Event to mark Stuart Barnes' departure from Wollongong’s venues

With Stuart Barnes, General Manager of Wollongong’s WIN Sports and Entertainment Centre set to retire, a farewell luncheon is being staged this Friday (9th September) to recognise his contribution to the Illawarra sport and entertainment scene over the past 18 years.

The event, being hosted Venues NSW Chair John Quayle and Illawarra Local Venues Council Chair Vicki Tiegs, also coincides with WIN Entertainment Centre's 18th anniversary.

Barnes is taking redundancy amid a management restructure at Venues NSW, the NSW Government agency which manages Wollongong’ entertainment centre and the stadium.

Barnes’ general manager role will now become a venue manager role so, as he turns 62 this year, he has decided to move into consultancy.

Barnes told local newspaper the Illawarra Mercury “it’s timely for me ... I’ve been here a long time, and I think it’s time for me to take things a little easier.

“I’ve also got a new future - providing advice to other people, and I’m looking forward to that very much but I will miss (the venues).”

Looking back, Barnes was proud of the overseeing WIN Stadium’s Northern and Western grandstands recalling both developments “very intense periods but really rewarding”.

He also advised that stress was part and parcel entertainment and venue management, adding “if you haven’t got stress in your life, and if you haven’t got the adrenaline flowing, as a venue manager, you don’t do your job.”

The event is being held from 12pm on Friday 9th September 2016 at Winners Room, WIN Stadium, Wollongong.

Click here for information on the event.

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