Mother, Daughter, Colleague: A Special Bond at Glenorie RSL

Donna Medway, Glenorie RSL Club CEO on working with her daughter, Steph:

I have been at Glenorie RSL for almost 25 years and Steph 15 years. Steph and I have worked together fulltime for the last 12 years, the last six years of which have been in the roles of CEO, and Marketing and Events manager.

Steph started working here when she was still at primary school doing odd jobs for us – back then, we paid her in packets of chips! During high school Steph mainly worked in the bistro for our external caterer while also doing some advertising/social media and office work.

Once Steph turned 18, she moved over and began working in the bar and really started concentrating on marketing the Club, while also doing a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing, part-time. It was around this time that Steph’s passion for Glenorie RSL and the community started to shine through and really reflected my own.

In 2018, Steph, was a finalist in the ClubsNSW Gen Next competition where she presented her idea to introduce a bigger and better alfresco area to the Club, branded 'The Backyard', which would become a family-focused area with live entertainment every weekend. During COVID we worked together to bring the idea to life, resulting in an area that is a great success and a fantastic addition for the community.

An integral reason that our business relationship works so well is that we have such a strong personal bond – we think the same! I feel very fortunate to be able to work with my daughter each day and share the same passion for providing a welcoming friendly Club for our community while not forgetting the history and families that created this semi-rural area.

We collaborate daily to ensure the Club's longevity by branding it a fun, young and modern venue. In our time together at Glenorie RSL we have seen the Club grow from 600 members to almost 5000.

In 2014, we were part of an extension which almost doubled the size of the Club and we worked together to design a venue that feels like home to our members – it is warm and cozy, almost as if it is their own lounge room or backyard.

For us there is no downside to working together, but other family members have to step in at times when we are having family time and tell us to ‘switch off’ as we often get caught up talking about what's happening at work.
I love working with Steph, it has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life to see her growth and success first-hand. In Steph’s role, understanding and connecting with people is important, so it is lovely to witness her interactions and the compassion and care that she has for our patrons and our team.

I feel very blessed to have been able to share my working life with Steph.

Steph, Glenorie RSL Club Marketing and Events Manager:  

And now for me, to add my two cents! Although Donna has pretty much summed up everything about our love for our community, our Club and our vision. I can’t let this article go without writing a bit about mum.

What an amazing role model I have had to look up to growing up – not only a great mum but a very successful CEO, businesswoman and boss. She is strong-willed, intelligent, fair and wise. She has shown me you can do anything you put your mind to if you want it and work hard for it.

We both share the strong belief that if you love your job, you will never work a day in your life, and we are both extremely lucky to love what we do and be able to do it together.

It isn’t a surprise to me at all that I have chosen to follow in her footsteps and it’s a privilege to be on this rollercoaster with her. 

For Mother's Day we are luckily fully booked for lunch and almost fully booked for dinner – Yippee! Neither of us are actually working at the Club on Mother’s Day – this year we have actually planned a day with the family – with no work talk!