Cultures of Vikings

Over the coming months, we will be highlighting some familiar faces from across our venues and thanking them for bringing their values and beliefs from their culture and background to our workplace. And, there is no better timing than to kick things off during NAIDOC week.

We would like to introduce you to a strong and proud Noonga and Maori Woman - Lauren

Lauren has worked for the Vikings Group for two years and is an impressive and smart young woman. Playing hockey at a National level whilst studying at Erindale College wasn’t enough and she decided to also play Rugby for our very own Vi-Queens. Lauren has ambitions to try out for the Brumbies W side next year.

“I love Vikings. I love the patrons, my colleagues are just awesome – it’s such a fun place to work”.

Lauren pays particular attention to the families that visit Vikings. “When I was growing up we spent a lot of time with my Grandmother and of course my Mum. Both of my cultures are strong on family connection and respect. I like spoiling the older patrons and letting them know when they are at Vikings they are safe and welcome”.

Like so many of our staff members, Lauren is studying at University. “I want to be an Ecologist. I am looking forward to researching and studying the awesome ecosystems Australia has”.

We would like to introduce you to a very special member of our staff and a proud Kamilaroi Man - Dylan

Dylan has been with the Vikings Group for almost two years however he was been visiting the Club most of his life. Dylan used to come to the Club with his Godfather and Vikings personality Geoff “Geoffro” Whiddet. Geoffro passed a few years ago, however, Dylan is here to remember him. “Geoffro always wanted me to work here. He loved it here, enjoyed his work and always nagged me and told me that I should work at Vikings. So here I am. I just hope I’m making him proud”.

Dylan prides himself on engaging with our patrons and welcoming them to our venue, particularly those who are Indigenous. “I like chatting and connecting to people from other Mobs, I’m a proud Indigenous man and I have a lot to learn not just about my Mob, but theirs as well. Our culture puts a lot of energy into learning from our Elders and respecting their stories. I love taking the time to listen to them. The Kamilaroi language has been all but lost. I’m keen to learn as much as I can about the rest of my culture so I can pass it on and teach others.”

We would like to introduce you to a Chef who is getting his curry on at Chisholm Vikings - Roshan

Roshan moved to Sydney from Nepal looking to improve the quality of life for his family back home.

“I moved to Australia to study IT – but couldn’t get over how happy I feel when I’m cooking, so I’m now a Chef. I have cooked for my family since I was 8 and I loved it. I loved seeing them smile when they ate what I had made them. It brought me much happiness.”

“Before Chisholm Vikings, I was working in Sydney for Colin Fassnidge. Fine dining is fast paced and you don’t get a chance to put up meals from your heart or your home. At Chisholm Vikings I get to slow down and contribute to the menu – it’s such a friendly place to work.”

“Honestly, I am at my happiest when I get to make a meal from my home in Nepal and put it onto the Chisholm Vikings menu – my Curry, that’s a gift from Nepal and my heart to my Vikings Family”.

Thank you Roshan – it’s a gift that makes us smile

At Vikings, one of the greatest reasons we have to smile during times like this is our colleagues, our staff and the people who greet you with a smile when you visit any of our venues. We would like to take the opportunity during lockdown to tell you a little more about some of those familiar faces you know and have seen around our clubs, and what it is about Vikings they value most.

We would like to introduce you to a staff favourite - Paulie

“Paulie” emigrated to Australia from the United Kingdom several years ago with his Husband, Jay. Leaving behind his immediate family and a career in hospitality, Paulie landed in Canberra and began his search for a new career.

“My Husband and his family are Canberran and always visited Chisholm Vikings. The first time I was there I was amazed. In the UK there is nothing like a Club and the idea of all facets of a hospitality business under one roof was so impressive to me. I was particularly attracted to Vikings because of their values. Their commitment and contributions to the community inspired me to apply for a job.”

“I started with Vikings as a Supervisor, moved to Food & Beverage Manager and am now Procurement Manager. Plus, I became an Australian citizen in January so, I’m home now”.

We are glad you feel at home Paulie – we enjoy having you as part of the Vikings Family.

We would like to introduce you to one of the most beautiful Fijian souls you will come across - Tina

Tina joined Vikings a couple of years ago and was welcomed in with open arms. “From day one the patrons and staff were so friendly. Patrons ask after us if they have not seen us for a while. Staff work together as a strong and reliable team and I love working at a Company where the CEO knows your name and asks about your day. I also love that it’s a Rugby Club.” “It’s important for me that I am happy at work – being Fijian, we work for our family, not just ourselves so I’m helping support, my Mum and siblings. We are all pretty close and I am proud to be able to help out”.

Before work, Tina will say a prayer for her colleagues, friends and patrons. “The Christian Faith is embedded in Fijian culture and I take the time to think about how I can open my heart to everyone and hope we all have a great day. “

Thank you, Tina, we owe many of our great days to you.

We would like to introduce you to a very special member of our administrative staff and a proud Samoan Man - JD

JD is our Junior Finance Officer and was discovered hanging out on the field over at Vikings Rugby. In the short time, he has been with us, he has had a positive impact and is already an integral part of the Vikings family, both in the Club and on the Rugby field. “I am grateful to have the opportunity to work within the Vikings group, family is so important in Samoan culture, and having a second family I can lean on to support me with things both personally and professionally is something that I love and is a big part of why I enjoy working here.”

“Being of service to others wherever I can is something I pride myself on for sure. If I can help anyone I will – it’s gained me quite a rep for putting furniture together”. “There’s a lot of things that I bring to work from my culture. I was taught to always be respectful and humble which is something I carry into work every day and has also shaped me into the person I am. I am grateful to both Mum and Dad for that.”

Thanks, JD. We are grateful for you.

We would like to introduce you to one of our most ambitious colleagues - Santiago Cadavid

Santiago moved to Australia in 2015 from Colombia with the goal of creating a new life for himself and a family he had not met yet.

“I was bored in Colombia, I knew that I wanted something different for me and my future family and I loved the idea of moving to Australia. I looked at Canada but thought it would be too cold”.

Santiago moved halfway around the world to Sydney where he met his now Fiancée who is from Colombia! They moved to Canberra seeking career opportunities and Santiago was quickly offered a 6-month internship at Vikings. It only took a couple of weeks for us to offer him a full-time position and he’s now been here for over two years.

“Vikings is very different to working in an office in Colombia. It is not like coming to work, it is like coming to hang out with your friends and you do work while you are here. Australia is a lot more casual in the workplace than Colombia and I like that. I like working at Vikings.”

We like working with you, Santiago and are glad our warm climate got you here.

We would like to introduce you to someone who comes to us with an eclectic background - Christian

Christian is a Chef at Erindale Vikings, who when you ask him how he came to us – the story is a long and winding road, with the humblest of beginnings. “My Grandfather used to make stuffed potatoes for me when I was 8 years old, I miss them so much, but it is why I became a Chef. The smell. The taste. I fell in love with food.”

Christian was born in Colombia and moved to Spain at a young age. “The food in Spain is amazing, you can try your hardest, but you just can’t recreate it here, the ingredients just aren’t the same. But I will keep trying”.

After a long stint in the Spanish Army where he worked on his cooking skills, Christian moved to Australia and eventually landed an interview with our Head Chef’s Ben & Brett.
“It was like being interviewed by two Vikings, their beards, their size, I was a little intimidated – but then they spoke and I knew I wanted to work here”.

Christian met his wife who is also from Colombia, through his successful side hustle as a Cupcake entrepreneur in Spain. “We met many years ago, but I still know her favourite cupcake has a strawberry sauce filling and cream cheese icing.” They go alright as well!

We are proud you are part of the Vikings family Christian, and not just because of your cupcakes

We would like to introduce you to someone who has seen it all and gone back to see it all again - Quinet

Quinet works on a casual basis behind the reception desk at Erindale Vikings and many of you will already be familiar with her amazing smile and fantastic customer service.

Born in Zimbabwe to parents who were Nurses, Quinet and her family moved to Mt Isa in Queensland when she was 13. “It was different there, I was the only person of my colour at school, at the shops, in the street. Moving to Canberra, to a city of so many beautiful cultures, it was like wrapping myself in a warm blanket – which during the first winter here I surely found out I needed.”

“I started at Vikings a year ago and I love it here. My colleagues are my family and my patrons are my friends. I feel that I have a special connection with patrons who come to us from other parts of the world. It’s like we get each other. We have all learned another language, we have moved far from our extended family and friends. I click with them. I love it when I can bring that connection to my work, it’s special.”

Having graduated with a degree in Advertising, Marketing and Communications – Quinet is, like thousands of Canberrans, about to start a role in the public service, however, she is sticking around at Vikings for a while yet. “I’m not ready to leave home yet, Vikings has been great to me. I want to spend a little more time here having fun.”

We look forward to having fun with you Quinet, thank you for making Vikings a place where people feel comfortable and know they can connect with others.

We would like to introduce you to a young man with aspirations a plenty - Fiu

Fiu only joined Vikings in July this year and the two things that stand out about him the most are his smile and his manners.
“Everyone in Fiji has a great smile – how can you not be happy when you are in Fiji?”. “We moved from Fiji one year ago. My Mum is a school teacher and the one thing she made sure I learnt when I was growing up was manners. The Staff and Patrons at Vikings seem uncomfortable when I call them Sir or Ma’am, but it is just what I do. It is how I was taught to speak with people”.

“When I got this job I was just so happy, I want to play Rugby for Vikings and I wanted to work for Vikings. People here are so nice, I was so excited when I got the job. I hope I can make other people smile and be happy. And I hope I can play Rugby.”

Thanks Fiu, we hope you keep smiling, Sir.

We would like to introduce you to someone who wants to change the world - Bulou

“Bee” joined the Vikings Group two years ago and has had a positive impact on our members and staff ever since. Working at the Coffee Shop and reception, Bee gets to meet an eclectic mix of patrons across the Group. “I see members come into the Club and they will remind me of some family members back in Fiji. The way they speak, the way the laugh, the way they include us in their life. I miss my family in Fiji, but the members and staff here are like a second family”.

Bee has ambitions to study International Law at University and return to Fiji to affect a positive social change in the Country. “I get inspired about how great life is here and how I could do so much more for the people of Fiji. If I can study Law and have even the slightest impact on improving life in Fiji, I feel I would have achieved something to be proud of.

“You have a lot to be proud of already Bee, we are proud of your ambition and look forward to seeing you reach your goals

We would like to introduce you to a real “People Person” from Chitwan in Nepal - Bikal

Bikal has been working in Pubs and Clubs for over 8 years and started with Vikings in August 2019. He is proud to work at Vikings and loves seeing different people from different communities coming together, to one place, to eat the food that he makes.

Bikal left Nepal with the encouragement of his Mother and his love of Cricket lead him to Australia. “I miss my Mother very much, I miss her Yomari (sweet dumpling). It is so good. My Mother taught me to cook many sweets, but that one is my favourite”.

Bikal is working with his colleagues to put together an evening of traditional Nepalese dishes highlighting the different regions of Nepal for our members at Erindale Vikings. Chitwan is in the plains (Teraji) of Nepal where a Taas Ghar (dry curry) is very popular. “It will be so good to see people eating food from my home, and to encourage people to try something new. The most beautiful thing I can ever have is talking to new people. I love it, I love their vibes. I want to hear from them about their stories, I want them to eat my food.”

We want to eat your food too, Bikal. We will let all our members know when the Nepalese Feast will be held.

We would like to introduce you to one of our staff from the Lotus Lounge - Venie (Mingjai)

Venie joined Vikings in 2021 however took the long way around to get to us. Born in China, Venie decided to move to Switzerland to study hotel management where she earned her master’s in hospitality. Venie then worked in various hotels and hospitality venues in the Maldives before moving with her partner to Australia. “Vikings is amazing! The staff, the patrons, everyone has made me feel so welcome. I have never worked somewhere where your colleagues treat you like family. It’s really special.”

“In many of the venues I worked for overseas, the organisations push you to do your best for them. At Vikings they want me to do what is best for me. Their encouragement and support of staff is a culture that should be modelled around the world. They really are embracing the individual which is how to get the best out of their people.”

Venie would like to progress through the ranks at Vikings but wants to remain as part of the Front of House team. “I like ensuring our patrons have a sense of happiness when they come here. I am always happy to see them and I hope they feel as welcome as I do.”

Venie is a long way from home and hasn’t been able to travel to visit family due to Covid. “When I miss my Mum I cook her Chinese Hot Pot – my secret ingredient is always more chilli. But I am in love with Aussie Beer and Beef. I had a VB and a Steak after I started here – it was amazing. So good.”

Thank you for making us all feel welcome Venie, we are glad you enjoy the steaks. They are good!