Page 6 - Here we go for 2008

Secretary’s Report 2008

Richard Crook

We are a fantastic Club. A very successful Rugby Club both on and off the field.
Off the field our 2007- 2008 activities were sensational. A Black Tie Ball in 2007 followed by an excellent End of
the Season trip to Hobart Tasmania. A successful Presentation Evening in September and a wonderful Christmas
Wheelbarrow raffle raising $5250. We also raised some $3000 for the Club Old Bar ‘Golf China Raffle’ won by
our President Nigel Hoy. A fantastic effort by everybody.

Early this year we once again held yet another successful ‘Shave for a Cure’ raising thousands for Leukaemia with
two events at Taree West and Club Old Bar. Then almost immediately followed by a terrific and most entertaining
‘Old Bar Idol’. This was a first for the Manning Valley and having an event like this at Old Bar was a ‘work in
progress’. Put simply, it really was an outstanding success particularly for Club Old Bar and Oates Catering – our
great sponsors.

We had a tremendous golf day at Forster where the usual challenge with Old Bar Tavern proved a winner for The
Clams. We have finally won a trophy thanks to Adam Gregory’s mate who plays off 2. But it was win at all costs.

Our Sponsors Dinner in March was most certainly our best thus far. What a great night. So well attended and a
special mention to Matt & Murray Oates for such a delicious meal.

Certainly off the field it was a fantastic year recently capped off with a very exciting End of the Season trip to
Melbourne. One had to be there to believe it !!!

Our off field activities are very important to promote our name. This influences the community to respect who we
are and what we do. Prospective Sponsors and Players hear about us and want to be involved, evidenced by one of
our players, ‘Darren Swinfield’ who is a great example of success during 2008.

Our on field effort was very commendable given the depressing infrastructural circumstances we have as a Rugby
Club. We operate out of a match box with our storage facilities and our playing and training conditions at Old Bar
are simply disgraceful. Thank heavens new sporting facilities are currently being constructed. We had a shocking
season punctuated with washed out home games, grounds closed for training, due to the rain on so many occasions
and in addition, no bloody lights on numerous occasions when the grounds weren’t closed because of the rain.

I was personally disappointed the MNC Rugby Union opposed our offer to enter two teams in this years
competition. Enough said but hopefully 2009 will see a permanent Reserve Grade added to the Southern
Competition even if it is 10’s. Fifteen a side is what we all want though.

Congratulations to all our players for achieving the honour of playing in a Grand Final. On the day, they made our
Club proud and we know we will go one better in 2009. I would like to see all players toughen up a bit and develop
a more killer instinct on the field, we are still too soft. A bit more mongrel guys!!

We need every player to find and bring along a mate, friend or a new acquaintance to our Club next year. By doing
this we will be more successful.

My sincere thanks to a great guy, ‘Jack Mundey’ who offered the Club 100% throughout the year with his first
coaching position. A fantastic effort Jack, we all thank you. My thanks also to Nigel Hoy our President and John
Scott our Treasurer for their valuable time devoted to The Clams. A special thanks to Darren Drury & Chris
(Georgie) Mylonas for their assistance to Jack Mundey.

Finally, I would like to thank my partner Di Farrar who continues to support our Club in such a positive manner.
Di has supported my position with this Club with enthusiasm and undertakes many jobs that normally go
unnoticed.

Richard Crook

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