Once again it is my pleasure and privilege to welcome you all here to the Club’s AGM.

The Senior Club’s on field results this year reflect the impact of a feast of weddings at the commencement and a plague of injuries at the conclusion.  One only had to look at the sagging couches in front of the clubhouse at the last fixture to see how many players were unavailable to the Senior Club during the latter part of the season.  Notwithstanding this, the A-Grade demonstrated the standard of play they were capable of in the second round by stringing together a number of wins, most notably a comprehensive victory over the GPS side, and running the ultimate premiers, Brothers, close in double header encounters late in the competition.

The drain of players because of injury ultimately undermined all our lower grade’s efforts to make the finals.  But, their ungrudging support was a wonderful feature of the year and the experience of playing in the higher grades will obviously be of benefit to them next year.

Harry’s Mighty Fourths went within a whisker of the finals after a barnstorming and undefeated second round, and were obviously unlucky not to make them.  Our Wyatt Cup side are in a rebuilding phase and although not enjoying the incredible successes of the past few years, gained much from the year and there is the prospect of them being reinforced by some of the old guard next year.

The Colts again were competitive despite early problems with numbers but Kenny’s core of players was revitalised when Vern, Graham and Steve came on board with their under 17’s.  I want to particularly acknowledge their  and the player’s efforts in maintaining the Colts side throughout the latter part of the year as, of course, this is critical to the Club’s future.

Ultimately, it was left to the Ladies side to carry the Logan flag into the finals and after a massive win in the semi finals, they were extremely unlucky to go down in the tightest of grand finals, to the star studded Easts side.

The Golden Oldies side, the Sinners, just continue to get older, with the exception of a little new blood which was unfortunately shown to be a little more fragile than the older heads in the team.  We remain hopeful that they will be able to recover enough to front up again next year.  Thanks again to Budd, Dougy AKA Porky, Mr Port, Mrs Whippet and Sharon for their continued support for the team.

I would again like to acknowledge the committed effort of our First Grade coach Mark Forrester and his staff, both in respect of the club teams and also the great contribution made by him and our players in again providing the bulk of the Baraclough Shield side, which unfortunately lost to a very good New South Wales side at Ballymore this year.  This makes it two all from four years and the home ground voodoo continues.  While this match provides our players with the opportunity of being involved in representative rugby, and again reflects the level of success being achieved by our players and coaches, it is a commitment which, although longstanding, may be reviewed by the new executive as the Club’s focus is shifted to competition results next year.

The Executive Committee acknowledges the efforts of the Senior committee and the contributions of Mark Konecny, the Club Captain Rex Harrison (winner of the Player’s Player Award), Senior Registrar Tim Oakes (and Veronica), Josh Robertson, Jay Staunton, Edward Alia, and of course the whole coaching staff, Mark, Doug, Toddy, Eddie, Leyton and Richard, Harry, Vern, Graham and Steve and the managers Deano, Jack, Kendra, and Kenny and thank them sincerely.

The Junior club this year was able to build its numbers a little and all teams were competitive, especially those aged teams in Division 1.  Again, the Under 16 management did a great job in ensuring that those boys competed in all the Under 16 competitions this year, and that effort cannot be underestimated, given the difficulty that all clubs experience in fielding sides in that age group.

I have already recognised the wonderful contribution of the Under 17 to the Colts side.

In terms of representative players, the Junior club has continued to maintain its contribution to representative teams from Under 12’s to Under 15’s.  Three of our players featured in the Under 16’s Australian trials (Maile Ngaramo, Fatai Latu, Joseph Swann), six players took part in the City Under 15 State Trial and one player, Luke Everson, was selected in the National Under 15 train on squad.  Ralph Evalu also represented the State in that age group.

Of course, it was with great pride that the Club learned of the selection of three of our outstanding juniors, Joel Faulkner, Matt Ika and Matt Garland in the Australian School Boys team to tour the UK this year.  Matt Toomua was then named as a replacement Wallaby in the National side currently touring the British Isles.  This representation is unprecedented in the Club’s history and demonstrates the talent available in Logan City, and the Club’s commitment to the development of good rugby players and better young men.  The Club acknowledges the wonderful achievement of these four young men (and acknowledges the contributions of their parents and family in the Logan Club community), and wishes them every success in their upcoming tours.

Again, I would like to thank, on behalf of the Executive Committee and the members, the Junior Committee, led admirably by Geoff Leeming, who acknowledges the great support he has received from his Registrar Francine Siake, and the committee members, Gerry Costello, Leigh and Graeme Skedgwell, Carrie Ale, Marty Whitu, Barry Parker, and Sindy Rennick, and all those junior coaches, managers, support staff, referees and of course the players, who contributed so much to Logan City Rugby in 2009.

I must make particular mention of Leigh Skedgwell who, as well as being the unofficial club social convener, has undertaken the canteen reporting and banking duties in the latter part of the year and for this and for the myriad of other things she undertakes and gets done throughout the year, she was deservedly named the Club Person of the year for 2009.  Special thanks to Mick Richards who faithfully administered these roles for many years and guided Leigh, initially, in the role.

On the Premiers front, the Club performed well in the State Cup, after an uneven start, and scored a well earned victory over Sunshine Coast.  Unfortunately, the GFC and other monetary matters have meant that that competition will not continue in 2010.  However, our aspiration of gaining entry to the Premier competition remains undiminished.  The focus of the QRU in relation to Premiers is of course, participation numbers, rather than any other consideration.  It remains of the utmost importance for all of us to ensure that we enthusiastically promote Logan City Rugby and recruit for the Club, as our numbers and teams will ultimately determine whether or not we gain entry to the Premier competition.  The new committee will again focus particularly on the Colts age group and their efforts will be redoubled in terms of promoting that side.

It is likely that the new executive will target 2011 for the Logan Club’s entry into Premiers.  However, we should all be aware that we cannot expect or rely on an invitation from the QRU, at any time, particularly the present, and that we must make our promotion irresistible by force of results and as I have mentioned before, by compliance with the team numbers criteria.  The magnitude of that endeavour is obvious, it will require the full commitment which has not been asked for before from our players and everyone else at the Club.  I am confident that we will succeed if that challenge is accepted by the whole Club.

In terms of pre-season field availability, you will recall that the Club was able to lock in a formal arrangement with the Council last year, and that arrangement remains in force for the coming year.  Once again, we continue to enjoy the support of the Logan City Council, and Darren Power, in terms of assistance with the Club’s infrastructure, and the provision of offsite pre-season training facilities, for which we thank them. Of course, it is hoped that this will be the last year that we will have to rely on any such arrangement with neighbouring clubs.

You will all be aware and recall the excitement in June this year following the State Government’s approval of our Major Facilities Funding Application, which, when matched by the Logan City Council, will allow our relocation to Griffith University.  The Council is currently engaged in negotiation with the University in terms of the lease arrangements but we have been advised of a timetable which anticipates our occupation of the new fields and clubhouse at end 2010.  We intend to take full  advantage of the impetus provided by the move, and are already receiving expressions of interest in relation to increased sponsorship opportunities.

We must again express our thanks for the wonderful support provided by Barbara Stone MLA, and Councillor Darren Power in this endeavour.

Much is happening and much is to be done.  I again express my and the Club’s gratitude for the considerable efforts made by Mick Richards as Club Secretary, Ray Faulkner, as Treasurer, and acknowledge the assistance provided to him by life member Mike Wilson.  We also thank Wilson Accountants for their kind provision of auditing services.

I again express my personal gratitude for the efforts, involvement and shared wisdom of all the other Executive members, and again in no particular order of priority, Mark, Mike, Mick, Ray, Wayne, Barry and Geoff, thank you.  Geoff deserves particular credit for his role as the interface between the Club and State Government Departments, and the Council, and in some cases the Cricket Club.  His diplomatic conduct has in the most part been very successful.

We must also thank Scott Dunn, our website administrator, for his efforts in creating the new Club’s website and particularly for his commitment to ensuring it features photographs of virtually all the Committee members.

The Executive acknowledges the continuing and fantastic support of all our sponsors again this year, Australian Capital Home Loans, Top Dog Fencing, Barbara Stone MLA, Logan Funerals, Springwood Office Suppliers, Ager Air-conditioning, Logan City Tavern, and last but certainly not least Holiday Inn Brisbane, the venue for the very popular senior presentation night.  I must once again thank Ray, for the provision of the wonderful venue, to Mark Konecny for his great efforts in organising the event and, of course, to Tony Wilder for his inimitable MCing style on the night.  

And last, but not least, thank you to our patrons Bob Tuckey and Darren Power.

Finally, we acknowledge all the efforts of those wonderful volunteers who devote so much time and effort to the running of Logan City Saints.  I can only repeat Geoff Leeming’s words at the junior presentation day when he said “I sincerely thank you all for your contributions towards our successes in 2009 and I hope to see you return in 2010 and continue to contribute towards the future growth of Logan City Rugby.”

The Saints are coming.