41st Annual Report & Financial Statement Of The Penrith District Rugby League Referees Association In Honour of one of our founding members, Mr. Len Manuel SEASON 2007 Dedication The 41st Annual Report and Financial Report of the Penrith District Referees Association, Is dedicated to the memory of one our founding members and Life Member, the Late Len Manuel, may he rest in peace and the Association continue to move in a direction that would make him proud. 41st Annual Report & Financial Statement Page 2 / 65 OFFICE BEARERS 2007 Patrons: Peter Browne, Don Courts, Tony Danks, Gary Haines, Ian McCall, Len Manuel, Les Matthews President: John Robinson Vice President: Fred Lucas Treasurer: Greg Yates Secretary: John Woods Referees’ Coordinator: Brett Lynch Board of Management: Thomas Aylett, Luke Evans, David Ryan, Col Smith Casey Wouters Assistant Treasurer: Jay Farlow Minute Secretary: David Ryan/Thomas Aylett Gear Steward: Rohan Best NSWRLRA Delegate Daniel Olford NSWRLRA Proxy Delegate Lawrence McDonell Penrith DJRL Delegates: Fred Lucas & Casey Wouters Penrith DJRL Proxy Delegate: Col Smith Social Secretary: Luke Evans Social Committee: Luke Parker, James Davidson, Courtney Goldsmith, Thomas Aylett, Fred & Curtis Lucas, Sarah & Shannon Lewis, John Woods Appointments Board: Barry Beveridge, Chris Heinemeyer, Brian Waiting. Advisory Panel: Thomas Aylett, Paul Burton, Shane Dicinoski, James Davidson, John Woods, Col Smith, Shannon Lewis N.R.A.S Coordinator: Barry Beveridge Coaching Directors: Chris Heinemeyer and Fred Lucas Internal Auditors: Luke Evans & Mathew Sosimenko Life Member: Chris Heinemeyer Merit Award Committee: Luke Evans, Don Courts, Gary Haines Life Membership Committee: Peter Browne, Don Courts, Fred Lucas Welfare Coordinator: Luke Evans 41st Annual Report & Financial Statement Page 3 / 65 TABLE OF CONTENTS PATRONS REPORT 5 PRESIDENTS REPORT 6 VICE PRESIDENTS REPORT 9 VALE LEN MANUEL 10 SECRETARY’S REPORT 11 VALE JACK MYERS 15 TREASURERS REPORT 16 FINANCIAL STATEMENT & AUDIT REPORT 17 REFEREES COORDINATORS REPORT 18 JUNIOR LEAGUE REPORT 20 NRAS COORDINATORS REPORT 21 COACHING DIRECTORS REPORT 22 TRAINERS REPORT 23 SOCIAL SECRETARY’S REPORT 24 GEAR STEWARD’S REPORT 25 JUNIOR REP REPORT 26 JUNIOR REP SQUAD REPORT 27 NRL REPORT 28 RUSSELL TURNER’S NRL GRAND FINAL EXPERIENCE 29 2007 GRAND FINAL TEAMS 31 2007 GRAND FINAL APPOINTMENTS 38 2007 LIFE MEMBERS PRESENTATION 40 2008 LIFE MEMBERSHIP NOMINATIONS 41 2007 AWARDS 43 HONOUR ROLE 50 LOOKING BACK 54 MEETING ATTENDANCE 56 2006 AGM MEETING MINUTES 58 2008 MEETING DATES 63 2008 OFFICE BEARERS 64 41st Annual Report & Financial Statement Page 4 / 65 PATRONS REPORT Another successful season has been completed and my congratulations must go to all those both on and off the field who have contributed to the success. To be a great Association we depend on the effectiveness of those who referee the games each weekend. Each of us needs to strive to become an effective referee. In doing this you should review your performance continuously. At the end of each game spend 15 minutes considering your successes and mistakes and learn from them. Be determined to improve. Experience alone will not bring improvement. Welcome constructive criticism from your peers and members of the appointments board. Work hard‐ there is no easy way to the top. Expect to have prove yourself in every game you referee. Read the rule book continuously and watch the techniques of your fellow referees. Adopt those you feel comfortable with. Always look for ways to improve your effectiveness and efficiency on the field. As we get older we have to fight the inclination to cling to the way we use to do things. Do not be frightened to change your style if needed. Plan your future. Occasionally you will get a lucky break but do not rely on it happening. Set yourself realistic targets and plan ways to achieve them. Remember the old adage “success is a matter of working hard to achieve it – ask those who have failed.” In conclusion may I wish you all success in your achievements in the coming season. Don Courts Life Member Patron 41st Annual Report & Financial Statement Page 5 / 65 PRESIDENTS REPORT Well that was the year that was. Personally and from a management point of view it could be a year to forget for a number of reasons. I will put the negatives aside and dwell on the positives which include our major sponsor Watts Commercial Furniture taking up their two year option until the end of 2009, the extension of the District Club agreement for another five years until the end of 2012 and the procurement of our new sleeve sponsor Airstall Air Conditioning for three years. These agreements ensure the continued capability of the Association to stand alone now and in the future; however it is you the members in conjunction with the future Boards of Management that will ensure this capability is maintained for many years to come. All the hard work by the respective Boards of Management over recent years to achieve this status should not be fruitless. Continued budgeting, prudent financial control and a committed Treasurer are mandatory to ensure this outcome. Again as in 2006 the season was relatively incident free. It was most pleasing to note the incidents involving referee abuse was on the decline. A major initiative this year involving our Association, the Junior League and the South Wales Rugby League was to trial the “learner vests” for our new and inexperienced referees. This initiative proved a great success and those referees who contributed are to be congratulated. It was disappointing to report our fund raiser this year again was not supported by the members, notwithstanding it was a success, albeit minor. The contribution or should I say the lack of contribution by our members puts these type of nights in jeopardy. As reported last year our constitution was overhauled and presented to our members at a Special Meeting held in September. Although not all suggested revisions were accepted by the members both Gary Haines and Jason Robinson are to be thanked for their efforts in this regard and for their ongoing commitment to this Association in general. Sadly before a whistle was blown this season over the Christmas Holiday period our Association lost one of its favourite sons and also one of its closest friends. Len Manuel finally succumbed to an ongoing illness. Len was a tireless contributor not only to our Association but also for the Junior League and District Club for well in excess of 50 years. Additionally the Junior League lost a long time contributor and friend to our Association, Jack Myers. Jack was the Chairman of the Junior League Board and Judiciary Committee for many years. Both will be sadly missed by all associated with Rugby League in the Penrith District. Sadly also a number of members lost loved ones this year – to those members the Board of Management extend its deepest sympathies. On a brighter note, it was pleasing to see the emergence of a number of Junior Referees and especially the number of juniors we now have. This and the coaching and development of these referees ensure our Association will remain at the forefront of referee retention and development. 41st Annual Report & Financial Statement Page 6 / 65 Congratulations to: ¾ Chris Heinemeyer, awarded Life Membership for his valuable contribution to our Association ¾ Russell Turner for his appointment as a Side Line Official to the Anzac Test, 2 x State of Origins and the NRL Grand Final ¾ Rickey McFarlane for his appointment as In Goal Judge for the Premier League Grand Final ¾ Melissa Yates for her appointment as Side Line Official to the Jersey Flegg Grand Final ¾ To Phillip Haines for his appointment to the NRL Full Time Squad ¾ To all other NRL Squad Members, NSWRA Graded Members, Development Squad Members and all active members of our Association ¾ To Daniel Olford on a “fantastic” year culminating in his appointment to his first 1st Division A Grade Grand Final and for “scooping the pool” with the Jack Harris Merit Award and The Bob Kandelas Referees Referee Award ¾ To all the other award winners – congratulations and well done ¾ To all referees who participated in the finals series for both Saturday and Sunday games ¾ Luke Evans and the Social Committee yet again another successful “social season” ¾ Penrith DRL for their great success with their Junior Representative teams ¾ To those members who become parents again in 2007 Thank you both personally and on behalf of the Association: ¾ Watts Commercial Furniture for their continued and invaluable sponsorship ¾ Airstall Air Conditioning for “signing” for 3 years as our sleeve sponsor ¾ Brett Lynch, The Appointments Board and all other members of the various Boards, Committees and Panels ¾ Michael Leary, Anne McLaren and the District Club for their ongoing support and commitment for the next 5 years ¾ Don Feltis, Yvonne Purtell and the Junior League for their support and assistance ¾ To the respective Boards of Management I have worked with over the last 5 years ¾ To Tony Danks for his support personally and at an Association level and for “those words” – I shall never forget them For those of you who are considering nominating for the position of President/Chairman of the Board of Management it may be prudent to note the following: This role over the past number of years has changed to a large degree. We as an Association now turn over in excess of $160,000.00 per season compared to about $100,000.00 only a short number of years ago – and increase in turnover of 60%. The President should now have the following skills as a minimum, obtained from a position in employment of “middle management” or greater: The ability to chair BOM Meetings and General Meetings, mature attitude, have good communication skills both written and oral, have good negotiation skills, have a knowledge of Association policies and procedures, be computer literate in Word, Excel and Outlook, have leadership and management skills, have an ability to maintain and manage budgets and finances to ensure the Association remains viable and stable and have good conflict resolution skills.