Introducing: Jacky Basset, manager, Club Armstrong
Before you took up this role, you worked as a real estate property manager. How does it compare?
It’s completely different to working in an office – a lot more interesting and quite demanding as well. Because I interact with so many people every day and my role is so wide-ranging, I tend to get asked a lot about what’s going on in the community in general – from bin collections to traffic management.
When Villawood refers to me as the ‘face of Armstrong’, I always have a giggle as I really only manage the club. But living within the estate as well I do get obviously know a lot more. I think it’s less about me as a person and more because the Club really is the beating heart of the community and I just happen to work there.
What’s the working environment like?
It’s a pretty setting compared to working in an office. Since the lockdowns when the Club was closed, there’s a family of ducks living near the outdoor pool, and they seem to be multiplying. There were four and now there are six. We have more native birds than before, including some cheeky rainbow lorikeets.
When I get a quiet moment, which isn’t often, I like to look through the windows from the upstairs function room and see Bunjil’s Nest park next door. It has some beautiful trees and is always relaxing to see families enjoying themselves. It’s one of the best parks in the Geelong area and I often see three or four hundred people on a sunny day.
What sort of qualities do you need to be a good club manager?
The core of the job is maintenance, so you must be meticulous and organised, with an eye for detail so that everything works properly and is spick and span. I also greet members and do walk-arounds with new members, so people skills are obviously essential.
Events management is another requirement. I oversee the Club’s entire operations, including arranging activities or classes and events like Halloween, Easter and Christmas.
Our outdoor movie event was huge this year. We organised several food trucks and a semi-trailer with a huge screen that popped up out of the roof. It was a beautiful evening with more than a thousand people relaxing under the stars.
I enjoy working with Villawood Properties because they are generous in supporting the Armstrong community and events. I often work with Villawood’s events organiser and we have a lot of fun.
Many purchasers are making the seachange to Armstrong from Melbourne and many come from overseas too. What do you think attracts them?
I think they can have a comfortable home, with every amenity they need, in a safe community where they can form strong, lasting friendships. They can explore the nearby wetlands and Armstrong Creek and Geelong is only a short drive away. Of course, they live near world-renowned Surf Coast beaches. I live here myself and as a family we love to do all of the above. We love the lifestyle because it combines city and surfside.
With people working more from home, is living at Armstrong an attractive proposition?
I think so, because you can live in a beautiful part of the world and work some days at home and some at the office. You have easy access to Geelong and also to the CBD, thanks to the nearby train station which goes straight to Southern Cross station. If you are working from home, you can pop down to the Club for a swim or a quick workout whenever you like and visit the café without needing to travel.
How did Covid impact your work?
It was challenging. We had to close the Club a couple of times and then, of course, when it opened again there were a lot of extra cleaning duties, checking of vaccination certificates and enforcing many rules at various levels. It’s been a really difficult time. I was determined to get through those hard times because I’m very goal-oriented and I pride myself on doing things the right way.
Did Covid change the way you run events at Armstrong?
Definitely. During lockdowns, we couldn’t do classes or events, so we reached out to food trucks locally and made casual dining into an event. The trucks parked in the Club car park – two or three times a week sometimes – and sell some amazing food. It’s been very popular, especially on Friday nights. And we continue to provide this to our community. There’s nothing like having delicious takeaway so close to home, whilst supporting local small business that have been through a really rough time.