PANANIA DIGGERS SOCCER CLUB 2020 YEARBOOK Congratulations to our Premiers for Season 2020 Grade 17/18 A 1 Grade 17/18 C 2 PANANIA DIGGERS SOCCER CLUB 2020 COMMITTEE PRESIDENT Bob Bell SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT JUNIOR VICE PRESIDENT Jim Carroll Peter O’Shea TREASURER SECRETARY Jimmy Bowmaker Dave McFadden JUNIOR CLUB CAPTAIN CLUB CAPTAIN Harrison Walther Drew Smithwick COACHING CHAIRMAN REGISTRAR Jay Smith Greg Williams FUND RAISING and PUBLICITY FEMALE FOOTBALL PLATINUM LEAGUE LIASON OFFICER COORDINATORS OFFICER Geoff Amy Sue Curtis Paul Edmunds Sandra de Jesus CANTEEN MANAGER EQUIPMENT OFFICER Jodie Lavin Anthony Martin GROUND’S MANAGER CLUB HOUSE MEMBER PROTECTION & Drew Smithwick MANAGER INFORMATION OFFICER Ian Loy Barry Morris EVENTS COORDINATOR SOCIAL MEDIA OFFICER Julie Parsons Amanda Pollock ASSISTANT SECRETARY, BDAFA DELEGATES YOUTH CLUB DELEGATES RECORDER George Pizanis Graham Williams Jenny Beddoe Doug Walther Richard Williams GENERAL COMMITTEE GENERAL COMMITTEE GENERAL COMMITTEE Mike Millen Jo Ferguson Brent Smithwick Paul Lavin Damien Shears Karoline Shears Jason Williams Guy Serra Simon Wedgwood Daniel Mason Chris Basha Shayne Puckeridge 3 VALE Ronald Denis Trusty 16/12/1930-03/04/2020 By Craig Trusty It is my great pleasure to pen a few words about my father and Panania RSL Youth Soccer Club Life Member, Ron Trusty. Born in Kent, England in 1930 to a working class family, Dad enjoyed a simple life but the great love of his childhood was Football / Soccer. Whether playing in the streets with his brother and other neighbourhood kids or listening to broadcasts on the radio, it was a passion that never left him. At the age of 19, Dad left England for Australia with the dream of a better life and future and upon arrival in Sydney quickly obtained work in his trade at a tailor. He met his future wife, Shirley, in that workplace and the Tailor and the Tailoress were married at the age of 24 and purchased their first family home in Hinemoa St, Panania. As their three children came along – Paul, Craig and then Susan, Dad went to night school and gained his qualifications as an Accountant. As we boys grew, Dad’s passion for ‘the game’ were passed on and about 1965 the family’s connection with the Club began. Firstly, through Paul and I at the soccer club and later with Mum and Sue at the Netball Club. During those foundation years of the club, enthusiastic parents were the ones that kept things going. Early mornings of ground preparations, line marking the fields, goal net installs, tent erections for the canteen for soft drinks, pies, sausage rolls and lollies. Those were exciting times for our family and our weekends were filled with sport and the socialising that comes with club involvement. Dad, with his professional skills willingly took on the role of the Club’s Treasurer, counting the takings from the canteen, raffles and other sundry funds, balancing the books, banking and auditing records were all taken in his stride with the support of his loyal wife. These activities went on for many, many seasons and with Dad’s involvement and many other dedicated like-minded men and women, these were the solid foundations from which were built the successful Football Club it is today. Ron Trusty lived his life well and was grateful for its outcomes. Dad always had time for others, always interested in them more than himself. He was most humbled to be given the great honour of Life Membership to Panania RSL Youth Soccer Club but like many during that time didn’t seek any recognition for what he considered was ‘just doing his bit’. He was a great role model to all and we were extremely lucky and proud to have him as our Father. Regards and best wishes to all from Craig Trusty 4 5 YOUTH CLUB CODE OF ETHICS 1. While I remain an active member, I shall keep my mind and body active. 2. I shall conduct myself in an orderly manner and treat other members as I would like to be treated myself. 3. I shall, at all times, take proper care of the furniture and property of the Youth Club. 4. I shall respect the principles of good citizenship and encourage my associates to do likewise. 5. I shall endeavour to build friendship with my Club mates because friendship is one of the greatest assets that I can have and it is advantageous to my future welfare. 6. I shall follow my Youth Club leaders and respect and obey my instructors. 7. I shall be loyal to my Youth Club. 8. Finally, I shall remain loyal to my Queen and my country and love and respect my parents. CLUB SPONSORS 2020 MAJOR SPONSORS • ALLIANCE REAL ESTATE • KINGSGROVE SPORTS CENTRE • I-Move Physiotherapy • Laurentide Mortgage Solutions • PKF • RICHARD’S QUALITY MEATS • PANANIA DIGGERS • Double Jay Auto • THE SAFETY DEPOT • Teenie Weenies Learning Centre • Calman’s Pharmacy Picnic Point OTHER SPONSORS • Best Pest Solutions • Charlie’s Liquor Barn, Panania • Excel Logistics • Fitbodz Pty Ltd • Logical Freight Solutions • Inline Joinery • The Loan Wolf • Mike Hughes & Partners • VPH Lawns PANANIA RSL YSC would like to thank all the sponsors for their support during the 2020 season. 6 PRESIDENT’S REPORT It is with pride and pleasure that I present my 12th report as President of this wonderful club. This year was undoubtedly the most difficult, frustrating and draining of all. Here’s how it panned out: • Our fields should have been rebuilt after last season but a series of delays resulted in the plans being put back a year. • With a trial under our belt and the season about to start, the COVID-19 lockdown began and the season was put on hold. • At that stage we didn’t know if there would be any season, and when Council offered the opportunity of an early start on the fields we took it, given it was almost certain we the fields would be ready for use at the start of next season. • Council also offered to get started on our clubhouse renovations, using the Federal Government grant allocated to us last year. We met, they drafted plans, we made some alterations and work is under way, again due to be finished in time for next season. • And then the season did start! We were hopeful of keeping our fields until September but come the first week of August we were out. This involved: o Relocating 54 teams for training across 5 grounds in the area o Moving equipment from Kelso to Kinch and Milperra Reserve to set up for our “home” games. o Operating from unfamiliar grounds and canteen without access to our usual clothing, equipment and supplies. o Catering for much smaller than usual crowds. We are greatly appreciative of those clubs who shared their grounds and facilities, enabling us to get through this most difficult of seasons. To Condell Park, Milperra, Revesby Workers, St Christophers, Padstow Hornets and Bankstown Sports Stars – thank you! In the end we lost a few teams due to the extension of the season, HSC, COVID fears, and sheer disinterest. We ended up fielding 54 teams, comprising well over 700 players and over 100 officials, still by far the largest club in the Bankstown district. We had 24 SSG Teams in Grades 6 to 11; 17 teams in the Junior Grades 12 to 18; and 13 Senior teams. Of our 30 competitive sides 20 made the semis, of those 2 were successful in winning their competitions and 3 were runners up. Not our best year result wise but this was far from a normal season, winning really wasn’t the focus this year, just getting teams on the park was a bonus. Again, we had minimal disciplinary and conflict issues, which is a credit to all involved with the club. Our Joeys program was again run by Mike Millen and his excellent band of helpers. COVID knocked these numbers around also, we’ll be recruiting hard next year to develop Panania’s “Next Gen”! Your committee held its fourth dedicated planning session last December where we continued development of our Operations Manual and discussed ways of doing things better. Some of these were implemented, but we certainly didn’t plan for COVID! Unfortunately COVID also stopped us having any functions this year, and sponsorships were well down on previous years. However, the club remains in a strong financial position and will continue to strive to provide our community with the best possible facilities and support. Our AGM was held on November 9, combined with the Coaches & Managers Thank You Drinks, and I’m pleased to say I was re-elected President so will serve my 13th year in 2021. Our Canteen Manager, Jodie Lavin, has finally carried out her threat to stand down, Jodie has done an outstanding job for the club over many years and deserves a break! To the committee as a whole, who continue to work together to ensure the club operates effectively, my sincere thanks and appreciation for all your efforts. In addition to our committee there are innumerable players, officials, family members and friends of the club who put their hand up to help whenever asked, and often without being asked. Thank you to all those who have contributed over the year. To everyone who was a part of our club this year, thank you for hanging in there for the tough times, I sincerely hope you will be back with us next year to enjoy our wonderful fields and facilities – not to mention the great people. 2021 is going to be big! That’s it for this year, see you next season.