On March 3 2021, I attended this club with my parents, who are long-time members.. It was my birthday and they thought it would be nice to take me out for a meal to celebrate. Mum had rung a few days before hand to see if she needed to book a table; she was assured there was no need. She also mentioned I was not a member; she was assured that was no problem at all. No mention was made of any specific ID requirements. We got there between 6.30 p.m. and 7.00 p.m.; my parents collected their new membership cards at the desk since they had recently renewed their membership; however, I was not permitted entry because I did not have 1. a passport; 2. a driver's license (I have never held one) or 3: I.D. deemed acceptable by the staff on duty that night.
I was able to offer photo I.D. proving membership at a Sports Club in the Blue Mountains, where I live, as well as credit cards, Mastercard etc; but the female staff member just kept repeating that it had to be 'government-issued' I.D. and this was the 'Covid rules.' Evidently the other staff on duty at the time believed this to be so, as none of them intervened.
My parents were distressed and disappointed; my mother pointed out that their newly issued Belmont 16 Ft membership cards had no photograph; apparently their word that I was their daughter was also not good enough; there was obviously no way this female staff member was going to permit me entry.
We then adjourned to the Valentines Bowling Club, where we were welcomed with pleasant courtesy and admitted with no fuss. My father was still angry; and the lady who admitted us at Valentines Bowling Club asked what the problem was. When we explained, this lady could inform us that the staff member at Belmont 16s had acted illegally, as there has to be provision made for those without forms of photographic identification and that many of the Valentines members were elderly people who no longer held valid driving licenses and who certainly didn't cart their passports around with them everywhere they went. We then had a very good meal.
When I returned home, I checked on the Covid admission rules to venues, and perused the Belmont 16s website to check on the conditions of admission to your premises.
1. 'Visitors must present photo I.D. and contact details upon entry for contact tracing.'
I offered photo I.D. and contact details - these were rejected. The website does not specify what sort of photograph identification is acceptable or what is not acceptable. It simply reads 'photo I.D' and does not specify that it must be government-issued.
2. Membership.
The membership form offered in Belmont 16s website asks the applicant to select one form of identification. Government pension cards do NOT have photographs, yet they are acceptable as proof of identification for membership.
3. Dress Regulations.
I fulfilled the dress code of Belmont 16 Ft Club rules. I was neatly and properly dressed, clean and tidy, no insignia or gang colours, my dress was NOT provocative or revealing, etc.
4. The New South Wales Government website offers ways and means of checking customers in via an electronic device for which a name and phone number is sufficient; and this was the method used by the very pleasant lady at Valentines Bowling Club.
5. Should any member of the Belmont 16Ft Club happen to lose their membership card, this means whoever picks it up - provided they are of the appropriate gender - could use it without question to gain access to Belmont 16Ft Club. since there are no photographs on the membership cards - and has already been pointed out, there is no photograph identification needed to apply for membership.
I did contact Belmont 16Ft; detailing all of the above; I received an automatic response email saying I would receive an answer within 5 working days; five working days have now passed without any contact.
Head around to Valentines Bowling Club - their staff obviously know what they're doing. read more
