After being president for the last two years and on the committee for more than a decade, Scott Jaques has handed over the presidency reins to Ross Mulquiney.
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“It’s time for me to stand aside,” the outgoing president said at the Yarrawonga Football Netball Club’s Annual General Meeting on December 3.
“It’s been a tremendous privilege to be involved at this proud club. Sincere best wishes to the incoming committee. Go Pigeons!”
Mr Mulquiney expressed his appreciation and thanks to Mr Jaques and all committee members on their contributions to the club to date, and to Chris Kennedy and Scott Pendergast, who have stepped down from the committee, for their contributions.
“We’re pretty lucky, we have a very diverse group of people ready to go,” the 40-year-old solicitor with Hargraves Solicitors Yarrawonga told the Yarrawonga Chronicle about this year’s committee. “I’m looking forward to the season.”
At the AGM, Mr Jaques delivered a detailed and comprehensive report on 2019, the 90th year of Yarrawonga’s affiliation with the Ovens & Murray, the longest continual stint of any club.
“The YFNC of today has almost 600 footballers and netballers, encompassing Friday night junior footy, Saturday mornings at Wangaratta junior netball, Saturdays in the Ovens and Murray, Sunday junior football and more recently women’s football,” he said.
“Along with coaches, family and friends, volunteers, members, sponsors there are significant numbers participating each weekend from March to September. Our sporting landscape continues to evolve, with a third women’s football age group being considered for 2020, while the O&M ponders the inclusion of a fourth football side (U16) and a fifth netball side (U15).
“Our club enjoyed on field success again this season. Five of our O&M teams made finals, as did all three Sunday boys football sides and three of the Wang Junior netball sides. The Reserves, U14s boys and C grade netballers won premierships.”
The outgoing president mentioned two milestones for next season, being the club’s football record holder Xavier Leslie (298 games) and Scott Oswald (199 games).
“As our recent tagline says, ‘It’s more than a game’; to our players, coaches, game day helpers, trainers, playing groups, we say thanks,” Mr Jaques said.
“To the many volunteers who help on the gate (Past Players), in the canteen and bar (including Googy Runnalls, Pete Elliott, Steve York and John Futcher), with setup or clean up, on Thursday nights or at functions, we say thanks. To Rob Lorey and crew for your year-round maintenance at the clubrooms, thank you. To the many members who support at games, we applaud you. Followers of the YFNC are as proud and passionate as any club in the O&M. We are fortunate for the significant input for our junior programmes over many years, led this year by Phil Conway and Nathan Tresize (YDLL), Lauren Mulquiney (Wang Junior Netball), Damian Cummins (AWJFL), Cath Blick and Sheree Spiteri (women’s football).
“I’d also like to acknowledge our staff in Andy Jaques and more recently Olivia Surrey (Admin Officer part-time), also to Tracey Noy (Canteen Coordinator). Special mention to Graeme Beazley (Property and Thursday night teas) and Ross Duncan (Trainer), who announced their retirement at seasons end after many years of service. Thank you to outgoing senior football coach Damien Sexton.
“On behalf of the committee, I’d also like to thank the many businesses and individuals who sponsor the club, either financially and/or in kind. In particular, ClubMulwala (25+years) and Kennedy Builders have been major contributors. We welcomed back Silverwoods and the Golf Club as sponsors. This year a major raffle raised over $30,000 for the club. Thank you to the generous donation of holiday prizes by Aaron Loughnan, Alan Tripp, Matt Tripp, the Sexton and Kennedy families. Thanks also to Sam Ridley for her endeavours co-ordinating the raffle.
“The new fence and entrance to the JC Lowe oval brought challenges to parking, admirably tackled by our YAPPAs volunteers. We now have a facility that could potentially be used for gated events (concerts).
“The second netball court surface should be completed over the warmer months. We should see the lighting upgrade on the oval and courts (to LED) near completion before year’s end. An upgrade of the toilet block behind the court to a female-friendly change room is pending. Grant funding of $100k (from AFL & State Government) and $115k (Moira Shire) has been crucial, as has the support of the Holiday Park and Section 86 committee who manage the area. Thank you to Ross Mulquiney, the key driver of these projects.”
“Season 2020 will see a new Senior Football Coach in Mark Whiley and the effervescent Tracy Gillies returns as A Grade Netball Coach. Shane Forge (U18) and Bec Carlyle (U16) have also committed to joining the coaching ranks. There’s plenty to look forward to in the new season.”
Mr Jaques said the club continues to reduce its debt, albeit slowly which he said should remain a primary focus.
Treasurer Racheal Cartwright presented the trading results for the year ending October 31, 2019. “Income overall has increased by more than $120,000 from last year,” she said. “The increase comes from increased sponsorship funds, the major raffle and a lump sum payment from the AFL (in respect of the three 2018 drafted players).
“Gate takings were again down, by $7,500. This is on top of last year’s decrease of $5,653. Overall, we have seen an operating profit for the year of $73,004 following from last year’s loss of $22,352.
“With the increase in income we also saw an increase in GST accrual (payable), which helped us finish the year with an $23,579 ATO debt outstanding. We were able to clear all of 2017 and 2018 outstanding player payments during the year. Further, we have also made inroads into the 2019 player payments.”
Total liabilities have decreased from $267,107 to $204,193. “As a committee, we feel this result was overall a good outcome,” the treasurer said.
Journalist