Last drinks. After 35 years at ClubMulwala, including the last 32 as food and beverages manager, Peter Harbrow will retire on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. The “friendliness of customers” and “great people to work with” are the main reasons why Peter has enjoyed his time at “the family-friendly club”. Here Peter is pictured pouring one of his last drinks for a customer.
After 35 years, ClubMulwala’s Food and Beverages Manager Peter Harbow is to officially retire on Tuesday, 22/2/22.
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But instead of 35 years, it may well have been just a two-day job for the now 65-year-old.
“Tom Mullarvey (Manager) employed me but after two days I was lucky to survive as I spilt a tray of drinks over Harley Mehegan, a guest of Tom’s,” he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“I must have been nervous. Tom said to me: ‘It’s lucky I employed you two days ago’.”
It was November 27, 1987 when Peter took up duty at Mulwala District Services Club, now trading as ClubMulwala, working in the bottleshop and also selling videos and clothing – souvenirs and the like – and did casual work in the Lone Pine Restaurant.
Retiring Peter Harbrow pictured with ClubMulwala CEO Alan Rowe and fishing identity Merv Hughes.
Soon after he began a three-year traineeship manager, along with Garry Loughnan, and for the last 32 years of his 35-plus years, has been in charge of a large workforce, reducing with the introduction of poker machines in Victoria in the 1990s but still a substantial total of 160 employees including nine supervisors and 600 meals a day compared to a thousand meals in the busier poker machine days when there were 217 machines compared to today’s 199.
Many highlights of his career are obvious, beginning with people, both customers and fellow employees.
“It is the friendliness of customers. The staff are great to work with,” he said. “The job’s made easier when you work alongside them and they work with you. I’ve enjoyed seeing how staff progress then sad when staff leave to pursue or get higher in their careers.
“The Lone Pine Restaurant was a magnificent step into the industry, a la cart menu, it was premium food, great to see and work in.”
Included in the role of Food and Beverages Manager is functions. Peter rates hosting the two three-day Fred Hollows Rotary Conferences in the 1990s attended by 1200 people and the three-day Victorian State Rotary International with 600 attendees as highlights, all conferences requiring substantial logistics efforts.
“There have been marquee weddings on the lawn, marquee conferences including Stihl Ride On Mower,” Peter said.
“I’ve made a lot of friends. The staff have been terrific – high praise for all the staff.”
He’s appreciated the support of all. “Alan Rowe (CEO) does a good job, always supportive and past staff Michael Mullarvey and Graeme Edis were too.
“The new look club upstairs is magnificent, the new gaming room is absolutely superb. I’ve seen the plans for the next stages of redevelopment. It’s a fantastic place now and these plans will make it even better.”
“What a stalwart!” was the way ClubMulwala’s CEO began his description of Peter. “He’s been the blood, sweat and tears of this place for just over 35 years,” Mr Rowe said.
“I have so much regard for a person who spends so long in a job handling the job so well.”
Peter is believed to be the third longest ever serving employee of ClubMulwala, with retired groundsman Ian Vendy and former CEO Micheal Mullarvey with 36 years of service.
Mr Rowe continued: “And for his fishing with Merv Hughes he’s known as ‘Codfather’. He knows every inch of Lake Mulwala – he knows where every fish hides. He’s gone out with Merv, Merv hasn’t caught anything yet Peter’s caught plenty!
“On behalf of everyone at ClubMulwala, I wish him all the very best in his fishing retirement.”
The nickname ‘Codfather’? “Yes, Alan (Rowe) nicknamed me that after Merv (Hughes) couldn’t catch a fish five years ago and I did.
“I used to go fishing with dad (Josh) when I was about five or six-years-old then I bought a boat – an old tinnie – age 12. I love fishing anywhere in the Majors Creek area, anywhere on the lake
In conclusion, Peter expressed a thank you to his family. “Christie (wife) has put up with me a lot over the years, having to tolerate me being called out at night,” he said. “It has been a very satisfying career.”
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