing the role very well,' Saunders said at the time. The MRC board then appointed Kanga as honorary executive chairman. Since the start of the year, the MRC has parted ways with Reilly, and four senior staff members – Menz, chief financial officer Brent Westerbeek, head of commercial Alana Bray and head of racing and operations Jake Norton have resigned. In a statement to this masthead regarding its racing operations, the MRC said: 'Despite this disruption, the club is performing well and the transition has been smooth. The impact on the performance and staff has been positive, with Fullarton being well received and staff morale improving substantially.' This masthead reached out to Menz, who declined to comment. Reilly has also declined to comment when previously contacted about his exit. At board level, former chairman Matt Cain, former vice chairman Nick Hassett, Mark Pratt, Brooke Dawson, Scott Davidson and Jill Monk have all walked away in the past 12 months. Former CEO Josh Blanksby resigned at the end of August after seven years in the role. Kanga seized control of the board after filing a shock motion for a special general meeting in August last year. He was voted in as chairman in October. His Save Our MRC movement swept to power on three key promises: saving Sandown Racecourse, returning the mounting yard to its original position in front of the Caulfield members' stand, and scrapping plans to build a new $250 million grandstand at Caulfield. In its statement, the MRC said it is 'fully committed to upholding the highest standards of regulatory compliance, adherence to all legal requirements and industry best practice to prevent any form of underage gambling. 'Subsequent to a self-reported incident in June 2023 involving an underage individual entering one of our venues, the MRC made application to vary its licence conditions to include a one-off risk assessment with the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC).' Loading The MRC said it immediately introduced a range of measures to reinforce its zero-tolerance approach to under-age gambling, including 'physical barriers and secured entry points; installation of glass doors with controlled access; comprehensive staff training on risk identification and ID verification; [and] enhanced signage and reconfigured floor layouts to improve visibility and patron monitoring.' A Victorian gambling commission spokesperson told this masthead that the MRC was required to 'commission an independent risk assessment at all of 14 of its venues and implement the recommended controls to prevent minors from entering poker machine areas'. 'The VGCCC has zero tolerance for breaches involving children,' the spokesperson said. 'Research tells us that people who begin gambling at a young age are at greater risk of developing gambling problems as an adult. 'Some examples of controls could include displaying clear signage that the poker machine room is only for adults and checking the identification of anyone who appears under 25 years of age before allowing them to enter a gaming area.' Valley's $70m rebuild deal Moonee Valley Racing Club has awarded a $70 million civil works contract to construction company Symal to rebuild its racecourse. Moonee Valley will shut its gates after this year's October 25 Cox Plate to undergo an extreme 21-month makeover, which includes reshaping its unique amphitheatre circuit. The contract includes earthworks, full track reconstruction, new racing infrastructure, upgraded underpasses, retaining walls and the installation of new track lighting.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Defending NEFL champions sunk as Duleek step up title bid
DULEEK are almost at the half-way point in the season and Sunday's win away to reigning Premier Division champions Carrick Rovers puts Bryan Murphy's side second in the table. It's been a dream return to the top flight for the Tollstone outfit who have only been beaten twice, one of those coming against current league leaders Bellurgan. Carrick have struggled to find the form that saw them lift the title last season and neither side started well on Sunday. Chances for either side were at a premium in the first half, but the best fell to the visitors. A free kick from the right saw Tom Reilly whip in a delivery and Craig Moore rose highest, but his powerful header hit the crossbar and flew over. Carrick couldn't break down a strong Duleek defence and the sides went into the half-time break level. Murphy's team didn't start the second half too well and they were often second to the ball, but again Carrick couldn't capitalise. The Duleek manager had made a double change at half-time, bringing on Jayden Clarke and Matthew Noone to inject some pace, and the deadlock was eventually broken on 51 minutes when Bobby Brady broke down the right wing and his cross was met by the head of Dylan O'Boyle who powered home his effort. From there on, though, Duleek had to deal with an onslaught from the hosts. There were a few nervy moments as Duleek cleared more than a few scrambles, but they held on for a deserved win. They welcome Albion Rovers to The Tollstone on Thursday and if Duleek win and Bellurgan fail to pick up three points then the Meath team would top the table. Duleek: Jonathan Clear, Sean Kennedy, James Traynor, Ben Boyce, Craig Moore (Matthew Noone 46), Jamie McCarthy, Bobby Brady, Tom Reilly, Dylan O'Boyle (Calum Cooney 58), Cormac McGroggan (Jayden Clarke 46).
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
John Kanga to serve as executive chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club following the departure of CEO Tom Reilly
Chairman John Kanga will again spearhead a new-look Melbourne Racing Club administration. Kanga has assumed the honorary role of executive chairman and confirmed the club would not seek to fill its chief executive officer vacancy. The MRC last Monday terminated former chief executive Tom Reilly. Tanya Fullerton, the newly-appointed chief operating officer, is slated to start on Thursday. 'The club will not be recruiting for a CEO,' Kanga told this masthead. 'Tanya is the chief operating officer and we're also going to bolster our racing operations.' Kanga served as executive chairman from October last year to February, until Reilly started. He backed Fullerton to do 'an excellent job'. Fullerton, vice-chairman of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners' Association, has worked closely with Kanga the past six months in particular on the 'Save Our Sandown' campaign. Kanga refused to comment on the reasons behind a 'unanimous' MRC board decision to remove Reilly last Monday. He would also not be drawn on the resignation of long-time MRC committee member Barb Saunders. As revealed by the Herald Sun on Tuesday, Saunders resigned in protest of the Reilly termination, the Fullerton appointment and MRC governance. Kanga has deferred any discussions on a potential casual vacancy replacement for Saunders to the next MRC committee meeting in two weeks. The MRC could proceed with nine on the committee through to its September election. Kanga is one of three committee members, including Alison Saville and Frank Pollio, up for election this year. Kanga said the MRC has a strong management structure in place. 'The team is working hard to deliver a fantastic Spring Carnival at Caulfield,' Kanga said. In a letter to members, following the Reilly termination, Kanga said the current administration has 'turned the club around' and restored member and industry confidence 'making common sense decisions'. Kanga sighted key milestones, including the saving of racing at Sandown, relocating the Caulfield racecourse mounting yard to its original position and reversing the proposal to build a 'wasteful' new grandstand at The Heath. The MRC last year under Kanga's watch also entered into an agreement to sell a parcel of land next to Caulfield racecourse for $195m. 'That does not mean that we cannot improve,' Kanga said. 'Tanya and I and the MRC management team will work hard, on an ongoing basis, to deliver better services and results for members.'
The Age
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
‘Best to move on': Melbourne Racing Club's shock call to remove CEO
Melbourne Racing Club has suddenly removed CEO Tom Reilly just months after the former newspaper editor was appointed to the role. MRC Chairman John Kanga announced on Monday night that the club that runs Caulfield Racecourse had removed Reilly from the position because 'sometimes it just doesn't work out'. 'Tom was only CEO for three months and when things don't go as well as they should, it is best to pivot and move on,' Kanga said in a statement released by the MRC. 'Everyone can be assured that we have put a management structure in place to ensure a smooth transition. 'I will spend substantial time at the club as chairman, as I did before Tom Reilly was appointed and am pleased to announce that we have appointed Tanya Fullarton as Chief Operating Officer to work with me.' Loading Fullarton is a board member with Geelong Racing Club and vice-chairman of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association (TROA), sitting alongside billionaire racehorse owner Jonathan Munz who is TROA chairman. Reilly's sudden axing on the King's Birthday weekend follows a turbulent 12 months for the Melbourne Racing Club. Kanga filed a motion in August last year for a special general meeting to remove board members Matt Cain, Nick Hassett, Mark Pratt, Brooke Dawson, Scott Davidson and Jill Monk.
