2012 Connecting Communities in 2011 The new Vietnam Swans’ logo, designed by Ross McRae and unveiled at the 2011 Asian Championships. 1 February, 2012 Objectives of the Club • To play regular competitive, international matches to: • Create the reason for the Club to exist • Appeal to players who like competition, travel and being part of a Club • Improve the general level of fitness of members • To develop and maintain a Club culture that is social, family friendly and welcomes a far broader group than just hard-core footballers • To give back to the local community; eg supporting swimming initiatives that reduce the number of drownings in Vietnam • To create special and significant functions / events that provide attendees with a richer experience than otherwise would be possible • To use Aussie Rules - Australia’s Signature Sport – as a vehicle to promote Australian causes/interests where appropriate • To use our Club as a vehicle to promote our sponsors to ensure they receive fair value for their sponsorship Aussie Rules is marginal and fringe in Vietnam. By doing the above - as well as it being good to do - it increases our relevance to a wider community. In turn, that supports our need to continually recruit new players to play footy – our raison d’etre. Key achievements of 2011 • Key role in raising $45,000 for victims of Queensland floods • Support role in assisting Kiwis raise $100,000 for victims of Christchurch earthquakes • Key role in establishing Annual Swing to Swim Charity Golf Day which, in its first year raised $25,000 to reduce the number of drownings in Vietnam. • Raised additional $5,000 for other local charitable causes • Played abroad in Malaysia, Bangkok and Lao • Played matches at home in Hanoi, Saigon and Vung Tau • Won the 3rd Annual ANZAC Friendship Match • Had our most successful campaign yet at the Asian Champs, reaching the Semi Finals • Won the Indochina Cup for the second consecutive year. • Remain undefeated for each of the three Phoenix Cups we have played against the Royal Australian Navy • Drafted and forwarded a submission to the Australian Government on behalf of 26 Australian Football Clubs in Asia regarding the televising of AFL Matches on Australia Network. Key achievements of 2011 • Further developed relationships with Vietnam Veterans • Forged closer relationships with Australian Consulate, Austrade and Australian Chamber of Commerce (eg viewing of ANZAC Friendship Match video at Consul General’s residence with Consul General, Austrade Commissioner, Board of Auscham and Swans’ Committee in attendance. • Recorded 85,000 hits on our website – up 32 per cent on 2010 • Received increased media coverage which included Channel 9 News and two separate articles in the Australian Football League’s (AFL’s) weekly Footy Record. • Welcomed the Australia Network as the Official Media Sponsor for our AFL Grand Final Parties in Hanoi and Saigon • Added our 600th name to our database • Welcomed our 16th National Sponsor • Unveiled our new club logo $45,000 raised for Queensland flood victims. January Queensland Premier thanks Swannies and Saigon Community Kiwis raise over USD100,000 supported by Vietnam Swans Sydney Swans donate jumpers to NZ Earthquake Fundraiser via Vietnam Swans. AFL Website and Footy Record report AFL Footy Record with Kiwi, John Garner and Sydney Swans Swannies, Phil Johns and Website Danny Armstrong. 2011 ANZAC Friendship Match, April. 2012 ANZAC Friendship Match, Vung Tau: Vietnam Swans Vs China Reds. Saturday, 21 April Australia’s Channel 9 covers ANZAC Friendship Match Peter Harvey reports on the ANZC Friendship Match for Channel 9. The colour Australian Consul General gives pre match address AFL Star, Richard Osborne addresses the post match Dinner So far, we have only played two ANZAC Friendship Matches. Where will this match be in another 5 or 10 years? ANZAC Dawn Service; AFL Footy Record For the second time in 2011, the AFL’s Footy Record reports on the Vietnam Swans $3,000 raised for charities at ANZAC • $1,000 for Swim Vietnam • $1,000 for Vung Tau Veterans and Friends’ Childrens’ Fund • $1,000 for two orphanages in Vung Tau Connecting with Veterans Rod Hill at Tommy’s Bar, Vung Tau and pictured above jumping into a cave in the Long Hai Hills from the documentary, “Minefield Ron Vernon at Tommy’s Bar. Vietnam”. Veteran who played in the 1968 Premiership at the Lord Mayor’s Oval, Vung Tau. Inaugural Swing to Swim Charity Golf Day, Montgomerie Links, May 2011. The Vietnam Swans played a key role in making this event happen. Saving lives in the water* * In Vietnam, more children die from drowning than road accidents. The Swing to Swim Charity Golf Day: • Raises awareness • Raises vital funds • Builds partnerships • Promotes our sponsors to a new audience $25,000 raised at Swing to Swim. Coverage in Vietnamese media. So far, we have only played one Swing to Swim Charity Golf Day. Where will this fundraiser be in another 5 or 10 years? Thanks from the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia “I sincerely thank the Vietnam Swans for your efforts. “The Swans have a fabulous group of supporters doing a great job and the Vietnam Swans are a credit to Australians working internationally.” Rob Bradley, CEO, Royal Life Saving Society of Australia 2012 Swing to Swim Charity Golf Day Montgomerie Links, Danang. Saturday, 17 March (Sponsorships and bookings welcome.) ANZAC Friendship Match screened at Consul General’s Residence, June The Austrade Commissioner, Tony Burchill premiered a video of the Inaugural ANZAC Friendship Match in 2010. It was screened at the Australian Consul General's residence in Saigon and was attended by the Consul General, Austrade Commissioner and members of the Auscham Board and Vietnam Swans' Committee. Repeated in Hanoi. Battle of the Codes fundraiser, June: $2,200 raised for Swim Vietnam The different sporting codes in Hanoi joined forces for the Battle of the Codes fundraiser. USD2,200 was raised for Swim Vietnam. Asian Championships, Bangkok, August • Eleven teams • Swannies have the largest touring party and the second largest squad of players • The Vietnam Swans reach the semi finals – our best performance since entering the Champs back in 2007 Australia Network Sponsors Swannies’ AFL Grand Final Parties, October. • Australia Network becomes the Vietnam Swans’ Official Media Sponsor for our Grand Final Parties in Hanoi and Saigon • To view Australia Network’s promo clip on You Tube, click here. (This clip was not aired on the television.) Swannies play Royal Australian Navy October The Swannies remember three special people, of different generations, connected with members of the Club For the third time in four years, the Vietnam Swans hosted a match against the Royal Australian Navy Back to Back Indochina Cup Premiers, November 26 November, Vientiane, Lao Combined Best & Fairest / Sponsor Presentations/ Christmas Parties. Hanoi. Saigon. December Melbourne events, Christmas / New Year The Vietnam Swans’ 5th The Vietnam Swans’ The Vietnam Swans’ Annual Test Cricket Day, 7th Annual Ryan Inaugural Celebration Members’ Pavilion, MCG. Jeffery Golf Classic, Soiree, Fitzroy. 19 18 attendees including Ivanhoe. 12 attendees, including Vietnam Veterans. attendees. Vietnam Veterans. Going forward, these events will only get bigger. Our Vietnam-based Club is only in its 9th year. Even in Australia, we are developing a rich history. 85,000 hits on Swannies’ website • In 2010, the Vietnam Swans website recorded 65,000 hits • In 2011, this figure increased by 32 per cent to 85,000 hits • Total No. of hits (as of Jan 2012: 284,000) • High visibility on Google. Good for Sponsors and Swannies. Swannies are active. 29 Photo Albums added in 2011 • In 2011, the Vietnam Swans added 29 photo albums to our Picasaweb library. Examples of other media in VN and Australia A library of media articles about the Vietnam Swans can be found at http://vietnamswans.com/in-the-press/ Kicking off 2012 The Inaugural Vietnam-Australia Friendship Match 7 January, 2012 The Vietnam Swans play the Southern Dragons from Melbourne for the Inaugural Vietnam-Australia Friendship Match. The Dragons are a team which comprises predominantly Australian players of Vietnamese origin. The 2012 Calendar so far 7 Jan, Saigon - Vietnam Swans vs Southern Dragons (Melbourne based team with Vietnamese Australian players) 26 Jan, Saigon - Vietnam Swans Australia Day Celebrations, Boomarang Bistro 11/12 Feb, Vung Tau - ANZAC Boot Camp Feb, Saigon - National Sponsors' Dinner (date tbc) 3 March, Phnom Penh - Cambodian Eagles Vs Vietnam Swans 17 March, Hoi An / Danang - The 2nd Annual Swing to Swim Charity Golf Day to raise funds for swimming initiatives in Vietnam to reduce the number of child drownings. 12.30pm shotgun start. 17 March, Saigon - Combined Gaelic/ Aussie Rules Tournament 31 March, Saigon - Vietnam Swans vs Abu Dhabi Falcons (tbc) 21 April, Vung Tau - 3rd Annual ANZAC Friendship Match, Vietnam Swans Vs China Reds 19 or 26 May, Guangzhou, China - Guangzhou Scorpions Vs Vietnam Swans (tbc) Sept, Beijing, China - 13th Annual Asian Championships (tbc) 29 Sept, Hanoi and Saigon - Vietnam Swans 2012 AFL Grand Final Parties November, Hanoi - 6th Indochina Cup (date tbc) November, Hanoi - Vietnam Swans Best & Fairest Count (date tbc) December, Hanoi & Saigon - Christmas Parties 28 December - Vietnam Swans' 6th Annual Test Cricket Day, Members' Pavilion, MCG 29 December - Vietnam Swans' 8th Annual Ryan Jeffery Golf Classic, Ivanhoe Golf Course, Melbourne 29 December - Vietnam Swans' 2nd Annual Twilight