President

President's Report to the AGM

The following report was included in the handout for 2009's AGM, held back on November 18th. It is reproduced here for those unable to attend on the night.

These past three years have been a time of growth and change for the Heathmont Football Club, we have watched the development and growth of our young team, we have experienced the ultimate in finals success, we have also experienced agonising losses and missed chances. But these are the experiences on which a strong club is built and all of us face a challenge both on and off the field in Season 2010 to meet that challenge successfully.

The club’s thanks goes to our coaches; to Gareth for taking on the role of Senior Coach this year his dedication to the club and playing group are unquestioned and were evident for all to see. To Wally for taking on the reserves group for one last time and to Duncan for putting his hand up to take on our young U18's. Thank you to their assistants, Pete Campbell, Mark Okur, Daniel Raftis and Glen Wilson for their help on the track and game day. To the respective Team Managers, Lesley Knudsen, Athol Warman and Joffa Taylor on taking on an often thankless task. And to the runners, Daniel Lane, Matt Carr and Ben Lister and Pete Forsyth.

There were also a few milestones and acknowledgements this season, to our Captain Levi Horton congratulations on eventually playing his 200th senior game with the Club and well on the way to breaking the club record of 257. To Darren Paul on his 150th Senior game and to Matt Baker playing his 100th game. Also to Mick Aitken for being chosen in the SEN Division 3 team of the 2009, to Kelly Sverns on her EFL Trainer of the Year Award, and to Alli Parker on her EFL Media award [with a special mention to Mick Aitken!]

The club also awarded Chris Walter Life Membership this year. He has been a part of four premiership sides with Heathmont over the past 11 years, he has also taken on the role of junior coach on five different occasions during that time. Achieving Lightning Premiership success this year with his U11's and he is now playing alongside some of his earlier charges in the Seniors.

Also over these three years off field, the club has continued to follow the business strategy we began three years ago and have put procedures and business practices in place that should see the sustained financial stability in the years ahead. This season another coterie group was introduced – Jetstream 200 – and proved to be very successful with 47 members in the first year. This group combined with the Heathmont Honeys, fundraising efforts, sponsorship and merchandise sales all contribute to the health of the club and a stable future.

This time has also been a time of relationship building and this season we can see the results of one such relationship, with the much needed improvements and upgrades that the Council has carried out at HE Parker. They have been hard at work with the installation of our disabled facilities and upgrading of rest rooms, to the bitumen car park and asphalting in front of the rooms. The works are still in progress and the majority should be finished by the time next season starts. It’s taken a long time. Our next project is improved lighting on the top oval, and we are currently sourcing quotes and information from various parties about what will be required.

On behalf of the club I would like to express our gratitude to the band of hard working committee people who have had a hand in setting us down this track. There are a couple of these people stepping aside from key positions next season and the club would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to them for their efforts over the past three years. Firstly to our Treasurer Wendy Garland, who took on the role three years ago and has worked tirelessly to put many of these procedures in place. We thank her for her fantastic effort over this time and she leaves knowing that the club, for the first time in many years, is on a financial up! And to our Head Trainer of the past three years Kelly Sverns, who added this senior role to her ongoing Junior commitment as their Trainer Coordinator. Kelly’s tireless effort in establishing injury management guidelines and other preventative practices has been crucial in developing a more professional approach and attitude in areas related to the well being of our players.

Thanks also to the rest of my committee, Gareth Woodcock, Athol Warman, Stuart Purdon, Chris Mirtschin, Daniel Lane, Jono Knudsen, Alli Parker, Andrew Malcolm, Russell Bail, Chez and Wes Carroll. And to our band of volunteers. To Joffa for marking the grounds. To our Time Keeper Tim Hacking. To our trainers, Kelly, Russell, Tracy Banyari, Rob Edwards and physio Travis Klucheen. To Dick Shrimpton for running the Past Players. To our Canteen helpers, Doreen Taylor, Stacey Parker and Megan Annetts, and to all the other band of workers that helped out during the season. A special thank you to all our sponsors for Season 2009, who in these times of financial crisis, still showed their strong support for our community based club. And lastly, thank you to all the players that pulled on a Heathmont jumper this season, and continued to play for that jumper, week in and week out, sometimes against all odds.

So onto Season 2010, planning has begun in earnest - especially in the football operations department - with the appointment of Steve Buckle as the Senior coach for the next two seasons. Whilst only new to Heathmont in this season, Steve quickly earned the respect of the playing group, committee and supporters alike with his committed approach to the Heathmont both on and off the field. He has always had a desire to coach and jumped at the opportunity when it became apparent that Gareth Woodcock would be unable to continue in 2010. Steve is busy preparing the playing list for next season and continuing the development of the young Heathmont players as we once again re-enter Division 4 – albeit for a short time. We are still finalising the coaching combination for Reserves and Under 18’s but this will be finalised before pre-season starts next week on November 25.

In closing I would just like to say - It takes many people to make up the fabric of the Heathmont Football Club, and there will always be opportunities for involvement in the running of the club from volunteering on the committee, to helping out on game day, during the week, fundraising, or sponsorship, club notes, newsletters, social events, raffles etc. - the list goes on. The club has to continually evolve, to continue on this path of growth and development. To achieve this, the club needs new ideas and fresh approaches, not from just the same few but from all our members, players and supporters alike. I would ask you all to seriously think how you could help, even in a small way, to keep the Heathmont Football Club going forward in the right direction – UP!

- Joanne Hart-Parker, President.