Changing of the Guard

The 2014 Annual report was presented by the president, Richard McGrath, the Treasurer was absent however his report was presented by the president and it was noted that the club had an operating surplus this year of $12,000. Henry King presented the club captains report and noted that he would be stepping down from the position after two years in the role. He also noted that the state of the Woollahra Ovals was something that the club should be looking to work towards improving in the future via working with the council more closely. Frank Coorey was unable to be present however he noted that there was an increase in registered players and subs collected this year, partly due to an extra convicts team and partly due to a higher proportion of subs collected. Frank was also to be stepping down from secretary after 2 years.

The positions of President and treasurer only received one nomination each, being the incumbents Richard McGrath and Paul Howard and they were voted in with no opposition. The vacant position of Club Captain was filled by the only nomination (despite rumours of a triple threat) of Damon Holmes aka ‘Dingo’. Dingo’s first year at the club was this year and through stints in Kentwell, Burke and Whiddon sides, he earned the respect of a great number of players. Dingo was awarded the overall club best and fairest, which is a huge effort in his first year and taking into account the fact that he had a few injuries. He started as five eighth in the Grand Final for the victorious Burke cup side, winning the premiership and scoring the match-winning try (although all of this play was cleverly designed by the Burke cup coach back in 1999, not Dingo). Despite being from Queensland, Dingo’s blood runs blue and he will no doubt be a great leader of the club.

The position of Secretary was filled by Dave Burnett as the only nomination. Dave played outside centre for the Kentwell side in the famous 2011 premiership and while he has missed most of the past three seasons due to a stint coaching in America a few cameo’s in the American off-season has seen him stay in touch with the Blue Giants. Dave also played no. 13 in last years victorious Burke Cup side and while he left behind what little pace he once had in America, he has brought back some handy blue Giant recruits who have been training the house down in early pre-season 2015. We wish both newcomers to the leadership group all the best and we can be sure that the club is in great hands moving forward.

The following Colleagues members were nominated and voted to be honorary Life members, joining an illustiorus list of Old Colleagues as the finest men to have donned the sky blue.

Laurie Campbell

Laurie came to Colleagues in 1993. Like so many during that period he came from the Kings Old Boys Rugby Club. Laurie embraced the Colleagues in those years enjoying the uniqueness of the old shed and the surrounding Colleague camaraderie. Laurie was quick to get his hands on the silverware winning a Sutherland premiership in the following year in 1994 and again as player coach in the legendary1996 season.

Winning premierships as a coach was about to become a habit and indeed a record unmatched by any coach in the clubs history.

Laurie coached the Halligan Cup to three premierships in 2001, 2002 and 2004. Laurie then coached successive Judd cup premierships in 2010, then as part of the 2011, 5 from 5 GF Rinse and also 2012. If not for an ounce of luck it would have been 2013 and 2014 as well.

Along the way Laurie played over 100 games for the club as well. Consistently coaching a winning rugby team is not an easy task and never happens without an enormous amount of effort and leadership. (And perhaps a Laurie Campbell shout)

Lauries commitment to the Colleagues over more than a twenty year period has been outstanding. His driving force as long time successful coach of the judd cup often setting the standard of play and organisation of higher grades.

Tim Cullen first donned the Sky Blue Jersey in 1982. Tim played over 200 games in the 80’s and 90’s winning two premierships in the Burke Cup in 1984 and 1989.

During this period Tim Won 6 Best and Fairest awards – Club B& F: 1984, 1990; Burke: 1989,1990, 1992; and Whiddon 1982.

In one critical game Tim ruptured his spleen only to play on score two tries. Tim was transported to hospital after fainting after speeches to immediately undergo surgery.

In 1996 Tim coached the Judd Cup to a premiership.

On top of a best and fairest player record, Tim was also Club Captain in 1988 (when the club won the Club Championship), He was Club Secretary in 1987, 1989, & 1990; Also he was  on Committee earlier in 1984 & 1985.

Tim has always been a regular on the sidelines at the club and and table organiser at the Long Lunch After a short work sojourn in Melbourne Tim returned to Sydney and to our great benefit was made redundant.

During this period Tim said to me “Boothie time to give something back to the club” Tim has led the revamp of the clubs Website, Content, Members List and Email capability. On top of everything else the Club is indeed indebted to Tim for dragging us into the the modern digital era.

John played 3 years for the Giants culminating in the Judd Cup winning Captain in the magnificent ‘Hug a Bourkie’ season 1996. A gun school boy footballer who came down to play with his mates.

In the early 90’s Johnny had the Phoenix Hotel and he sponsored both Colleagues rugby and cricket. In the mid 90’s he started Ryan’s Bar in a postage stamp space in Australia Square and continued his sponsorship of the club. When the new club house was built in 2003 I asked him for some advice on getting a licence. That was all it took. In no time we had the entire playing area licensed through his people and they have been a great support ever since.

When Johnny brought the Woollahra he was keen to come on as a major sponsor and it was great to be able to facilitate that. A pub sponsor is a important part of or financial plan for the year. Some venues over the years have been problematical and difficult to deal with. This is far from the case with John. His manner is a little like his footy straight up, direct and get it done. He has worked with the club to make sure our players get value and the club gets a decent return for its efforts. I am sure that we are also a benefit to his bottom line. But there is more to it than the money. He is know to many Blue Giants and his support is genuine to help make The Colleagues a better club for over 20 years.

Fuzz came down Colleagues in the early 90’s after a number of years at Sydney Uni. He followed his brother Ian and several other friends of the time. He was sharing a house with Toby Lawson Club Captain and ‘Dog’ Poolman blind side Kentwell. In the late 90’s he moved to the USA and played in San Francisco eventually helping out the San Francisco Fog and playing with Mark Bingham. After 9/11 the SF Fog organised a tournament to honour Mark Bingham’s heroics on that fateful day and the Bingham Cup was born.

Fuzz came back to Sydney in 2003 and began the Sydney Convicts with the view to play in the Bingham Cup in 2006. Colleagues helped the Convicts get established by providing grounds and equipment even players and coaches. The Convicts eventually won the Halligan Cup 2005 and went to New York in 2006 to participate in the Bingham Cup. In NY they managed to win both the Cup and the Plate and do the same thing again 2 years latter in Dublin. While only winning the Bowl in Minneapolis in 2010 they bounced back in 2012 to win the Cup and Bowl at Manchester. 2012 was another significant milestone for The Convict as they were able to win the Nicholson Cup playing as St George 3rd grade.

In 2010 the Convicts travelled to Brisbane to play a gay friendly representative team the Brisbane Hustlers. Fittingly this match was the first Purchas Cup and won by the Convicts. Melbourne have now joined in this annual tournament with the Purchas Cup 2015 to be played in New Zealand.

This year saw the Bingham Cup come to Sydney for what Juan Antonio Samaranch would call the best ever Bingham Cup. The records will show that the Convicts were dominant in the competition winning the Cup and the Shield. What is hard to put a number on is the tremendous good will that the tournament provided in show casing not just gay friendly rugby but gay friendly sport. The tournaments success was extraordinary with involvement from the big end of town all major sporting codes and an army of volunteers and well wishers.

Fuzz was the driving force behind all of these achievements. Our clubs mission statement is to provide a decent game of rugby to anyone who wants to play. Fuzz has enabled hundreds of people to play rugby who would have normally been excluded because there was no pathway for them to play. He created and made that pathway flourish for what I think is the betterment of The Colleagues, Sydney rugby and Australian rugby.

Come and join your fellow colleagues for the last time in 2014 and enjoy a couple of beverages at the trusty Woollahra Hotel.

Thurdsday 18th of December from 7:00pm. Great way to round out the year, a great year for the Blue Giants and begin planning for an even bigger 2015.