Thank You
As the 2021 local football and netball seasons have come to an untimely end, due to pandemic conditions, we would like to take the time to pause and reflect on what has been another wonderful year in local winter sport – yes, indeed it has been wonderful, despite obvious challenges, if you read on, you will know why…..
We are grateful – for our exceptional 2021 Committee. Their work in leading and providing opportunity for boys, girls, men and women to train and play football and netball has been very well received. This group of volunteers have willingly given their time, week in week out since November 2020 when they were elected into Office at the club’s AGM. For many, it is not their first year in this leadership group – they have carried themselves brilliantly, taken on portfolios of responsibility and have continued the fine tradition of positive leadership for this wonderful club………thank-you.
We are grateful – for our fantastic sponsors. Many sponsors have been with the club for years and years – some even decades. Some are brand new. The loyalty and willingness to assist this club is quite over-whelming. The impact of the pandemic certainly had the club braced for hard times financially – things are tough, but no way near as tough as predicted due to the generosity of our sponsors. This group are ever-present ‘behind the scenes’, they reach out to support the club, its coaches and players in a variety of methods and do so with a keen sense of being an integral part of the club and its town - we know that their support will continue in the coming years. Please take the time to head to our club website and social media and note down these businesses……….we want you to support them and join with us when we see them again, by saying…….thank-you.
We are grateful – for our coaches and players across all nine teams (5 netball, 4 football). These individuals number well in excess of 150 individuals who have been extremely resilient in their approach - training and games disrupted regularly over the 2021 season has certainly made it all that more challenging. The connection each member of this group has to their team-mates and coaches is something that is admirable – albeit intangible - yet is a bond that is now more valued than ever before. The joy that has been bought to many people in being able to watch these players and coaches perform so well against talented opposition across the Goulburn Valley is under-sold in its impact on the positive well-being of the broader community. We are so happy everyone in this group are involved in our club…….thank-you.
We are grateful – for our enormous number of volunteers. Yes, we see you – doing ‘your job’ to help contribute to the cause. People prepared to staff the gate on home games, write reports on matches for our social media/local media, take vital statistics for our coaching staff, run the scoreboard and/or time-keep for matches, run the boundary line and even wave some flags as goal umpires. There are many who have diligently collected, cut and distributed loads and loads of wood, sold (and bought) raffle tickets each Friday night – all this work helping to make sure the club ‘makes ends meet’ and is able to involve as many as possible. We have a team of trainers looking after players, team managers ensuring things go smoothly up to and including match-day, umpires officiating to enable games to be held as well as management committee/ground staff ensuring the playing surfaces and facilities are ready to train and play on. Of course, there are the volunteers who meet our culinary needs so well – our wonderfully talented Thursday night catering team, the extensive Saturday canteen crew (still happily receiving slices each home game made by even more volunteers out in the community), Hill Bar staff, Hot Dog ‘experts’, BBQ ‘boys’ and our ever-increasing-in-popularity marquee coordinator! We have a Bar Manager who has ensured all these culinary delights are able to be ‘washed down’ accordingly. Our photographer’s skills are even more appreciated – there are so many more people who are able to link to what is happening for our club and its people, thanks to the skills of those ‘behind the lens’. With our Goods and Services Auction having to be postponed (now set for November 20 at the Seven Creeks Hotel, 6pm-9pm) we salute the core group of volunteers who again have put together an excellent list of over 120 items. Our players volunteer in so many ways as well – running water, serving in the canteen, setting-up and packing-away on a home game……again, we are delighted with your volunteering attitude and say……..thank-you.
We are grateful – for the way we are able to be such a huge part of people’s lives. We treat this relationship with the respect it deserves, knowing there are ones who we have lost this year, and previous years, who we miss and will continue to miss. Our connection to one-another through the club is powerful and is, in essence, the fabric of a sports club in a town like Euroa. This connection is not something we take for granted and has been highlighted even more in terms of its power and purpose in recent years…….thank-you.
So, as you have taken the time to read this and perhaps are one of the multitude of people being spoken about throughout this reflective piece then please take the time to pat yourself on the back (we would love to but covid restrictions and all……hehehe) – you deserve it!
We look forward to seeing you soon – be it at our Family Fun Day/Presentation Day (October 24, 12noon to 3pm, Memorial Oval Euroa), Goods and Services Auction (November 20, Seven Creeks Hotel, 6pm-9pm), AGM (November 29, 7pm, format/venue tbc) or even when the players are able to start training again (and we are allowed to go watch them) sometime later on this year.
Go Pies!
Scott Watson, President, Euroa FNC
Last Modified on 29/09/2021 09:43