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Keep these Ideas coming. My focus has been and will continue to be on Community. We have started dialogue with a bunch of people and organisations. I worry about Volunteer fatigue at Clubs, the costs for our talented juniors to play in tournaments over East and engaging with Schools to name a few. You guys will be integral in growing the game.
However, right now, a few of us are going to chill until early January and the prepare for our forum on the 17th and accelerate into our new competition.
May I take this time to personally thank Scott Staniforth in Sydney - fellow board member and hardworking supporter in a hostile environment, David Vaux also in Sydney, our combatant and source of substantial encouragement. He attended meetings on our behalf, took Clyne and board members to task in public forums and against all odds, stood up for us in Sydney and prosecuted our values and that of our code, Dean Hely - you guys will never know how much he put into our fight - Dean and his team worked nights, weekends and many many hours for our cause, Trevor Cook - Kalla President - until now - but his passion for community and what the Force meant to us was incessant and valuable, Charlie Fear - whose wisdom and also countless hours prosecuting our financial credentials and substantial personal contribution kept the fight going, Mark Folkard - whilst joining us only recently on the board, took our cause into the heart of State Government and lobbied ministers and pollies to support our cause, Tony Howarth - let me say that his leadership and stewardship was measured and together with the time and resources he put into our case, inspired us all to win, John Edwards - a feisty - take no prisoners and consummate combatant - I am sure he must have been a scrum half - Johnny is our energiser bunny, who has created a relationship with Minderoo that will serve all of us beneficially for years to come, Mark Sinderberry - the absolute best Sports Administrator in the world, Mark placed his professional career on the line and maintained a dignified and ethical position throughout, Bob Hunter - what can I say - he has had to engage with our executioners and continue to argue for our cause - just imagine for one minute having to fly to Sydney after what has taken place over the preceding 12 months and sit across the table from people where honesty and trust is in short supply and work out a future for our community.
Geoff Stooke - will this guy ever lie down??? Mentor and advisor, he sacrificed his position on the ARU board being the only member of that board with ethics and principles.
Besides the above, lets not forget our RugbyWA employees, who have lived through uncertainty for months and yet carried out their tasks diligently and professionally.
To all community Club presidents and committees, as well as the Junior union, and my fellow CRACians - kept everything moving ahead, kept encouraging and supporting our fight and already now, looking to 2018 and beyond.
To Ali and Senator Linda Reynolds, two of the most tenacious and motivated ladies I have ever met, and finally you guys - Thank you.
There is an old saying - "who would you want in the trenches alongside you to maintain the fight? " My answer - everyone mentioned here and across the wider community including those in Victoria, NSW and QLD - you know who you are and you may google a poem written anonymously titled " Man in the Mirror" to understand what we are about.
So many clubs have new Presidents and committees and I expect some new enthusiasm and ideas.
I can see Friday night carnivals at club grounds, packed to the rafters, touring teams and events for our team, more resources to help with subs and trips and growing our committed Sea of Blue to the point where perhaps we may even outgrow NIB!!!
Our financial future is whole lot more secure and hopefully our reliance with RA will be on pathways, game management, coaching and referee education.
Happy Christmas Everyone