Election of Officers

Directors of Referees, Wayne Loveday as Development Officer and our representative at judiciary hearings, David Abood and Lionel Brown who conducted our “rulings” at our general meetings.

Our sponsorship team of PerryTzamouranis, Shane Merry and Jim Oliveira continue to look for ways to take advantage of government grants and increase funding to our Association. We have been fortunate in receiving a grant of $10,000 to cover the costs of our new communications equipment and obtained over $8,400 in CDSE funding in November for the exchange program and the school training & recruitment program. Sponsorship is not only about increased funding for the association it is also about encouraging new referees to join an association that offers benefits to members that other associations may not be able to. New initiatives will be rolled out in season 2012.

For the past 15 years we have been very fortunate to have the Canterbury League Club as our major sponsor. I would like to thank the Club’s Directors and staff for their rock solid support particularly through former Chairman Peter Winchester & CEO John Ballesty. This has continued with the support of Barry Ward, Director and Johnathon Brain, CEO over the past season. Along with the Bulldogs Football Club they have been very generous in approving the funding outlined above.

Our other three sponsors - Ronnies Demolition & Excavation Services as our sleeve sponsor through Paul and Yvette Hassarati, NSW Harness Racing Club through the support of CEO Paul Dumesny our printing sponsor and Control Painting and Decorating through Nathan Hall, our short sponsor have been significant supporters of the association during the season and without them we would not be able to provide the training equipment, subsidized uniforms or put on the social events that we all enjoy.

To Dennis Spagarino and the Board of the NSWRLRA I express my thanks for encouraging closer links with Head Body through regular attendances at our meetings and social events and providing those important cash grants devoted to the training and development of our members.

I mentioned in my 2010 Forward of the struggle with illness some of our members were experiencing. Sadly, since our last general meeting Bob Styles, a Life Member and past President of 7 years, lost his long battle with cancer and passed away on 29th September. Bob refereed the A grade Grand Final in 1979 and again in 1983. Also, on the 3rd November Allan Aggett, 80, Life Member of Canterbury and Graded member passed away. Alan refereed the A grade grand final in 1961. Our condolences go to their families and we remember them in our thoughts and prays. Victor Pitt continues his long struggle with illness and is in a nursing home in Greenacre, we continue to hope that he remains as comfortable as possible at this sorrowful time.