Our Coach
(A poem presented to Lyman Trethowan by the Paynesville Under 15s at the conclusion of the 1987 season.)
The footy seasons over
And we gave it our best
But who was it who pushed us
And put us to the test?
Our Coach!
For 50 training sessions
In weather foul and fair
Who was it exhausting us?
The boss was always there.
Our Coach!
Who chased us around at training
And wrestled on the ground?
Did we hurt or injure him?
He didn’t make a sound.
Our Coach!
And when we had no transport
And hitch-hiked to the game
Who burned up in his wagon
And to the rescue came?
Our Coach!
Who was it who roared and roared at us
And orders, orders fired?
Who made us all try super hard
Even when we were so tired?
Our Coach!
Who phones up homes on Sunday
And checks on aches and sprains?
Parents give no sympathy
But someone checks the pain
Our Coach!
We all had our injuries
Bumps, bruises, pains and itches
But who was it, the only one
Who finished up with stitches?
Our Coach!
Although we are not the premiers
Paynesville; we’ve done you proud
Who was it encouraged us
And team-man-ship allowed?
Our Coach!
For the many hours of training
Theres one thing we can boast
We may not be the winners
But we had the greatest coach.
Well done Lyman.
Great Effort.
The above poem reflects the high regard in which Lyman Trethowan is held in the world of Junior Football in East Gippsland.
Lyman was coach of the Paynesville Under 13s in 1986 and then went on to coach the under 15s from 1987 to 1993.
Lyman was awarded Life Membership of the Bairnsdale and District Junior Football Association in 1997.
He was a founding member of the B&DJFA Executive in 1988, taking on the role of Treasurer, a position he then held continuously until the end of the 2003 season. This was a total of sixteen years of dedicated service.
During the time Lyman was Treasurer the B&DJFA introduced a number of innovative initiatives, policies, procedures and by laws designed to encourage player participation.
One of the key initiatives was an Insurance Scheme for players, a forerunner to the present VCFL/JLT Scheme. The scheme was based on all ten member clubs contributing a nominal amount for four years, to establish a financial base of $10,000, and then a yearly premium was charged per club. The pay out for injuries was up to $500 above MediCare.
The only fund raiser conducted by the B&DJFA was the final’s series, which were organised by the Life Members and Executive. The clubs operated the canteen and provided stewards. Volunteers acted as gatekeepers and umpires. The money raised from the finals enabled the B&DJFA to cover all costs for the next season (Umpires, Inter league etc.) and thus reduced the operating cost for each member club. Each club only had to pay an annual membership of $100. This enabled the clubs to keep player registrations to a minimal cost. It also enabled struggling clubs to survive and also enabled a wide cross section of people to continue to participate in football. Also during the finals club representatives acted as officials wearing blue coats to ensure that a safe playing environment was maintained. The B&DJFA also introduced the flying of the club pennants for the Grand Final, adding colour and a high degree of professionalism to the day.
Another initiative was to set a limit on the number of players a club could register. The Under 15s had a limit of 22 players and the Under 13s had a limit of 28. This was designed to encourage players to play with the out of town clubs who were often struggling for numbers. Players who came up through the junior ranks of a club would retain the right to play for their own club. However players wishing to play for another club would have to gain approval from the Executive. This was designed to prevent the stronger clubs from becoming stronger and provided the opportunity for a wide range of clubs to taste premiership success.
The B&DJFA also
introduced a winning margin concept for the Under 13s (30 points) and Under 15s (60 points).
implemented a yellow and red card Send Off system, which included an automatic one-week suspension for any player issued with two cards in the season.
enforced an automatic send off for audible obscene language, with an automatic one week suspension. This was designed to instil a high level of discipline in players.
introduced a 15 metre penalty for the Under 12s/13s and a 30 metre penalty for the Under 15s/16s as opposed to a 50 metre.
implemented a no slinging rule.
implemented a no undue rough play rule (no shirt fronts).
implemented a Code of Conduct to deal with club officials, parents and spectators.
implemented its own Independent Tribunal and also had an Investigations Officer.
implemented a no kicking off the ground rule for the Under 12s/13s along with a one bounce rule.
provided jumper subsidies to clubs and also provided financial support to players in Schoolboys squads as well as players in Inter league squads.
In 1998 the B&DJFA decided that they would move to an Independent Executive. Thus no longer could a club representative be on the Executive.
The rotation of the position of president was introduced in 1999 when John Sharrock, from the Swan Reach JFC was elected.
The president was permitted to stay on in the position for a second year and thus in 2000 and 2001 Trevor Bourke from the Bairnsdale JFC held the position.
Lyman fondly recalls his time as a coach with Paynesville and as Treasurer of the B&DJFA. He recalls having the paper shop at Paynesville and looking out the window on a Sunday morning to see who had turned up to play. Then cramming 11 players into a Falcon Station Wagon! Lyman gets much enjoyment from past players now coming up to him and chatting about their fond memories of their football days and also showing Lyman their own children!!! On a lighter side Lyman recalls rules discussed such as sending off a player who had his boxer shorts hanging out of his football shorts. On the frustration side Lyman would have loved to see the AFL or even the TAC Cup having a more visible presence in the local area. He believes that it would be of great benefit for the local players to see at first hand the higher level and thus give them something to which to aspire.