General Announcements
MESS CLOSURE OVER CHRISTMAS STAND DOWN
The Mess will be closed following normal business on 17 Dec 2010 and will re-open for Morning Tea on 19 Jan 2011.
The Mess Secretary (WO2 Wright) will return from leave and be contactable from 17 Jan 2011.
Have a Merry Christmas and happy New Year - stay safe.
MESS OPENING HOURS
Monday to Thursday 08.00 - 19.00
Friday 08.00 - 22.00
Dry bar as follows:
Monday – Friday 12.00 – 14.00
Wet bar as follows:
Monday – Thursday 16.00 – 19.00
Friday – 16.00 – 22.00
TEMPORARY MESS CLOSURE
Message to all members of the Victoria Barracks Sergeants Mess from the President of the Mess Committee.
Greetings.
1. As all of you would be aware, both the Officers and the Sergeants Mess were closed in March as a result of the hail storm that affected most of Melbourne. It has been a strange tenure as PMC so far in that there has been no Mess building for the last 5 months of it. However I cannot give enough praise the those members, not just on the committee, who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that we all have had regular social gatherings at which to maintain the true spirit of the Sergeant's Mess, starting with a superb ANZAC Day event.
2. Unfortunately the damage to G Block has been severe and as a result the Messes are being relocated whilst the building is repaired. Everyone appreciates the importance of having a Mess at Victoria Barracks and therefore it has been agreed that a combined Officers and Sergeants Mess will be opened in H Block, in the area between the library and the mail room until G Block is repaired. Some of the building works necessary to meet our needs will take another six weeks to complete but nonetheless the Combined Mess will open officially on 06 August and it expected that this will be its location for 12-18 months whilst G Block is repaired. Whilst the temporary location will not provide quite the same atmosphere as G Block, we are already moving Mess memorabilia into the temporary location to ensure it is clearly identifiable as a Mess and is a suitable place for people to meet and relax.
3. The Mess Committee has been working with DSG and Transfield over the finer details and I can now confirm that the Combined Mess will continue to offer the normal services (albeit with some limitations) that were provided in G Block, with the exception that it will not be providing meals as there is no kitchen. For the socially minded amongst the membership:
a. There will be an Officers Mess morning tea every Tuesday from 1000 to 1030. The Sergeants Mess will be holding a morning tea every Wednesday from 1000 to 1030, with the first one being Wed 28 July (before the official opening). Officers Mess members will be asked to remain clear of the Mess during the Sergeants Mess morning tea and I ask Sergeants Mess members to extend them the same courtesy during their morning tea period.
b. Happy Hours will be conducted on Fridays. The first Happy Hour will be held on the 6th August as a combined Happy Hour with subsequent Happy Hours alternating between Officers and Warrant Officers/Senior Non-commissioned officers. The dates/timings for these subsequent Happy Hours will be announced once the Mess is fully up and running in its new location.
c. The Mess will continue to provide coffee and tea making facilities every day from 1000h to 1600h for Mess members.
4. The Mess will be staffed by a Mess Supervisor and a barperson/steward. The Mess Supervisor is still to be recruited by Transfield as all our old Mess staff have been transferred off the site. Once he/she is recruited the Mess Supervisor will be located in an office in the Combined Mess. Whilst there is still some discussions regarding Mess operating hours, initially the Mess will be open during the following times: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday at 1000 to 1800; Tuesday, Friday at 1000 to 2200.
5. Security is a potential issue with the new location and so members are asked to politely challenge any person in the Mess who does not appear to be a member. Equally, members are reminded to ensure any guests are recorded in the Mess Visitors' Book.
6. It has been decided that the courtyard behind the Officers Mess should be reopened to use as as an outdoor entertainment area for the members of both Messes. Whilst there are some plans to improve the useability of the area in the medium term (eg the erection of a temporary marquee) the area is available for use now provided anyone who uses it leaves it clean and tidy as the cleaning contract is currently suspended for all of G Block.
7. In case you have heard rumours to the contrary, the long term plan is that G Block will be refurbished. it is likely however, that the permanent solution for Victoria Barracks will be a Combined Mess. The details of the refurbishment are still to be finalised but you can expect that the majority of areas will be open to all Mess Members however there may be separate bar areas for the officers and for the Warrant Officers/Senior Non-commissioned officers so that we can all stand around and solve the world's problems.
8. I appreciate that the facilities for the next 12-18 months will be limited so I ask everyone to work with the Mess committees and DSG to get through this period. If you have any particular issues or concerns then please feel free to raise them with a committee member and we will attempt to have them resolved. If anyone wishes to speak to me I am available in VBM on floor D-1. Alternatively, I can be contacted by phone (9282 4162) or email stuart.todd@defence.gov.au
Regards
Stuart Todd
Warrant Officer Class 1
President of the Mess Committee
Victoria Barracks Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess
Victoria Barracks - Melbourne (D-1)
St Kilda Road
Southbank VIC 3006
Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9282 4162
Fax: +61 (0)3 9282 6265
MESS FEES - Reinstated to $20 Per Month
The Mess is holding a 'Happy Hour' every Friday and Morning Teas when suitable venues are available. The food for the Morning Tea is provided by the Barracks Bistro team, and on each pay Friday 'Happy Hour' the committee runs a free BBQ. These services come at a cost and as such, the decision has been made to return Mess Fees to $20 per month, as at 01 Jul 10. All fees collected are for the good and benefit of the Mess and its members, both presently, and for when the Mess re-opens. This includes subsidy of the forthcoming Christmas function.
It has been established that the original reduction in fees was outside the remit of the Mess Committee. That said, the PMC is happy to stand by the original decision and will not seek to reclaim monies retrospectively.
MESS FEES - Method of payment of Mess bills during Mess closure
Members can utilise the Bank Deposit System or pay their Mess bill directly to the Treasurer. A courtesy phone call (Mob: 0414 915395) is required before hand in order that a suitable time can be arranged.