Downs Rugby Limited 2015 Annual Report

Downs Rugby Limited 2015 Annual Report

CONTENTS Downs Rugby Committees Page 1 Chairman s Report Page 2 General Managers Report Page 4

OFFICE BEARERS AND LIFE MEMBERS.Board of Directors Mike Horan Chairman Danielle Bermingham Events Director Dick Webster Director/Secretary Robert Johnston High Performance Director Rod Hohn QCRU Director Barry O Sullivan Sponsorship Director Scott Mead Finance Director Life members Geoff Makim David Thompson Bill Flamsteed Don Trenerry Harry and Tess Hilder* Denis and Desly Hanrahan Michael Doherty John Handley Gary Bloustien *Sadly deceased

COMMITTEES Thank you to everyone who will be a part of Downs Rugby in 2016! We look forward to a great year! Junior committee Tadhg Sheehan (Chair) Mark Brownlie Nick Hauser Jeremy Dawson John McGrath Teenage committee Dwayne Mclaren (Chair) Kylie Elisaia Owen Kleidon Steve Toohey Marcus O Dempsey Steve Wyatt Judicial committee David Power (Chair) Michael Beeston Geoff Kelk Senior committee Tyson Hosie (Co-Chair) Doug McNicholl (Co-Chair) Nathan Bradley Dom O Connor Tom Capell High performance RUGBY Rob Johnston (Chair) Mike Dillon Peter Buchanan Elisha Elisaia Stan McDonnell Mitchell Winter DDRRA Michael Beeston (President) Richard Bright (Snr Appointments) Peter Buchanan (Referee Coaching) Geoff Kelk (Teenage Appointments) 4 P a g e

CHAIRMAN S REPORT On behalf of the Downs Rugby Ltd Board, I cordially welcome Life Members, Club Presidents and Representatives, the President and Representatives of the Darling Downs Rugby Referee s Association and Committee Chairs and Members. The aim of our board is to provide all our players, their families and communities with well organised and enjoyable Rugby at all levels. Downs Rugby is one of the biggest competitions in geographical terms in Australia If not the world stretching from Gatton in the East to St George in the west. This brings the need for real commitment by clubs and players and is a constant challenge for us all to overcome the distance and time involved. This AGM is being held at Condamine in recognition of the importance of our clubs in the country and the wonderful role they play in their communities. We also want to give our players from all across the Darling Downs every opportunity to play representative rugby and to have a pathway to higher honours. Thus it was pleasing to see our Senior and Colts Representative teams have such an outstanding year, with many players getting selected in the South QLD and QLD Country teams. Congratulations and thanks to our coaches Rob Johnston (Seniors), Mike Dillon (Colts) and their support teams for the pride and high performance that was achieved by both teams. In the Queensland Teenage Championships our teams all benefitted from the off-season development program, special thanks goes to our Teenage Coaches and Managers. Our Junior Programme continues to be popular and enjoyable particularly the annual carnivals at Goondiwindi, Dalby, Downlands College (Bears), TACAPS and Highfields. I sincerely thank all our volunteers who are the lifeblood of Rugby on the Downs. I thank Club Presidents and their communities, the chairs and committees of our Senior, Teenage and Junior Competitions, the Judicial Committee and the High Performance Committee. A special thank you to our referees under the leadership of Michael Beeston; They have a demanding voluntary role in covering Senior, Teenage, Junior and School Rugby over such a vast area and without them we simply wouldn t have a competition. Our financial report shows that although we made a loss this year but our finances remain very sound. The board has developed a new budget aimed at a small surplus for 2016. On behalf of our entire Rugby Community, I sincerely thank our sponsors who enable us to bring Rugby to young and old and throughout our vast region. I particularly thank our major sponsor Wagners and John, Dennis, Neil and Joe Wagner for their interest and support. They have done so much for our region and their new Wellcamp Airport will be an ongoing driver 5 P a g e

of our economy. Special thanks to F K Gardiner for the provision of our excellent headquarters and grateful thanks to our loyal sponsors; Allflex, Subway, AWB, Gessner Industries, Warrego Water, The Downs Hotel, Workwear Discounts, AACo, Alpine Refrigeration and BLK. Our staff led by General Manager Mitchell Winter have done a great job, particularly in the development of junior players and the smooth running of all competitions and events Finally I thank my fellow directors for their commitment and enthusiasm. We welcomed Rob Johnston to the Board this year and I thank Dick Webster who is retiring and has been a loyal vice-chair. Thank you to the Condamine Rugby Club the cods for their hospitality and assistance in presenting this AGM and for hosting the 2016 Cattlemans Cup later today. I move that this report be accepted. Mike Horan Chairman Downs Rugby Ltd 6 P a g e

GENERAL MANAGER S REPORT Downs Rugby Limited Junior Rugby Union Junior Rugby this year was one of the big highlights of 2015 with 11 clubs competing in a full 16 round season, which included five very successful Junior Carnivals. Junior Carnivals were held by Goondiwindi, Dalby, Toowoomba Bears (Downlands), Highfields and TACPAS. On these carnival days all clubs came together and really showed what Darling Downs Rugby is all about, enthusiasm, passion and commitment. Whole club days have been organized through co-ordination of the 2016 draws with juniors playing before seniors at the same venues on more Saturdays throughout the year. Teenage Rugby Union The Teenage Season entered its fourth year of the revamped Sunday competition with 24 teams (8 clubs), competing in the Under 13, Under 14, Under 15 and Under 16/17 age groups. The season culminated in a very successful Grand Final Day at Gold Park. Our Teenage Rep Sides travelled to the Gold Coast in July and had much improved results due to an extended representative training program. Senior Rugby Union 23 Senior Teams competed this year to fight it out for the A Grade (Risdon cup), B Grade and C Grade competitions. This was the 51 st year of the Risdon Cup and the premiership was taken out by the minor premiers Goondiwindi Emus. They beat a tough USQ Saints side 24 to 17.Goondiwindi were in all three grades of the Final and capped of the year with two premierships. B Grade was taken out by the Condamine Cods 29-10 over the Goondiwindi Emus C Grade was won by the Goondiwindi Emus over the Chinchilla River Rats 31-14 Sevens Rugby 2015 was a big year in regards to sevens rugby with a schools competitions taking place in term 3 that were aimed at the non-traditional rugby schools. The Darling Downs Representative Girls Sevens Competitions were run in the U15 and U18 division with teams out of Toowoomba, Dalby and Warwick. The result of these competitions was 5 girls in the U15 QLD side and 6 in the U18 QLD side. 7 P a g e

Representative Rugby Achievements Our Senior Rep side was undefeated during the 2015 season along with our Colts Rep side, who both won the South Queensland Championship. Five colts players and seven seniors were selected in the QLD Country Squads. Three players made the U13 QLD Country side, one made the U14 QLD Country side and three made the U16 QLD Country side. Downs Rugby Volunteers Thanks must go to our tireless volunteers that make Darling Downs Rugby happen each and every year. In particular our Junior, Teenage and Senior Committees, the Downs Rugby Judiciary and the High Performance Committee. Also most importantly the Downs Rugby Board (Chair Mike Horan AM, Dick Webster, Rob Johnston, Rod Hohn, Scott Mead, Danielle Birmingham and Barry O Sullivan) I move that this report be accepted. Mitchell Winter (Downs Rugby Ltd - General Manager) 8 P a g e

We are indebted to all the Downs Rugby Sponsors for 2015. Please support them to show their involvement this year is FINANCE DIRECTOR appreciated Downs Rugby would like to thank our 2015 Major Sponsors. 9 P a g e

We are indebted to all the Downs Rugby Sponsors for 2015. Please support them to show their involvement this year is appreciated 10 P a g e

OFFICE CONTACT DETAILS:- Unit 11, Anzac Central, 189 Anzac Avenue, Toowoomba Q 4350 Ph/Fax (07) 4633 7733 Website: www.downsrugby.com.au POSTAL ADDRESS:- PO Box 1070, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350 MITCHELL WINTER General Manager M: 0409 328 783 E: winterm@downsrugby.com.au MITCHELL BRADBURY Rugby Operations Officer M: 0409 328 783 E: bradburym@downsrugby.com.au 11 P a g e