1982 Presidents Report

May I start this report by saying that I have had the good fortune to be President in what has been one of Old Collegians best years over.

In winning the First Grade Premiership from Brighton after 10 years our club has achieved something for which all members can be proud. It is not just the winning that counts but the way In which the Club as a whole responded to what has shaping up to be a very difficult year which sets It apart.

At the start of this season we had half a committee, virtually no players at pre-season training and a budget which predicted a deficit.

To add to our troubles we lost Barry Maloney as secretary very early In the season and this left a large hole in our organisation.

Fortunately. at about this time interest seemed to be rekindled and the members rallied to the cause. We found a new secretary the newsletter found an editor and the show got on the road.

We still had trouble getting players and this resulted in us deciding. against our wishes to withdraw from 4th Grade.

The other grades. with exception of 2nds gained momentum and started producing the sort of rugby the Club is known for* To the 2nds I can only apologise. We were unable until very late in the season to find a permanent coach for them and naturally their enthusiasm waned. To those who plugged on and tried so hard. my thanks and admiration.

As the season progressed the improvement in the atmosphere at the Club was marked. Led by our secretary the ladies mobilised and we were able to enjoy afternoon teas and Saturday night meals of a high standard throughout the season.

If what has been started by this years ladies is carried on in future both in the work department and in the excellent game support they provided then the club will prosper.

During the season we also played host to numerous interstate teams generally at very short notice and my thanks go to those who provided billets and to Eric Thiele for his famed magician act in the kitchen,

Ian Hackett provided us with the idea of raffling a 1928 Rugby Car and with good support from our members this was a great success both in publicity and fund raising.

Our social season was most successful and our thanks go to those who helped in organising each function and. most importantly to those who took the opportunity to attend.

Towards the end of the season it became obvious we were going to be finals contenders in 1st Grade and U/18's. The U/18's had a wonderful season and we were extremely pleased to see so many of them get involved in their Club and to see the senior members take the time to support what will be our future 1st Graders.

Our 1st Grade provided both themselves and us many heart stopping moments. Injury after injury seemed to decimate the team and I believe it is a great demonstration of the characters of both the players and their coach John Davies that our army of walking wounded not only made the Grand Final but won it against top opposition. I would imagine that anyone who saw the last 10 minutes of that game would acknowledge the courage of our team and the dedication of our supporters. Well done.

Speaking of supporters our Supporter of the Year was Tony Bew. Tony's behind the scenes work as well as his sideline support and unfailing belief in "my boys" provides an example that we would all do well to follow.

In this regard I would also like to mention a few others who showed similar spirit. I apologise in advance if I have forgotten anyone but I feel special mention is due to people such as Mr & Mrs Campion & the Sprys, the Finn family, Danny McCartan, Eric Thiele and Lional Curnow.

The last but not least in this category is our Clubman of the Year, Margarat De La Motte.

Marg's aptitude and attitude would have been apparent to you all during the season but this was merely the tip of the iceberg. The work done behind the scenes by Margaret was known to only a few of us and she carries my sincere admiration for a top job.

I should point out that this was the first time in the history of the club that this award has been won by a lady and I can't think of a better person to hold that honour.

I would also personally like to thank my wife Leonie. Without her support and help I doubt that I could have done the job.

For the future. I think we should try to get some of our ex?players and supporters back to the club. Perhaps one way to do this may be a "Past Players" monthly lunch or something similar but you may have some ideas on this.

Finally may I say thank you to you all for a year that has given me my biggest thrill since I lost my virginity and leave you with the thought that we must Look Ahead.

R.F. McDANIEL, PRESIDENT.

	1982	1981	1980
Senior Players	50	53	70
Non- Players, Country Members	30	57	70
Ladies/Associates.	25	31	7
Juniors.	9	7	8
Life Members.	8	8	7
Long Term Members	9	9	10
	140	185	181
To the figure for 1981 & 1982 ‑ we have to add the cricketing membership of
	31	29

This year - due to the considerable work done by Andy Secker and John Hardy in the printing , and Barbie Finn the typing. Many thanks to these and all other contributors. The newsletter in the coming year is off to a good start, Berri Wines have undertaken to print the newsletter. Thanks to Tony Spawton.
I have enjoyed my involvement with the newsletter thus (sic - kiwi joke?) year but i am no longer able to make the commitment required. I hope that my successor will have the same pleasure as I did to report the winning of the Grand Final.

Of course 1982 will be remembered as the first year since 1971 that any team except Brighton/Glenelg won the "A" Grade Premiership. This is especially noteworthy in the Golden Anniversary of rugby union in South Australia.

Thanks must go not only to the players for the time and effort that they put into this goal throughout the year but also to the coach (John Davies), the team manager (Tony Bew and at times Mick Finn), the players from lower grades who helped out when numbers were down, the selector (Alan Spry) and the loyal supporters who followed us from Elizabeth to Morphett Vale.

Special thanks must be extended to the Feathers Hotel for supplying the "A" Grade with track suits and to Harry Clarke for donating the alternative strip which was used to great effect during the Finals. Support such as theirs makes the players' road easier to tread.

Despite this success, there were one or two disquieting factors that merit attention next year.

The dearth of players this year resulted sometimes in there not being enough to fill the Second and Third Grades together. A choice had to be made from week to week as to which team was to have priority. I suggest that the incoming Committee consider this matter early in the season and make a firm decision for guidance through the year.

Congratulations to Bob Inskip, Wasea and Tim Campion for their selection to play for the State must also be extended,

Finally a new set of lights was installed during the year and helped the performance of training considerably.

The social year got off to a resounding start with the Annual Christmas Party. Under the astute direction and entreprenural skills of Barry Maloney (alas now in the Sunshine State), Fat Cat, Ian Wilson and the Whirly Birds (?) and the big man himself, Santa 'Donger' Claus put on a magnificant show for approximately fifty very excited kids.

Howard Clay and family hosted the 1982 President's Garden Party on a cold bleak Sunday afternoon at Heathfield. Fortunately sanity prevailed and no one, voluntarily or otherwise wvent yabbying in the dam.

In an effort to wipe away the pre?season blues, a band of merry folk boarded a Quest Tours bus for another of those forgettable Progressive Dinners. The Brecknock, Queens Read, Old Lion and Buckingham Arms came in for some most unusual treatment. Who was that calling for Ruth at the Old Lion?

Roger McDaniel brought a new innovation to the club social calendar with the first club Quiz Night. A great financial and social success and a definite starter for '83.

Danny and Eric joined forces to organise the Twenties Night. It was a night that held great potential and indeed was a great night, but where were all the "I'm gonna's" who didn't show up.

Ray Murphy slipped in a golf day at Murray Bridge during July. Can someone please explain NAGA to Peter French?

As the season got into top gear the SARU held its 50th Anniversary Dinner. It was an enormous success due in no small way to the efforts of Julie Millar (SARU Sec.), Bob Stafford-Lee, and a little guy from Bendigo called Howl Twit!

The Revue, organized by Arch and Julie Younger with assistance from Tim Naylor and Brendan McCarten lived up to its reputation an one of the highlights of the year. Does anyone remember the Leyland Bros, Luigi and Maria, the Rev. Fred Bile and some clown with a shark hat and no face?

The Auction was revived after a two year spell and with the inimitable assistance of Darry Bradbrook the club raised $670.00. Anne-Maree and Eric prepared another marvellous meal for the Ladies and Players night prior to the Grand Final and then to cap off a magnificent year Tony Matthews hosted the Annual Presentation Dinner at the Feathers.

All in all it was far and away the best social year I have experienced and my sincere thanks to all the above mentioned people for their enthusiasm.

Regrettably but with deliberate intent I close this report on a negative note. In order to organize any occasion, an organizer needs a relatively accurate indication of numbers. It should not be his or her responsibility to personally approach individual club members to establish their willingness to attend. If you want to come to any club function get off your butt and tell the organiser. Furthermore, if you have promised to attend a function and then don't show up, then you may well find yourself with an account in the mail.

1982 Club Reports