The Grizzly Gazette The Official Newsletter of the Central Coast Bears Edition 16 – February 2012

Win a Central Coast Bears Bear Facts – Did you know? A Message from the CEO Supporters Training Shirt Proudly In Walt Disney’s Winne the Pooh franchise, the main character, Pooh Bear is often Supported By Dear members, Be the first to submit the correct answers to this month’s trivia on page 4 of The Grizzly Gazette depicted eating honey as his favourite food. This month brought the welcome news of the and you will win a Bears training shirt. OR - But the question all Central Coast Bears fans game’s new ARL want answered is - do Bears actually eat honey? Well, the answer is, yes. Well, kind of. Commission. This was Bears eat honey, but what they like most

tremendous news for our about finding a beehive is the bees and larvae bid and we can now expect to see some they find inside. Bears will often eat bees and movement in relation to decisions on WIN!! especially their larvae, and the honey comes expansion. Already we have seen the as an extra treat. Despite this revelation, the Commission use their power to abolish the good news is that Bears enjoy nothing more McIntyre finals system. than eating a good Sea-Eagle.

During the week I spoke about one of the most The winner can risk it all and reply to the satisfying roles this past year attending local schools to talk to children, in conjunction with winner’s email to challenge Flo to a rugby Fortunity league trivia showdown. Win and you may select the Jumpstart Youth Mentor Program. Phill Pallas from Insight Central Coast has the merchandise of your choice, lose and you Established on the NSW get a Bears sticker. developed the program, and along with David Central Coast, Fortunity

Fairleigh we attended the following schools: is a company that has This is a members’ only competition. To be in ALESCO Alternative Learning Centre, Brisbane quickly made a mark on the running, send your answers via email to Waters Secondary College – Woy Woy the Australian financial re [email protected]. Please use a industry. Fortunityset was firmly ranked on being number in the70 Campus, Gosford High School, Kariong headline of “Grizzly Gazette Trivia, Member #. Mountains High School, Narara Valley High in BRW’s Top Accountingtop 10 regional Firms firms in 2010 in 2011. School, Northlakes High School, St Edwards and are now setting their sights firmly on

Christian College and Wadalba Community being in the top 10 regional firms in 2011. Member Count We are proud of the vitality School. The program at its core exists to ignite Fortunity is proud of the vitality and enthusiasm they andoffer enthusiasm their clients, we whichoffer our in the dreams of young people, and is fashioned Facebook: 26,186 part comes fromclients, being which a relatively comes with new to help them recognise personal strengths, being a relatively new organisation. Unlike some of their improve resilience and develop strategies to organisation. Financial Members: 7,721 competitors, Fortunity can offer you and achieve life goals. Over 80 students took part in

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Bears NRL bid! www.fortunity.com.au Greg Florimo For further information, including pricing, contact Steve Little at [email protected]

The News Desk

For up-to-date news go to www.centralcoastbears.com.au

Hello, ARL Commission. Good-bye Bear Cub Vale Dom Lopez OAM We’re the Central Coast Bears Keon Sbrugnera 1996-2012 Legend to the End

The Central Coast Bears have welcomed the The Central Coast said farewell to Keon The Central Coast Bears and City of Mosman is announcement concerning the establishment of Sbrugnera last week who drowned while mourning the passing of Cr Dom Lopez who the newly formed ARL Commission. swimming at The Entrance Channel. died last month following a long illness. Keon was an extremely polite and fun-loving

BEARS The eight appointed commissioners will replace joker. He loved Bob Marley, Jack Johnson and Cr Lopez, a former Mayor of Mosman, and long the NRL Partnership Committee which 70s and 80s music. serving councillor was remembered by his friends and family for his love and passion for comprised representatives for News Limited and the . Keon leaves behind his twin brother Callan, his family, the North Bears and the City sister Raneke and two older brothers Kydan of Mosman. News of the game’s new ownership was long and Jayden. Callan and Keon were identical overdue and Bears CEO Greg Florimo couldn't twins, born 12 minutes apart. They were best In response to overwhelming public affection for hide his enthusiasm. mates who rarely left each other’s side and Cr Lopez and in recognition of his contribution to cheekily wreaked havoc; often swapping public service, Mosman Council issued a "It's great that the code has been able to unite classes, doing each other’s shift at the local statement on 7 February 2012 announcing that the previous governing bodies into an super-market IGA, exchanging jerseys at the council would be seeking community Independent Commission, which is sure to halftime on the football field or running each consultation in relation to a lasting memorial to streamline strategic decision making for other's races in athletics carnivals. recognise Cr Lopez’s civic service. the betterment of our game," Florimo stated. Ourimbah-Wyoming Senior Vice President, Cr Lopez, was the son of hard-working Italian "We have been working hard for over two and a Todd Nelson remembered Keon’s pranks fondly immigrants who ran a fruit shop after settling in half years to build a bid for the and was actually only alerted to a recent prank Mosman. He was known as a colourful Central Coast and North Shore of Sydney and after Keon’s passing. character, a loyal friend, a formidable opponent we believe we have a solid case to put and according to Mosman Council manager Viv forward. "After last season’s premiership we took photos May, he had a record of public service in of all the boys with the shield. I couldn't tell Mosman that will never be equalled. The Central Coast Bears are quickly Keon or his brother, Callan apart so I just put approaching 8,000 financial members and the caption Keon/Callan, Callan/Keon with a “On many issues Dom said what many people already have over 26,000 Facebook fans and couple of question marks. Keon messaged me thought - but were not prepared to say. 975 Twitter followers. to confirm where he was situated in the photo. “Mosman has lost a legend,” Mr May said. Then, just a couple of days ago after the "We have continued to build our fan base tragedy, Callan and his Aunt Karen called me Some of Cr Lopez’s many achievements include during the NRL off season and the support and said it was actually Callan,” said Nelson. being awarded the Queen’s Medal in 1976, from both the Central Coast and North Shore communities and businesses has been Mr Nelson said that donations can be made to Order of Australia Medal in 1992, Local incredible." support Keon’s family at: Government Medal in 2000 and Centenary Keon Sbrugnera Memorial Account Medal in 2001 for services to local government It’s now time to make more noise than ever BSB - 112-879 Account: 474519218 and Mosman. before Bears fans.

HERE COME HERE THE February 2012 February 2012 January 2012 Bear Talk: Ryan Sansom Bear Talk is proudly brought to you each month by Fortunity. For integrated business and financial advice visit www.fortunity.com.au

The Grizzly Gazette spent some time with undertaken initiatives to form key partnerships TGG: Now that the Independent Commission is Central Coast Bears Administration Officer, Mr with local sporting and non sporting in place there is an expectation that a decision Ryan Sansom recently. Ryan is a product of the organizations to promote membership. will finally be made about expansion of the NRL Central Coast who came to the Bears for his Having close to 8000 members enables the competition. Some are saying this may come in compulsory internship whilst studying at Central Coast Bears to display tangible proof to June this year. Has this development given the university. the NRL that establishes how compelling this office a boast or are nerves the primary feeling? bid really is. RS: As mentioned before the office is a pretty

Here’s what was said.... TGG: Merchandise sales appear to be strong, upbeat environment, but in answer to your question yes, the latest development has added with the Bears brand seemingly everywhere. The Grizzly Gazette: You started with the Are there any plans to expand the merchandise even more wind to everyone’s sails. I do not Bears as an intern doing compulsory working lines and distribution points? want to jinx anything but I really am starting to hours and have since been offered a paid RS: There are definitely plans to expand the get the feeling that it is now only a matter of time before we are granted a license and position, looking after merchandise, Central Coast Bears’ merchandise lines and playing before a sell out crowd at Bluetongue membership, office operations and assisting distribution points once an NRL license is granted. The great thing about the Central Stadium. with communication and events. That seems like quite a ride for a young bloke, what has Coast Bears bid is we have the chance to sit TGG: Do you get many enquiries from the been the highlight during that period? back and look at what other sporting clubs are people of the Central Coast about the bid? Ryan Sansom: If I had to choose one, it would doing in terms of merchandise and then RS: In actual fact we do get quite a number of be hard to go past our 2011 Season Launch at incorporate what works into our future strategic enquiries about the bid. Mainly, enquires are the Terrigal Crowne Plaza. The launch plan. Once the Central Coast Bears are just about membership or merchandise; comprised of a sit down luncheon for around accepted into the NRL, you will see an NRL however we often get members calling up to 170 guests on the eve of the first game of the franchise that is not only a market leader in check on the progress of the bid. When these rugby league but across all sporting codes in NRL season. An immense amount of work went members do call, we are more than happy to fill Australia. into organising the event and the final product them in on what we have been up to recently truly reflected this. We were inundated with TGG: The Bears office administration and more importantly what we have planned for comprises you, Flo, Matt Kenny and Robert the future. positive reviews from attendees of how fantastic the Launch was which added further substance Lopez. What’s the office culture like? TGG: Finally, what is your favourite place on RS: If the culture of the Central Coast Bears is to what we all thought was a great event. the Central Coast? anything like the organisational culture which RS: My favourite place on the Central Coast TGG: The Bears have almost reached 8000 exists within the office, than I truly believe that hands down has to be the Haven at Terrigal. I members. This is quite extraordinary and dwarfs people are going to be lining up to be could not tell you how much time I have spent all other NRL bids. What can you tell us about supporters and/or members of the club. I can there over the years. It is one of those places the Bears membership strategy and why are honestly say that I have never had a bad or that you visit and think to yourself how lucky you even an okay day at work. The energy in the members so important? really are to live in this part of the world. RS: Our membership strategy is heavily office is incredible and this mainly has to do

community based. We hold at least 4 with Flo. He is always upbeat and never lets Who would you like interviewed in The membership drives a month in and around both anything get him down. This outlook boosts Grizzly Gazette? What questions would you the Central Coast and North Shore communities everyone’s energy in the office which has like us to ask? at shopping centres and local events. This reflected in the amount of effort and work that allows us to not only recruit members but more has been produced to date. Flo’s influence has Email us at [email protected]

OUR COAST, OUR TEAM COAST, OUR OUR importantly increase community support. In also affected our group of indispensable addition the Central Coast Bears have also volunteers, who like Flo are always positive.

Rugby League Trivia Central Coast Rising Cubs – Junior Profiles So Bears fans, how well do you know Rugby Each edition of this newsletter will include a player profile, of our young stars from the Central Coast and North League? Sydney Junior Rugby League. To nominate a player for inclusion, clubs may contact the Central Coast Bears’ newsletter editor on 0422 445 696. Again this month we will award a Name: Blaine Nelson free Bears Training Shirt to the first WIN!! Club: Ourimbah-Wyoming Magpies 11/1's person who submits the correct Position: centre, second row. answers to: [email protected]. How long have you played Rugby League: 5 years.

Please use a subject line of Rugby League Achievements: 10/1's Premiers 2011 (playing my Grand Final at “Grizzly Gazette Trivia, Member #” Bluetongue Stadium), Best and Fairest U6's 2007, U7's 2008, U8's 2009, 9/1's 2010,

10/1's 2011, leading point scorer U7's 2008, U8's 2009, 9/1's 2010, 10/1's 2011.

Favourite Rugby League Player: Billy Slater. Q 1. In what year did the South Queensland What do you most like about rugby league: Tackling people and scoring tries.

Crushers join the ARL competition? What would a Central Coast NRL side mean to you: I hope that one day that I am

able to play in the NRL for the Central Coast Bears on Bluetongue Stadium. Q2. What was the score in North Sydney’s Grand Final win over Glebe in 1922?

Q3. How many first grade matches did Gary Quote of the Month

Larson play for North Sydney?

“Mosman is my life and it’s been terrific.’’ Q4. What NRL matches will be played at the Photo of the month!

Central Coast’s Bluetongue stadium this Bears hard at work season? Councillor, Dom Lopez, OAM. during The Entrance Mardi Gras. Q5. Which club won the Central Coast Rugby League premiership last season?

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