CAOL DIPROSE – 2024 TASMANIAN CINEMA PIONEERS OF THE YEAR
Carol began her involvement with the cinema industry in 1980 employed at the West End Twin Cinemas in Hobart. Initially her role was working 3 to 4 shifts per week doing 3 hour split shifts in the candy bar area, in the days when it was cash only, no calculators – just do the sums in your head! Her shifts also required the inevitable choc top making. In 1989 the Twin Cinema expanded to 7 screens. Changes for efficiency now incorporated ticket-selling into the candy bar area of operations.
During Carol’s 20 years at what is now known as Village Hobart, she became involved in various education and training programmes, comprising customer service, recruitment, setting financial targets and local area marketing. Consequently, with new skills learned, Carol was transferred to Village Glenorchy to assist with the opening of the new complex in November 2000. There Carol was heavily involved with successful recruitment and staff training to establish a team for the opening of the 4-screen complex, and barely four weeks later was also responsible for staff recruitment for the new cinema at Village Eastlands. During the next 9 years Carol was mainly employed at Village Glenorchy undertaking location management shifts. Whenever the opportunity arose Carol ran many local marketing promotions. In 2008 Carol was asked to relocate back to her original “breeding” ground of the Hobart location. After another 12 months there, Carol felt it was time to move on. She thoroughly enjoyed her 29 years working in the industry, particularly her interaction with cinema patrons and customers and of course has also made many lifelong friends.