NAB regional jobs drive
TOWNSVILLE residents looking for work are being encouraged to take part in a nationwide recruitment drive with the option for employees to work from home.
NAB bank is looking for 130 employees, with a strong focus on finding people based in regional and rural Australia, including Townsville.
The new employees will join NAB’S geographically dispersed Personal Bank Operations Team, which helps customers achieve their home ownership goals by undertaking credit assessments. Those looking for work can opt for part-time and full-time roles, as well as permanent and 12-month contracts.
NAB personal bank operations executive Graeme Sayers said that in the past 12 months, 80 per cent of NAB’S workforce had been working remotely.
“COVID has changed the world in many ways, including the way we work,” he said.
NAB already employs 2000 people in regional and rural Australia.
GETTING our premiers to agree on a common framework for opening borders is the most important step in returning travel to normal, Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka says.
Once they do, she says, our domestic borders should open and stay open once the most vulnerable people to COVID-19 are vaccinated.
“At that point, there’s no logic in havi ing borders closed,” Ms Hrdlicka said.
Ms Hrdlicka was guest speaker at Women’s Day lunch.
The closing, opening and then sudden closure of borders has played havoc with travel. Some people have been caught in hotspots unable to return home without 14-day quarantine, while others have been unable or unwilling to travel.
Ms Hrdlicka said confidence and certainty on border openings were crucial.
“Once the most vulnerable are vaccinated and protected from COVID-19, in Townsville as an International then the rest of the community can get back to normal and borders can be open no matter what happens,” she said.
She said cases would still emerge but would not have the same impact.
Eventually, the rest of the community could have the option of vaccination and international borders could be reopened, she said.
Ms Hrdlicka was “very hopeful” the most vulnerable people would be vaccinated and that domestic borders would open and stay open by no later than July.
“I hope by October there’s enough rollout (of the vaccine) across the community that we can get those international borders open too,” she said.
Ms Hrdlicka said Townsville was an important part of the mix with its focus on leisure, premium leisure, small and medium-sized businesses and valueconscious corporates.
“We view Townsville as a really important part of our network and an important part of the Queensland regional community and economy,” she said.
IT WAS a double treat for guests who attended Saturday’s wedding between North Queensland Cowboys superstar Jake Clifford and his partner Steph Clarke.
Not only did the photogenic couple exchange their vows in the spectacular setting of the Hervey Range Rodeo Grounds, but they also surprised guests with a touching gender reveal for the baby they are expecting.
In front of the gathered crowd, Clifford booted a different kind of football, which exploded into a pink cloud (inset) to indicate a baby girl was on the way. On Instagram, the Cowboys halfback shared a wedding snap and a video of the gender reveal, along with a brief message.
“Got to marry my best friend yesterday and also found out we’re having a baby girl in September,” Clifford said.
Among the guests in attendance were Cowboys fullback Valentine Holmes and back rower Coen Hess, who shared photos on Instagram offering their congratulations to the newlyweds.
On Saturday Clifford will be doing his best to guide the Cowboys to a win against Penrith in their opening game of the 2021 NRL season.