Tournament director Kylie Wallis and her brother Aaron Wallis who is Franchisee of Ultimate Poker Tour. Photo Helen Nezdropa
BROTHER and sister Aaron and Kylie Wallis are a class act when it comes to organising poker tournaments around Penrith, St Marys and beyond.
Mr Wallis, 31, and his sister, 29, live in Werrington County.
‘‘We’re with Ultimate Poker Tour; our business is providing a social event around poker, at clubs and pubs,’’ Mr Wallis said.
‘‘We set up venues and guarantee permanent time slots.
‘‘The majority of our games are also free.’’
Miss Wallis said many people who liked playing poker or simply having a night out, did not always know the best place to go to.
‘‘You can come to our games for nothing,’’ she said.
‘‘We have a lot of friends who come together and we get new players coming along, so they can make new friends.’’
She said they offered a safe and sociable environment for poker players.
‘‘I set up things before people arrive and make sure the games run smoothly,’’ Miss Wallis said.
‘‘I move around the tables and talk to people.
‘‘I’ve made so many friends.’’
Mr Wallis said he carefully selects which pubs or clubs host the games.
He started his business three years ago.
‘‘I was driving trucks before that,’’ Mr Wallis said.
‘‘I got interested in poker in 2006, when mum and dad were playing one night.
‘‘Mum made it through to winning $10,000; I then got interested in the game.’’
Last year he invited his sister to join him in the business.
Miss Wallis had previously worked as a sterilisation technician in hospitals.
‘‘I liked that job, but the hours most days took me away from my kids,’’ she said.
She has three children, aged nine, six and one.
‘‘Now I’m only away for four hours, usually at night,’’ Miss Wallis said.
‘‘I see my kids during the day and still have dinner with them every night.’’
Neither of the siblings see what they do as work.
‘‘My job is to go to the pub or the club and talk to people,’’ Mr Wallis said.
His sister said she gets paid to make friends.
‘‘I can do what I want and have most of the time with my kids,’’ Miss Wallis said.
‘‘It’s work but I have a friendly evening out; it doesn’t feel like work.’’